Artloader - Sketchbook

[Amit Dutta]

Definitely finding your own balance is key for all aspects of life, sounds like you're onto a good track to find that!

Unfortunately when it comes to the specific goal of doing 'professional' level art as a career (not sure if you have that) a common factor you will hear in most people's stories is it often comes at a sacrifice to other areas of one's life. Seems to happen in the most intense earlier stages of learning when the learning curve is steepest and one first becomes aware of the sheer magnitude of technical things to be learned.

I have gone through many phases in the 20 or so years of my desire to create and express. The two factors that made the most difference in me was a combo of two things.
1. Deriving great satisfaction from the moment to moment engrossment and being in flow that one gets from creative (and learning) process itself.
2. Knowing deep down and unshakeably that achievements, proficiency and 'success' are simply a factor of time and well directed focus. This leaves little room for negative self judgements or doubt.

If you can always tap into 1 it doesn't matter then in the slightest, if you're doing it as a career, as a hobby, the rate of your progress, or achievements unlocked. Those all become secondary really. not unimportant, just secondary.
If you can cultivate 2 (if you aren't lucky enough to have it built in intrinsically like i did) then much of those self tormenting thoughts can subside, and boy will your mental health improve :)

The times i went off the rails, it was always one of those two not firing properly for many varied reasons that caused the derailment. anyway i'll stop spamming your sketchbook with words. I think you're getting a good handle on how to go :)