EXACTLY! I got goaded into going to a Bible college back in 1989. The idiot preacher said I had to "give up all that art stuff. It has no place in the church..." I guess he forgot that God is the original artist, and created everything. Lol.
The "you don't have what it takes" advice hits super close to home. When i got to highschool i developed the idea that i wanted to pursue art as a career. At the end of highschool I applied to art schools and they were all fairly receptive, but one evening after school, my school counselor, my principal, and my parents all called me into a meeting. they basically showed me what "good art" looks like, and then showed me my own art. they told me nobody would ever buy any of my work and that i'd never make it because "these good artists started as children." OUCH. So instead they convinced me to go to school for something else, and now I find myself in a career that is as far from art as it gets. I went many years without ever practicing. Now a decade later after being convinced to give up on art i've finally come back to it and am practicing every day in the hopes that maybe someday i can turn it into a career before I am no longer here.
Christopher, I've heard similar tales and it makes my blood boil! Ignorance plus arrogance can be such a toxic combination! And when you're young and you don't know, what are you supposed to do if you're not one of the minority who just brims with confidence and self-belief? I had no family members who were artists so I felt pretty isolated too, but I always went back to making art because I needed to. I hope you really revel in it now because you got held back a good while there!
This makes me very angry for you. God, what an unfair ambush on someone young enough to really take it to heart! :(. I'm glad you've gotten back around to what you love.
Family!!!! They never got it. When my kids were little I was doing art shows. I tried to do as many as I could in Sept, Oct and Nov.. I was told I should be spending weekends with my kids and not out doing art shows, your husband makes enough to support you, you do not need to sell art. And the ever so popular one, How much do you make anyway? They truly believed I created my art for money and no other reason.
If anyone tells you about business or marketing, remind them that the internet exists and is breaking the business structure for most industries, especially artistic ones
My very first official job as a graphic designer began at a local marketing agency while I was finishing my last semester of college. They were using an entirely different suite of software from what I had learned to use in school, so it took a lot of adjustment for me to learn and get used to the new programs. I was there for a little while before they decided I took too much time to complete projects (never missed a deadline or had a dissatisfied client to my knowledge) and they let me go. As I was sitting in the boss's office getting fired he told me I shouldn't go into business for myself. 12 years and TONS of experience later that's exactly what I am planning on doing, so piss on that guy.
joyelle halliel I was told by my boss (art director at a small town newspaper) before they laid me off that I wasn’t a good designer and I wasn’t improving as a graphic designer. That year I won many awards for my spot color ads in the collegiate newspaper for my graphic design. I found out many people were let go because their accountant embezzled over $200,000! So they couldn’t afford to pay all of us. 😏
I just recently started my art career after retiring. Try starting out at 63. I'm proud to call myself an artist but everyone around me is such a naysayer.
That's great. I decided that I will work for the next 10 years and after that become a full-time artist. I'm still living with my family and use only about 5-10% of my income, for my dream to come true. My best friend thinks that's great, other than that, I don't talk often about it because I know that most people won't understand it or think it's stupid (better make a real career blah, buy something, go to this place), when it's just my unique way to save enough money for myself, so that I don't need to worry too much about not making enough. I don't like it, but it will pass and one day I can do what I want. You do you.
my father started his art interest in his 50s after he was forced to retire from his job due to ill health. He never tried to sell any of his art, he just did it because he had a need to do it. Anyway now my sister and I are now in our 50s and we are also both pursuing our desires to be artists as well. She is a photographer and is slowly building up a clientele by word of mouth. I never liked the paper and paints kind of art, nor am I a photographer, but i love doing digital art, so I am currently working on improving my digital art skills. After my father died we discovered a whole lot of paintings that he had done, and we had no idea, existed. My sister and I had been wondering where our interest and desire to do art had come from.
@@SereniaSaissa Cool story. My interests are heavy in Digital but I also like watercolor painting and using watercolor pencils. I'm moving ahead on all three. I'll do one for a few days then switch. If we just keep at it we will get there.
I left my job but I told my mom it was only to be a stay at home mom to my new baby. She was okay with that. :P It was something she had always wanted to be able to do. I left out any part of it being to pursue my creative career aspirations also. *laughs* He's all grown up now though. Time flew by. I ignore the advice I get to selling online which is to have a bunch of things ready before I list because only having one or two is silly. They say "Would you buy anything from a store that only sold two items?" Well yes if I liked one of them well enough and also I am not a store... I am a creative. Love these videos!! - Heidi
I was told to learn oil painting and do portraits. Being a young person who couldn't work yet and no support from the people around me, it was absurd. I would get pastels or small marker sets and stuff to do the art but without the paper or anything to do it on. My advice is if your going to give a child rral art supplies, give them a kit and the paper or what ever goes with it. Cheep art supplies are frustrating and make the kid feel like it's there fault when things don't turn out. I know this isn't what your saying but being supportive is so important to everyone who love to make art.
Yessssssss! When I first started, I would have killed to have the art supplies I let my kids use now 😂 🙌 I will literally let my 4 and 5 year old use my artist grade paints and papers (minus cads/cobalts/etc of course) they love it, feel like real artists, ane even sign their work 😍 do they ruin things? Yes! Make staining messes? Yes! But I love the lightfast* memories they're making😂 that I'll be able to keep forever❤️ #justsaynotobadartsupplies
@@terawalker5495 it doesn't matter if you consider her an artist, it only matters whether she considers herself an artist...... I paint things from my area and things that surround me. I'm an artist, no discussion to it...... It's also easy to to look back and blame a particular person or time in our lives for whatever our shortcomings or unreached goals may be. You're responsible for you though, and being an artist is tough! It takes dedication, commitment, and not giving up when people close doors on you. You can do it! You have to find a that determination though.
My high school art teacher told me my abstract drawing was too abstract. He wasn't a very good art teacher. You comment about sticking to one thing put me in mind of Thomas Kincade and his cottages. How many paintings of a cottage does one actually need?
Thomas Kincade was miserable doing cottages after a while. He tried to quit but he was to scared to lose the money and too scared to start over with none. Or something like that. You’ll have to research the details of his life. He died miserable.
Actually I own a canvas piece from TK that is not in his cottage style and I love it. It matches my other impressionistic pieces by Monet. My mom has a large TK canvas of Lombard St. In SF so he did do other things.
Most of the bad advice I get is from supportive loved ones thinking a little about what would up my sales and pretty much no research. 😂 I mean it’s well intentioned for sure, but not what I need. I guess the main one besides don’t do art... was from a supply snob who learned art supply prejudices from their teacher and hadn’t actually looked into the facts. Just some ridiculous brand loyalty. To be honest the main thing I tell other aspiring artists (or the parents of them) is to just do you and your art, enjoy yourself. And then tips on how to make their art practice cheaper. Because even though the fancy supplies are nice... if all you can think of is how much is it going to cost you to paint, you aren’t going to paint. I guess if I were to give serious advice it’d be don’t depend on others for your research. Look into claims and weigh the other options. Also, clear cookies each time before looking/booking hotel rooms/flights for any far trips related to your art career. Drops the price by like 50%. 😂
Oh lord. The Art teacher one. In my last year of high school, I had a teacher who rejected me from the AP art class because she thought my art was "tracing and copying other art styles." I was more aligned with the anime/manga style at the time. (Not to be mean, but all the art I saw from that class was rushed or unfinished. Literal blank paper in detailed projects hung up in the halls. She offered no time outside of class to finish projects. Something I did consistently in the last school I went to, which was only a regular class. That teacher let me fall behind to finish pieces I could be proud of.) These videos you two made are wonderful! Thank you so much for this, actual helpful advice.
I think the worst advice I have gotten is 'no advice', especially from those closest to you who know how much you love what you do. Excellent videos and best of all, great advice. Food for thought... especially for starving artists. Thank you.
I look at everything. Your graphics. Your editing. Your set-up. The way you bounce off each-other. Type font you use. You guys are loaded with talent over there!
There are two reasons "you don't have what it takes" exists. 1. A blocked artist is always going to be a jerk 2. There is a thought belief in teaching/psychology: you need someone to tick you off enough that you push yourself to prove them wrong. I just found your channel today, I'm glad I did. Great video.
Maybe you mentioned this in the other video? Today I was at my local home decor boutique where I am trying to sell my artwork. The gal in there said she hated to tell me to conform since I am an artist. But she told me to make what was trending like what everyone else was selling in there. She told me customers all conform to the trends and they will only pick a certain style in their shop. *sigh* I am so sick of seeing signs that read “Grateful” “thankful” etc. why are consumers like sheep? Yet online I get customized requests that are quite different and I love it cause I can express my art skills with what they are looking for. I am starting to think home decor consumers are like sheep. Someone had to start the trend, that small 20% that Seth Godin mentions in his book, Purple Cow. The outliers from the average. I am firm believer in learning how to market. Cause you have to figure out how to bring the traffic to your art, as long as you’re “trying” there is no rt or wrong way in doing it. I can’t get over the creatives that make amazing art but sit on their butts wondering why no one can find them. Cause you have to bring consumers to your art, no fairy godmother is gonna magically appear and help! 🤣
I am totally with you on the whole "create art that's on trend" BS. And the sign thing as well....so frustrating to be at a market next to a sign vendor and see them super busy selling pithy sayings for the wall when there are lots of artists selling unique items. Sigh.
6:56 myself and many artists I follow have day jobs to support ourselves but that’s just because we need that extra financial support or we’re not at the point in our careers where we can quit our day job and focus only on art. The goal is to get there one day, so we keep working on our art and we keep creating things we love. It’s always good to have a day job but you have to be careful it doesn’t stress you out too much either. Keep making sure to creat the things you love and be patient.
My favorite was , I had done a series of fiber art quilts. I was so proud of myself and even more of my work. But, it all came to a screeching halt for me when someone said, “you really have way too much time on your hands.” “I guess you don’t know what to do with yourself. It’s a good thing you’re married because he would probably be homeless.” I was so crushed,that it took me weeks to want to work again.
Rafi and Klee you both rock 🪨. Strong in character and bold with it too. Praises and gratitude to you both for sharing your experience and knowledge with us the public. This, coming from a fan of you both from the Twin Isle Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, Caribbean.
"Stick to one medium"? What the...! All my art teachers spent about a month or two per medium so that everyone got to try everything and then our personal projects became mushups of everything. "You have to fail to succeed" my teacher in sculpting said XD
My first art teacher scared me so bad I RAN!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't return to school until my next class started. I was in high school at the time. It was my first actual class dedicated to art. Yeah, don't listen to a teacher who obviously has personal problems. It took me several years to realize I can actually draw fairly well and try again. Props to western artist, and retired CHP officer, Russ Marwin, for encouraging me!
So thankful to have a mother who is incredibly supportive of my creative endeavors (trying to start an art career). She's my biggest fan and it is so helpful and appreciated! Remember to give love to those who really support you. 🖤👩🏻🎨
The day before my first art show an aunt said no one would buy my work because people only buy landscape paintings. That kinda hit me for a curve but I was able to ignore her and go on. All week people looked at and admired my work but no buyers. Then came the weekend and I thought, "Even if I don't sell anything I've had a great time!" I eventually earned much more than my investment selling only originals. There were people who came but didn't purchase anything who contacted me later and I sold double the original amount from the show! No landscapes were involved! I enjoyed the entire process. Creating, framing, setting-up, organizing AND selling! That aunt (not a favorite) never said anything. She didn't have to. But I had a blast! Also, just purchased your ebook with indiegogo! Looking forward to reading it!
Thanks guys for your advice, it's a bit heart warming to know you've heard these things too. For 15 years, I followed other people advice (mostly family and colleagues) about "how to get a real job when you're only good at drawing". Well, I just couldn't take it anymore. It all ended in a really bad burnout. Since a few months, I'm trying to get a living from my art, and the thing I always get is "your art is too specific/weird, nobody's gotta be interested in that, try to get a real job". I hope I could prove them wrong someday...
@@terawalker5495 This is the crux of it, they are definitley there, it's just how to connect with that specific audience. I hope there will be better platforms/portals for "specifically weird" coming along! I put a lot of hope in etsy for a while, but it took a walk away from the wild side!
I just found this video and the other 10 pieces of advice and I have to say the truck-loads of comments I would receive were where I've been told not to pursue art at all, that I don't have what it takes, or to just do portrait/political/gallery/whatever everyone else was doing. That really isn't my goal, as I really want to be able to draw storybook-type illustration and be able to get into that market. Tip number 13 really strikes a chord here with me as I still struggle with wanting a collection of my drawings to put out there rather than as I go. As for trying out other mediums, I love that tip because you never know what you like or you might be comfortable with. Colored pencil is my primary medium (it's a medium that I find fun yet perfect for what I want to do), but I am practicing ink (for dip pens) and while challenging, I find it super versatile and meditative. I would like to try to get into watercolor one day despite how often terribly my pieces turned out to be. Thank you for sharing this!
It took me decades to do what I want... it's very demoralizing to always do as your told. My older siblings are starting to come around, and realize that I'm serious, and that I'm actually good at what I do.... now as to whether they'll come around full circle is another matter... (I'll take what I can get!) 🤗love you guys!
Wow.. almost every single one of these nuggets has been thrown at me and they STUNG! I almost quit. Not joking.. you and Klee are keeping me going coz I know I’m not fully crazy (just on the margins) lol 💯🥰👌
I have a question... Id like to try art competitions.... but often hear of them only weeks before submission date. -And often times these competitions are very specific about what they want... Which I never seem to have any of what they want, ready made. -Or to create it on the fly, just isn't my bag (baby). So, yes, the question is... How do you deal with this? Maybe I should be targeting specific places about competitions and asking them if they can provide particulars on when, what, etc.?
I am so glad I found this channel! You both sound right up my stubbornly optimistic alley! I once had a middle school art teacher who told me, "you should quit art. you just don't have what it takes." Well, 40 years later, I live in a very large city and I am in regular "exclusive club" juried shows. I think she was still an art teacher in a middle school. Period. In short, consider the source, skeptically. I am a happy scofflaw in that regard, also with "zero art degree or formal training" pedigree. I could have. I chose not to. I am much happier (and so happy I am not paying off a 3/4 million student loan to a prestigious art school that doesn't even exist anymore!)
Right when I was applying for college I was told that I was never going to make money selling my little drawings. I hated the career I ended up in. After a chronic illness, lockdown and not being able to work outside the home. I am turning back to art. It’s therapy. Your videos are so relatable And extremely helpful.
I'm not an artist as in drawing and painting (I do paper crafts and make soap) but like others have said, so much of what you guys say works for other situations too. Two months ago I left a job I'd been at for 30 years. I was burned out mentally and physically. My husband and I had been kicking around the idea of starting a little business selling our things (he does woodworking) and encouraged me to quit, that this was the right time. So now as we fumble around trying to figure out how to do this small business thing, soooo many of the things you talk about hit home. And I'm guilty of following the lines of thought of several of these bad advice bits! DOH!!! It's okay though. My eyes are opening. Thanks for your words and wisdom. =)
The people around me always built me up and so much positive support. Only person holding me back was me. I would have every excuse to not follow an art career. And I'm still battling with myself now but I am pushing through
I really love your channel. You guys have a chemistry that is fun to watch. You must truly enjoy each other's company. Thanks for all your hard work and for putting out all this info. Blessings and love from Upstate New York!!
One bad advice I got was to try to paint like another artist that was doing very well in his career! I just totally screamed in my head saying NO WAY will I ever copy someone else’s style! I am me and I love my uniqueness!
I loved the statement about creating in different mediums. I currently work in digital and traditional pencil art, but I'm also considering traditional painting as well. Awesome video!
I've dabbled in just about everything, but these days I mostly stick to digital because it's cheaper to make and I live in a tiny apartment that I can't get too messy in.
I love the comradery of you two. Your videos are awesome and you have helped and entertained me incredibly. Now that the flattery is done, just thanks.
I wanted to be a writer as a kid and I heard from my dad, mostly, whose going to read what you write? I heard thing like this so often, as well as you need a good paying job with benefits, etc. Even though my dad was self employed and took a lot of risks, he was a mechanic and I guess he never understood my need to be creative. Those words kept me from writing for years. I'm still afraid to put anything creative into the world but I've forced myself to do it anyway and enjoy the process.
Well you wrote this on your time off without giving it much work at all and I read it and I liked it. It's a three sentence story and it's compelling and from the heart which is what I like to see when I read anything. Now you have people who have read even your simplest writing, in a comment no less, who already see that you can totally do this and who would be happy to see more. Me, I mean. I hope that you can find a happy middle-ground between his advice and mine and I hope it will make you happy. Get back to scribbling as soon as you feel up to it, Christina, and you will find that "Whenever you live closely with your personal legend All The Universe conspires to help you" (Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist) ;) You got this! Peacefulness and Light ✨ Stay Frosty ❄
A student once came upto me during my Alevels as l was sketching and she said. Oh you do art. Her gaze made me feel as l was some sloppy burdensome junkie loading my viens with Methamphetamine. Her gaze...she made me feel as if l am the most disgusting thing to ever walk the earth.. Hurts to see some people think of art and artists that way inspite of being so educated.
10:39 the only time that seems to be good advice is for com artists. There are many artists who go around the convention circuit and have booths at almost every con and that’s how they make their living, but it took them a lot of time before they were able to do that and not everyone can. It all depends on what you want out of your art career.
I feel so happy seeing the two of you so happy and together. Thank you both for being inspiring examples and role models as I struggle to start my art business.
loving these videos! love all y'alls videos actually lol my favorite bad advice i have got so far is "you need to reproduce 'that' to make money". im an artist, not a company. id hate to have to reproduce my art over and over again because i have 300 customers wanting and expecting the same thing from me. That's what prints are for but even then i don't have all my art as prints. My art is one of a kind, I can't even reproduce the majority of it even if i tried. Thanks again for your channel! It helps me feel less insecure about being an artist and more excited about my future! Much love y'all
I've been told that all of my art needs to be a series. I would be so bored if I had to paint the same style all of the time. Hey, no one is going to put me in a box. Paint your passion. If your passionate it will show in your work and if you're bored it will also show up in your work. Have fun artists. Don't let someone with a bunch of rules suck all of the fun out of it. Thanks Rafi and Clee!
You two are awesome! I’m not an artist but I have started a new business and it’s amazing how much of the things you discuss are totally relatable to me! From how you mentally approach sales. To the not so helpful “advise” that does nothing but plant seeds of defeat in your mind. It’s the way you both approach life and business. Loving your vids!
Rafi & Klee you guys are AWESOME! Love how you guys work off each other & the obvious support you give each other! Like I said in the first part of the video THANK YOU for the advice, it couldnt have come at a better time..you guys & your videos really gave me the last pump to just put myself out there & post my first video. Thanks again for having watched my first video & commenting, you guys really are awesome! Cant wait for your next video! Have a great day!
Thankyou so much for having an honest heart. I've never heard anyone be so forthcoming about these concerns. You could apply these ideas to many things that face all of us whatever we do. Love you so much!! 😃🏅🎨♥️
I'm so glad youtube recommended this to me. Just recently took the plunge to start spending all my spare time in pursuit of romance writing and all of your points echo so hard. Had I seen this video 10 years earlier I'd be in visual arts now.
I dislike the expression "Find your passion." What if I have 100,000 different things I'm passionate about? (I do happen to have quite a few creative interests.) How do I choose just one? What if I pick the wrong thing? That conditioning has lead me down a lot of dead end roads in life. I'm glad I've finally realized that I can have both a 'job' and a 'passion' and they aren't mutually exclusive. Actually the realization that we get to do life however we want is pretty liberating. Thank you for the great content, I really enjoy your channel. :)
When i was around 5yrs old a so-called "Teacher" had us in class drawing and colouring Daffodils as it was Easter etc. I remember looking over the tables at other pictures that classmates were doing. Although i liked the pictures i wanted to draw a black Daffodil instead because it was different. Across the classroom she marched whilst bellowing "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" and proceeded to screw my picture up and threw it in the bin. "BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL COLOURS WE WANT! NOT LIKE YOU HAVE JUST DONE! DO IT AGAIN!" she further ranted as she stuffed another blank piece of paper in front of me. So i did it again. A black Daffodil. At this point she was enraged and by the scruff of my neck i was dragged out of the class and made to stand outside for the remainder of the lesson.
Thank you so much for these 21 pieces of “advice” videos, I have also heard a lot of these and have thought them and absorbed them and you are really giving me the courage to start my journey.
My advice is don’t listen to others, listen to your gut instinct and when it comes to a career, go with where your passion is. There are many people that give bad advice because they are jealous of you, I get that a lot.
Thank you for your candor. Nice to meet another fellow broken down former corporate, square peg in a round hole, comrade now living your best life companion along the way. Love your videos! You are a great team! (Sharon Morthier Artwork).
Advice I got from my brother "Nobody likes horror art, you can never be a horror artist, why do you even draw ghosts and vampires? They suck". He was one of my worst "advice givers" and really dug into my head for a long time - so much so that to this day I haven't sunk myself into horror even though my soul aches for it (don't worry - I do have a plan to get over this mental block he helped to place there along with dozens of others).
I knew an artist who only did horror. It was his way of processing the world (he was a paramedic) and he did very well. Sure SOME people won't like it, but that's with every kind of art you create.
@@Rafiwashere My favorite artists do oil-painting-style digital art and every time I look at their things I want to learn to do stuff like they do. (: Thank you for replying to me, the encouragement and reminder of improtance of horror really helps me.
Thanks for a fun video :) Klee...I agree with burning bridges - sometimes you need to do that to prevent a retreat when the going gets tough. The best piece of bad 'advice' I received was at my very first local market event - I am a photographer and digital artist - and someone looking at my work told me that I should take up drawing because that would sell better. WTF?????
I’m really enjoying your channel guys. I think all of this is true for any type of creative/artist. I’ve heard so many of the same negative things about what I’m doing. Thanks for the great tips!
Your videos and vlogs are such meaningfully important work for artists like me. Outwardly I can seem confident but inside I'm fearful and unsure. Listening to artists like yourself (and Tim Packer and others) help to ease my trepidation and allow me to focus more on the artistic process every day and less on what others think of my work. I've done 10 art fairs so far this summer and only sold 3 works. I get alot of positive comments about my work yet few who feel compelled to take it home. It's hard. Really hard. I remind myself this is my first year of really promoting my work so like anything new, it takes time for people to make a commitment. Am I right, or am I lying to myself. Lately I've been questioning that maybe they (people) just dont like me, although they love the art. I'm a true introvert who feels awkward and out of place with people. Maybe I say too much to people during shows??? See, here comes the doubt. And round and round it goes. I know my work has value because my peers tell me and I've won a few awards of recognition this year at various events.......Patience????
If your going to have a breakdown Corporate is definitely the place to do it....I wish you both great things and even some good things." Corporate Management and the Evil Empire" is my next and first great novel.
Oh man Klee...my wife and I moved to Georgia from Ohio about 6 years ago and we still get guilt from pockets of her family back north. I struggle a lot with getting stuck in preparation mode. I just started my art back up not too long ago and have roughly 20 pieces finished at the moment but I keep thinking "hmm...maybe spend another month creating" "Hmm...maybe two months" "Hmm...first of the year should give me a good starting stock". Meanwhile I'm looking at the wall I hang them all on in our living room and am like "...man I need a bigger wall already." I am curious though what you feel is the appropriate level of preparation when it comes to the business end of things. Is there an appropriate level of preparation? Do I just dive in and figure it out as I go? I'm in a good place as far as creating pieces and am all for selling them but then I start thinking about the reality of selling things and being a small business and I panic a bit and feel completely unprepared. It's all smooth sailing until my brain starts thinking about the logistics of pricing, selling, packing/shipping, paperwork, taxes, etc and before you know it I'm thinking to myself "eh...maybe I don't NEED to make a career out of this...". I feel like this is my final hurdle to getting the ball rolling but looking at the illusion of my past hurdles I can't help but wonder...is this a hurdle at all or at the very least is it a much smaller hurdle than my brain is making it?
4:09 as someone who does both original and fanart... if I listened to that I’d never show my art. My art isn’t really a cohesive collection, but I know I have to show it to put myself out there. And I follow a lot of artists who don’t have cohesive collections outside of certain projects they do. If you wait until you have a cohesive collection, you may never show your art.
Best art advice I ever got , "just create "
Or like a wise man once said: "Just do it!"
You had me at "...my family has been opposed to every big decision ive ever made in my creative life..."
I felt this.
EXACTLY! I got goaded into going to a Bible college back in 1989. The idiot preacher said I had to "give up all that art stuff. It has no place in the church..." I guess he forgot that God is the original artist, and created everything. Lol.
The "you don't have what it takes" advice hits super close to home. When i got to highschool i developed the idea that i wanted to pursue art as a career. At the end of highschool I applied to art schools and they were all fairly receptive, but one evening after school, my school counselor, my principal, and my parents all called me into a meeting. they basically showed me what "good art" looks like, and then showed me my own art. they told me nobody would ever buy any of my work and that i'd never make it because "these good artists started as children." OUCH. So instead they convinced me to go to school for something else, and now I find myself in a career that is as far from art as it gets. I went many years without ever practicing. Now a decade later after being convinced to give up on art i've finally come back to it and am practicing every day in the hopes that maybe someday i can turn it into a career before I am no longer here.
Christopher, I've heard similar tales and it makes my blood boil! Ignorance plus arrogance can be such a toxic combination! And when you're young and you don't know, what are you supposed to do if you're not one of the minority who just brims with confidence and self-belief? I had no family members who were artists so I felt pretty isolated too, but I always went back to making art because I needed to. I hope you really revel in it now because you got held back a good while there!
That has to be one of the most painful de-motivational stories ever, but it’s awesome that you never lost sight of that drive years later.
This makes me very angry for you. God, what an unfair ambush on someone young enough to really take it to heart! :(. I'm glad you've gotten back around to what you love.
Stick to one medium? No thanks. Where’s the fun in that? 🤷🏻♂️
Family!!!! They never got it. When my kids were little I was doing art shows. I tried to do as many as I could in Sept, Oct and Nov.. I was told I should be spending weekends with my kids and not out doing art shows, your husband makes enough to support you, you do not need to sell art. And the ever so popular one, How much do you make anyway? They truly believed I created my art for money and no other reason.
If anyone tells you about business or marketing, remind them that the internet exists and is breaking the business structure for most industries, especially artistic ones
My very first official job as a graphic designer began at a local marketing agency while I was finishing my last semester of college. They were using an entirely different suite of software from what I had learned to use in school, so it took a lot of adjustment for me to learn and get used to the new programs. I was there for a little while before they decided I took too much time to complete projects (never missed a deadline or had a dissatisfied client to my knowledge) and they let me go. As I was sitting in the boss's office getting fired he told me I shouldn't go into business for myself. 12 years and TONS of experience later that's exactly what I am planning on doing, so piss on that guy.
joyelle halliel I was told by my boss (art director at a small town newspaper) before they laid me off that I wasn’t a good designer and I wasn’t improving as a graphic designer. That year I won many awards for my spot color ads in the collegiate newspaper for my graphic design. I found out many people were let go because their accountant embezzled over $200,000! So they couldn’t afford to pay all of us. 😏
I just recently started my art career after retiring. Try starting out at 63. I'm proud to call myself an artist but everyone around me is such a naysayer.
That's great. I decided that I will work for the next 10 years and after that become a full-time artist. I'm still living with my family and use only about 5-10% of my income, for my dream to come true. My best friend thinks that's great, other than that, I don't talk often about it because I know that most people won't understand it or think it's stupid (better make a real career blah, buy something, go to this place), when it's just my unique way to save enough money for myself, so that I don't need to worry too much about not making enough. I don't like it, but it will pass and one day I can do what I want. You do you.
my father started his art interest in his 50s after he was forced to retire from his job due to ill health. He never tried to sell any of his art, he just did it because he had a need to do it. Anyway now my sister and I are now in our 50s and we are also both pursuing our desires to be artists as well. She is a photographer and is slowly building up a clientele by word of mouth. I never liked the paper and paints kind of art, nor am I a photographer, but i love doing digital art, so I am currently working on improving my digital art skills. After my father died we discovered a whole lot of paintings that he had done, and we had no idea, existed. My sister and I had been wondering where our interest and desire to do art had come from.
@@SereniaSaissa Cool story. My interests are heavy in Digital but I also like watercolor painting and using watercolor pencils. I'm moving ahead on all three. I'll do one for a few days then switch. If we just keep at it we will get there.
I left my job but I told my mom it was only to be a stay at home mom to my new baby. She was okay with that. :P It was something she had always wanted to be able to do. I left out any part of it being to pursue my creative career aspirations also. *laughs* He's all grown up now though. Time flew by. I ignore the advice I get to selling online which is to have a bunch of things ready before I list because only having one or two is silly. They say "Would you buy anything from a store that only sold two items?" Well yes if I liked one of them well enough and also I am not a store... I am a creative. Love these videos!! - Heidi
I was told to learn oil painting and do portraits. Being a young person who couldn't work yet and no support from the people around me, it was absurd.
I would get pastels or small marker sets and stuff to do the art but without the paper or anything to do it on.
My advice is if your going to give a child rral art supplies, give them a kit and the paper or what ever goes with it. Cheep art supplies are frustrating and make the kid feel like it's there fault when things don't turn out.
I know this isn't what your saying but being supportive is so important to everyone who love to make art.
Yessssssss! When I first started, I would have killed to have the art supplies I let my kids use now 😂 🙌 I will literally let my 4 and 5 year old use my artist grade paints and papers (minus cads/cobalts/etc of course) they love it, feel like real artists, ane even sign their work 😍 do they ruin things? Yes! Make staining messes? Yes! But I love the lightfast* memories they're making😂 that I'll be able to keep forever❤️ #justsaynotobadartsupplies
I just bought my great nieces oil pastels to replace their crayons. They’ll never go back now. Wish I’d had them as a kid.
@@terawalker5495 it doesn't matter if you consider her an artist, it only matters whether she considers herself an artist...... I paint things from my area and things that surround me. I'm an artist, no discussion to it...... It's also easy to to look back and blame a particular person or time in our lives for whatever our shortcomings or unreached goals may be. You're responsible for you though, and being an artist is tough! It takes dedication, commitment, and not giving up when people close doors on you. You can do it! You have to find a that determination though.
@@ashlyrz252 everyone has differnt experience with the world and deal with it the best they know how.
@@kbowler9266 very true ❤️ I wish her nothing but peace within herself, happiness, and success.
'Analysis Paralysis' ... perfect! Your advice applies to more than art. I look forward to my next Rafi and Klee fix, you're both so empowering.
9:16 almost all the artists I follow that are successful have probably never been in a gallery...
My high school art teacher told me my abstract drawing was too abstract. He wasn't a very good art teacher. You comment about sticking to one thing put me in mind of Thomas Kincade and his cottages. How many paintings of a cottage does one actually need?
I was actually shocked when I found work by him of Mt. Arbel and the Galilee in Israel. I can respect him again.
Thomas Kincade was miserable doing cottages after a while. He tried to quit but he was to scared to lose the money and too scared to start over with none. Or something like that. You’ll have to research the details of his life. He died miserable.
Actually I own a canvas piece from TK that is not in his cottage style and I love it. It matches my other impressionistic pieces by Monet. My mom has a large TK canvas of Lombard St. In SF so he did do other things.
How the hell can an abstract art piece be too abstract? What does that even meaaan????
Most of the bad advice I get is from supportive loved ones thinking a little about what would up my sales and pretty much no research. 😂 I mean it’s well intentioned for sure, but not what I need.
I guess the main one besides don’t do art... was from a supply snob who learned art supply prejudices from their teacher and hadn’t actually looked into the facts. Just some ridiculous brand loyalty.
To be honest the main thing I tell other aspiring artists (or the parents of them) is to just do you and your art, enjoy yourself. And then tips on how to make their art practice cheaper. Because even though the fancy supplies are nice... if all you can think of is how much is it going to cost you to paint, you aren’t going to paint.
I guess if I were to give serious advice it’d be don’t depend on others for your research. Look into claims and weigh the other options. Also, clear cookies each time before looking/booking hotel rooms/flights for any far trips related to your art career. Drops the price by like 50%. 😂
Oh lord. The Art teacher one. In my last year of high school, I had a teacher who rejected me from the AP art class because she thought my art was "tracing and copying other art styles." I was more aligned with the anime/manga style at the time. (Not to be mean, but all the art I saw from that class was rushed or unfinished. Literal blank paper in detailed projects hung up in the halls. She offered no time outside of class to finish projects. Something I did consistently in the last school I went to, which was only a regular class. That teacher let me fall behind to finish pieces I could be proud of.)
These videos you two made are wonderful! Thank you so much for this, actual helpful advice.
I think the worst advice I have gotten is 'no advice', especially from those closest to you who know how much you love what you do. Excellent videos and best of all, great advice. Food for thought... especially for starving artists. Thank you.
I look at everything. Your graphics. Your editing. Your set-up. The way you bounce off each-other. Type font you use. You guys are loaded with talent over there!
Awwwwwsss
Wow 11 more! You must really love us Rafi.
There are two reasons "you don't have what it takes" exists. 1. A blocked artist is always going to be a jerk 2. There is a thought belief in teaching/psychology: you need someone to tick you off enough that you push yourself to prove them wrong. I just found your channel today, I'm glad I did. Great video.
I'm a musian too Have a great weekend Rafi and Klee :)
I just found you by way of the Etsy Rant! You are hilarious!!!! 💯👍💚💚💚💚💚💚
Miss Mimi that’s how I found them also.♥️👍
Same here
Me too!!!
Maybe you mentioned this in the other video? Today I was at my local home decor boutique where I am trying to sell my artwork. The gal in there said she hated to tell me to conform since I am an artist. But she told me to make what was trending like what everyone else was selling in there. She told me customers all conform to the trends and they will only pick a certain style in their shop. *sigh* I am so sick of seeing signs that read “Grateful” “thankful” etc. why are consumers like sheep?
Yet online I get customized requests that are quite different and I love it cause I can express my art skills with what they are looking for.
I am starting to think home decor consumers are like sheep. Someone had to start the trend, that small 20% that Seth Godin mentions in his book, Purple Cow. The outliers from the average.
I am firm believer in learning how to market. Cause you have to figure out how to bring the traffic to your art, as long as you’re “trying” there is no rt or wrong way in doing it.
I can’t get over the creatives that make amazing art but sit on their butts wondering why no one can find them. Cause you have to bring consumers to your art, no fairy godmother is gonna magically appear and help! 🤣
I am totally with you on the whole "create art that's on trend" BS. And the sign thing as well....so frustrating to be at a market next to a sign vendor and see them super busy selling pithy sayings for the wall when there are lots of artists selling unique items. Sigh.
6:56 myself and many artists I follow have day jobs to support ourselves but that’s just because we need that extra financial support or we’re not at the point in our careers where we can quit our day job and focus only on art. The goal is to get there one day, so we keep working on our art and we keep creating things we love. It’s always good to have a day job but you have to be careful it doesn’t stress you out too much either. Keep making sure to creat the things you love and be patient.
My favorite was , I had done a series of fiber art quilts. I was so proud of myself and even more of my work. But, it all came to a screeching halt for me when someone said, “you really have way too much time on your hands.” “I guess you don’t know what to do with yourself. It’s a good thing you’re married because he would probably be homeless.” I was so crushed,that it took me weeks to want to work again.
Rafi and Klee you both rock 🪨. Strong in character and bold with it too. Praises and gratitude to you both for sharing your experience and knowledge with us the public. This, coming from a fan of you both from the Twin Isle Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, Caribbean.
"Stick to one medium"? What the...! All my art teachers spent about a month or two per medium so that everyone got to try everything and then our personal projects became mushups of everything. "You have to fail to succeed" my teacher in sculpting said XD
My first art teacher scared me so bad I RAN!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't return to school until my next class started. I was in high school at the time. It was my first actual class dedicated to art. Yeah, don't listen to a teacher who obviously has personal problems. It took me several years to realize I can actually draw fairly well and try again. Props to western artist, and retired CHP officer, Russ Marwin, for encouraging me!
So thankful to have a mother who is incredibly supportive of my creative endeavors (trying to start an art career). She's my biggest fan and it is so helpful and appreciated! Remember to give love to those who really support you. 🖤👩🏻🎨
The day before my first art show an aunt said no one would buy my work because people only buy landscape paintings. That kinda hit me for a curve but I was able to ignore her and go on.
All week people looked at and admired my work but no buyers. Then came the weekend and I thought, "Even if I don't sell anything I've had a great time!"
I eventually earned much more than my investment selling only originals. There were people who came but didn't purchase anything who contacted me later and I sold double the original amount from the show! No landscapes were involved!
I enjoyed the entire process. Creating, framing, setting-up, organizing AND selling!
That aunt (not a favorite) never said anything. She didn't have to. But I had a blast!
Also, just purchased your ebook with indiegogo! Looking forward to reading it!
Thanks guys for your advice, it's a bit heart warming to know you've heard these things too. For 15 years, I followed other people advice (mostly family and colleagues) about "how to get a real job when you're only good at drawing". Well, I just couldn't take it anymore. It all ended in a really bad burnout. Since a few months, I'm trying to get a living from my art, and the thing I always get is "your art is too specific/weird, nobody's gotta be interested in that, try to get a real job". I hope I could prove them wrong someday...
@@terawalker5495 This is the crux of it, they are definitley there, it's just how to connect with that specific audience. I hope there will be better platforms/portals for "specifically weird" coming along! I put a lot of hope in etsy for a while, but it took a walk away from the wild side!
I wish more art teacher in my school (a specialized art school) were like you two.
I just found this video and the other 10 pieces of advice and I have to say the truck-loads of comments I would receive were where I've been told not to pursue art at all, that I don't have what it takes, or to just do portrait/political/gallery/whatever everyone else was doing. That really isn't my goal, as I really want to be able to draw storybook-type illustration and be able to get into that market.
Tip number 13 really strikes a chord here with me as I still struggle with wanting a collection of my drawings to put out there rather than as I go.
As for trying out other mediums, I love that tip because you never know what you like or you might be comfortable with. Colored pencil is my primary medium (it's a medium that I find fun yet perfect for what I want to do), but I am practicing ink (for dip pens) and while challenging, I find it super versatile and meditative. I would like to try to get into watercolor one day despite how often terribly my pieces turned out to be.
Thank you for sharing this!
It took me decades to do what I want... it's very demoralizing to always do as your told.
My older siblings are starting to come around, and realize that I'm serious, and that I'm actually good at what I do.... now as to whether they'll come around full circle is another matter...
(I'll take what I can get!)
🤗love you guys!
@@Rafiwashere Right? 😄
Ty! I needed to hear this! I feel like I forget after a while and the insecurities start creeping in. This is a good refresher. Tytyty
Wow.. almost every single one of these nuggets has been thrown at me and they STUNG! I almost quit. Not joking.. you and Klee are keeping me going coz I know I’m not fully crazy (just on the margins) lol 💯🥰👌
Kasey keep going, yes, I'm over fifty and still feel like I'm looking for my tribe! You just have to keep your antennae up maybe? All the best!
I have a question...
Id like to try art competitions.... but often hear of them only weeks before submission date. -And often times these competitions are very specific about what they want... Which I never seem to have any of what they want, ready made. -Or to create it on the fly, just isn't my bag (baby).
So, yes, the question is... How do you deal with this?
Maybe I should be targeting specific places about competitions and asking them if they can provide particulars on when, what, etc.?
I am so glad I found this channel! You both sound right up my stubbornly optimistic alley! I once had a middle school art teacher who told me, "you should quit art. you just don't have what it takes." Well, 40 years later, I live in a very large city and I am in regular "exclusive club" juried shows. I think she was still an art teacher in a middle school. Period. In short, consider the source, skeptically. I am a happy scofflaw in that regard, also with "zero art degree or formal training" pedigree. I could have. I chose not to. I am much happier (and so happy I am not paying off a 3/4 million student loan to a prestigious art school that doesn't even exist anymore!)
In a nutshell, never let anyone else tell you what to do, unless you literally ask for their advice.
would love you two some tutorials on what you do. Share your talent there to. love you two. Thanks for all yalls knowledge.hugs fro N.C.
2:18 " What a piece of crap turd of advice" Haha, you two rock, keep up the great work.
5:06-5:11 Absolute best advice I've ever heard. :) Most amazing 5 seconds on YT.
Love dark crystal lol
Great advice and great video as per the usual
Ty y’all so much
Right when I was applying for college I was told that I was never going to make money selling my little drawings. I hated the career I ended up in. After a chronic illness, lockdown and not being able to work outside the home. I am turning back to art. It’s therapy. Your videos are so relatable And extremely helpful.
I totally dig this...
Your advice is just the shot in the arm that I needed to proceed, and I thank you
Yet another great video, thank goodness I found you two- voices of reason and kindness, Thankyou again xx
I'm not an artist as in drawing and painting (I do paper crafts and make soap) but like others have said, so much of what you guys say works for other situations too. Two months ago I left a job I'd been at for 30 years. I was burned out mentally and physically. My husband and I had been kicking around the idea of starting a little business selling our things (he does woodworking) and encouraged me to quit, that this was the right time. So now as we fumble around trying to figure out how to do this small business thing, soooo many of the things you talk about hit home. And I'm guilty of following the lines of thought of several of these bad advice bits! DOH!!! It's okay though. My eyes are opening. Thanks for your words and wisdom. =)
Glad to hear you mention Richter as he’s always been an inspiration for working in multiple mediums.
Love your channel you pull no punches but are so down to earth Klee comes up with the rates comments thank for your content very helpfull
The people around me always built me up and so much positive support. Only person holding me back was me. I would have every excuse to not follow an art career. And I'm still battling with myself now but I am pushing through
I really love your channel. You guys have a chemistry that is fun to watch. You must truly enjoy each other's company. Thanks for all your hard work and for putting out all this info. Blessings and love from Upstate New York!!
My god this is the single most awesome artist-to-artist how-to video I have ever seen. You have a new fan!
Awww! Thank you so much!
Loved hearing these. I am a jack of all styles, and could never stick to just one.
One bad advice I got was to try to paint like another artist that was doing very well in his career! I just totally screamed in my head saying NO WAY will I ever copy someone else’s style! I am me and I love my uniqueness!
Moved into the new place, and CAN'T WAIT to set up the studio! Thank you both for being amazing people and sharing allll your wisdoms! :D
You speak with much wisdom.
I loved the statement about creating in different mediums. I currently work in digital and traditional pencil art, but I'm also considering traditional painting as well. Awesome video!
I've dabbled in just about everything, but these days I mostly stick to digital because it's cheaper to make and I live in a tiny apartment that I can't get too messy in.
Julian Birch That is definitely understandable.
@@wordforger Me too. I also do digital art for those exact same reasons.
I love the comradery of you two. Your videos are awesome and you have helped and entertained me incredibly. Now that the flattery is done, just thanks.
You guys are always so refreshing. Thanks for caring enough to share so honestly.
I wanted to be a writer as a kid and I heard from my dad, mostly, whose going to read what you write? I heard thing like this so often, as well as you need a good paying job with benefits, etc. Even though my dad was self employed and took a lot of risks, he was a mechanic and I guess he never understood my need to be creative. Those words kept me from writing for years. I'm still afraid to put anything creative into the world but I've forced myself to do it anyway and enjoy the process.
Well you wrote this on your time off without giving it much work at all and I read it and I liked it. It's a three sentence story and it's compelling and from the heart which is what I like to see when I read anything.
Now you have people who have read even your simplest writing, in a comment no less, who already see that you can totally do this and who would be happy to see more. Me, I mean. I hope that you can find a happy middle-ground between his advice and mine and I hope it will make you happy.
Get back to scribbling as soon as you feel up to it, Christina, and you will find that "Whenever you live closely with your personal legend All The Universe conspires to help you" (Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist)
;)
You got this!
Peacefulness and Light ✨
Stay Frosty ❄
A student once came upto me during my Alevels as l was sketching and she said.
Oh you do art.
Her gaze made me feel as l was some sloppy burdensome junkie loading my viens with Methamphetamine.
Her gaze...she made me feel as if l am the most disgusting thing to ever walk the earth..
Hurts to see some people think of art and artists that way inspite of being so educated.
@@Rafiwashere oh god now wow why didnt l think of that... Well l guess l am learning alot from you Rafi 🥰😁😆
@@Rafiwashere Hahahaha! Sure did lol! Love it!
10:39 the only time that seems to be good advice is for com artists. There are many artists who go around the convention circuit and have booths at almost every con and that’s how they make their living, but it took them a lot of time before they were able to do that and not everyone can. It all depends on what you want out of your art career.
I feel so happy seeing the two of you so happy and together. Thank you both for being inspiring examples and role models as I struggle to start my art business.
loving these videos! love all y'alls videos actually lol my favorite bad advice i have got so far is "you need to reproduce 'that' to make money". im an artist, not a company. id hate to have to reproduce my art over and over again because i have 300 customers wanting and expecting the same thing from me. That's what prints are for but even then i don't have all my art as prints. My art is one of a kind, I can't even reproduce the majority of it even if i tried. Thanks again for your channel! It helps me feel less insecure about being an artist and more excited about my future! Much love y'all
I've been told that all of my art needs to be a series. I would be so bored if I had to paint the same style all of the time. Hey, no one is going to put me in a box. Paint your passion. If your passionate it will show in your work and if you're bored it will also show up in your work. Have fun artists. Don't let someone with a bunch of rules suck all of the fun out of it. Thanks Rafi and Clee!
You two are awesome! I’m not an artist but I have started a new business and it’s amazing how much of the things you discuss are totally relatable to me! From how you mentally approach sales. To the not so helpful “advise” that does nothing but plant seeds of defeat in your mind. It’s the way you both approach life and business. Loving your vids!
Rafi & Klee you guys are AWESOME! Love how you guys work off each other & the obvious support you give each other! Like I said in the first part of the video THANK YOU for the advice, it couldnt have come at a better time..you guys & your videos really gave me the last pump to just put myself out there & post my first video. Thanks again for having watched my first video & commenting, you guys really are awesome! Cant wait for your next video! Have a great day!
Thankyou so much for having an honest heart. I've never heard anyone be so forthcoming about these concerns. You could apply these ideas to many things that face all of us whatever we do.
Love you so much!! 😃🏅🎨♥️
I'm so glad youtube recommended this to me. Just recently took the plunge to start spending all my spare time in pursuit of romance writing and all of your points echo so hard. Had I seen this video 10 years earlier I'd be in visual arts now.
I dislike the expression "Find your passion." What if I have 100,000 different things I'm passionate about? (I do happen to have quite a few creative interests.) How do I choose just one? What if I pick the wrong thing? That conditioning has lead me down a lot of dead end roads in life. I'm glad I've finally realized that I can have both a 'job' and a 'passion' and they aren't mutually exclusive. Actually the realization that we get to do life however we want is pretty liberating. Thank you for the great content, I really enjoy your channel. :)
Really good conversation. thank you.
When i was around 5yrs old a so-called "Teacher" had us in class drawing and colouring Daffodils as it was Easter etc. I remember looking over the tables at other pictures that classmates were doing. Although i liked the pictures i wanted to draw a black Daffodil instead because it was different. Across the classroom she marched whilst bellowing "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" and proceeded to screw my picture up and threw it in the bin. "BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL COLOURS WE WANT! NOT LIKE YOU HAVE JUST DONE! DO IT AGAIN!" she further ranted as she stuffed another blank piece of paper in front of me. So i did it again. A black Daffodil. At this point she was enraged and by the scruff of my neck i was dragged out of the class and made to stand outside for the remainder of the lesson.
Thank you so much for these 21 pieces of “advice” videos, I have also heard a lot of these and have thought them and absorbed them and you are really giving me the courage to start my journey.
Love you two! And it's wonderful to listen to all your advice and humor!
"Hmmm???" I love you guys so much. Thank you for sharing your good vibes with the world! ♥
I really appreciate your artistic integrity!
If you're health conscience,take the advice with a grain of Kosher salt.
@@Rafiwashere Thank you 😁
Or if you're me and Jewish lol
@@arioctober7867 shalom!
@@SalazarArtNation שלם!!
or pink himalayan salt :'D lol!
My advice is don’t listen to others, listen to your gut instinct and when it comes to a career, go with where your passion is. There are many people that give bad advice because they are jealous of you, I get that a lot.
Thank you for your candor. Nice to meet another fellow broken down former corporate, square peg in a round hole, comrade now living your best life companion along the way. Love your videos! You are a great team! (Sharon Morthier Artwork).
@@Rafiwashere Hearts back at the team! I don't know how to do them on RUclips. :)
Advice I got from my brother "Nobody likes horror art, you can never be a horror artist, why do you even draw ghosts and vampires? They suck". He was one of my worst "advice givers" and really dug into my head for a long time - so much so that to this day I haven't sunk myself into horror even though my soul aches for it (don't worry - I do have a plan to get over this mental block he helped to place there along with dozens of others).
I knew an artist who only did horror. It was his way of processing the world (he was a paramedic) and he did very well. Sure SOME people won't like it, but that's with every kind of art you create.
@@Rafiwashere My favorite artists do oil-painting-style digital art and every time I look at their things I want to learn to do stuff like they do. (: Thank you for replying to me, the encouragement and reminder of improtance of horror really helps me.
I think I have been given nearly all 21 of these, AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH, love you guys x
Thank you for putting this together. I have had many of these pieces of advice too. Thanks for your discussion, it's very helpful
Your advice is the best I have ever got... thank you !
Thanks for a fun video :) Klee...I agree with burning bridges - sometimes you need to do that to prevent a retreat when the going gets tough. The best piece of bad 'advice' I received was at my very first local market event - I am a photographer and digital artist - and someone looking at my work told me that I should take up drawing because that would sell better. WTF?????
I’m really enjoying your channel guys. I think all of this is true for any type of creative/artist. I’ve heard so many of the same negative things about what I’m doing. Thanks for the great tips!
I love you guys! Great advice! I feel so much better with my first show coming up!
All great advise! Thank you for sharing!
my art teacher told me I'd never be as good as my brother, my brother is now a mechanic and I'm the artist
Fantastic advice that I will certainly ponder on.
Your videos and vlogs are such meaningfully important work for artists like me. Outwardly I can seem confident but inside I'm fearful and unsure. Listening to artists like yourself (and Tim Packer and others) help to ease my trepidation and allow me to focus more on the artistic process every day and less on what others think of my work. I've done 10 art fairs so far this summer and only sold 3 works. I get alot of positive comments about my work yet few who feel compelled to take it home. It's hard. Really hard. I remind myself this is my first year of really promoting my work so like anything new, it takes time for people to make a commitment. Am I right, or am I lying to myself. Lately I've been questioning that maybe they (people) just dont like me, although they love the art. I'm a true introvert who feels awkward and out of place with people. Maybe I say too much to people during shows??? See, here comes the doubt. And round and round it goes. I know my work has value because my peers tell me and I've won a few awards of recognition this year at various events.......Patience????
Super motivating video! Thanks, guys!
Once again,😃 great video. Very helpful.😁👍
If your going to have a breakdown Corporate is definitely the place to do it....I wish you both great things and even some good things." Corporate Management and the Evil Empire" is my next and first great novel.
Oh man Klee...my wife and I moved to Georgia from Ohio about 6 years ago and we still get guilt from pockets of her family back north.
I struggle a lot with getting stuck in preparation mode. I just started my art back up not too long ago and have roughly 20 pieces finished at the moment but I keep thinking "hmm...maybe spend another month creating" "Hmm...maybe two months" "Hmm...first of the year should give me a good starting stock". Meanwhile I'm looking at the wall I hang them all on in our living room and am like "...man I need a bigger wall already."
I am curious though what you feel is the appropriate level of preparation when it comes to the business end of things. Is there an appropriate level of preparation? Do I just dive in and figure it out as I go? I'm in a good place as far as creating pieces and am all for selling them but then I start thinking about the reality of selling things and being a small business and I panic a bit and feel completely unprepared. It's all smooth sailing until my brain starts thinking about the logistics of pricing, selling, packing/shipping, paperwork, taxes, etc and before you know it I'm thinking to myself "eh...maybe I don't NEED to make a career out of this...". I feel like this is my final hurdle to getting the ball rolling but looking at the illusion of my past hurdles I can't help but wonder...is this a hurdle at all or at the very least is it a much smaller hurdle than my brain is making it?
Really happy I found your channel!!
More Great Advice!
James
Yesss! I been waiting for ur upload. :)
4:09 as someone who does both original and fanart... if I listened to that I’d never show my art. My art isn’t really a cohesive collection, but I know I have to show it to put myself out there. And I follow a lot of artists who don’t have cohesive collections outside of certain projects they do. If you wait until you have a cohesive collection, you may never show your art.
Whenever I see a new video my heart feels lighter
This video was a blessing, thank you!