Honestly I went through the same thing. I used to only do realism, even if it was a fantasy type drawing. I would always try to be a real as possible. I have only recently, within the past few years, been able to branch out from that into more creative styles. One of the things that helped a lot was getting a (short lived) job as a caricature artist at a theme park. It's the worst job ever because ppl are constantly looking over your shoulder while you make fun of other ppl but it did teach me a new way of looking at things. It opened the door to the more creative and more stylized part of my brain. Aside from that I have recently begun seeing my life/ reality in general in a whole new way. Before I begin working on the comic book I would always assume that I could always only do realism and even if I did try to do comic or cartoon style I would go into it believing that it was going to turn out as crap... now I go into ANY project with complete confidence and it seems no matter what it is I am happy with it. If you can genuinely convince yourself that you can do it then it becomes natural. This way of thinking can be somewhat of a struggle to get used to but once you do a whole new world will open up for you. I attribute everything Im doing to it. Before I started looking at life this way I was on a suicide mission.. nothing seemed to work out. Now, just because I genuinely believe in myself and know for sure that whatever it is I am doing is going to work it does. Everything I'm involved in now was a fantasy like 5 years ago... For instance, one of my idols, Billy Tucci, is doing a cover for my new comic book that goes nationwide in January and Jimmy Palmiotti is helping us distribute it. Thats nuts to me, but I made it happen. Basically what I'm saying is that I was in your shoes but I was able to completely take control of my reality and now nothing is impossible. It's all about how you think. The mind is everything, what you think you become.

I hope this helps, I just rattled it off the top of my head. If you want me to go into more detail about anything let me know. Good luck to you.

[link]
[link]
[link]

--
'Reality is not as it seems' -Test Subject (X)

Where? Where?

--
With a bit of luck..his life was ruined forever ...always thinking that just behind some narrow door in all his favourite bars, men in red woolen shirts are getting incredible kicks from things he will never understand.

Thank you

--
'Reality is not as it seems' -Test Subject (X)

Awesome.

--
'Reality is not as it seems' -Test Subject (X)

On this one I think I went through 7... some ppl have asked and I went back and did the math and 7 seems right. Its not that they dry out or anything but after so much use the ink starts to come out irregularly and it can ruin the whole thing if I don't catch it before it starts getting bad. Thanks for the compliment