This is not a self-advertisement. This is a commentary that I felt should be shared and spread on a large scale, since it is something most people may need to hear, even if they don't realize it. This was originally posted as a journal, but was suggested that I upgrade it to a news post. I hope it reaches the right people and that the community benefits from the message as a whole.

I got an e-mail today from a new reader of my comic, stating that Comic #67 particularly spoke to her. She apparently had been struggling with the fact that her originally serious focus on artwork was leaning more towards cartooning in recent times, and it helped her understand that you should first and foremost draw what you love. I felt that the e-mail I sent in response would make a poignant commentary for anyone who ever feels pressured by other people to focus on more detailed, serious work and leave cartoons "to the kiddies," so to speak.

Here's the response I sent back, in its entirety:

I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to characters and art in general. You'll run into a lot of people who have a bit of an elitist streak in that they demand the art be "BETTER, MORE REALISTIC, MORE DETAILED!!," but they fail to realize that it's not ABOUT the level of details or realism... it's about the artist simply enjoying what they draw.

Heck, I usually can't stand drawing realism when it comes to people. I love drawing cartoons, so that's what I'm going to spend my time doing. However, I do love drawing backgrounds (nature scenes in particular), and I treat props/buildings/cars with a much deeper sense of realism because... well... that's how I like to draw them! It's just a personal preference, and I've come to realize that people -- especially the elitist online artist crowd -- HATE personal preferences when it comes to one's artistic style.

When I first set out to learn how to draw, I never said "I'm going to be the best artist in the world," and I STILL don't say that even to this day. I know my faults and where my weaknesses lie, and I am always finding new ways to work outside my comfort zone and humble myself when it turns out looking like crap. Yet while I'm constantly working to improve, I still will never stop drawing what I love. If you lose the love for your work, you lose the quality that comes with it, and that is the most important thing.

Keep up with your artistic efforts. Study real life, work outside the box, spread your wings to other genres and experiment to find what you love. Above all, just enjoy everything that you draw and you'll do wonderfully.

-Jon P.