I came across this wonderful article on Facebook and just had to give it mention. If not for other artist's then for my own purpose to read again: I ponder this a lot, I used to think I wasn’t a very creative artist thanks in part to a background inlaid with naysayers, discouragement, indifference and eventually, my very own intense self-doubt about my creativity. So, I figured the best way for me to demonstrate to those who kept telling me how nice my drawings and paintings were but that this pursuit would not amount to much of anything and that I would be better served finding and keeping a real job, was to learn all I could about drawing and painting and become real good technically. I thought for sure this would help explain my love for what I do, it did, a bit, but not really as they continued to see this more like a hobby / pass time than the very real and professional activity it truly was. This was terribly hurtful and came close to discouraging me on many occasions, b