Where Do I Fit? Advice For 40 Year Olds
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Art from Jake Parker’s Protip Video — available on PatreonCan I succeed as a jack-of-all-trades? In this episode, Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry address finding your niche, the difference between pros and hobbyists, how to organize your business, and more!
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Thank you for another insightful episode. I'm going to comment in the midlife crisis theme as I am very much going through it. I'm actually a bit older than the mentioned artists.
I did major from an arts school in my country (BFA) in the late 90s, but the fear of a financially unstable future plus the arrival of the Internet (and me having a hand with computers) put me on the track of web design and development — one where I stayed for the better part of the next 2 decades.
Now here in 2022 after being laid off fairly recently and realizing I had enough savings to get by for a while, I decided to go all in into pursuing my long-neglected dream of being an author-illustrator-middle grade comics artist, as I feel the life clock ticking. Enrolled on some online courses, have been gathering info on the US publishing market and what it takes to be seriously considered, got Will Terry's book
, have learned a bit of 3D modeling, and I am currently assembling pitch packages for several forthcoming publishing pitch events and to a major comics festival in France I'm attending next year. Go big or go home they say...And yet, there is this feeling that I'm pretending to make up for lost time, the realization that I still have a lot of shortcomings to address in regards to my art, and the urge to be a "jack of all trades" to get a job as soon as possible. Have I had the "luxury" of living off my art since I was young, maybe I would already have been a competent, super skilled professional (as in: being consistently and fairly paid for your art) but alas, that's yet to happen, and that's where my uncertainty likely stems from. If I need to go back to my old jobs, then so be it... but not without fighting tooth and nail for this beforehand.
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@Jake-Parker I'm 40 and don't lose any sleep over being 40 and still trying to find my way in the art world. I only care about making good work, not some idea of a legacy or having fame. My favorite book was written by an author in his 70's, and I don't think he could have written it at an earlier age.
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I’m 43, and like John Snow, I know nothing…
But, I’m enjoying every chance I get to learn and make art. Every rejection is an opportunity for learning and improving.
Here’s what I do know; however, Art is Hard.
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I just want to say thanks to Will, Lee and Jake for responding to my message and giving me honest feedback in the podcast.
I agree with everything you said about my work and about my overall approach. I always strive to get better and I have been taking online classes at schoolism for the past few years. I am in this for the long haul and I'm going to continue to push myself no matter how difficult it gets.
I'm currently working as a graphic designer. it's not something I am crazy about but it's a steady paycheck and along with my wife's job we do okay for us and our 2 kids. Painting and illustration is something that I will continue to pursue and strive for because I know in my heart It's what I want to do.
I have to give some deep thought as to where I want to push myself in terms of what kind of illustration I want to pursue. I know you guys mentioned that you see a good deal of caricature in my portfolio and to be honest I am thinking of moving away from that direction and more towards something more story-driven.
It is wonderful to read through these other experiences and know that I am not the only one who feels this way in my life.
All the best,
Marc
