I was talking to a friend on call a night ago and I was ranting to them about art and writing. I've struggled for years to really get to a point with my art where im happy with it. Lots of reasons, lots of things I don't think I need to put here. I think it's interesting that sometimes, I can't let myself write or draw the way I truly love because of this mentality that it must be some way or another. Why should I care of what others think when I don't create for them? I draw traditional because it makes me happy, I draw furries, I make it messy, I add stickers and paint and use all sorts of stuff because I want to. Why forbid myself simply because I believed in a rule that never existed to begin with? This idea that art must be one way for it to be valued has been built off pure greed when it has always been more than that. Art should be something you do because you are passionate. Now i know many do it for a living, to help keep them up afloat and I do not see them differently, many of these people have pride in what they make, but so many also hate what they do because of it. Why should I change the way I write because of what others have said? Why should I care when at the end of the day its what I create? My art nor my writing will ever be perfect but I shape it to what best represents me. I layer drawings and I fill my writing with poetry and metaphors. I made my art to be ruined because I was sick of something so clean. I say this to say that it should always be something you enjoy. Guidelines are just there to help you through moments, they are not rules you must tie yourself to. There will always be room for improvement but thats something you can do when you are ready. I think I struggled to accept that for so long--and I'm still working on it now. Be free