Very frustrated as an artist...

[enyawd72]

As age 44 is creeping up on me...I've all but given up any hope of ever realizing my dream as a professional artist. I've spent years honing my craft...drawing, painting portraits and model kits...sometimes putting in hundreds of hours into a single effort, and never really getting any recognition. Well, I shouldn't really say that...I get a lot of compliments, but you can't live off compliments.

I've supplied art for magazine covers, model kit boxes and even posters for free, all in hopes it would eventually lead to something and never been paid a dime while others profited off my work. I've listed my paintings on Ebay and they go unsold...or I get some ridiculous offer of $50 for something that took 40 hours to complete...it's very disheartening, not to mention insulting.
Meanwhile, I see art that honestly looks like crap or photoshopped stuff everywhere in comics, magazines and posters. I just don't understand it.

Sorry...just needed to vent.

[Gorn Captain]

Sometimes, not matter how talented you are, you need that "window of opportunity", that helping hand, that piece of luck that puts you in the spotlight.
Everyone who has ever become a success agrees that they needed that extra push to get recognition.
Vincent Van Gogh could hardly afford to feed himself.
I've written quite a few books, gathering dust on my shelf. You send them to agents, who ask "what have you published before?", then to publishing companies who ask "who's your agent?"
It's a Catch 22.
At the age of 50, I've come to terms with the fact that 95% of us just don't make it. We never get that gentle push into the spotlight.
If it's any consolation: you are talented. The proof is there. And it's never too late to get discovered. I'm still trying anyway.

And you're right. It's frustrating to see inferior work get attention, when you know you can do so much better. I blame it on Chaos, ruling our Universe. When you look at all the crap on TV and in movies, it just has to be Chaos...

[Earth 2 Chris]

I understand your frustration. I had hoped to be a professional comic book artist, but I soon learned the prices I would have to pay to do that weren't worth it to me. I realized to really give it the attention I would need to find that window of opportunity Gorn Captain mentioned, I'd have to sacrifice my family, and our job security. So I just decided Graphic Designer was good enough for me, and that I could dabble in comic-related art here and there (like the Castaway packaging, etc.).

It was a hard pill to swallow, but when I hear about talented, famous, fan-favorite artists barely scraping by, and the older ones struggling with health issues and no insurance, I remember I made the right decision.

Chris

[Hedji]

Man oh man... where to start?

First of all, your Talent is a blessing. We have artists in my family... my mother, my brother, and myself. I firmly believe that there is something of it in our DNA and it can get passed down. That's not to say that someone with no midichlorians can't become an artist, but you get what I am saying... You have been given a joyous gift.

My mother does stained glass, hooked rugs, sewing, painting, doll crafting, you name it... I see it as her second joy in life only to her children. The ability to CREATE. The ability to give of your talents, invest yourself in the creation of something, and then share it before moving on to the next... I believe that is the path to true Happiness. (I'm gonna capitalize the important words).

Look at all the customizers on this forum. Their joy they get from creating art is so great, they don't make money, they spend it to labor for hours over all the wonderful customs that we get to enjoy, drool over, and in some cases, copy. Thank you to all the talented artists on this board. I may not comment every single time, but everyone's work here is nothing short of inspiring. They aren't in it for the money. It's again for the love of having a vision, and using your hands to make it real.

I agree with Mom. Creation... is the meaning of Life. Whether you create art, digital music, photography, podcasts, community, writing... whatever it is, you give of yourself and you get a profound satisfaction and pride in return. The same can be said for Parenthood. Creating children ... the conception is an awful lot of fun... But then raising a human miracle that is a living, breathing soul that you can be proud of is nothing but remarkable.

Dwayne, in all the souls I have encountered in my travels, yours is the most... artistic. (a little Shatner for you there). Honestly, you have talent and skill and craft that I will probably never achieve in my lifetime, even though I can wield a pencil with a modicum of skill. I feel for you. Your art is "worth" more than what you've made off it. Your raw frustration is perfectly understandable, and I'm glad you bravely shared it, because there are is a lot of industry work that is flying around that doesn't have the magic, the color, and the spark of life your work does. Your work glistens with the love that went into it. The fact that you can't make a living off of it... sucks. But I betcha most of the guys and gals on this board wish they could be paid for some other talent they have that is not utilized by their 9 to 5 jobs. I know I do.

Take comfort in the fact that you have one thing many of us don't.... the TIME to do it. Oh, I wouldn't trade being Dad for the world, but it leaves absolutely no time for making art. That'll have to wait until she leaves the nest. But then I'll be sad. And old.

I feel for ya, buddy. Hang in there. Watch a good film or listen to an awesome soundtrack. Cook a special meal for yourself. Whatever you do, don't stop making art!!! Money's nice, but it's not everything.

[enyawd72]

^I hear ya Andy....and don't worry, I'm not going to give up anything. I enjoy it too much. That's part of the problem also...I truly LIVE to create things. Having to work 9-5 is a distraction...an interruption in fact. Sometimes the creative spark hits me at work and I literally cannot wait to get home and start REALLY working.

It's also true that there are so many talented guys like Chris mentioned that have fallen by the wayside...it's sad.

Sorry if I sounded selfish for wanting more out of my art...I've been bummed about it a lot since yesterday. We just got in a whole pile of ORIGINAL movie poster art from the 1920's and 1930's. Some of the most unbelievably beautiful stuff you're ever seen. A few of the pieces are signed. In researching them, I could find absolutely NOTHING. The artist's names have been lost to history. No one will remember them or what they did. It was just really sad.

[CrimsonGhost]

I just turned 44 and I consider myself very lucky to have been able to make a living as a professional artist for 20+ years. It can be a roller coaster of a business. It's rarely a relaxed, stable existence.

First of all, never EVER give your work away for free to an employer. Free = valueless. Exposure is useless and you can get your own exposure by setting up a website or posting work on sites like Tumblr and Deviant Art. Get something for your work. I know you feel insulted by someone offering you $50 for an original painting, but put the price you want for it on it and don't sell it for less. Maybe print some giclees of the painting and sell those inexpensively.

When I started, you had to live in the right places to get art jobs, but the internet has leveled the playing field. Now you can get your work in from of anyones eyes with a link in an email. How is your portfolio? Is it online somewhere? Do you have enough pieces to do a local comic convention? I see lots of artists in artists alley selling prints of portraits of superhero actors and such.

So what is it specifically you want to do? What would you consider your dream job?

[Mr.Marion]

If you are supporting yourself with a secondary career you are doing better than most. For 95% of artist it has to be a labor of love. I was talking to a crime author and he talked about how his obsessions can be very time consuming and even being published many times over doesn't equal financial riches and can take a toll on your marriage and personal relationships.

For real artists and authors, I can see how rent free it must feel when hacks like Nickelback, Rob Liefeld, and E.L James can get rich while true talents go overlooked and eventually forgotten.

[Hedji]

It's also good reminder why piracy of music or film should be avoided.

[Spyweb007]

I also wanted to be a comic book artist growing up, and now work as a graphic designer for a newspaper I know I must find something better. I'm lucky my job involves art and design, unfortunately it just isn't a good company with any future to offer. I have self published a comic book series in the past, and may be on the verge of bringing it back soon. I've found that art skills are not enough, knowing how to network, market yourself and sell your work is more important to success, and not something that one learns majoring in art in college. Many of us artists are introverts and the networking and promoting oneself, which is so important to success, is difficult. Don't give up though! there is a great series of videos on youtube by a graphic designer named Roberto Blake which are both very informative and inspiring. Check them out and you will find some good, honest advice and ideas for moving towards your goals.

[CrimsonGhost]

I also wanted to be a comic book artist growing up, and now work as a graphic designer for a newspaper I know I must find something better. I'm lucky my job involves art and design, unfortunately it just isn't a good company with any future to offer. I have self published a comic book series in the past, and may be on the verge of bringing it back soon. I've found that art skills are not enough, knowing how to network, market yourself and sell your work is more important to success, and not something that one learns majoring in art in college. Many of us artists are introverts and the networking and promoting oneself, which is so important to success, is difficult. Don't give up though! there is a great series of videos on youtube by a graphic designer named Roberto Blake which are both very informative and inspiring. Check them out and you will find some good, honest advice and ideas for moving towards your goals.

I am TERRIBLE at selling myself! Ugh, I get bored hearing me talk about myself in the middle of a sentence. It's completely necessary however and I try my best to do it anyway. Networking and meeting people is a necessity as well. No one knocks on your door out of the blue and asks if you'll paint their book cover for them. Nearly every job I've ever gotten is because someone I knew recommended me.

I keep taking hobbies I love, such as painting and sculpting, and make them into a job and therefore killing them as a hobby. Sometimes I wonder if it would be better if I just painted for fun and took all the pressure off of it. No deadlines, no boss telling me to change things based on his whim or because he needs to justify his job, getting art direction from a supervisor who doesn't even do art...

This is starting to turn into a weird therapy session for me. Sorry.

[hobub]

This is a great thread and allot of solid advice here. I agree selling prints for the $50 may be the way to go. I have worked as an Illustator and as a Graphic Designer for about 18 years. I got frustrated with it all about 7 years ago and just simply walked away. Now I have the itch to get back in and that is why I have taken on some requests for emblems and labels of items that just don't seem to exist. I've lost any doubt that it left me after sitting here during the Christmas season and cranked out a few drawings of cartoons. But this job and that's all I call it provides me three days off to do whatever I want to do and so far, it's not drawing. It has been treasure hunting / collecting. But I do have the desire to draw and one day I will get back into it further. I wish you luck but the field of art is not always a lucrative one unless you are among the lucky 1%. For the rest of us, the day job provides security and income do what you want in the spare time. If it's art, by all means do it. But I agree, don't ever sell yourself cheap. A talent like you have is a rare gift. And keep your pride in it. - Share your work. I don't have a website. For some of my favorite pieces, google "hobub lennie" or look in my museum galleries. Best of Luck to you. Please post/share links to your pieces.

[enyawd72]

^Will do hobub!

Thanks to everyone for sharing your advice and letting me vent. This is going to be the year I finally get my own website going, so who knows.
At least I do have the security of my day job, and I am thankful for that.

[Magenta]

I know how you feel. I created Monster Cafe Saltillo with the hopes it would be flushed with customers. we get by but that is about it. I see other restaurants that are boring you would find in any city and they are full. It baffles my mind sometimes how people settle for crap.

[MIB41]

Dwayne my friend, for the first 21 years of my life I thought I would do something in comics as a profession. I seriously thought these guys rolled in bucks. Then I got a call from Joe Kubert himself telling me I was accepted into his school after they saw my portfolio. I honestly thought I was on my way, so off I went to Dover, New Jersey for what I surely thought was the next chapter in my development. It was an experience for sure. I found out more than I wanted to know. So many of these brand name artists from Marvel and DC did this stuff ON THE SIDE. Many had other jobs and this was supplemental income. Then I had a class where people came in from all aspects of the art world to explain what they do and how they were making it. One day we had this artist come in that could paint photo real. This was back in the mid-80's before it became a more common place today. It blew my mind. I had never seen anything like it. I think this was the same day I found out most of my most beloved artists were not making it as well as I thought. Anyway, I asked him where he was working and how successful was he. His answer? " I'm currently unemployed." That was it. I was done and I knew it. I always thought (naively so) that I could draw comic panels for eight hours and go home with a nice paycheck. Not so. So many of these artists that are legends in this industry never made it in the financial realm like they did in the recognition arena. Fame does not equate to money. So I retired my dream and went back to Louisville and finally got my business degree in '91. A slow process to be sure because it was not tied to anything much that I loved at that point.

So while I certainly don't have your incredible skill sets, you are far from the first person I have seen with amazing skill to not reap the benefits. It's wide spread and it's a crime, honestly. I remember seeing Bernie Wrightson...remember him and his incredible pen and ink of Frankenstein? Anyway, I asked him how that all came about and what a big job that must have been. Turns out the majority of that he was doing at home FOR NOTHING. He just had it in him to do it and started work on it. Finally someone saw a number of pages he had done and commissioned him to finish it. But it's not like he got rich off it. He just got paid like it was a normal job and he was done. The ongoing joke he always had with pals whenever I would see him for many years after was whether he had his power cut off at his apartment that year. A common problem he had in trying to make basic ends meet. So most artists are very much under appreciated, and always underpaid.

Next time you get a chance, look around in your home at really anything - Your TV; Your vacuum; You VCR; Your coffee maker; Your keyboard; Your monitor; the chair you sit in. You know who designs those? Industrial designers. They are artists just like you as well. But they get paid to draw up this stuff. They don't know how to make it work. Engineers come in for that. But the artists design everything we touch today. Even medical devices. None of them get credit for THEIR designs because when they go to work for these companies, they sign away their rights to the company the day they start working for them. Their ideas belong to the company. In many cases, one of my friends (going back to my high school years), could not even include those pieces in his portfolio! And this guy did work for BIG companies like Coke, Sony, General Electric, and even Ford. So it never fails to sadden me when I hear this, but it's the cries I have seen throughout my life. All I can tell you my friend is you ARE very good and I think I speak for many of us when I say I never grow tired of seeing your amazing gifts and hope you will continue. You DO COUNT! Unfortunately companies don't want you to count it on your bottom line.

[Hector]

I know how you feel. I created Monster Cafe Saltillo with the hopes it would be flushed with customers. we get by but that is about it. I see other restaurants that are boring you would find in any city and they are full. It baffles my mind sometimes how people settle for crap.

Oh Jesus, you back? Still talking about that? Weren't you banned or something? When I go to restaurants, I don't want monsters, I want good food.