Venting Am I a bad person for feeling envious?

[S1_ckJoe]

When I see drawings from other artists, whether digital or traditional, I usually feel inspired and it makes me want to draw more. But now I started to feel something very unpleasant when I saw the work of a person from my same class, I'll be honest, her drawings are beautiful, and that made me feel really bad. I watched as others praised her drawings while they barely said anything to me or made faces because I have a "macabre" style of drawing. I started to despise that person so much to the point of being mean to her which surprised me, because I wasn't like that before. I was angry for not being better than her, but at the same time I don't want to be better than anyone, I want my art to be recognized without despising the art of others, but it's too difficult for me and sometimes I get too down because of it.

 

[TragedyBornCrimson]

It's just human nature. Just learn how to focus on the positives of your own work and how you can improve. If you don't the jealousy will eat you alive and cause you to hate yourself causing you to have even more to be jealous about. For your own sake focus on your own journey or else you'll be like me bitter and ready to ctb.

 

[Opera]

I am struggling with this, though less extreme. Whenever I see an artist who's "worse" than me, it makes me feel better, and when someone is better, it makes me feel inferior. It's such a weird feeling to be in especially when it happens since I didn't realize it was happening either.

 

[Prism]

They might not be in your class, but there are a LOT of people out there who really like macabre artwork. Having a different style doesn't make you a worse artist. It's normal to feel jealous when others are getting more recognition, but I hope it doesn't discourage you from creating more art.

 

[hoppybunny]

When I see drawings from other artists, whether digital or traditional, I usually feel inspired and it makes me want to draw more. But now I started to feel something very unpleasant when I saw the work of a person from my same class, I'll be honest, her drawings are beautiful, and that made me feel really bad. I watched as others praised her drawings while they barely said anything to me or made faces because I have a "macabre" style of drawing. I started to despise that person so much to the point of being mean to her which surprised me, because I wasn't like that before. I was angry for not being better than her, but at the same time I don't want to be better than anyone, I want my art to be recognized without despising the art of others, but it's too difficult for me and sometimes I get too down because of it.

Envy in itself is not a bad thing, however your actions because of it is definitely an issue. If you find yourself being mean due to envy I definitely reccomend staying away from her and avoiding her.

As an artist myself I feel you so much. Envy is such a bitch. I've felt like shit because my best friend is a better artist than me but she literally practices more and her parents support her art and even sent her to an amazing art school in asia. I'm not saying that her art talent is only because her parents are rich and support her but she literally has more room to improve than me and that was how I coped for a long time. Till i just stopped drawing for a good while (other factors like college and parent issues affected it too) because the gap just between my friend and a I as well as all the artists on social media and published comics made me feel like shit.

I think in our cases the envy is multiplied because unlike on social media or gallary and published artists, that feel unreachable and seperated from us, thus unachievable. Having someone right in front of us be better and even recieve praise just makes you realize how good you could be and directly see the praise you could also receive and it feels like shit.

Alot of people say you should only make art for yourself but making art with no recognition really sucks ass.

I did get over my jealousy with my bestie cause she was super supportive tho. So finding just one person who likes your art besides you is super helpful. As for social media, I just block any artist that's better and younger than me lol.

I am struggling with this, though less extreme. Whenever I see an artist who's "worse" than me, it makes me feel better, and when someone is better, it makes me feel inferior. It's such a weird feeling to be in especially when it happens since I didn't realize it was happening either.

I feel you. I feel like shit when I'm happy knowing i'm not in "last place" i really hate the feeling like i'm competing with everyone

 

[Forever Sleep]

I get massively envious too. Also over art actually. I think it's common for creative people to be obsessive about their work and to long to be the best. But yeah, it just gnaws away at you.

I don't think I've been unpleasant towards them but, I've felt utterly crushed working alongside them. I actually try to avoid working around others for this reason. My confidence/ ego can't take it.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

Everyone feels envious of others from time to time and it's not uncommon to lash out a bit and become a bit mean because of it. That's normal. I'm not an artist but I do draw as a hobby, and I do understand that feeling of envy and inadequacy that bubbles up when looking at drawings by others around your age that are much better than yours. We are naturally inclined to compare ourselves to others to see where we stand and to better understand ourselves. That's just how it is. It sucks, but there isn't much that can be done about it.

I'm sure that you are probably better at drawing compared to a large portion of the population and the reactions to your art by your classmates don't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. They only make up an incredibly minuscule part of the world's population. There are probably plenty of people out there who would probably love your style of drawing. Even if there aren't, then who cares? If you like your style of art and you find that it does a good job of expressing a part of you then why should the opinions of others matter? What kinds of art end up being beloved by others and what kinds end up being looked down upon changes over time. A lot of the most famous and beloved pieces of art today were hated a long time ago. What's in or out comes down to social conformity, not talent. Your classmates prefer her artwork but that does not make your work worthless compared to hers because there is no objective "worth" when it comes to art, or really anything in general. Your artwork is worth about as much as you want it to be.

 

[Warlord's Pulse]

This thought is very commom and I think it occurs from time to time with anyone, the most important here is to control yourself and do no harm to anyone you envy