Hi I'm new here, and not really sure if this is the place to post, but I just had a question and wondering if I could get some insight. I've had issues with my art to the point where I've almost lost all motivation for working on it; simply because of people commenting "hey that looks just like this or that that I've seen..." and in all honesty, I've never copied from anyone, but I've come across works simlar to mine, even some remarkably simlar, and it makes me a little reserved about showing my work to others, or even working on it in private where I would be "safe", because trying to see my work without seeing the "other work" too. (trying to seperate them). Anyway, a friend of mine suggested that I ask other artists if they have experienced similar events; because I got to the point where I felt that I wasn't "good enough" to create something original only because, by chance, there were other simlar works. My friend said that my problem is likely something that happens to other artists as well and may not be as rare as I had thought, and that if I could see that it's not so uncommon, I wouldn't feel so alone in it or that I was "not as good" or "unoriginal". It's possible I'm fretting over nothing, but I just wanted to get others insight; to find out if this is something that's only happened to me or does happen to other (artists), and if anyone else has ever heard someone tell them, "Gee, your work looks just like... etc". Any thoughts? Is it true that people who look at someone's work, even if unintentionally, will try to "familiarize" it and see if it looks like something else for that reason, or do I really have a problem and need to stop persuing a hobby/career that I just am not "good enough" or "original enough" to do? I can't help what others draw, and I never copy, so I don't think it's fair to be punished for coincidences, but I want to know if this is something that is more common that I think. Considering how many people there are in this world and how much work there is out there now, I would like to think that I'm not the only one who deals with this... but who knows? Any insights? Sorry it was so long!! Thank you.

O.O The enter key is your friend. Don't be afraid to press it whenever your sentences need to breathe. You'll get more replies that way. As for your problem, are you actually being accused of plagiarism, or is it more like your grandmother sees something anime-styled and says, "Oh, that's like those poke-eh-man things, right?" Because it's a little weird if people accuse you of plagiarism everywhere you go, but a lot of people who don't really understand art (or at least certain genres of it) will just pick a popular work from the same or a similar genre and compare yours to it because they don't know what else to say. Btw, there's nothing in your gallery, so I can neither confirm nor deny your originality.

Yes, i suggest uploading art here then see how things go here.. Perhaps then we can get a better insight to this problem of yours. And maybe also refer us to some of your works of art that you are talking about.

Just as a casual observation... Nothing is original. Artists learn from artists learn from artists, who learn from nature. If you think of it that way, then you'll see that we're all influenced by and connected to each other (which is sorta a good thing, I think). As advice? I think you'd be a lot happier with your art if you shared it with other artists. You evolve and grow faster with peers than without. So give the internet a chance, and share your work. I don't think you'll regret it. ^^

I agree wholehearted with Karaki.