Recently I've had several people innocently try to lead me down a path of what they would preceive as a successful route for my carreer.
Let me clarify something to you non artists out there.
Every artist has a style, theme, niche whatever, that they are good at, enjoy doing, and excell at. That goes for every person on the planet - some people do well in some areas while other do well in other areas. Sometimes these areas are similar, that doesn't make them interchangeable.
Example: Bob is great at fixing bikes. he can make a bike from scratch if he can find all the parts. Bob is a mechanically minded person, can add electric motors onto the bikes and make tons of crazy stuff with bikes. There is no doubt Bob is an amazing technical guy.
Do you ask Bob to repair your car?
I should think not! Yes it's a technical thing, yes they're both a form of locomotion and yes, they both go on the road.
(Side note: Dear firefox, or Blogger: when I hit Enter, go DOWN a line, Not up)
So, as an artist, the same sort of analogy will apply.
I'm a Comic artist and Animator. Why would you expect me to do landscapes and be confortable doing that for a carreer? Why do you think this is a logical solution to the struggled of being an artist? you don't think the landscape artist didn't struggle too, before they started selling work?
What a ridiculous suggestion. I know people mean well, but do they realize how FUCKING INSULTING it is to tell me what I am doing will never make it? That what EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING will make me successful? You can't possibly.
I guess it's the people who took the "easy" road that are the ones that suggest this. Of the people who actually suggest this route for me the only one I can think of that actually likes her job is my Mum. So should I be taking the advice of 6 people who hate thier day to day job?
I think NOT!
It is fully possible to be happy in your carreer! It takes as much work as any other job, no matter what you do.
You are given ONE LIFE to live and there is no fucking reason you can't be happy and prosperous in your carreer except your own self doubt and lack of ambition.
I WILL be successful, and I WILL be happy in my carreer, whether you believe in me or NOT!
Really, there's no 'easy' art field. Landscapes, comics, illustration, portraits, they're all challenging to get a start in. Even if you're talented, it takes skill AND promotion. To tell someone that they should be in X art field instead of Y art field because X is easier than Y needs to step back and stop giving false advise.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that certain fields are a bit more difficult to be successful in, due usually to high competition, but none are easier to do.
Your bike mechanic comparison is a good one. Just because a person can paint, doesn't mean they can paint anything. I can't draw robots or machinery to save my life, and I'm sure someone's who is awesome at robots may not be as good at wildlife. Everyone has strengths and styles, and it's not necessarily a 'disadvantage' if you focus on one thing. In fact, it's actually best if you have a specialty - it allows you to focus and refine your style and skill, and helps people identify you as "that" artist.
@Brenda
ReplyDeleteYes, I wonder if people telling me to be a landscape painter realize there there is about 500 people Painting the Lions Gate Bridge at any given time? Hows my painting going to stand out against those when it's not my comfortable drawing zone?
I'll never understand these people.
Some of these people making these statements to me are CUSTOMER at the art store, not even people who know me. it's the people close to me saying it that really hurts though, because we ARE doing well! I don't have a huge support group so people running in and saying "you should be doing something else" rattles my own confidence when it's really all I've got.
Besides, Comics is one of the easiest (if there could be one) areas anyways because itb produces such merchandise and there are mega conventions and they're notorious collectors.