Working artists
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Keep doing art - whether you make it your full-time job or a hobby. The important thing is to show up and do it often enough if every day is not possible.
Transiting from one career to another is certainly achievable, it could take a long long time, but it is doable. Keeping art as a side project is also a good solution depending on your situation and personality. A lot of beautiful picturebooks are made by artists who are doing books as passion project, rather than a full-time job
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Check out the thee point podcast here if you haven't already. There are some great ones about what it's like to work as an illustrator on the daily and I thought this one might interest you particularly...
https://www.svslearn.com/3pointperspectiveblog/2019/8/21/transitioning-to-an-art-career
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Hi, you have over 2000 followers on instagram! Thats something
I have 200, finance education and 12 years experience in finance. Nevertheless I've managed to change my career towards illustration and I can proudly say thet i have 2 years experience as an illustrator now:-) -
@NessIllustration thank you so much my friend for your help. I have read her story on her webpage and it is too inspiring for me. Cause she is exactly the person who I was looking for. I am a Physicists, but despite my love to art, I get no time to really learn or practice. Mostly I come home so exhausted and the time passes by. I am considering to quit my job and sit for a while and just persue art but this decision is very scary. I have enough money saved, but people say that I am going to destroy my resume with a year of not working and there will be no way back to science. Despite there is no garanthee for artist job as well. That is why I am so scared. I might ask her
Thank you so much 
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@demotlj Hi demotlj, thanks a lot for your story. I've checked your works on instagram and they don't look amateur to me :). I wish you good luck with further improvement. Yes, I love this community. And also the courses. I've also always liked art but due to my busy work have never been able to really spend time to learn it and that is why I have stayed amateur till now. Currently am deciding to end this phase but spending more time on art. That is why I am in the confused phase of my life
. I am so glad that I got to know so many inspiring people like you here. -
@thousandwrecks thanks a lot for your encouragement and your story. Your works are so good
. I also thought that I want to continue my science job and persue art as a hobby, but since 2 years I have decided this, I get more and longer stuck at work and come exhausted to home. The fire of art and no time for it has been frustrated me. So, I guess I will take your advice: "nothing is permanent.". -
@neschof thanks a lot neschof for your detailed story. Oh my God. You are also a Physicist? Me too. I've loved art since childhood, while my best friend entered artschool, my family also have not been conviced that art is a profession. My friend was not good in math, while I was so good in it and I honestly loved Physics. Physics was my own choice and I kept studying and working in it so passionately, till the passion is destroyed when I was doing my PhD. I have considered quitting, but didn't want to be a quitter. So, I destroyed myself to finish it and it made me hate Physics. I am still working, but considered to also make a part-time job. But everyone are looking for a full-timer. I guess right now I am exhausted enough to give it a break. I have no problem with it and have saved enough money for a few months to go. The only problem is that I am scared to ruin my CV as a Physicist by a few months of no work, as well as, I am not sure if I will one day reach to a level to get job as an artist to get paid well. Because yeah, there is a long way to improve. So, I guess I should search more for a part-time job. But my main concentraion is to learn as much as I can in the next few months and make a good art portfolio. I have to worriness with art:
1- Not being able to do it for living
2- I am a very extrovert and I have to always work alone at home -
It's great!!Thank you
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@Jeremy-Ross Hi Jeremy, thank you so much for your detailed story. Don't appologize for lenghty explanation, because your story is one of the most encouraging one to me. I have written my story in the reply to @neschof so I don't repeat myself here. I wish you can also achieve your goal and make a positive influence with your coming book. I am so happy getting to know people like you here. Let's get everyday 1% better together
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@nadyart Hi Nadyart. Thanks a lot for your reply. I am so happy for you. I write you in private.
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@neschof and @Jeremy-Ross me too :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_cold_sweat:
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@Eywin yes, I was also very good at maths and everyone kept saying it would be such a waste to not study something in that area!
I can sympathize with your feeling of exhaustion - our line of work can be hugely mentally draining and it often uses up all my creative thought.
@NessIllustration good for you to have taken the initiative to research artistic careers! I don't think I was a very proactive teenager, I didn't really know what I wanted and mostly just floated along.
I hope information and attitudes to careers in art & design have improved since I was at school. If I'd been more exposed to the options I might have made a different decision.
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@NessIllustration yes unfortunately and all this stereotype is the reason I am filled with fears now. It is existing in everything. People keep transferring fears: Art does not pay you. If you don't work in science for 6 months, you will never ever be able to get back to science. It is like you are burning your knowledge. I have been running after successes that others wanted for me my entire life. I guess it is time to put the fear once away and see what my heart says. Either I will be so glad that I did it or I will be broken completely. But at least, I will not say the day I am dying that I have never tried to do what I wanted to do.
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@xin-li Thanks a lot Xin Li for your encouragement. I am really happy getting to know you. Your work is also really beautiful. I wanna learn from all amazing people like you here
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@KaraDaniel Oh my God. Thank you. I have listened to some of them, but not this one and it sound directly related to my question. Thank you so much for your help
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@aska Oh my God. Thank you Aska. I am very encouraged by your words. Your work is beautiful. You and your success encourages me that this path is possible. I wish you good luck in your future works and am so happy that I got to know you.
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@Eywin I don't think it's true that if you take a break to focus on art, you wouldn't be able to get back into science. many people take a sabbatical, don't they? Or Maternity leave, or many different things. It's not like all your knowledge and qualifications are going to just disappear if you're not working for a little while. Recruiters don't like to see an unexplained 10 year gap in a resume, sure. But a 6-12 month gap explained by a sabbatical isn't the end of the world. If you have the money saved up to take this time and try art, that is so much more than most of us have and you should go for it
Like you say, other people have transferred fears and concerns onto you, but they don't have to be yours. Life is never certain, no matter the direction you take. No matter the path there will always be things to figure out and challenges to overcome. Might as well go in the direction you want, right? At least this way, you won't have any regrets...vanessastoilova.com
instagram.com/vanessa.stoilova/Check out my Youtube channel for tips on how to start your career in illustration! www.youtube.com/c/ArtBusinesswithNess
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@NessIllustration Yes, thanks my dear friend. I am so happy I have discussed this issue here. I feal the corrage now. You guys are amazing. I am more motivated than ever. Thank you so much for all your nice words
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@Eywin I am an art teacher now, but for 24 years I was a science teacher. I loved it but I always felt like I was missing something. I switched to art education in the last few years and am hoping to have a second career in art and writing after I retire. I, too, was told that I would be a starving artist if I pursued my dreams. But dreams can change too. I am glad for my years as a teacher. They have helped me become a better artist and communicator. And the relationships with my students and parents and fellow teachers have been priceless.
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@chrisaakins Thank you so much Chrisaakins for your encouraging reply. I am so happy to hear so many success stories of the carear change towards art. This encourages me. Yes, this is very similar to me. Although I liked Physics, but I feel it is not satisfying my needs and creativity. I am so happy getting to know you and wish you more and more success in your carear. Teaching is a beautiful job seriousely.
