It took quite a bit of time I'd say around 2025/05 is when my account started to really grow! I had a fandom account before this one and grew a following there but on this account it was still very small at first for a while as people had never seen my OC work before this, that much. This is my first ever OC account, and drawing these topics (I was mostly yaoi artist before) so I was very fresh and new in that sense. It was thanks to my eventual mutuals and thereon other people who spread and retweeted my work that it made me grow a lot! Getting retweeted by similar artists was the biggest boost for me. I don't really know what exactly got people into my OC's though to be this intrigued.

As for community, I understand you cause I get quite nervous myself with having a "following". I will say, your community is what you make of it. If you're being toxic a lot or posting drama, then people akin to that will follow you and interact. And setting boundaries in my head really helps me. I try to create a good environment and it seems to be most rewarding.