Your videos are like therapy sessions I didn't realize I needed

“I can say today with absolute confidence that I am a dark fantasy artist” Sir, this is a Wendy’s.... Lol just messin with you. Great video sir 🤍

You got this absolutely right. I'm that kid whose parents put a lot of pressure on them to succeed. My mom got mad at me for getting a 92% on a midterm in math for the grade above me, no joke. (An 8th grader, taking a math midterm for 9th graders) I've always had this pressure to do well in school, having two older sisters who both did incredibly academically, who my mom has compared me to before. I set my expectations low because I've always felt my parents set them too high. I have low self-esteem often. I feel that if I don't do well in school or if I make a mistake, my parents will punish me and take away everything that makes me happy. I don't feel unconditional love from them. sorry, back to the thing about burnout and giving up. One day during quarantine, all of a sudden I couldn't do any of my schoolwork. I'd try to convince myself to do it for hours, but I just couldn't. It was easy work, don't get me wrong, but I couldn't bring myself to start it. I don't know exactly how long this lasted. I tried, I really did, nothing worked. At some point I started crying about all the stress of knowing my grade would drop and trying to hard, but not being able to make any impact. I felt like I was going insane and I hated myself. Eventually I managed to get back into the swing of things. I find myself not trying nearly as hard with school though. I've felt that way with piano as well because my mom and myself put so much pressure, so I quit. I've never felt that way with art. My parents don't control my art whatsoever because in my house it's seen as a hobby and nothing more. There's no way I could get a job as an artists is something that was never directly said, but implied by my parents, so it's a double-edged sword I guess. Sorry for such a long comment. I don't think I've ever talked about this before.

"Artists Crippling Guilt" is me right now. I booted up a game instead of putting together my portfolio. Also, feel like what I produce is not very good...

I watched an interview featuring the artist Gerald Brom known more commonly as just ''brom'', he mentioned he regretted spending 7 days a week on his work, he said he wished he took 2 days off every week to do other things without feeling guilt. As 23 year old I think I might take on his advice the best I can, I feel like I just wake up and obsess about getting things done maybe I need that but maybe I should just feel okay with taking just 2 days off.

My parents never bother me about being more productive, but I feel so much pressure anyways. Maybe it's because they are both so hard-working. I don't know how to earn a living with my art (illustration degree doesn't really help with that), so instead I got a full-time job in a Walmart distribution center. It would make me feel very guilty to quit that job and try to earn money with art, because I would probably end up having to rely on my parents for much longer. I just want to be independent and free and be able to do my thing.

Eh. Finding ur channel was feeling like im listening to someone who knows how i it hurts inside. Its so... forgotten feeling. Thank u so much for talking about all this themes!

Only 7 minutes in and I basically feel like you're talking about me. Guilt is what I was brought up with. It's the kind of guilt about what I'm NOT doing, rather than what I've done. I feel paralyzed by too much choice with art, I just like so many things about it. Just to name a few: environments, figure drawing, comics, landscape paintings, portraiture, concept art. Committment is a heavy word for me for sure. It doesn't feel like a lifetime, but definitely several years. Hard work is a big part of it too, even though I don't think of it as "hard work". I only feel like I'm working hard when I don't want to do something. I think part of the struggle about learning art as a 24 year old is that I have no concrete goals to even commit to in the first place. I focus on the fundamentals, but that alone lacks direction. I just want to be free on the paper, I want my process to be intuitive where I can draw everything that interests me. I guess I do have a goal in the end... It just doesn't feel like it sometimes Edit: The bit about a "transitional period"... This feels like exactly what I've been goong through right now, but for far too long. Procrastination is exactly like you say, and it feels like I'm not committing as much as I'd like (i.e . At least half of my day, which is stupid). Knowing that, I now focus on what is fun and interesting to me, like Kim Jung Gi always says. Whatever FEELS good to draw, I draw. I find myself drawing much more when I don't think about what I *truly* want to draw.

I am at a point in my life right now where life is getting very real. I have been watching your videos for quite some time, and every time I watch one of these it was at a time that I needed it most. I find myself relating to a lot of what you say, and it has made me imagine you as an older version of myself, which makes it really reassuring. It feels like these are audio logs that I would send to a younger version of myself to comfort me. Thank you so much for everything.

your words about the fear of commitment have made me realize that this is my problem. i am just turning 19 next month but have finished highschool at 18. since 10th grade i know that i want to pursue art as a career path for the rest of my life yet still, surroundings are trying to influence me to study for a 'real' job. i am in fear of committing and signing up for university. and so there i am, half a year has passed and i feel like im just wasting time. yes i am drawing and learning a bit every day but i dont feel like it is taking me anywhere. any day i dont study or draw but instead spend with my partner or family feels wasted despite me knowing that i want to be there for them aswell. thank you so much for making these types of videos, they mean so much to me and surely to others too. you keep motivating me and make me realize that the thoughts and actions we have and make are normal and can change. grateful for the mental input which your videos have. thank you.

You know, you're a wonderful human being, Adam. We really don't deserve you. Thanks.

it's strange right? Lately at 24 years old I wake up every day after about 6 hours of sleep knowing that something must be done and that every day that goes away I just feel more and more guilty of not knowing how long an art would take before setting the date and not be able to fulfill it. Feeling that although you know that you are improving little by little, you would like to know when it is your time to sit down and learn for yourself and not for a client or someone else, when you do not mess up the process of what to do with what you want and when it is okay give you that time. And when it is good to enjoy that moment that you give yourself to not do the work because you get saturated ... Thanks Adam, for giving me a bit of peace of mind knowing that this is more normal and that it can be remedied over time ... Because guilt in an artist does not disappear quickly but as long as it can heal, it can be overcome.

Thanks for sharing, Adam. Taking ownership, allowing the soul to be fluid in committing, and embracing "distractiions" are nuggets of wisdom. Cheers for nuggets, m8!

So true, my parents always tried to make everything like my sport and hobbies into some kind of job that I had to take seriously and that just took all joy out of it and I gave up, I'm rediscovering those joys again these days tho luckily :)

I've only recently discovered your channel but in the time of listening and painting along with them, my painting just seems to be so much more relaxed and not so, tense. I feel as if I can accept my paintings more for what they are and lose myself within them. Thank you for your content!

Depression is what stops me from doing anything.... I just don't want to be here.

4:16 "By limiting your options, you are allowing yourself to invest more of your energy into being creative within the options that you have" I'll Take notes So now I have to set myself specific goals so I don't go everywhere. I'll be better faster. Thank you again Adam :)

19:45 HAHAHA OMG THAT COUGHT ME OFF GAURD *floor gang*

Man, I feel this. I'm in a huge transition from paleontology to art. And I still don't know where I'll end up. I'm terrified. I've wanted to be a paleontologist since I could talk, it feels like the biggest betrayal to change to ART. Especially after 7 years in college struggling to just get the damn undergraduate degree. My love for paleontology will never die, but its crossed my mind that it may not be my career. So thank you. I don't have answer, but thank you for helping me untangle my emotions just a little bit more. I'm going to save this talk and return to it. Thank you again 💓

25:10 This part! This part, got me to pause everything I'm doing, put my headphone on, cover my ears, close my eyes, so that, this talk is the only thing burn in my brain, like, Adam is talking to me, directly

I went into college thinking "I want to be an animator" After that I wanted to do surfacing, then it changed back to animation but also rigging. Now it's character sculpting/modelling. I'm still interested in all, plus environment art, but for now it has stayed character sculpting.

I swear, you always post these things the exact moment I need them. Thank you.

That moment when I realize that I have been super strict with myself and I have not been giving myself the space to be properly distracted. Thank you Adam!

I was contemplating for almost the entire year of trying to post more landscape and backgrounds on social media (along with other interests, like 3ds environments and concept art) but I couldn't do it because I always posts portraits & I felt like maybe my followers won't like it because they are here for the portraits 😅 This video gives me the boost to actually do it, idk how my followers will react but I don't want to force myself to do 1 thing for the next few years because I'm afraid of change 😤 Thanks for the video 💜

When you listed the things that you enjoy I thought "Damn, this dude is even cooler than I thought." You're already damn cool and you really put out some of the most meaningful content that youtube has to offer.

art is my connection to everything in life, too. art.. IS my life. without art, i wouldn't want to exist. it's so validating to hear you talk about how many different side-interests you dabble in as well as art, i've always felt shameful about my process because i thought it was only my mental illness and noncommittal attention span. but.. the truth under it is that i've been in relative control of it; "self-learner" is a term i haven't heard before, but goddamn do i relate to that. i've instinctually followed my passions and interests by learning from all sorts of random things which all can relate back to making more of my art, and better. you're absolutely right.. "stay curious" is such an important sentiment. curiosity is what drives us to learn and grow. i've been so embarassed about how unfocused my interests can be, even though i always come back to the same things, in cycles. it's taken so long for my mind to coalesce into these understandings. being isolated from the world and over-controlled like you described.. killed my passion for life, for a long time. things were too dull to want to participate and i sunk into 2 decades of depression and identity-less-ness. i just got used to the feeling so early on that i didn't know life could be better until last year. i'm 33. the immense pressure and panic of picking up a pencil.. nail on the head, there. ownership of myself and my own things is something i rarely get to feel. god, so much of what you're saying speaks directly to my fears. others telling me how to do things and not listening to me only ever compels me, reflexively, to give up on even trying to live my life. i lost myself a long time ago, and only last year did i wake back up. thank you kindly, sir, for your words of wisdom. your voice is exactly what i need to hear at this point in my life, and i am so grateful for finding your channel. your videos are helping me think about what it is i want to do, what it is i have to work with.. and where to go from this point.

Everytime I come back to one of your videos its like a warm cookie for my soul. I always come watch one of your videos at really pivotal times in my life and every time I leave feeling like the way I was thinking or the things I was wanting to do have been totally explained. Maybe its just because you, like me, really are a real artist of the soul. Never stop making encouraging videos Adam.

I really needed to hear this, thank you!

Fantastic to see your take on this, Adam! You're addressing parts of this topic that I wasn't conscious of. Artistic guilt is something I spoke about in the past and I think more of us need to talk about this openly with each other. Thank you :)

Adam thank you from the bottom of my heart: I stumbled on your channel a few months ago and you’re a guiding voice for so many artists. Thank you for shining light where other teachers don’t always explore. You’re changing my life and so many others for the better.

Man I really needed this today, thanks dude.

This was exactly what i needed

It’s often that I am struggling with something in my art and one of your video’s pops up and it’s just exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you!

So happy to see the channel grow!

Every time you put out a video I add it to my watchlist, and then when I have the time to listen, somehow...it's always exactly the right time. It's like you spoke to every single anxious thought and existentialist meltdown I had this past week. Thank you for these videos, Adam. I can't begin to express how many times they've helped to recenter me and reignite my creative passions. Sending lots of love to you and your family.

I swear to god, seriously Adam, you return the sunshine and living days to me, thanks you so much for putting these out there!!

Thanks, i needed this

omg the title is do relatable for me especially since yesterday where I've been slogging away at an artwork which I feel is turning crap so thanks Adam for being so nice and helpful for us ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Mary Poppins and Leslie Knope agree with you. Thanks so much for being vulnerable in your videos it's just so helpful and I resonated with everything. Your talk about owning your process, being committed without being catastrophic, taking life less seriously, everything. Thank you for this. I'm gonna send this to my friends :)

Its insane. For the last several years, almost every video you come up with has been totally relevant to my situation, thanks for being on the same wavelength for so long. truly

I needed this, thank you Adam :)

I am only 14 (Turning 15...) But I already feel insecure with the overwhelming expectations of people in the art community. I have been conflicted, thus leading to me procrastinating, distracting myself-- and basically everything you just said. I know this isn't healthy, so I feel like it is a miracle that I found your video. I'm so thankful, and I'm slowly learning that I should just do things my own way, without comparing myself to others. It is very, very hard. I shouldn't even be saying these things for my age, but I can't help but spit it out. I will remain strong, and I hope I can reach my goal.

This is exactly how I'm currently feeling - being trapped in a vicious cycle because the more I feel guilty about not being productive the less I am able to create art and find my path. Somehow your videos always reach out to the right people at the right time. Thank you very much for your encouraging words Adam!

I always watch this video whenever i feel guilty cuz i can't draw/can't enjoy drawing something while distracting myself. and i'm gonna say thank you for this wonderful art talks 💙

I swear, your videos always pops up at my recommendations at most profound times in my life where I needed it the most, if this is not the sign or answer from the universe, I don't know what else is. Thank you sir!

Thank you for talking about the whole bit about "committing to the distraction". I honestly need to remember more about this. That creates a guilt trip so bad that is hard to leave. Specially when you are freelancer and you feel like every time is work time. also, ayyyy floor gang! lol

Thank you Adam!

These videos really are healing to the soul. Really appreciate what you make

I can't believe your timing with this! This is literally what I've been struggling with recently.

Adam, thank you for speaking about these topics. Your videos are some of the most relevant pieces of mental support that I have ever come across while studying animation and not having enough time or mental strength to seek professional help. What you do is very much needed, and I cannot appreciate the effort enough.

I just have to say how much I love this character wow. 💕 You’re an amazing artist

i dont know whats more incredible every video you make or the fact that after every video, one person just doesnt get it and your dislike is literally 1. i like every time :)

The artist ASMR I need in my life

Your statement about coding is absolutely correct. There’s a lot of constant change and it’s quite normal to do something you never have seen before. Coding is really more creative than most people do actually except to be! Nothing the less amazing video like always....

i really needed to hear that. Thank you so much

Thank you so much Adam. I and I'm sure many people in this position needed this and your talk arrived just at the perfect moment. 🌟

Thank you, Adam, for another great talk. Seems like you always have an uncanny way of knowing what I need to hear, right when I'm going through it.

Thank you Adam. Every time I have some kind of artistic almost existential problem that I cannot get over with you upload a video about it in the same week. It has happened about 3 or 4 times with in a year. I don't know how you do it but you have my gratitude.

This is just what I needed to hear, thank you so much Adam

holy shit, this video came around when I had relationship commitment issue where I didn't think it was worth it and it's just helped my mindset a little

thank you for be here for us

I watch most art KZfaqrs so I can learn new things about art and become a better artist. But I watch you to learn new things about life and become a better person. Without your lessons in these videos I dont think my art career would survive cuz I just take it so seriously. Learning passion is as important as learning fundamentals, so thank you so much for these talks man, much love

Wow, I feel like I could cry. I’ve been holding a lot of shame and it’s made me hesitant as an artist. Thank you for this

Thank you for making another beautiful, heartfelt and genuine video. I'm sure I speak for a lot of artists when I tell you how therapeutic your videos are. ❤️

my good lord i just found out your channel and its the best thing ever. i put them on the background while drawing and they're sooo relaxing, feels like imin therapy :33 thanks for everything you do :3

Beatiful. I can not thank you enought Adam. Your beatiful and wise toughts are not just about art but whole meaning of life and how to deal with it. I think most of artists are very sensitive people. We are experiencing all little things much deeper. What helped in my darkest year of my life was start working on my own project - illustrated book. That really helped me with my menthal health and with no jokes, prevented me from suicide. I think doing art is some kind of therapy. Art is make your ideas and toughts real. Biggest problem is separate your world with real one. To find balance between productivity, doing daily duties and just relaxing. I have found out art block is made by too much distraction. We nead to learn how to relax and doing literally nothing. Let brain get bored. Go for walk alone. Then you come back with clear mind and power to be creative. I really needed to hear all your thoughts. Thx again Adam.

I love your videos. I love the fact that you are talking about similar things, but not the same things, more like deconstructing parts of one huge topic. I've been listening to your videos for over a year and listening to your speeches about artists' mental health over and over made me feel much better about myself, art community and process of creating. Thank you for your hard work❤

It's so true so many paths and so many decisions that are not easy it all

Hey Adam, thank you for bringing out your insights in such a warm and human manner. this resonated heavily and i am thankful to hear those thoughts clear and direct, because in my own thinking they are too often distracted by doubt and second guessing. i learn so much through your reflections but most importantly i feel understood and valued for how i chose to do the things i do. thank you again, this means a lot to me.

Haven't watched it yet and I've already liked it and I already know I'm going to love listening to it. You're awesome, Adam. ✨🤟🏾

I can't tell you how relevant your video was to my headspace today, it's like you're watching me from the window or something. These videos mean so much to me, thank you for making them, Adam.

Today I thought a lot about how I need some wise words from Adam after I uploaded a music video and was stressed all day about how it's gonna do. Great timing on this one!

Thanks Adam for your work. Its amazing.

As soon as I saw Adam upload a new video, I dropped everything and opened Photoshop, immediately resuming a project as Adam's wise words echoed in my mind.

This video is exactly what I needed right now ❤️

I just keep telling myself that I'm going to draw until I can't anymore and that I have time. And that I'm not wasting time, that my brain is retaining information as I go, that by learning different things I'm going to bring unique things to the table, etc. Sometimes the shame and guilt wins and I collapse, especially during covid times, but somedays I win.

Thank you so much!

Finally took time off to watch this. HOLY SHIT ADAM, THANK YOU. I needed to hear this so much. Its so true. Whenever somebody pesters me to do something, or whenever I say I'll do something - I'll NEVER do it. I internalized this stress and seriousness so much that I'll just be stuck. On one hand I should do it. But I dont wanna. I should do something else but then guilt will paralyze me. Thank you for showing me way out of this nightmare and also thank you for easing my mind on the art path - been stuck between few things and now I know that commiting to one, doesnt mean abandoning the other forever.

Identifying my niche has always been a difficult thing for me as a person and as an artist. I struggled a lot with addiction through my late teens and 20’s, and while I never gave up on drawing, I felt that the chance of success through art was impossible. In a way, that helped me in a sense, as I felt freed up to experiment and to make mistakes as I thought of my sketchbooks as visual journals that no one would ever see. Once I got my mental health under control I wanted to become a tattoo artist, so I started an apprenticeship-unfortunately cut short by covid. I now find myself completely obsessed with learning to draw, and I have decided to just go whichever way my drawings pull me, whether that’s illustration, or getting back into tattooing, I don’t know. But I do feel assured that I’m an artist finally.

I know this was uploaded 3 weeks ago and I'm just watching it now but man... I really needed this, thank you so much

Thank you for this Adam! Something about someone putting to words my current problem, when I didn't have the words myself, made it a little relieving. Now I've a basis to start problem solving it!

Man, just finding this a year later. I really needed this. Thanks!

thank You Adam

So much of what you teach in your videos are things that I've always secretly suspected of being true, but I never let myself believe. Hearing someone of your experience talk about all the roadblocks that pop up along this journey is very affirming. I've spent so much time agonizing over my direction. Now I'm learning to identify with the best choice available to me as I go- I learn and grow and take pleasure in making no matter what. Thank you so much for your videos!!

This couldnt come on a more dire time. Wonderfully said Adam. As always much love

I'm a musician. And every word you say. Is so much needed and appreciated. Thank u. So much. So so much. My mind has been a mess and your words are... Well, I have no words

I'm only part way through this talk, as I stopped for a momentary break, but I just want to say, your videos really help me get into the flow and focus when I'm working on my art - it feels like getting to listen to an artist talk from home. And I come away with new information to think about later!

The music adds so well with your videos, and it really helps me calm down while listening to your advice. So thank you for making this, it really helped!

This is one of my favorite characters I've seen you paint. Not too sure why but I really like this one :)

i love your videos, theyre so helpful. Thankyou

Thank you Adam. You're generous as always ! Your channel is a great cure to negatives emotions, can't thank you enough for calming my anxiety and not having to feel it so much for 30 min in my day. Wish you the best, you truly deserve it :)

Your channel is all I need. Your voice eases everything

Such a great video. I love to take a little notepad with me, everywhere I go. Even if I end up being too busy to draw anything in it. The thought of having this thing that I can draw in and write down my ideas in a feat of inspiration really comforts me and relieves that anxious feeling of not working on my craft

As always thank you for making these videos Especially this one spoke to my heart because I fear commitment so I tend to go around every decision I have to make trying to keep my options open and procrastinating. But now I have to make some more important choices and it’s stressing me out since my usual method doesn’t work:/ however this video filled me with wave of calmness and reassurance that it will be okay as long as I stay true to my self and take my time to experience things so thank you so much

Thanks as ever for the great content, I find solace in your confessions and thoughts when I'm lost artistically.

Thanks man, I really appreciate your words❤️

thanks for this video , it was just what I needed :,D

I’m in this space right now and dealing with it. Thanks for the videos. I look forward to them every week 🙏🏻

Thanks a lot for these videos, I can relate to almost everything you said. I hope you will do more this year :) And congrats for the art !

I believe this is the third time I listen to this video. It’s everything I need to hear from now and then. Thank you for this. Thank you for sharing all this wisdom, I love your channel!