I know a lot of this is focused on visual art but I realized a lot of it is applicable for book writing that I'm trying to learn. Love your content dude. Keep it up.
Yeah. Burnout is often phrased as a problem of productivity before it considers the human who is suffering. Like "How do I get over burnout so I can get back to work?" instead of "How can I heal from the unhealthy situation that burnt me out?"
Huh. You just said something that really resonated with me, as an educator. Taking the time to build trust with a student, before fully engaging in critique of their evolving craft… I think that’s really important! But I realise I’ve never thought about it that way before. Great advice in general for educators 👍
When I discovered your channel a year ago, maybe a month after your first videos, I was really surprised that you didn't get an audience of 10s of thousands immediately. I'm so happy more people see your work now. Congrats for the 50k
Hi Kyle, thank you very much for sharing so much wisdom with us, and congrats on the big 50k! I'm not one to post public comments normally, but I had a question that I thought others may be able to benefit from as well. In the video, you mentioned that when you first started doing maps, you had posted them online, and that you were able to get some positive feedback on them. Do you have any online spaces outside of youtube that you would recommend for someone who is looking for feedback on their mapmaking, or just to share for others to enjoy?
Yeah! I've been a long time twitter user, and it has it's problems, but all my mapper friends are there. Also, I can recommend the NSR Cauldron as a supportive TTRPG discord server. It's not mapper specific, but it's good folks!! Cheers!!
omg i yell commented that in joy and then upon listening further and getting to the burnout question i got all teary-eyed. great advice and good reminders
This was a great vid! I have a question myself, if you don't mind. I don't need it answered in a video unless you want to, a simple comment will suffice, although you talked about something related to this in the video. So, due to my job, I'm making art everyday. Most of it is soulless, derivative, non challenging, but it still takes time and effort (I work as a "graphic designer", but most of the time I'm just drawing cars, which I do not care about). I get paid for it every week, I work from my home, and there aren't many alternatives around for me (except becoming 100% freelance, which I haven't been successful at in the least). The thing is, I'm still very passionate about art and often I find myself thinking about my own projects, but very rarely get to work on them because my job takes most of my "artistic energy" from me. I can't take a break because I need to keep making an income, and even if I stop drawing in my spare time I'd still be drawing for my job. Is there a solution to this? Or am I just doomed to be like this until I can find a better/different job?
Gosh, I hear you on that! I was in a similar situation for years. I think the way that I got through it was to change the scope of the work I was doing in my free time to match my curiosity and energy. It was easier to know that I was only going to do a 6 page or 12 page comic as opposed to starting a weekly webcomic. I found it easier to push myself for a short time to make a small zine for a comic convention than a big yet vague goal. Eventually, I changed jobs when I moved cities, which meant I could reevaluate my creative projects to match that new situation. Does that answer your question?
@@mapcrow Yes, thanks a lot! I'll keep that in mind from now on. Even just hearing about other peoples situations can be helpful, not just for me but artists in general. I guess we're all just figuring it out as we go.
Holy wow! Congratulations on the very well-earned milestone! You deserver every bit of support you've gotten. So cool to see that you have a comic book out there, but I can totally understand that it's an inpenetrable industry to get into. Also, holy shit did you perfectly describe my life in that section about burnout. I'm definitely going to take your advice, and take time to heal.
Yeah, Burnout is real tough to deal with because oftentimes, you may not be able to fix the situation if it's coming from someone in authority over you! It's an ongoing process to rearrange mine life so I can make things that bring me joy in a sustainable way!
Im so glad that I found your youtube channel. I am starting to dm again soon and your advice and drawings are really inspiring! Thank you so much, keep on creating this content and Im sure you will grow even more.
Man I love how much your channel has grown since I first started watching. You deserve every bit of it and what you said about burnout and the associated behaviors/situations is so on point. Congrats and keep doing what you’re doing!
As someone who's had a stutter since I was a child and also uses filler words, I couldn't even tell you had one. Your hard work on doing extra takes really pays off. I'm binge watching your videos while working on a new campaign so I've probably watched half of your videos by now, if not more. Edit: Your talk on burnout was extremely touching, as someone who hyper focuses on stuff and sometimes burns out on it, it really helped.
@@mapcrow When people ask for Gm tips send them to Matt Colville, for the philosophy of Dnd. The wisdom needed to make it great. Matt Colville insists running the game is fun, and its really not that hard. You just need a respectable mental junkyard of media and game mechanics. Just expose yourself to information, and throw all that junk into the back of your mind, and when you reach behind you for an idea, they will start to be there for you to grab. Im extremely experienced in the mechanics part, and thats why iv come here, to pad my mental junkyard of art and media
Wonderful video! 08:47 Wise words on burnout and support. I don't have the energy to cry, but I so needed to hear this today, and thank you so much for sharing! ❤🐦 YT doesn't have a crow, so here's a bluebird. :)
Kylie, your art is so beautiful and evocative. I could stare at each map for days finding the cool details or marveling at minute techniques that help create each scene. Thank you for taking so much time to share it. I have showed your videos to my oldest daughter who is obsessed with drawing and she loves them too. Take care.
First of all congrats! Secondly, your last point is such a great point, but I want to note that there's a difference between comparing yourself to others on a technical level and comparing yourself in an emotional level: the first is informative and important for growth and the second sets people back. Usually when people say "don't compare yourself to others", they mean the second interpretation when you look at pretty pictures by other people and just sulk about how much better they are and how much you suck. It takes conscious effort to look at a piece you like from a technical angle for some people.
Oh boy, I had to stop early on and play it again, then respond. I got started drawing back when there was still the distinction of commercial art and fine art, if that gives you any idea. Like you, I had a strong influence from comics. The first big touch stone being Wendy and Richard Pini and their graphic novel Elfquest. As a Tolkien fan, I'd recommend it if you're not familiar by the by. It was a gift I got in first grade, coincidentally the same year I first played Dungeons and Dragons (this would be 86/87). I had been interested in drawing and painting before, but that graphic novel blew my little mind and sat dog eared on a pile of books ranging from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and the Village of Hommlet. Over the years I drew obsessively, sometimes spending hours just working on pages of eyes. Trying to get the reflections in the iris and pupil right. A couple of things happened in my teens that brought the whole thing crashing down, three things specifically. First, there was a girl who made a comment about all my ridiculous drawings. Then a teacher. But I kept going, until I got some mail. A packet from the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art and another from the California Institute of the Arts. My step dad handed the mail to my mom as we left the post office, she saw the packets and asked about them. I lit up and explained that they were both great art schools I was interested in. And she laughed. And that was all it took, all the color ran away from what should've been a great day. I went through the motions for a while, I'd switched schools by the time I graduated. My new art teacher introduced me to reps from AI and a couple of other places, but by then all I was doing was pumping out stuff I could do in my sleep to get some money. I didn't realize it yet, but I just didn't care anymore. The connection was just gone, and had been since that day at the post office. My room didn't have pictures on the walls anymore, it was blank. I didn't have a desk set up to draw on, just a dresser with a tv on it. I skipped college, went traveling for a couple of years, then got married. My wife got me to go to school for a year, but it was obvious my heart just wasn't in it. Now she's been teaching English for 12 years, and I always tell her how important it is to be kind, if not supportive when some kid shows off their bad poetry. I don't spend too much time wondering about what might've been, I might not have met my wife if I'd gone to either of those schools, which means I wouldn't have my son either. But I can still hear that derisive laugh, and I can still feel the sting. And I genuinely don't want anybody to have to feel that way. So, thank you for what you do. Both on and off RUclips. Out of all the unimportant things, art is the most important.
Being an artist, even saying you want study art, is a vulnerable thing to do. Some of the deepest pain in my life comes from things people have told me about my art, or the relationship of art and money. It's a tough row to hoe. I remember basically being laughed out of the art program at my college. I had an awful time there, and it wasn't even as bad as other stories I've heard about college art programs. But when it comes down to it, there is no path in life you can choose that excludes pain. So the choice, as I see it, is between the pain of becoming who you want to be (whatever that means), or the pain of denying what you want to be. Whatever one chooses will be painful. For my experience, the pain of becoming is better by far than the pain of denial, but god do I wish it was less painful. All the best, Keith.
Thanks for the kind words! I don’t watch actual plays, but I do listen to them on occasion. I really enjoy when Scott Dorward runs games for How We Roll or Aint Slayed Nobody! I also really enjoyed the Magpies podcast too!!
16:05-16:20 Fair! But it's funny to hear you say that, because you have SOO many great GM ideas, and you are such a creative person in SOO many diverse areas. I think you're more of an expert in many fields than you give yourself credit! I personally have never been interested in art. I am not subscribed to any art channels, but your channel touches so many different aspects of creativity that you INSPIRE me to be more creative in everything I do. I have started making maps and pictures of custom monsters and magical items as a result of joining your channel... something I never in a million years would have considered 6 months ago! Thank you for broadening my creative mind and encouraging me that I was capable of more creativity than I ever dreamed possible.
That's lovely to hear! I suppose I am coming to grips with the higher level of visibility. But I am so so glad to hear that your are happily making stuff! That is my greatest hope for the channel. Not that folks do what I say, but that they do as they wish! Haha. Cheers!
At: 14:42. Per the internet: A Rhizome (botanical origin), unlike trees or their roots, connects any point to any other point, and its traits are not necessarily linked to traits of the same nature. Rhizomatic is a philosophical concept developed by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, used to describe theory and research that allows for multiple, non-hierarchical entry and exit points in data representation and interpretation.
I know a lot of this is focused on visual art but I realized a lot of it is applicable for book writing that I'm trying to learn. Love your content dude. Keep it up.
Absolutely! The creative process is emotionally very similar across media, turns out! Cheers!
Appreciate ya brother! And huge congrats dude! Extremely well deserved!!!
Thank you for talking about burnout, therapy, medication, and the intrinsic value of a person.
Yeah. Burnout is often phrased as a problem of productivity before it considers the human who is suffering. Like "How do I get over burnout so I can get back to work?" instead of "How can I heal from the unhealthy situation that burnt me out?"
@@mapcrow indeed! I hope some day it's no taboo anymore to talk about mental health ^^
Huh. You just said something that really resonated with me, as an educator. Taking the time to build trust with a student, before fully engaging in critique of their evolving craft… I think that’s really important! But I realise I’ve never thought about it that way before. Great advice in general for educators 👍
Barges into comment section*
Knocks over waterbottle*
Refuses to elaborate further*
Leaves*😎
ARNIE!! Oh gosh! Miss ya, pal!!
When I discovered your channel a year ago, maybe a month after your first videos, I was really surprised that you didn't get an audience of 10s of thousands immediately. I'm so happy more people see your work now. Congrats for the 50k
Thanks for the answer, Kyle. Congrats on 50k! And good luck if you DO decide to join us in Blender Hell, haha.
Well with a name like Blender Hell, it sounds so enticing!
It's always a pleasure to hear you delicious voice ! Very interesting discussion (and I'm taking some notes for my next trip to the library) !
Oh dang! I knew I missed mentioning someone! Rodar, you are absolutely on my list of favorite mappers!! Thank you for the kind comments!!
@@mapcrow Aaaaaw thank you !! you are too kind, I am merely a beginner 😳 ! Thank you again for sparking this passion in me !!
Good luck with your Book! Seems like a great project, would make a good Kickstarter project.
Hey Kyle thanks so much for the answer, I really enjoy your take on it. Much better then just rub some grit into it.
Hi Kyle, thank you very much for sharing so much wisdom with us, and congrats on the big 50k! I'm not one to post public comments normally, but I had a question that I thought others may be able to benefit from as well.
In the video, you mentioned that when you first started doing maps, you had posted them online, and that you were able to get some positive feedback on them. Do you have any online spaces outside of youtube that you would recommend for someone who is looking for feedback on their mapmaking, or just to share for others to enjoy?
Yeah! I've been a long time twitter user, and it has it's problems, but all my mapper friends are there. Also, I can recommend the NSR Cauldron as a supportive TTRPG discord server. It's not mapper specific, but it's good folks!! Cheers!!
You're one of my favorite channels!
DELICIOUS IN DUNGEON AND GIIIIIDDEEEEON!!!!!! (also huge congrats kyle! so happy for you!)
omg i yell commented that in joy and then upon listening further and getting to the burnout question i got all teary-eyed. great advice and good reminders
This was a great vid! I have a question myself, if you don't mind. I don't need it answered in a video unless you want to, a simple comment will suffice, although you talked about something related to this in the video. So, due to my job, I'm making art everyday. Most of it is soulless, derivative, non challenging, but it still takes time and effort (I work as a "graphic designer", but most of the time I'm just drawing cars, which I do not care about). I get paid for it every week, I work from my home, and there aren't many alternatives around for me (except becoming 100% freelance, which I haven't been successful at in the least). The thing is, I'm still very passionate about art and often I find myself thinking about my own projects, but very rarely get to work on them because my job takes most of my "artistic energy" from me. I can't take a break because I need to keep making an income, and even if I stop drawing in my spare time I'd still be drawing for my job. Is there a solution to this? Or am I just doomed to be like this until I can find a better/different job?
Gosh, I hear you on that! I was in a similar situation for years. I think the way that I got through it was to change the scope of the work I was doing in my free time to match my curiosity and energy. It was easier to know that I was only going to do a 6 page or 12 page comic as opposed to starting a weekly webcomic. I found it easier to push myself for a short time to make a small zine for a comic convention than a big yet vague goal. Eventually, I changed jobs when I moved cities, which meant I could reevaluate my creative projects to match that new situation. Does that answer your question?
@@mapcrow Yes, thanks a lot! I'll keep that in mind from now on. Even just hearing about other peoples situations can be helpful, not just for me but artists in general. I guess we're all just figuring it out as we go.
Holy wow! Congratulations on the very well-earned milestone! You deserver every bit of support you've gotten. So cool to see that you have a comic book out there, but I can totally understand that it's an inpenetrable industry to get into. Also, holy shit did you perfectly describe my life in that section about burnout. I'm definitely going to take your advice, and take time to heal.
Yeah, Burnout is real tough to deal with because oftentimes, you may not be able to fix the situation if it's coming from someone in authority over you! It's an ongoing process to rearrange mine life so I can make things that bring me joy in a sustainable way!
I’m a newbie but I’m loving the channel! Any other socials?
Just twitter, haha. Thanks for kind comment!!
Im so glad that I found your youtube channel. I am starting to dm again soon and your advice and drawings are really inspiring! Thank you so much, keep on creating this content and Im sure you will grow even more.
Man I love how much your channel has grown since I first started watching. You deserve every bit of it and what you said about burnout and the associated behaviors/situations is so on point. Congrats and keep doing what you’re doing!
I enjoyed getting some behind the scenes questions answer. Thank, mate. 😁👍
~ Adam
As someone who's had a stutter since I was a child and also uses filler words, I couldn't even tell you had one. Your hard work on doing extra takes really pays off. I'm binge watching your videos while working on a new campaign so I've probably watched half of your videos by now, if not more.
Edit: Your talk on burnout was extremely touching, as someone who hyper focuses on stuff and sometimes burns out on it, it really helped.
I came for maps and Dnd. Then I found your first spoopy monster episode. And now this. Just. Wow. WHAAAT a fuckin introduction.
Ha! That has to feel like jumping into the deep end alright!! Haha! Welcome aboard!
@@mapcrow When people ask for Gm tips send them to Matt Colville, for the philosophy of Dnd. The wisdom needed to make it great. Matt Colville insists running the game is fun, and its really not that hard. You just need a respectable mental junkyard of media and game mechanics. Just expose yourself to information, and throw all that junk into the back of your mind, and when you reach behind you for an idea, they will start to be there for you to grab. Im extremely experienced in the mechanics part, and thats why iv come here, to pad my mental junkyard of art and media
will you release a video about this new book when its ready?
You will be hearing a lot about it over the coming months! Won't be able to miss it!
Wonderful video! 08:47 Wise words on burnout and support. I don't have the energy to cry, but I so needed to hear this today, and thank you so much for sharing! ❤🐦 YT doesn't have a crow, so here's a bluebird. :)
this channel is criminally underrated
Kylie, your art is so beautiful and evocative. I could stare at each map for days finding the cool details or marveling at minute techniques that help create each scene. Thank you for taking so much time to share it. I have showed your videos to my oldest daughter who is obsessed with drawing and she loves them too. Take care.
Oh thank you! I'm glad your daughter is enjoying it too!! Cheers!
First of all congrats!
Secondly, your last point is such a great point, but I want to note that there's a difference between comparing yourself to others on a technical level and comparing yourself in an emotional level: the first is informative and important for growth and the second sets people back. Usually when people say "don't compare yourself to others", they mean the second interpretation when you look at pretty pictures by other people and just sulk about how much better they are and how much you suck. It takes conscious effort to look at a piece you like from a technical angle for some people.
I love Krull too. Good choice.👍
~ Adam
13:32 YOO!!!!!! look at me!!!! congrats on 50k!!!!
I needed to hear some of that. Congratulations on 50k!
Hey! You make good art and good videos =)
Oh boy, I had to stop early on and play it again, then respond.
I got started drawing back when there was still the distinction of commercial art and fine art, if that gives you any idea. Like you, I had a strong influence from comics. The first big touch stone being Wendy and Richard Pini and their graphic novel Elfquest. As a Tolkien fan, I'd recommend it if you're not familiar by the by. It was a gift I got in first grade, coincidentally the same year I first played Dungeons and Dragons (this would be 86/87).
I had been interested in drawing and painting before, but that graphic novel blew my little mind and sat dog eared on a pile of books ranging from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and the Village of Hommlet. Over the years I drew obsessively, sometimes spending hours just working on pages of eyes. Trying to get the reflections in the iris and pupil right.
A couple of things happened in my teens that brought the whole thing crashing down, three things specifically. First, there was a girl who made a comment about all my ridiculous drawings. Then a teacher. But I kept going, until I got some mail. A packet from the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art and another from the California Institute of the Arts. My step dad handed the mail to my mom as we left the post office, she saw the packets and asked about them.
I lit up and explained that they were both great art schools I was interested in. And she laughed. And that was all it took, all the color ran away from what should've been a great day. I went through the motions for a while, I'd switched schools by the time I graduated. My new art teacher introduced me to reps from AI and a couple of other places, but by then all I was doing was pumping out stuff I could do in my sleep to get some money. I didn't realize it yet, but I just didn't care anymore. The connection was just gone, and had been since that day at the post office.
My room didn't have pictures on the walls anymore, it was blank. I didn't have a desk set up to draw on, just a dresser with a tv on it. I skipped college, went traveling for a couple of years, then got married. My wife got me to go to school for a year, but it was obvious my heart just wasn't in it. Now she's been teaching English for 12 years, and I always tell her how important it is to be kind, if not supportive when some kid shows off their bad poetry.
I don't spend too much time wondering about what might've been, I might not have met my wife if I'd gone to either of those schools, which means I wouldn't have my son either. But I can still hear that derisive laugh, and I can still feel the sting. And I genuinely don't want anybody to have to feel that way. So, thank you for what you do. Both on and off RUclips. Out of all the unimportant things, art is the most important.
Being an artist, even saying you want study art, is a vulnerable thing to do. Some of the deepest pain in my life comes from things people have told me about my art, or the relationship of art and money. It's a tough row to hoe.
I remember basically being laughed out of the art program at my college. I had an awful time there, and it wasn't even as bad as other stories I've heard about college art programs.
But when it comes down to it, there is no path in life you can choose that excludes pain. So the choice, as I see it, is between the pain of becoming who you want to be (whatever that means), or the pain of denying what you want to be. Whatever one chooses will be painful. For my experience, the pain of becoming is better by far than the pain of denial, but god do I wish it was less painful.
All the best, Keith.
I've been creating for over 10 years and I think this has been the most useful advice video I've found, especially about burnout. Thank u Kyle 👏
Glad it was helpful!! Cheers!!
Another question, what is your favorite campaign that is streamed online?
Thanks for the kind words! I don’t watch actual plays, but I do listen to them on occasion. I really enjoy when Scott Dorward runs games for How We Roll or Aint Slayed Nobody! I also really enjoyed the Magpies podcast too!!
Oh! You did She Dwarf! I knew I should trust your chill vibes the from first video of yours I got in my recommendations.
Yes! She Dwarf was me! Haha! Thank you for the kind words!
16:05-16:20 Fair!
But it's funny to hear you say that, because you have SOO many great GM ideas, and you are such a creative person in SOO many diverse areas. I think you're more of an expert in many fields than you give yourself credit!
I personally have never been interested in art. I am not subscribed to any art channels, but your channel touches so many different aspects of creativity that you INSPIRE me to be more creative in everything I do. I have started making maps and pictures of custom monsters and magical items as a result of joining your channel... something I never in a million years would have considered 6 months ago! Thank you for broadening my creative mind and encouraging me that I was capable of more creativity than I ever dreamed possible.
That's lovely to hear! I suppose I am coming to grips with the higher level of visibility. But I am so so glad to hear that your are happily making stuff! That is my greatest hope for the channel. Not that folks do what I say, but that they do as they wish! Haha. Cheers!
Congrats of 50k!
Thank you so much for the answer! This is my favorite RUclips channel.
Glad you enjoy it!
how do u get the isometric grid? I dont rly want to rule it all out by hand but want to get into the isometric maps
Link is at the bottom of the description.
dropping in a rhyzomatic there, good one ;)
It's a concept I've talked about in a few videos, Shapes of Adventure and Pointcrawls.
At: 14:42. Per the internet: A Rhizome (botanical origin), unlike trees or their roots, connects any point to any other point, and its traits are not necessarily linked to traits of the same nature. Rhizomatic is a philosophical concept developed by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, used to describe theory and research that allows for multiple, non-hierarchical entry and exit points in data representation and interpretation.
Per me: I did a video called Shapes of Adventure where I unpack the term how I use it here, specifically referencing Deleuze and Guattari.
@@mapcrow Thanks, I will take a look!
Amazing video as always, thanks!
great episode as always! always love the theory talk :D
woaaah >.> this is really thought out
It was a wonderful question! Thanks for asking!!
@@mapcrow you're very welcome
Congrats on the 50k!
Lots of wisdom in this one
Thank you!
Second
Good to see ya, Sarah!
First
You've always been first in my book, Nathan. Haha