Between a career and a dream
3d
@kotka
Hi! Are there other people here 35+ that never lost the dream of becoming full-time artists?
I very deeply regret doing medicine for the past 12 years and wish I had been brave enough to follow my heart instead of doing something out of fear. My time for art has been absolutely obliterated by med school and later internship, BUT now I'm out on the other side and have predictable days, which helps me stay consistent and dedicate several hours a day (and nights) to keeping up seriously with art and also doing self-paced courses.
The pictures I have attached were one of the last drawings I did before disappearing into the soulless fog of med school. I found them on my old iPad where I kept all my lecture notes. It was always with me when I commuted, and this particular day, I was sad and tired from studying for a future I didn't want. I drew some particular trolls from imagination - at the time, I was involved in a group playing the table-top RPG Trudvang and was very inspired by Alvaro Tapia's drawings. Looking at this now brings a smile to my face, even though I see a lot of mistakes and silly inventions.
My plan for the future is to transition very slowly, at some point I am planning to fuel my art efforts by working part-time in medicine, and hopefully be able to work less as (hopefully) my art plans take off. I have a hard time seeing myself competing with younger industry-level concept artists, but I'd like for my work to stand on it's own two legs so that I occasionally could be hired, if my future art is to someone's liking. There is also a part of me that leans towards traditional fine art such as oil portraiture and watercolor landscapes without the pressure of working for a mega company.
Looking for people with similar dreams and ambitions, and especially successful stories. My current weaknesses are marketing myself and a portfolio of finished pieces. I never lack ideas or creativity, only time and structure.
I'm only 21 and lack experience in both life and drawing, so I apologize that I can't be of concrete help to your situation. But I did have something similar - I was sort of forced by my family to pursue a career in English linguistics/education, because that's what's been considered 'easy to get a job' majors for the past few decades, at least where I grew up. It really doesn't suit me, I don't enjoy it at all. I hadn't done anything for my own passions of art and writing up until a few months ago, when I came across Proko, and started self-studying art whenever I had time outside of college and family. And to be honest - I feel so much happier now, that even though I'm stuck in a career that I don't enjoy, I can work towards what I really want despite it. It's definitely a lot more tiring and busy but I finally feel like I'm starting to live life properly for once.
I think all I can say to you is to keep going, pursue what you love despite what life throws at you. I hope for the best for both you and your career as a future illustrator!
I think I'm at a different point in life. I used to love drawing when young and because of that I went to a Design College and in six months they made me hate drawing with all the rules, critics and metrics. I end up in Communications and working in television and now with 41 years I started to fall back in love while drawing pokemons for my son (six years old). It was like meeting up a old friend who I missed so much. For me I think that business, pressure, self marketing and corporations are a real danger to kill your love for art so if I can give you a sugestion, remember always why you love to paint and even if the end game is to make a living with your talent, try to make your first commitment to the pure joy of making something that makes you happy.
Ps: Love the trolls and I lot of what I see in your profile. Keep making those beautiful drawings!
