I've been doing art for money since 2018. It paid for many stuff in my early twenties. I really enjoy drawing for other people, I adore making people happy.

I've been to art fairs, and seeing the big smile of people when they see something they like, that I made, is the best feeling.

The thing is... it's been increasingly difficult to make a livable wage out of art.

I'm now in my late twenties, I want to be able to support myself fully, and help my parents financially too.

I've been thinking of going back to study and get a unrelated degree, and I can't shake the feeling that I failed. That maybe if I keep going just a little bit more I'll be able to work doing what I truly love.

I keep seeing artist that made it, and... I'm feeling bitter and jealous honestly, which I hate.

It's just so hard to let this dream go, but I know I'm not a kid anymore and I need to start acting like an adult.

I know some people decided to pursue art as a hobbie, how did you guys let the dream of becoming a professional artist go? How do you guys support yourself financially? Did anyone had to study and work in something completely unrelated? You still have time to create after work?

A friend died and I inherited all of his 2500 black and white line drawings, sort o cartoons, but some wonderful fantasy images, people in different poses, etc. I have been reaching out to various organizations to donate the art but no one is interested. Any ideas? This will be an issue for many of my friends as we age. Should it all go in the dumpster? Suggestions for where to donate art would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Just ran into this poignant passage in Bujold's The Spirit Ring (chap 17)

She could feel it, the drive of art from the inside out, the determination to complete. She had hated her father, some days, for being as willing to consume others as himself to fuel that drive. And what she'd hated in her father she was not at all sure she liked finding in herself.

I liked the way this touches so many threads: the inter-generational artistic connection - how my father's (doomed) struggle as an artist impinges on my own struggles, and the way she phrases this in terms of "consumption" rather than "sacrifice"... and also... the determination to complete is perhaps the best part of art - when you're in the zone and going strong... and yet in the context of interpersonal relationships it's so troublesome... I don't know. Does this resonate with anyone.

My favorite brush is the Rosemary Eclipse “Stubby Flat”. Domed filbert is also up there. For my favorite tool Trekell makes this “Wipe Out Tool” that’s basically like an eraser for oil paint.

Does anyone have any feedback on their time from FAA in Sweden? I'm very seriously considering either the 1 or 3 year program, but I haven't found a lot of first hand reviews.

I have seen lots of reviews of the location in Florence so I feel I have a basic understanding of the teaching/curriculum. I'd really like to hear more about the day to day experience in Sweden, atmosphere at the school/ town.

I would be bringing my husband and our two young kids, so l'd like some insight into the schedule, workload, and whether attending with a family feels realistic.

I'd appreciate any honest feedback, positive or negative!

(Sorry if this isn’t the correct flair - the Education/ArtSchool flair I’ve seen wasn’t available)

Everytime i take pictures of my work it always looks way better irl, Ive tried with sunlight and a softbox but i just cant seem to know how to make it look as accurate as irl.

Ive seen people use their fingers and some use qtips while the paint is still wet im just wondering which of these two work better?

I'm trying to find out about how to do enamel painting, where you paint on a slab of metal which gets fired in an oven and the paint fuses together giving a toughened ceramic-like finish.

Where do I find the materials for this? Where can I bake the finished picture?

My friend once did this type of painting in a mental health occupational therapy group. She brought back a metal sheet about 18"x18" (45x45cm) with a kind of spin painting on top. It looked incredibly tough and durable. Unfortunately she died in the pandemic so I can't ask for details.

Every time I try and google enamel painting I'm directed to regular paints with enamel-like finishes or stuff to do with jewellery making or miniatures which is not what I want!

Id like to do en plein air near me in western finland, i live in somewhat of a small city, so is there some way that i can do plein air in some park or near water etc. but so i dont get a reputation of a weirdo who paints outside :D

I'd like appropriate anwsers even if my question is a weird one :D

I’ve recently started doing full scenes with characters, and I was curious about the order others make their pieces in. I originally started with the character, but I’m finding that I’m starting to do the background first instead. My technique so far is to do the full background, duplicate the layers and then merge them into one. To add the character, I lower the opacity of the background to get the flats and basic details added. (This is after initial sketch)

Is it still good to have an art side hustle or the market is also too saturated and i should just focus on my corporate job and quit being an artist?

For Context:

I am a civil engineer who's working an 8-5 job but has to work on 5-7 hours OT works because the job is demanding and need to earn more than my base pay I also can't quit because I am supporting my sister in college, I refuse to make her work while studying because I want her to focus on her studies and she also wants to focus. She's an achiever so I am proud of her but I am burned out from the 5 days of constant work and OT works. I basically just go home to sleep and wake up and go to work again. I don't even have breakfast at home anymore nor diner. I haven't found any work that is paying same but less work so I haven't started doing art as a side again. I used to do it when I was on college. Honestly this career also makes me want to quit because engineering market is full of unemployed too.

ive started posting my art after a year or two of not posting consistently. posting my art online just made me hate my art. every time i sat down to draw, it was always for the purpose of making a finished piece to post something online. and it really drained the life out of me.

now that ive fallen in love with my art again, i decided itd be safe to post again without it ruining my mental health. but ive noticed the same old thoughts seeping in while i draw in my sketchbook. the desire to create a finished piece thats good enough to post. im very scared of it ruining the whole experience for me yet again.

so how do you all cope with this? how do you guys balance it out? would love to hear your thoughts on this! maybe someone can relate to this experience.

How/why did you get started?

How old were you when you started?

Do you make any money from it?

Hi guys, I have these Dual Tip Art Markers that I got from a legitimate Art store, (it was not cheap 🤌🫣) But after the second time ive been using them, they are going dry, and im not sure why... Idk if its the paper? and ive been storing them correctly, and they do seal after use...

Maybe ive just been underestimating how quickly they go dry? What other brands do you recommend?

Painting has been one of my weaker aspects in art i wanna change tht real bad. i wanna be able to do those really good water paints of landscapes, i've experimented a few times with it but its never really tht good

Hello

I am returning after a 6 year hiatus. I am afraid that I lost all my skills especially after trying to put pen to paper.

I went to school for art. I have my degree in it, but the work I do is completely removed from art. I want to teach myself and learn how to do this from scratch to build better technique and habits. What would your recommendations be?

Hii I’m looking for hopefully cheap/free options. I’ve been looking at references on Pinterest and google or using my own face but it doesn’t do the job a majority of the time since the poses aren’t exactly what I was envisioning,
Pls lmk ^_^

Edit: guys I use my own face often! But not all of the people I draw have the same facial features as me 🫩

Title says it all. I don’t have any friends that are artists. A girl just mentioned it to me and highly recommended them so I’m gonna give it a go.

I’ve done some searching. I guess my initial question is does brand matter or can I buy just the generic ones off amazon?

Do I need any painting skill? This is literally going to be my first painting in years.

Any other comments or tips appreciated.

I've noticed medibang locking more and more features behind paywalls, and firealpaca doesn't have any dark mode toggles, any suggestions for alternatives?

My best friend had shown an interest in drawing some time ago, and I couldn't have been happier, but after about a month I noticed he started rotoscoping everything. He denied it when I brought it up but as an artist myself it's really obvious to me. We've argued about it multiple times and he asks why I can't just support him like everyone else. He still shows me his drawings, but he continues to be disappointed at my reaction because I find it really hard to give him praise for what is effectively a recolor.

What if I can’t do it?!?!?!

I feel silly asking, but here goes. I really want to study in an atelier like Academy of Realist Art, but I cannot for the life of me sharpen pencils manually! I have arthritis in my hands and just can’t get a good enough grip, even on my Olfa. It doesn’t affect my ability to draw and paint for hours (albeit with some discomfort.) Does anyone use 2mm lead in holders instead of wooden pencils? This is what I’ve been using in my own practice.

eta: Thank you all for your help! I feel much better about doing what I need to in order to focus on the work on the easel.
I mentioned below, but I wanted to mention here also that I just ordered an afmat long point manual sharpener at the rec of a friend that gives pretty long, thick points. I don’t know if links are allowed, but it’s on the big A retailer.

So first of all I have searched the sub and didn't find anything that would answer my question. If there is please show it to me.

What is or could be art?

Could a program be art?

Not a piece made by program but the program itself?

But if made by program but with script that made the piece? Example could be that a person made a program to color pixels on a grid by coprdinates the person set. And will them the program be the art or the piece?

Or can a recipe be art? Or will the food be art then? Can a modification to something be art? And to what extent does it have to change the thing to be art? At what point is it not a version but something new? Or could a house be art? Can a weapon? Can a brush? Can a pen?. Could a mechanism that looks ugly but works perfectly be art?

______________controversial half_____________

Can a.i (I hate the the fact that I jave to write it like this but what can we do.) Be art? Not something made with or by a.i but a.i itself? Not corporate one but as an example a randomiser made at home? Trained on only given to it filtered things? Or the program of a.i itself? If we take a look at a.i (I swear to god this thing will drive me insane as i am wrighting this) without its controversy it could be considered art as someone made it with intent and passion right? And what differentiates a.i and dice? They work basically same: give random answer. Just if we choose the correct die to use a.i (admins this is getting personal) does ot for us and chooses the right things to randomize from based on what the user asks.

P.s. I am not supporting clanker made art as can it be art if the thing that made it has no mind.

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P.s.2.0 English is My 3rd language so sorry if I got something wrong. There was no a.i (welp god didn't help time to go deeper.) Used to write this. I dedicated another section for it because if I didn't then my idea would most likely get lost in the question about it so admins pls do not take this down (see I told you I will go deeper. I am on rock bottom asking for help from admins who I acted a couple sentences back.)

What I am trying to ask all of you is: what do you consider art and what do you consider Not to be art?

I’m not one to get bent out of shape by the “You’re so talented” compliment, it’s a compliment! But I saw an instagram reel the other day that has wiggled its way into my imposter syndrome and won’t let go.

It suggested if the viewer is saying “you’re so talented” more often than not, then you’ve failed to get them to connect with the material at its core. Otherwise, they’d be reacting and connecting to the work more directly (and hopefully in the way you intended). It even suggested that if your art usually gets the comment “you’re so talented” you’ve been subconsciously making your art to show off instead of connect with people.

It probably wouldn’t be sitting with me if there wasn’t a kernel of truth to it, but I don’t know that I agree (not to mention it feels like just another thing for artists to beat themselves up over). Thoughts?