Hi Toonstop,
I'll be speaking to you personally and to many people who may read this in the future because it can shed some light for many. Just know that this may end up being more of a discussion that I will try to keep focused on positive and helpful.
Personal journeys where learning new skills that pay you happen to all be different. Like relationships. Especially with art because there are so many different ways to do it. Graphic Design, Muralist, Car Painting, Concept artist, Story Board Artist, Character Designer, 3d Character Design, Environment Design and 3d Environment Design, Photography, Sculpture blah blah blah we get it.... Just in graphic design i could go on all day about the specializations individuals have.
Break out of your shell of frustration and impatience and know that you are in for the long haul for whatever you choose. And know those of us working we've all been there having to support ourselves and families for years while trying to find work in art in an 'overskilled' and over saturated market for well more than two years. Not to mention sacrificing having familes or social lives beyond social media.
Art school for 18 hours a day for three years, also including Sunday, is a more realistic place to start for the successful working artists like myself and the ones I personally know making varied incomes of 25k-90k US a year. It wasn't school they were just doing either, they crammed in low paying to no paying freelance to cut their teeth at the same time. None of us had social lives.
And get ready to be a monk of patience because after all that they worked for crap pay until they got noticed and built a reputation in the five years since we graduated. No you don't have to go to school. But it helps to have that motivation because you paid for it. Or even find an online mentorship or classes like Schoolism or Cubebrush would be benefit you more than just showing up and making a sketch for instagram for every day for 2 years.
Okay. I looked at your entire Instagram. All of it. I DIDN'T READ IT. I can only speak for it on a whole though and nothing specific. You can see that I've spent a lot of time trying to help people on just single concepts, theories and pictures in the critique section. So I can only offer to look at this entire work like a teacher and art director would and hopefully like you wanted.
"Most glaring problem" Based on only instagram feed:
I cant tell what it is that you specialize in specifically. Or what exactly your future goal is. From what I can tell I think your goal is to post a cartoon sketch to Instagram every day. I see a lot of sketches and roughs that seem somewhat manic, rushed and inexperienced or maybe 'sketchy' in their line work. I just have to see more finished pieces in one place before I hire you for anything or know what it is I'm buying. I get that you are and want to be dedicated to your craft by posting every day for two years. But what I see is that you need lots of practice in anatomy, perspective, linework, painting, composition...the whole gamut. But thats not exactly bad, because we all need that. But you need a clearer focus.
Suggestion:
Maybe make your instagram focus on something. Like focus on developing the intellectual property of Mr.U (if he's yours i dunno), or redesign Sonic, or only post finished works. The thing is you don't have to prove to us that you show up every day, by literally showing up on instagram every day. You have to show up every day for yourself. From what I've seen you need to study figure anatomy, gesture, motion, composition, sequential story telling, environments, story boarding, character design, masters, digest it and repeat over and over. And make posts that show your skill and growth and time put in for us to appreciate and want to share with others. You don't have to show the public anything bad ever if you dont want to. But I really honestly think the fastest thing to specifically help you and your style would be Schoolism classes.
Andy Ezpinoza was a resident studio artist at the school I went to. Am I a fan of his work? No. I find it boring. But lots and lots of people LOVE IT. 104k followers with ONLY 197 posts over SIX YEARS. Is it beautiful and skillfull? Abso-freaking-lutely. Francis Vallejo, another resident studio artist, who I consider a master Fantastic illustrator and comic artist. That guy didn't sleep. He was eventually hospitalized for his dedication and had to dial it back a bit.
Okay, you already got showing up out of the way. Now you need to focus. Go through 1 book, 1 tutorial and replicate it. Subscribe to schoolism and start learning theory. Try to make money on the side if you want but I wouldn't get your expectations too high until you can meet the industry standard.
I think your doing a great job and have made huge leaps since the start of your Instagram just over a year ago. Just know that those huge leaps, happen less, and less and less and less the more you master.
The last thing I want to address is that there are two types of artists posts I've seen over the years. There are the Threads that share everything...EVERYTHING...they ever put on paper like yours, that once they become great, can be very inspirational to people. Jonathan Hardesty couldn't draw shit but kept at it becoming a master oil painter and opening his own atelier for a time I believe.
I watched Johannes Voss on conceptart.org become a concept artist and digital illustrator that others only wish they could be. I'm not saying thats what you need to aspire too. I'm saying that people share, or people dont. And what you give by sharing is inspiration for people who want to learn similar skills. They will see that over time anyone can do it. But there are plenty of people who don't do that and still make a living.
Greg Manchess said at a Spectrum Live convention, that Its the ones who don't quit drawing and painting who find success.
