Reaching the end of the proverbial line

[cuddlycornpone]

(Not sure which forum this would really fall into)

Shoot. I was doing really well for a while there. Every day I was either sketching, inking, or coloring some page of my strip (yet to be uploaded) in order to build up a good backlog. Part of the reason for this is because I don't have my site up yet and wanted to get things done in the meantime, and part of it is because I'm going back to school in a day or so and am anticipating not being able to get a lot of work done there.
The trouble is, do you ever get some random idea in your head and think "Wow that'll be great and make everything so much easier!" but then you go to actually do it, and realize that it is a)inefficient and b)looks horrible? That's what's just happened to me, and instead of being able to work around the problem like I've usually able to, it just kind of hit me and suddenly there was this huge wave of discouragement.
Now I'm looking at pages that are more or less done, but don't look so good at all, even going so far as to consider completely scrapping the first page or so that I've already "completed." Oy. And then looking ahead there are still about ten pages that are nowhere near done. Ouuucch. I'm considering just saying "to heck with it" and leaving those uncolored so I don't have to deal with the inevitable disappointment of my lousy coloring skills.
I still want to be getting things done, though maybe it'd be better to just abandon the whole thing for a while until I feel more competent about it.
Gah. I just needed to get that off my chest. Anyone else experiencing some setbacks? Or if not, any advice for lil ol' me?

[Spaceprincess]

I think we've all been there. You get a great idea, work really hard on it and turn out a good number of pages. Then you look at them and shake your head and groin. The worst thing you can do is let it frustrate you till you give up. Its a these times you step back take a deep breath and then make an objective evaluation of what you've got. You have to figure out what parts work and what parts don't. You may abandon the whole thing but don't think of it as a total loss. Making art or writing is a continuous learning experience so don't let your bad work get you down. And be sure to show what you've done to others, maybe it isn't as bad as you think. good luck and keep working.

[Koad]

just abandon the whole thing for a while until I feel more competent about it.

But the only way to get more competent is to keep working at it. Don't give up. Like Spaceprincess said, everybody goes through this. In fact it's probably a good sign that you can see what needs to be improved with your own work. If you ever become completely satisfied that's when you should really worry.

[VinnieD]

Don't let it frustrate you. Just draw to the best of your ability and move on. If you put effort into it, the effort will show regardless of skill level. Every artist is his own worst critic after all, since only you know what it was supposed to look like in your head. Accept the compromise between your head and your hand and keep working to close the gap between the two.

[Ripnormality]

Ooo...I totally always feel that way. It might be better for you, though, to keep drawing the new pages in a better style and, once you're satisfied with that, to go back and fix the old pages...that way, you'll have more practice, etc.

[cuddlycornpone]

Haha, thanks for the replies, all. It's things I already knew in my head, mostly, but hearing them from other people is helpful nonetheless. Things have gotten a little better since I've been away from the drawing board, and I decided to rewrite the first few pages that I was originally so keen on uploading, since I think I can make them better and more direct.