no one is obliged to like you and that is okay. this is why you mustn't put your self-worth in the hands of other people--you have no control over how they feel about you.
wanting your art to connect with others is the same: no one is obliged to interact with it and you have no control over whether they do or not. you must accept this. your mood can't be reliant on the decisions of others, let alone strangers--happy when you get engagement from them, sad when you get less.
I'm not saying it's selfish to want validation, attention, or connection. your feelings are real and I've FELT them. I still feel them. but other people have a choice of whether to give you those things or not, whether in everyday situations or online, and you have to accept that choice. the only thing you can control is you.
connecting, REALLY connecting with others, is about actively inserting yourself into communities you vibe with, learning the necessary skills (social or otherwise), being vulnerable, and a little luck. join a discord server or a local club. focus on specific artistic friendships. put your time and effort into those relationships, spend less time on social media, uncouple your self-esteem from your art and try your damnedest to make your own at home. that's all you can do.
