I sometimes wonder where I’d be at skill-wise if I hadn’t fallen into a 15 year art burnout.
Would I still be drawing? Would I have developed my own style, or would I still be mimicking the 90's anime that was formative to me? Would I still be doing my painting digitally?
I still feel an awful clench of anxiety whenever I pick up a pencil. Just an immediate rush back to all the stressing over commissions, arguing over payments, getting the worst feedback from clients...
Never again.
Mad respect for anyone that can thrive under those pressures. At least you don't have to worry about cashing bad checks these days.
I'm happy that I stumbled into casting and pour paintings, though. They take away a lot of the concern over fine motor skill and let me just Make A Thing.