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Nov. 24th, 2023 10:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
twedeenimbusArt journey is different for everyone. This is important.
I spoke to few animation professionals in a Discord server. I asked them what I can do to make my art better? The biggest thing they emphasized was the fundamentals of art.
You might be thinking, "Basics? But you draw so well?" or "Your art looks like garbage!" Or anything in between. I appreciated the requested constructive criticism because I know where to start. I was lost on what I can do with my art and how to improve it. The fundamentals of art included line, form, perspective, anatomy, and composition.
Thinking, I decided to start with basic shapes and searched for tutorials on YouTube.
I decided to have fun with basic shapes and tried them on few of my chessmen characters.
My art journey did not begin with learning the fundamentals. It was a bit chaotic, but it eventually evolved to rebuilding the skills that I needed to learn for the art business to succeed. However, I wanted to document the art journey to show how far I have come over months, years, and even decades later. I wanted to share it to let people know we have to start somewhere.
It is okay to be an absolute beginner. It is okay to go back to fundamentals to focus on improving art. It is okay to start late even in 30s, 40s, or even 70s. It is okay to relearn art skills and change career path. I can tell you my art journey is a bit wacky. You do not have to have an amazing portfolio and get into top art schools. I do not even have a degree in creative field. I actually have a degree in physics and some graduate education in atmospheric sciences. I know a plenty of excellent people who never saw a classroom in a community college but spent years honing their artesian skills. Or even gardening. It is great to document the journey because art grows with you. Or even other skills. Cultivating a beautiful garden takes time to hone skills. Art is just like a garden that begins with a seed.
I have seen a plenty of influencers online telling people that they can start six-figure side hustle with art. The problem is that if one only cares for the money, the art will tell. If it looks very generic, it will come off as "art side hustle" instead of actual craftsmanship. People value skills that takes years to develop. For me, I wanted to document the journey because I wanted to hone my skills to provide quality work, not quantity. Quality is key value for my work.
Do you know why my first attempt with art business failed? It flopped because I jumped into without even doing real research. I looked up side hustles, and I went into it for some extra money. Maybe a six figure income. I paid the price for it and made zero income. I got burnt out. My advice is do not fall for this. Art business takes time, and it's now third month for me. It will take YEARS on average to make a living income from art business. I am emphasizing years because I have done my research. What I learned is that it can take two to three years before the income rise to even bare minimum for living with proper strategy. One of best strategies is improving art skills. I know I won't make $3,000 a month right off the bat, and it is NORMAL. Some people have to have a day job, and some just live with their families even well into adulthood. I am the latter with my partner's family.
I am also writing this to show what it is like for a new art business owner and a person who is starting life over from the scratch at 25 years old. I want to show what it is like for someone who is embarking on art journey again after wild loops of confusions for nearly a decade.
I spoke to few animation professionals in a Discord server. I asked them what I can do to make my art better? The biggest thing they emphasized was the fundamentals of art.
You might be thinking, "Basics? But you draw so well?" or "Your art looks like garbage!" Or anything in between. I appreciated the requested constructive criticism because I know where to start. I was lost on what I can do with my art and how to improve it. The fundamentals of art included line, form, perspective, anatomy, and composition.
Thinking, I decided to start with basic shapes and searched for tutorials on YouTube.
I decided to have fun with basic shapes and tried them on few of my chessmen characters.
My art journey did not begin with learning the fundamentals. It was a bit chaotic, but it eventually evolved to rebuilding the skills that I needed to learn for the art business to succeed. However, I wanted to document the art journey to show how far I have come over months, years, and even decades later. I wanted to share it to let people know we have to start somewhere.
It is okay to be an absolute beginner. It is okay to go back to fundamentals to focus on improving art. It is okay to start late even in 30s, 40s, or even 70s. It is okay to relearn art skills and change career path. I can tell you my art journey is a bit wacky. You do not have to have an amazing portfolio and get into top art schools. I do not even have a degree in creative field. I actually have a degree in physics and some graduate education in atmospheric sciences. I know a plenty of excellent people who never saw a classroom in a community college but spent years honing their artesian skills. Or even gardening. It is great to document the journey because art grows with you. Or even other skills. Cultivating a beautiful garden takes time to hone skills. Art is just like a garden that begins with a seed.
I have seen a plenty of influencers online telling people that they can start six-figure side hustle with art. The problem is that if one only cares for the money, the art will tell. If it looks very generic, it will come off as "art side hustle" instead of actual craftsmanship. People value skills that takes years to develop. For me, I wanted to document the journey because I wanted to hone my skills to provide quality work, not quantity. Quality is key value for my work.
Do you know why my first attempt with art business failed? It flopped because I jumped into without even doing real research. I looked up side hustles, and I went into it for some extra money. Maybe a six figure income. I paid the price for it and made zero income. I got burnt out. My advice is do not fall for this. Art business takes time, and it's now third month for me. It will take YEARS on average to make a living income from art business. I am emphasizing years because I have done my research. What I learned is that it can take two to three years before the income rise to even bare minimum for living with proper strategy. One of best strategies is improving art skills. I know I won't make $3,000 a month right off the bat, and it is NORMAL. Some people have to have a day job, and some just live with their families even well into adulthood. I am the latter with my partner's family.
I am also writing this to show what it is like for a new art business owner and a person who is starting life over from the scratch at 25 years old. I want to show what it is like for someone who is embarking on art journey again after wild loops of confusions for nearly a decade.
