Phronemophobia 2024-11-21 22:05:37

Well, finding a stable job isn't a bad idea. You draw as a hobby... have some coworkers see your stuff... they let others know of your talent.... It all has the potential to loop back around. Most artists/animators/musicians I know don't rely on their art as a primary source of income but they still make stuff, maintain a commission page, and so on. Unless you're exceptional or really lucky, living off your art takes a long time and a lot of networking. Join contests, comment on others constantly, become part of a community... a full-time artist is a lot of work even when you're not actually making art. Hell, got a friend working on a comic, as well, and he juggles that alongside a full-time job. If that hapless degenerate can do it, I don't see why you can't.

Syrupmasterz 2024-11-21 23:48:43

As an animator person with a small amount of animation studio experience, lemme say this:
There's no time limit to find work in the art world, nor is there a cut off date to start and make a project.

I didn't finish animation school until I was 22, and I got my first animation job a year later.
Even after that ended, it was another couple years before I got the next one.

You can do something that's more steady to keep yourself fed,clothed and sheltered, but still send out applications, draw your coimc and enjoy art as hobby to keep your skills fresh. Heck, I worked at a theatre right out of highschool and up until just a few years ago when an animation job started getting extra busy.

As well, as a good friend pointed out just today: J.R.R Tolkien didn't start writing Lord Of The Rings until he was 45. You're going to be okay in the longrun, so be easy on yourself and don't give up. :)

If a dingus like me can find small amounts of success and keep my head above water, so can you! Good luck!

Dr-Freebase 2024-11-21 23:55:46

Nobody makes money as an artist

MoeAnguish 2024-11-22 03:30:45

I'll spare you the personal stories, motivational speeches and etc, and just give you a direct solution. Not because I've been there (although i have, and i made it out in the exact way i think you're trying to accomplish yourself. Hence why i think I'm qualified to share an opinion on this) but because none of this will help you move along.

I think the people in your life are opposing you because they "can't see the evidence" for your goals being possible, not because they're "exactly right" about you.

You absolutely CAN make money as an artist, and you absolutely CAN go completely independent at some point. The question is "how" you will. And to answer that : get a stable job just as something to fall back on and keep financial worries away, then pursue on opportunity after the other in the art field to get yourself deeper into that "industry" and then make a couple well-marketed projects to help you get jobs, support and anything in between. And then, keep going at that until you find a way to acquire "the final goal" in the form of a job or an endless stream of good income (aka Patreon for a comic/VN/etc).

Personally, my goals aren't "art" related, but rather game development related, and I'm 75% close to the "final goal" i have.

I can give you resource and pointers but that'll make this comment way longer than what i think you'd like to read, so PM me or add me on discord and I'll do my best to point you to wherd i know you'll get some opportunities.