u/Sensitive_Lime5093

Speaking for myself, I’ve been studying drawing on my own for over seven years. I never took a formal course, relying instead on YouTube research. Looking back, I feel like I spent too much time going in circles with certain topics; I focused so heavily on proportion and form-based dimensionality that I neglected backgrounds, color composition, and style. As a result, my art is just "so-so"—it often looks lifeless or boring. I see simpler artwork—where proportion and dimensionality are far less emphasized—that somehow feels more alive than mine. What frustrates me most is the job market aspect: I haven't reached a level of proficiency that allows me to earn a decent income doing what I love. I still have to work myself to the bone studying and building a network within the illustration industry, and that feels incredibly discouraging. Was I actually kind of stupid? Or maybe just mediocre all this time?