>>5887553This. Practice will definitely make you better, but you can't solely rely on it.
An artist that does nothing but grind is like a boxer who works out every day but doesn't actually practice boxing. It doesn't matter how ripped he is, he's gonna walk into that ring and get knocked the fuck out because he doesn't know how to fight and put his muscle to use. It's the same way artists become "generic" and "mediocre" despite having so much technical skill, or as they call them "art gains".
Drawabox talks about the "The 50% Rule" which is that for as much time you spend grinding, reading, and practicing, you need to spend an equal amount of time just drawing for the sake of it. It's just as you said, it's about balance.
If you do nothing but grind, you're gonna end up like that boxer who got knocked out in the first round. If you do nothing but "just draw" and neglect your learning, sure you'll have a lot of spirit but you will still get knocked out because your body is weak and doesn't have the muscle you need to land a solid blow.
OP, if you've reached the point that you feel like you're able to successfully convey "who you are" through your art and you still feel like you're "generic", then well, I guess just broaden your horizons and venture into uncharted territory by leaving your comfort zone and reading new books, seeking out different genres and looking for new inspiration.
Do some soul searching, I guess is what I'm saying. Despite what a lot of art snobs say about "anime-artstyle" and it being "generic". It really doesn't have to be.
If you want to do anime, one way of making it unique and "yours" is by incorporating foreign elements into it. See if you can introduce something new to the table, something you're passionate about that you don't see much in anime or manga.
Put yourself on the canvas, loosen up and get quirky. If you have the art gains, your chances of success are 100%. With the gains you'll be more than just a "muh style" fag, trust me.
