kittenpawprints:

i think it’s awesome to get recognition from other artists, my heart nearly skips a beat every time someone I looked up to for so long follows me. but you shouldn’t force that on someone, friendship comes naturally through mutual respect and people tend to gravitate to others they can learn from. on the internet, it’s a little harder to make friends without being selective…I appreciate nice asks and support but I won’t just befriend you at random for being kind.

The reason artists make friends with other artists isn’t for popularity (like most of you guys think it is), it’s built on mutual respect for eachother’s art, learning from each other, art trades, anything. There’s a connection already formed. And I’m saying all of this without the chance that you want to befriend an artist for free art, that’s a whole nother can of worms.