Art Career Advice That Can Hurt More Than Help
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 24 окт 2020
- #arttalk #artvlog #artbookreviews #artcoaching
---
Music can be found at:
www.epidemicsound.com/
Songs Played:
A Quiet Place by Peter Sandberg
------------------------
Interested in the LUCIDPIXUL PRIVATE ART MENTORSHIP? Please visit:
www.lucidpixul.com/
or contact me directly at adamduff@videotron.ca
------------
Join me on ArtStation!
www.artstation.com/adamduff
------------
Join me on INSTAGRAM!
/ adam_duff_lucidpixul
---------------
Want to join Tyler Edlin's BRUSH SAUCE THEATRE art contest?
DISCORD CHANNEL - / discord
----------------------
Here's a quick guide to help you cope with social media for artists.
-----------------------
#artmotivation #artinspiration #artistblock 
Кино
They always say "work hard just like me, and you'll make it", but we never hear from people who worked hard just like them BUT didn't make it.
This is called survivorship bias, and it's very difficult to overcome. We very rarely, if never, hear advices on what NOT to do from people who tried hard and failed (and haven't been succeeded yet) to become pro artists. Which is a shame because that information from the other, non-survivor side is valuable, as depressing as it was.
Damn good point
Exactly. But I think the people who work Hard, fail and die alone represent more than 70% of the artist who lives on this planet. And with that, it will be too hard to have and also known her point of view.
People don't say "work hard and you'll make it" though. I never hear people say that. What I do hear is that the harder you work the more chance you have. You really do need to work hard to have an art career. People seem to think they can spend a few hours a day and that should be enough. That's not enough for a career in any area. You need to work as hard as an accountant studying for their certification otherwise how will you get good and compete with everyone else working that hard? Even if it's not in art you need to work hard at something anyways.
@@littleripper312 You have a point but I disagree about the working a few hours a day part. A large amount of people only have a few hours of day to give because of their other responsibilities. A lot of pro's in art, spent a only had a few hours a day to give to their craft for a while before they could become a pro. And I guess that's where working smart comes in but outside of working hard/ smart that you can actually find success for yourself as an artist even before you become a 'pro' by paying a lot of attention to living the process now and what part of that process brings you joy.
I'm not a full fledged adult, but the more I grow up n see how social media is, the less appealing fame is to me. There's so much stress n expectations placed on u that u can't even be ur true self without someone calling u out for one reason or another.
By all means I'd love to share my art with people who would love n appreciate it as much or even more than I would n I would be lying if I said I don't care about good income, but if I make just enough to have a good living; enjoying my productive n steady art journey and progress; with genuine admiration n love from loved ones, friends n decent sized fans and/or like minded people, I think I'd call that a big win in lifetime
Same here. Success is ultimately relatively. It doesn't really matter if you're achievements are substantially lower than of another person. So long as you had fun doing it, so long as you're happy then 'comparing yourself to others' shouldn't even exist in your library because in whatever you do you know to yourself that it doesn't matter cause you're essentially living your life in pure honest bliss, you're living your life the way you wanted it to be.
A lot of these people instill the fact that you have to work 24/7 or you’ll never get anywhere. Anytime you fail it’s because you didn’t work hard enough. You didn’t burn yourself out enough. I’ve had so many negative experiences and wound up quitting art for a long time due to overworking and stressing out far too much because of this. So many insecurities, feelings of inadequacy, etc. came from me blaming myself and getting it into my head that whenever I failed or couldn’t understand something it’s because I wasn’t trying enough. Since then I’ve learned to slow down. To actually observe and learn. Most importantly I’ve learned to enjoy the process.
I'm actually on the same page, even when I was getting well paid gigs on my industry (comics) I had so many negative experiences and burned myself out for so much time that... I pushed the pause button and started learning other stuff in order to take distance from the art I got to hate. So far I've only taken comissions from time to time but I still don't recover the drive to draw and enjoy the process u_u
@@andystark993 I know it's easier said than done, but try not to let past experiences lead to constant burn outs. I've never worked for an industry so I apologize if my advice isn't relevant to you. ^^; What got me back into drawing again was to rekindle old hobbies. A part of me always thinks what can I create out of this, what's a way I can show people how much I care about this hobby without just talking about it. I feel like by drawing I can share my world with people in a way I could never describe. I also always try to end my drawing sessions with something simple, fun, or just downright silly so my last memory of art is associated with something fun. This way I'm in a better state of mind the next time I pick up the pen. If you're currently struggling with motivation, I hope you will recover from burnout and keep at it! It's okay to take breaks and recharge when you've hit your limit though. Don't let anybody make you feel guilty about it. :)
@@anavaeru That is EXACTLY the kind of mindset I want to go back to. I've studied and tried to make a career out of my art, losing my love for it in the process :/ when I was young I drew my silly comics, just enjoying the process, improving and sharing and improving more and having fun. This year I decided to put a stop to the "way of the professional-alpha artist" that Adam talked in the video. I want art to be a fun hobby again, I know it will be a long time until I can be on that state but... I think that studying other things and investing in other avenues of income I can recover it.
@@andystark993 Stay at it and always find ways to incorporate something new or fun into your art. Surround yourself with positive influencers (such as Adam) and you’ll get where you want to be. Don’t let the toxic hustle culture get to you. As long as you learn and grow as a person and as an artist, you’ll be happy. I hope you succeed in whatever it is you chose to do. Stay motivated :D
so true! there is no point in risking your health and wellbeing to overwoking and burnout. This year I am also learning to slow down and enjoy the process :)
One of the things that I dislike is when professors and other people say: "if you aren't passionate about this, don't be an artist".
I understand having the want/enjoyment out of what you're doing, but passion comes in waves. I have depression and that makes it really hard for me to keep my passion levels going.
I used to confuse this with lacking the want for being an artist and actually quit before the end of my first year in college 9 years ago.
Now I know that's not the case at all. I still very much want to be an artist and have completed an associate's degree in Visual Fine Arts. I'm taking better steps to ensure that I don't burn myself out physically and creatively.
I dislike the burnout culture that's perpetuated and have seen professors visiting my school actively encourage it. It horrifies me.
I wish self-care was part of our curriculum. Heck I barely even know how to stretch my hands properly because NO ONE in school tells you to do that. Stretching can help you avoid carpel tunnel!!!
I love your talks. They're always so informative and encouraging. I wish I had these years ago, but now is better than never.
I experienced it with my Master degree in Fine Art restoration and conservation (in my country, Master degree = 5 years). Both the teachers and the students who decided to act as Big Shots promoted this burnout mentality.
And here I was, undiagnosed autistic and already in a constant state of burnout - I just didn't realise it, because it's only when I was suggested to get diagnosed that it slapped me in the face. In 2014/2015, the actual full burnout happened, as I was entering my 2 last years. I felt a deep sense of inadequacy, and my classmates left me behind, some of them started bullying me and only 2 teachers tried to support me as I was severely self-destroying (new suicide attempts, 10 after the last ones, depression so bad I had weight issues + the constant burden of anxiety and lack of sleep put me in a state where I started having hallucinations as well. I describe this whole period as some dark sludge eating away my brain, and I could feel everything bite).
I handled it all almost on my own, by removing myself from my class with a negociation to redo the year (which helped tremendously, since I found myself in a healthier environment with my new classmates), then I dared take a whole month of vacation during which I stopped thinking about my master degree and the field. I rebuilt myself enough to at least finish the master degree (getting an official diagnosis for autism at the same time was a relief) in 2017, I only started seeing a way out this year, when I resolved to separate myself from the field of art restoration. Got a good job at a local library and I'm experiencing not being exploited and put down over the smallest things for the first time. After 5 years without holding a pencil, I started to draw against this Summer - doing everything the way I want and at my own pace is very liberating.
I experienced a similar thing in university where I thought since I wasn't doing my work, everyone who called me lazy must be right, and that at my core I was a lazy human being. It wasn't till I dragged myself to apply to art school and slowly got out of that hole I was in did I realize, that wasn't remotely true. As I slowly started to improve, started to work with more diligence, become more confident and happy in myself, I came to the realization that - no, I wasn't lazy, I was actually a very hard working individual. I had been depressed and going through the most shitty time in my life, and that's why I hadn't been able to bring myself to do work. It was such a powerful thing to realize and it still makes me emotional and happy and relieved to remember that confirming moment.
I'm in art school studying game art in France. One thing that our teachers, especially the older ones with years and years of experience always, always tell us is "please don't forget to take a break". Some of them actually get almost... angry if we keep working during breaks, because they just KNOW how useless it is to overwork yourself. It makes you feel like you're productive but after a while, you find yourself just drawing aimlessly, and that's how you get mediocre, bland pieces of art.
Well these teachers of yours sound incredible and I genuinely admire them for taking that stance
Puis ça explique aussi pourquoi beaucoup des artistes les plus talentueux au monde sont les français - comme les Gobelins par exemple
@@AdamDuffArt I do admire them a lot ! Your french is amazing by the way ;)
@@crystalfumes4915 Those sound like great teachers! May I ask which school it is? (Je suis français et j'hésite à intégrer une école de concept art).
@@xuanxh c'est l'école Emile Cohl ! C'est pas centré uniquement sur le concept art/game art, les trois premières années sont des années où on apprend l'art "général", mais en master il y a une spécialisation jeux vidéos !
@@crystalfumes4915 Ok, merci beaucoup ! J'ai entendu parler d'Emile Cohl, en effet. Tu es dans les premières années, ou déjà en master ? De mon côté, j'avais repéré la formation en ligne de Artside, en concept art : tu en as entendu parler, toi ?
I have struggled with feeling less-than. I’m someone who often struggles to get out of bed - what am I compared to those people, those gods who have the power to work all day every day without ever stopping? Even the human beings they put themselves in competition with are all so much better than I am.
However, that comparison is flawed. You pointed out the need to be different. I want to stress that point. It may be that I can’t be those people, but I don’t want to be them, either. I want to tell my own stories, not theirs, and I can only become myself by taking my own road. If I try to walk down theirs, I risk losing that part of myself that’s genuine and authentic - and losing that could never be worthwhile. I may not always like my road, but it’s the only way that goes where I want to go.
Absolutely - now can we learn from the greats? Of course, as we very much should
But anyone who aims to make us feel small for not following orders is narrow minded and power hungry in my opinion
Anyone whose idea of good work ethic is to run yourself into the ground and destroy yourself physically and mentally, is probably not the person whose work advice you should take.
Before I dropped out of college that always seemed to be the message my professors and peers were either teaching or practicing and as a result witnessed a lot of students go through fatigue and depression. I found it interesting that after I dropped out, two years later i was informed that over 75% percent of my class dropped out. I wasn't aware if it was because of the work yourself into the ground stick, but I had my suspicions.
I almost let out some tears down my eyes listening to this. I have never heard someone in your position, with the level of respect and skill that you have, be so relatable. Maybe I haven't listened to enough artists talk, call it what you will (I have listened to a ton of them though).
I don't want to work for a studio, start my own business, or look do commissions that I don't care about. At the same time, every job I ever did made me feel depressed and feel as if life is not worth living for the level of stress you have to go through just to make a living. The reason so many people (including me) get their eyes muddied with "competition" and "making a living" is because any other type of work (not art) is something that we have to do to get by, while simultaneously feeling hurt that we can't spend all of our time doing art. It's very contradictory, but this video finally made me realise why the word "hobby" and doing art "on the side" is so painful for me to swallow.
I'm only 23, but I feel like this is the way things have to be. I need money, but I don't want it from doing art, because that involves doing it for others, UNLESS people would really like my own stuff (which is why I have an IG account). I want to continue to create, but working shitty day jobs while trying to move out of my parent's house makes me want to end it all. That's why so many of us are pressured into this shitty mentality of "getting good" as quickly as possible so that you can sell your stuff or get hired. It's always money in the end.
Sorry for the long post/rant, but you have helped me so much over the past year that I always wish to have a real conversation with you Adam. All the best to you and your family 🙏
its not that u havent listened to enough artists talk, its just that wise, genuine and wholesome people are not that common
@@CapeEniEer that's very true
This was pounded into our heads at the art school I went to. The head of the Game Art department worked for AAA game studios and on some Hollywood films, and said this ad nauseum. The funny part is she was looking for a job in the same industry we were going to school for, so she looked at her students as competition. She refused to repeat herself and sped through the materials in the classes she taught, hmm.... suspicious.
This video basically confirms that suspicion. I still don't know why she discouraged me from learning how to code games or go independent in general, though.
Ah yes! Sundays are made for Art Dads (and Art Dad's fans)
I can hear this
I do agree!
Absolutely love this! What really struck me was competition vs art, and it is so true. I've been a classical dancer for 20 years and sometimes people ask me if I've performed in fancy auditoriums or won any trophies and I'm shocked. I don't dance to win trophies, I dance because I can express, have fun and enjoy the art form. I feel that sometimes people forget to be an artist in pursuit of being successful. Thanks for bringing this up, it's a really important message.
Same as a horserider. I want to get more seriously into dressage competition, but not to win. To progress and get always closer to the "floating steps", that often last a few seconds during which the horse and its rider are in perfect synch. I seek that, the beauty of dancing with my horse. It's not about winning, it's about bonding with horses and aiming for a specific aesthetic with them. Sadly I'm not sure it's gonna be well-perceived by the competition team lol
Edit: for reference because people need to realise high level ("haute école") dressage can be extremely fun and enticing even at the highest level of competition, I always suggest the video of the Kentucky WEG with Fuego XII and Juan Manuel Muñoz-Diaz. The absolute joy shown, and how people are still salty they didn't get first place (they ended up 5th, yet received an enthusiastic standing ovation for their performance) 10 years later says a lot.
Thank you for addressing this Adam, I actually was trapped in this loop for many years during the early part of my careers and i remember when i got that advice for the first time i actually felt validated. Like a " Oh wow this amazing artist gave me a small slice of the pie" So now if i eat this pie and work my socks off I can be part of the group. I can finally have art friends.
But i didn't get those friends. I never got accepted and I think a small part of me was resisting the idea of going at it 100%. Why? Because i didn't like it. I didn't like the idea everyone was butting heads at each other swaying "Oh i worked my weekends off 4 months straight" Or " Ohh you thought that was bad I did it for 7 months". IT just didn't feel right, but you know what i did instead? I chalkede it up as being something wrong with me, it as a character defect on my part and if i want to suceed and be a part of the "gang" I should embrace this mentality or the art world will never accept me.
I had this going on me for almost 10 years and it got me NOWHERE, my fundamentals were getting better but it wasn't getting what i want because my personal voice, the me inside was shut away and put in a cage to feed the ego and the crave for approval. It wasn't until i started to pursue what I wanted to do or what i enjoy doing is where i felt like people were responding more to me. So now instead of chasing someone elses path i try to walk my own path, where the road diverge and disappear at times but at least its my path and my path alone.
Sorry for the long rant! I just had this bottled up inside for a very long time and I'm very glad that you addressed it as this mentality bothered me for many years.
Thank again Adam!
As a young artist who is starting to struggle in the art field, listening to your advice is the most motivating and comforting thing, so thank you
Hi Adam - a request - can you talk about the relationship between artists and age? Is it necessary to stay in touch with the young and with youthful values to be relevant or to make a living?
Thank you so very much for your thoughts. I tend to get caught up trying to be as busy as possible, only to find myself burnt out and unhappy. I look back at my older art, and though it lacks skill, I long for my childhood freedom of drawing just because I wanted to.
And thank you for addressing this issue within the art industry. One time, one of my professors took samples of our art and compared them to students our age who were much better and basically said, "This is your competition." While this approach may encourage some people, I found myself self-criticizing to the point of tears.
I still struggle to find what I feel most fulfilled doing with my art, but more and more I value what happiness a project will bring over how much fame or cash I can rake in. In the end, happiness is what matters.
I used to practice many hours but it was out of desperation bc I followed that advice. Now i focus in areas that I'm weak at and practice a bit to get the gist of it and apply it in my projects. I learned and improved so much in that way than just grinding many hours. I hope people realized that we all have different learning styles and we should learn what feels best for us.
Anyways great video! I enjoyed this topic.
I'm literally currently recovering from burnout because of this advice...
I've been pushing myself way too hard and neglecting every other aspect of my life just to study more and ''beat the competition''.
When your only goal becomes to be better than everyone else, you automatically doom yourself for failure and take away your own ability to take control of your life and career, even forgot, why I liked art in the first place.
It's really disheartening to constantly have to push yourself and compare yourself to others, and this approach also has also some other flaws with it, like people from different walks of life having different schedules and responsibilities.
I didn't realize this until I just started to hate the act of creating itself, but now, when I hadn't drawn in a while, I actually feel a lot better and more creative.
People tend to think, that overworking is a badge of honour, but it's really not, it's just an unhealthy life decision.
FZD said in a podcast that you'd need to put in at least 12 hours a day to reach those 10,000 hours, and I didn't know what to think about it. Man, I already burn out doing 2-3 hours a day after a few weeks. I've always struggled with this and I honestly feel lost and clueless. I don't want to give up, but I can't find the strength to pursue it either.
FZD put a lot of stress in my mind too, the guy is honestly pretty insane with his work ethic, and I say that both positively and negatively.
I can't argue with his results both personally and in his students, but I literally had to stop watching his videos because he would cause me existential dread after 20 minutes of watching every single time. He makes it sound like getting into art is a discipline reserved for people who have the wilpower of an old buddhist monk.
There is some truth to that, but that kind of mentality is only the absolute objective answer if you want to get to the top of the top of the industry. There's more work than that, however. There's indie devs and movie makers, there's editorial work for smaller publications, there's solo projects, there's commissions, there's start-ups. Plenty of other options that don't require you to literally sacrifice your entire life and mind to art and nothing else striving to compete with the select elite of people who have thrown their live to being the earthly avatars of the "knowing how to draw" gods.
It is a competitive field with a lot of people who want to get in and one that requires thousands of hours to get to the most basic of professional levels, there's no denying that, but it's also important to put into perspective what kind of advice we're getting and from whom. The people that say these kind of things are the cream of crop. The 1% of top artists that we admire and listen to, working at the top 1 most pretigious places, inside the small percentage of artists who make it into the high-competition industries we covet to begin with. You DO need to study 12 hours a day if you ever want to catch up with those people. But those people aren't the be-all-end-all of art.
12 hours a day is insane, I thought FZ said 8 hours which is already a lot but 12, man that's crazy! I do think he's right when he says people overestimate how much time they're actually spending on art in a given day, what with all the distractions etc. I think 3 solid hours of work (not on RUclips or Google images but straight work) is a good amount to start with.
Everyone develops at their own pace, so to say that you have to put in a certain number of hours a day is obviously bullshit. For example, I'm 30 and have been playing the saxophone for 16 years. I worked out that to have my 10,000 hours I only needed an average of 1.7 hours a day. Some people do develop very quickly, but most creative people don't peak till their 30s. There's no point killing yourself to achieve complete technical mastery at 22 if you don't have the maturity and life experience to use it well anyway. You need space to think and observe alongside putting in the hours of practice.
He says a lot of questionable things in his videos. I remember watching one a couple years back where he said you should quit gaming completely and just focus all that time on practicing painting/drawing if you want to "make it". Needless to say, I felt guilty for a while after that anytime I was playing.
FZD advice on drawing 12 hours a day is obviously could break mental people health. Not worth to follow it if you are not a labor kind of artist. Each person is different keeping their mind focus for hours on their drawing. Some people can only focus 1 or 4 hours drawing a day on their practice daily. And that's nothing wrong with that as long people just keep doing it everyday. Honestly, after sometimes, they automatically will extend themselves to more hours than usual drawing.
The most important thing from my experience is never ever making drawing is a chore but making drawing is your habit and your love to do activity. That way you will always find a reason to draw
Love that part when u said "life isn't just about working till you die and have people at ur funeral talking about the general things; he worked hard, he loves his family, etc"
I always found life as thing where you can take the time u r given and make something of it
I want my name to live longer than what my body does and I know that will happen thru all of the art endeavors I pursue
I tried for 5h to start an illustration and I just couldn't figure out anything then I remembered I have Adam's video hanging in my to do list, and of course it speaked to me again and helped to get into right mindset. Adam - the artist psychic ❤️
I followed this advice you've mentioned, also the "no pain no gain" thinking and ended up with an herniated disk on my back. I think this is the typical advice that, people who are lazy don't gonna follow, and people who are already pushing too much will follow for the worse. If we don't stop this trend ongoing of "media consumables" where speed is far more important than quality, we all gonna end burned up and sick...
Here ye here ye for master Adam has arrived
Hear ye! Hear ye! Master Galinn has commented!!
@@anzolomyer4584 Hear ye hear ye, master xyzxy has replied to master galinn's comment !
it's nice to hear you talk about these topics, as small as they seem, they mean a lot because a lot of big artists out there talk as if they were the only ones having the worst time of their lives and give a lot of people unrealistic advice that doesn't exactly suit them unless they are capable of a certain degree of artistic skill, it's hard for me to take them seriously as they really seem to think themselves as superior if someone draws or says something that isn't competent in their eyes; gatekeeping essentially. It's rare to see artists out there who are actually grounded and not being pretentious to get a larger fanbase. eg: posting out a flex artwork that realistically took 2 months only to tell people how it was a quickie done in 3 days or saying how it's so simple to get followers in your blogs as long as you follow their "formula"
Hello Adam, I've really appreciated the kindness in your videos. Perhaps in the future, would you be willing to address young or old artists re-discovering their creative drive? When I was young I had stories and fascinations that drove me to draw draw draw. I had a nervous breakdown in grad school from the constant competition and expectations. Now, 3 years later, I'm better, happier, and more excited about art than I've ever been, but there are no stories and fascinations that drive me. I draw for the joy of drawing, I grow technically, but I don't feel like I grow creatively without that burning excitement, that special focus. It's kinda empty, like that part is dead. There are so many older artists who in my university years came back to art after a long hiatus. At first I didn't understand how they could quit. Now I respect them and want to understand where their drive came from.
I think that’s a fantastic idea
I just realized that it hurts a bit but what you said is true.
Now I'm asking myself if I can still do this because I really know that I'm not that good at Art.
I always listen to a person who is ahead of me.
I'm not saying that they are wrong.
But you help me realized that I need to avoid the competition
because it changes my goals or the message that I want to show in my Art.
(sorry for my English)
hope you understand :)
So true. That sense of achievement only lasts for a little while, but the joy of creating artworks that inspire you and other lasts so much longer 🙂
Love your videos as always
Thank you as always... I dont know how you do it, as you seem to put out a video that exactly what I need to hear ... exactly when I need it the most. To be honest I almost gave up on art during a really dark time in my life. But your videos helped me to not give up. You may not read this, or respond to this. But I can never thank you enough.
In my country's media, hustle culture is highly emphasized. People say it's impossible to get anywhere without sleepless nights or working your fingers to the bone, or getting sick from stress. Unfortunately I've deeply iternalized some of these ideas, but you help me unravel some of them and help me step back and accept that yes, there are other ways that don't involve me shattering my own head to bits. Thanks, Adam.
Hey Adam,
I just wanna say thank you for everything you do in your youtube channel.
I found your channel about 3 years ago. I'm not saying everything you said on your videos is absolute but you always make me thing more deeply not just as an artist, but also as human being. I've been lost in industry and in 'competition' you mentioned in this video. But looking back my artistic journey in last 8 years made me realize and loving more myself as a human. No regret and everything I did is what shapes me today. You are really a teacher for us, I love you with all my heart.
Greetings from Indonesia
I think a lot of people think that being successful = being happy. But that is not always the case. Being happy is something that comes with self worth, and you don't have to be successful to love yourself :)
Thank you for this reminder. 🇨🇦🍀✨
Yes. We are all creators. Not factory workers.
My mission is to help awaken the inner child within every soul who has left their inner artist behind.
There’s no competition but the yesterday’s version of myself. Thank you for this reminder.
Yes. We are all creators. Not factory workers.
Every time I listen to your videos, I feel the pressure as an artist suddenly lift. I just wanted to say thank you.
Thank you for saying that there is more to life than being busy; and that the impact of our art contributes to the spiritual and emotional evolution of mankind; and that you do what you do for the joy of it; and even for saying that great successes and great volumes of work come with time - so if you’re not there yet, it’s because you haven’t lived a long time yet. These are things that I’ve been quietly shouting to those who I know, for a long time. I don’t know if any of them understood or took my word for it, but I hope I got through to them. Once I realized these things, I started to let go of my fears and self-attacking attitudes. But shouting these things in the dark for so long takes its toll on the soul, and it helps to hear it, too.
some good thoughts in this video. great to hear some good truths. I love creating things everyday. I have been at that stage of wanting to be the best artist ever but that faded quickly. sometimes we just want to follow what others do because we see it works for them. I do take everything I hear from "elite" artist's to just anyone and find my own way to do things. Like cooking where you may see a chef make something good but there a certain ingredient you can't have so you end up changing it to suite you.
wow i know i already commented yesterday but i hadnt listened to your talk and i just finished my homework for the drawabox course and i cant believe how much this talk is helpful and on time for me cuz i have literally been stressed to all heck to figure out what type of an artist i even am so i can go ahead and get a degree for that and i've been thinking that i dont work enough dont produce enough and i'll never be good enough to create a perfect portfolio to impress any college or job company to get anywhere with my life but this has put me into perspective that have a day or 2 or even a week off just to refuel is alright and not that i'm wasting my life away watching gameplays on youtube and only producing 2 or 3 artworks a month although i feel like i am very lazy and not doing enough to hone and improve my skill set and not researching about what i wanna do for the future
my highschool did this to my mindset of *work hard or you'll never succeed* and now i have no friends at all to even hang out or play games with and i have not many good memories with school which sucks and i actually hate hs whichh makes me so sad cuz most of my classmates made great friend groups and i being the stupid introvert am here alone having to force myself to draw and when i cant i feel bad and pathetic so listening to you talk on this topic is kinda relaxing to know that i am not being lazy or irresponsible when i dont draw for a few days or dont make an ig post for a month and just play games or sleep
so thank you so much adam you really are such a genuinely great guy and i wish you all the happiness and good health and hopefully i can earn enough one day to have u be my mentor that would the greatest learning exp i ever have i am sure ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
(ps im the one who did your portrait and i might do it again just to show my appreciation for what u do 😊😊)
I still have that amazing painting! I still can’t thank you enough :)
@@AdamDuffArt lol you don't have to thank me at all 😀 I'm glad you still remember it that's all I'll do another one for you maybe more semi real anime style so atleast I can maybe get out of my artblock also sorry for the last reply and have a nice day 😊
Absolutely true, this should be spoken more across other people who work in this industry
Thank you so much once again for filling once again all these doubts in my mind with hope, seriously this competition is sometimes making me crazy... losing the joy is something so precious as art or creating cosplays ...but you are right...this isn't for fame.its for joy
There is so much truth in your words. I really love your art talks. What I love more than that, is the fact that you are going loud with it and you want to spread your ideas and feelings with others. I think just like you and you made me happy today because now I know for sure what I have to do and what I have to stop overthinking.
Artistic enlightenment must we follow.
Love you Adam.
"You have to be this, you have to draw that, you must be better, faster, stronger, to be a successful artist." It`s been hewn in my head from when I was at an Art Academy and all my professors told that mantra every day for four years... And I left that place feeling broken and hating art. It took me years to relearn things and discover that success is not about followers and giving birth to a new piece every day or working in a top-notch company or being the best of the best. That success is a different term to different people on different days... and that maybe today, success was getting out of bed and making that one line in the sketchbook. Thank you for spreading the message
every video of yours feels like therapy time...
I wish I had watched your videos many years ago. I have recently started embracing my own pace in my work and it's been so much more inspiring and relaxing.
Adam your videos are always touching but like a whole truck in size to take from
You video tells the truth that my heart wants to tell out loud every day.
Adam you do art talks like no one else and I absolutely love it
One of the best Adam ! clap clap clap !
just in time before the frustration hits in
thank you for the beautiful advice
Adam can siglehandedly cure all bad moods.
I wan to thank you personally. You won't believe how much you and your hard work soothes me and others here. Thank you for jsut being who you are.
I can't express with words how enriching this video was for me.
I would say about myself that I love Art and I want to be at the top. And I always beat myself when I am not working hard enough. But now I got it. The beating wasn't coming from my love for art. It was coming from my love for competition. Now that I have distinguished what part of me wants what, I think that I can find inner peace between those parts. Thank you
On my last year of art school 3 years ago, I trained hard, watching Feng Zhu, Anthony Jones and Ahmed's videos. My technical skills grew fast, and I've been able to enter the video game industry a year ago.
I'm working in an indie game studio and I love it, but it means I spend less hours on personal work, not being a student anymore. I'm not growing as fast as I did before, it became less exciting. I think I just reached the limit of seeking personal success, and realized my skills were useless if they served no purpose.
I'm now working on making my art meaningful, to me and others, and your videos really help me find answers during these weird times. Thank you Adam ! :)
T_T T_T T_T T_T almost cried at the end, the pression and stress is always pushing to move artists on purely competitive success driven directions, especially when there is too much dependancy on external work from companies and employers that will decide which artist to pick for which more prestigious or important role. Thankyou once more Adam :)
I got burnt out my art school assignments these past 2 weeks and I really needed to hear this.
I just kept feeling like I was going nowhere with my work and that it'll never be good enough.
Firstly, your art is fantastic. I especially love that you are "thoughtful and slow". In watching you, I'm seeing all my flaws of composition and why my work feels so flat-among many, many other things. So hats off. Hats tossed. That Bane-like beast you painted some time ago with the double sabers keeps popping into my brain. You could have left that at any point and it would have felt finished.
Secondly (!), I appreciate that you circle many of the same topics in your discussions without actually repeating yourself. There really seems to be an infinite shaft from which to mine when it comes to relaying how artists can better understand themselves and what they may want to consider when considering an art career. I sometimes feel that you might be a little too nice, but so many people aren't very nice at all. And it's comforting not to feel like an aging failure every once in a tick. It pushes the casualties of bad childhoods and poor early-life choices forward just a bit further, to maybe eventually being accepted into an artistic community-or at the very least begin to engage with other human beings in a healthier, more rewarding way.
I won't tell you that you're the dad or brother or friend I never had. Because fuck, like everyone else has said it in the comments. But it does prove that paying it forward is just the best goddamn shit anyone can do on this planet.
Hello Adam, I am an artist and there is so much tackle and learn. I love listening to podcasts while I am painting and drawing. I was looking for some podcasts and came across your channel. I have already listened to more than 5 videos and I am truly blessed. They are insightful, motivating and inspiring. Will definitely be listening to all your videos and look forward to more. Your new subscriber and an ardent listener. 💫
Wow i have truely misconcieved what art is about, Thankyou Adam!
Your advice means a lot.
Thank you, as always for talking to us!
So nice, recomforting and profound when you've said: "The success is your life" as an artist. That really touched my heart, thanks for your talks, they are authentic and resonate in much of us surely!!! Best regards
Thank you for making this video! I'm trying to work on pacing myself more because I've found myself working for horrible amounts of time without really understanding why. This clarifies things a lot and I'm definitely going to keep this video in mind when I notice I'm overextending myself.
Also comparison of artistic skill has been such a big issue for me that I've almost considered quitting art entirely. At this point, I'm trying to "cut the cord" on my competitive beliefs. I want to be an artist, not a competitor. I want to be creative without fear and enjoy other people's work without comparing my own stuff to theirs. I'm trying to accept the fact that I'm moving at my own pace and that that's okay for what I'm trying to achieve.
Thank you again for this lovely video.
i love this Medusa mini serie; you hesitate, erase big chunks of the piece and change it, and later change it again. is so Human and Real. i can almost feel the "damn, i don't like it" ...so familiar in my own pieces.
Beautiful piece. Thanks for the video 🤟
I can't say enough how much this helps me rethinking about a lot of stuff.. thank you so so much
Adam, sometimes you speak exactely what some of us want to say to some of the industry big heads. Thank you for speak about it cause sometimes this isn't look like a job anymore... it's look like a sickness.
Thank you so much Adam.. :) "... joyful career..."
Thank you for the video, it was very enjoyable to listen to as always while I'm drawing and I'm about to listen to it again. Your painting has come out lovely by the way, take care.
Thank you for a different perspective I never thought it that way it makes me feel better about the art industry they say there only 2 doors for art but you have opened more doors for the industry thank you
I completely understand what you are talking about and I deeply appreciate your advice. Art shouldn't be a competition and your sole end goal should not simply be to make money and/or become famous. If that's your goal, I'm sure there is an easier way to accomplish it anyway. A person should not feel the need to destroy themselves to show their dedication either. Thank as usual for your genuine and compassion videos.
I love listening to these kind of videos while drawing... very inspiring🤩
I needed to hear this right now. Thank you!
This video is gold! Thank you :)
That was such a beautiful, soothing and benevolent speech ! Thank you so much for saying what you said. Will listen to this again.
His podcasts are so slept-on , I love his ideologies and his voice to death man , it’s the harsh advice we all are searching for this really speaker to me . Thank you Adam for sharing your vulnerability with a bunch of strangers in the internet 🥺💜
These videos are amazing. Lovely advice, soft environment. Something you can put on while working and learn while doing it. Keep up the amazing work Adam!
Excellent. Really appreciate the advice.
At 18:13 was hilarious but Very best to avoid being Remembered like that therefore I'll always remember as our Art Father Duff.
Hi Adam, Thanks for the peptalk. Again... I make my living as a street artist and the grind to success is so f**** hard. luckily there are guys like you who are where to get some advice if you need to. Thanks.
i am not sure which means more the art or the audio content your videos really help me be a better person and your voice is what grabbed me but now everytime i see a new video i cant click quick enough ty for all you do just know that u r loved and respected
Thank you for this wonderful video.
Thank you very much for pointing out the difference. Listening to your experiences opens up my eyes to a new aspect of artistic life almost every time. And it dimply feels good to listen too. ☺
Thank you so much for this video. Please know that you have just impacted my life significantly with this advice. I am deeply grateful.
Thank you so much Adam for the video.
Tbh i am currently leaning towards the competition. The reason is because I decided to make artist/illustrating/drawing stuff as my main job. I am about to graduate and the pressure to get a job is steadily increasing so that's why i am trying to improve as fast as i can and make this a job. For me, drive for competition is needed right now and only for a short term. Just so i can reach a position where i can get through life on my own without my parents' help.
Homever, deep down i know what my artistic passion is and i am trying to apply it, even for a bit to the competition world. And your video helped me to remind me once again for this long term artistic calling.
Once again, thank you and happy painting !!
Love it, man, I have heard this over and over until I broke into the film industry, but to my surprise, the main issue I had for not having a job was my lack of networking and visibility. Of course, a portfolio is super important, but all this "hustle" and the mindlessness of hours upon hours of painting are not the main reason that someone is successful or not. There are many very hard-working artists out there that can't make a living doing art and that is most definitely not because they are slacking.
Really appreciate your super informed and honest opinion man, great video! :D
I was just saying this exact thing on a DIY touring music forum and it feels reassuring to hear it in your signature ASMR voice.
Amazing video full of wisdom. Thank you 🙏 it’s all about balance and a true artist creates for joy, not to beat the competition.
Thanks for this one Adam! Listening to this kind of triggered a light bulb moment for me. Very insightful!
Thank you Adam this is why I go at my own pace. I may not get the glory or recognition but if I can inspire another person the way I am inspired I’ve done my job as an artist. There may be days I don’t draw. There may be days where I go all out and pump out works like their nothing, but the thing I am always in awe over is the process and the way it pulls me in and the feeling like I get the opportunity to create. So thank you Adam you always speak to me in a way that only the artist in me can understand.
I am so glad to hear this. I kept telling myself not to rush things just to get them out. 2 hours of high quality has helped me more than 10 hours of pressure. Glad im not the only one doing this.
Excellent lecture. This is a good thing to hear right now.
i m in a point of stay all the day thinking if art and the game world is what i wanted to do with my life and i hate it , because i love the feeling of create something and be proud of it , but 95% of my time is suffering thinking how difficult art is and the fact that maybe im losing my time while my friends have carrers and jobs ( i really like art , is probably my fav thing but i suffer a lot thinking about it)
the way you articulate yourself is awesome
becoming an animator was always a dream of mine but i got cronicaly ill and it put me down to one artwork per. week and working became impossible
for now i will try to peruse art in another way perhaps streaming or something
giving up on dreams are never easy but it surely is a learning experience
art is a lifetime achievement
Yeah ,I needed this to hear :)
Very well put! I love it!!! Great job! I have family members that will never understand.
Thank you, Adam.
In my experience any success in any form of art is composed of:
60% connections
30% character
10% skill and talent
Little bit late, but just a tad to add (from personal experience) I have Aphantasia so when people tell me ‘Imagine this don’t use reference’ and then are not satisfied with my turnout it sucks because we don’t get the time (at least for me) to sketch out without reference to ‘imagine’ something, People are kinda rude about it too,. I struggled a lot in school with this I was never in art school, but In my art class’s and also from research from people who did go, I felt cheated because People always looked down on me because my grade wasn’t great (around 72.6) I just totally hated it, and there was a girl with a mutation of her fingers so she had less on one hand people used to say (teachers included) “how can you make it with only one hand?!? You’ll never make it” maybe I just had bad teachers but there was a lot of judgment to be given
This really hit home....
I've been applying this as of late. Nothing is set in stone. Crazy I had a big convo about this with a friend yesterday.
I'm a soon to graduate senior in animation, and so far this semester has been going alright! I do feel a sort of competitiveness amongst my peers, and sometimes I slip into a "hopelessness" where I get discouraged seeing them succeed. I am putting in a lot of hours into my work and improving, but I still can't help but feel "I'm not trying hard enough". I notice this can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle because right now I spend 90% of the day sitting... I know it's bad, and I also dislike the negative and hateful person I become through jealously. I'm setting a goal right now, to embrace a personal optimistic mindset and good health (I don't want to be a shrimp :'( writing things down helps me organize my thoughts, so I hope to start implementing these better choices in the future...
Dang I'm late this time I was asleep lol but ofcourse I really love how this piece has come out I've been watching you paint this one over the videos and it's really soothing how you paint I wish I could do it as elegantly as you also will listen to this surely once I get into my drawings love your work Adam keep being you and be safe and happy ❤️❤️❤️
i recieve your words in an e mail about the lost time enjoying dance because of the pandemic situation, and one of my goals is : to talk to you face to face about how we get up again, and recover the joy we lost in this hard times, in dancing and other issues that has stop of this times. To talk to you and describe the good things we learn in this near times, to told you how I am grateful of feeling hope and help me with your words in your videos, and that not only appreciate the fascinated illustrations you did, even more, that I enjoy that you can analyze and enjoy the feelings I want to describe in my illustrations. Thank you Adam... and let`s keep being resilent.