Are you drawing pictures for people on the internet, or are you really just focusing on what YOU want to do? (the latter being way more important).
We writers and artists never used to have to ASK weirdo questions like this, before the web 2.0 and anime/manga. But now, because of the nature of the internet and anime, you pretty much HAVE TO ask weirdo questions like this. See how technology terrorizes and changes things?
Anywho, I was thinking about that very thing, and at one point, I really got swept up by my own online so-called "Audience of The Undead", and assorted college students and anime people, and before I knew it, a while back, for a while there, I was creating all my work, all of my art, and a lot of my writing just to pander to my newfound, and much beloved audience of people who thought they actually know something about me that I don't actually put out there, which they don't. At the time, I was just happy to have a mainstream audience of some sort, and some popularity. Before 2003, I was not used to having such things, because I never DID have those things. In other words, being popular (even if just online) was a new experience for me. I'm not accustomed and never have been until recently, to people being all up in my grill, speculating a million stupid fucking rumors, speculating on my wereabouts, throwing bricks at me when I'm standing outside with love notes tied to them (okay, that last problem didn't happen, but now that I've actually written it!...) But I digress. It's a bad idea to pander to your own audience, no matter how small or big. At one point I became way too caught up in the people actually paying attention to me, that I forgot to factor in what I really want to draw or write.
Lately, I've been absent from the internet online for the most part from my usual hangouts online for a very good reason, at least in my opinion: I've gone back into my pre-internet-existence mindset, where I ask, first and formost, "What entertains me? What do I like? What kind of stuff do I want to actually see?" Instead of "What does my audience want?" If you pander to your online audience, you're probably no better than a lame-o TV channel polling its readers with surveys and focus groups, in an effort to "give the people" what they want, even when it's stupid and watered down.
With the internet also arrived a new, needier, instant-gratification-worshipping younger generation of artists and writers, some very talented, with one fatal flaw: They only care about how some guy (i.e. me, you, or anyone else of course) will react to it online. Can't say I entirely blame them. While indie comics and literature set a good example of publishing auteur motivs, Hollywood sets and incredibly irresponsible and bad example to today's artist kids, with its "perception is everything" motto and philosophy. Hollywood only cares how things look on the surface, even when it's an illusion, so not surprisly, international anime Hollywood Jr. follows the same mindset. Not the deepest philosophy, but you'd be surprised how influential some of the famous superstars that live by this code are.
With the internet also arrived a new, needier, instant-gratification-worshipping younger generation of artists and writers, some very talented, with one fatal flaw: They only care about how some guy (i.e. me, you, or anyone else of course) will react to it online. Can't say I entirely blame them. While indie comics and literature set a good example of publishing auteur motivs, Hollywood sets and incredibly irresponsible and bad example to today's artist kids, with its "perception is everything" motto and philosophy. Hollywood only cares how things look on the surface, even when it's an illusion, so not surprisly, international anime Hollywood Jr. follows the same mindset. Not the deepest philosophy, but you'd be surprised how influential some of the famous superstars that live by this code are.
Well, no more of that shit!
I draw comics and art for myself. Just because you have a scanner and are you does not mean you should bomb DeviantART or any other website with everything you've ever created. That can really fuck up your mind, actually. Next thing you know, you're emo. Or worse yet a scene kid porn star. And nobody wants that.
I draw comics and art for myself. Just because you have a scanner and are you does not mean you should bomb DeviantART or any other website with everything you've ever created. That can really fuck up your mind, actually. Next thing you know, you're emo. Or worse yet a scene kid porn star. And nobody wants that.
