my world has collapsed. Ever since I was in high school, I told my parents and everyone else that I would pursue a career as an artist. I got completely trapped in this fantasy that one day I’d be a great comic book artist. However, the years went by and I never actually put in the effort to study or even finish illustrations or comic ideas. I would start, sketch, and never finish, never able to complete a single line of script, like a truly incompetent and complacent person. My parents, despite pressuring me to get a job, still supported the fantasy that I would become a comic artist. In the end, here I am now at 26 years old, without ever having finished a single illustration or comic, with no professional qualifications for the job market, and having never worked. I don't know what to do anymore. It feels like somehow I woke up, but at the same time I haven't; I still feel like I’ll go right back to my old habits. People don't take me seriously anymore. Friends and family just tolerate me, but they treat my ideas with total indifference because they are never finished. I see friends and colleagues in the industry winning awards, gaining prestige, and I haven't even started. I don't know what to do, anons, I'm lost. I need to finish something to prove my worth, to prove that all these years weren't in vain.I don't want to discourage anyone, nor do I have any right to give advice, but don't follow my path.
>>7975316>I need to finish something to prove my worthLook into local "calls for art". Museums, galleries, parks that want sculpture, etc. Most calls require memberships or fees per piece, but many do not. Limit yourself to something more easily completed than a full comic. Having your work accepted and displayed somewhere physical is a boost, and your family members will begin to see you more seriously. Plus, you'll learn more each time and it may lead to other opportunities.Or teach. Several of my local libraries have one-off painting or drawing classes. Offer one yourself. They'll probably fund the materials. Then some busybody from the Council on Aging or Cultural Council who was there and enjoyed it will get you other gigs.There's a fitting tale out there (I thought it was Twain but can't find it). It's about two brothers, one diligent and good, the other a total layabout. The essence of it is, people expect decent behavior from the good brother and so it's never really worth remarking. But when the layabout manages to achieve something simple, his parents and others basically laud him for it because it's such a rare and surprising occurrence. What I'm saying is these low expectations may work for you...
>>7975316It's not that big a deal, anon. I was this same way with music for many years. Eventually you realize that you just enjoy doing the activities you enjoy for their own sake. We often claim we're going to make a career from it because that's easier than imagining ourselves doing anything else. It's nicer to fantasize about getting paid for your art than it is to actually find avenues to do so. You're not weird or broken for this. Some of the all time greatest artists were just as stubborn as you or I. What separates a hobbyist from a professional is really just work ethic.My recommendation is that you choose one single project to complete. Then do it. If it comes out sucky, that's okay. At least you finished something. I spent 2011 – 2016 in the exact same situation as you. Just with music instead of artwork. I disconnected myself from the internet and just sat down finishing and recording songs. I completed and released my first album in 2017 to a fanfare of maybe like 5 people on Facebook. That was good enough for me. You just gotta carry something to the finish line and don't be so precious about it.You're going to be fine. Just keep it moving.
>>7975316>I need to finish something to prove my worth, to prove that all these years weren't in vain.You don't need to prove anything. Not all dreams come true, and what you thought you wanted as a child might not work out as an adult. That's pretty standard fare, as you grow up and become more self aware.When I was young, I loved cars, so I wanted to be an auto mechanic. Took an auto class in high school. But I found the knowledge needed to be a mechanic overwhelming, found I wasn't good with my hands, and didn't like getting dirty and smelly. The reality hit that it was not for me. Sure, I can change my own oil on my car, change tires, but that's all I really want to do, and I wouldn't want to do it all the time as a job, mechanics ruin their bodies after decades of work.My point being is that maybe drawing as a career is not for you. And that's alright, there is no shame in admitting it didn't work out. There is no shame in accepting you can't do something. After all if everyone could draw, everyone would.It's hard to pull back from sunk cost fallacy, but you might need too. Perhaps this comic making idea is distracting you from a truer calling that is better suited for you. One that you might enjoy. One where you actually finish things.Also, get checked for ADHD, it's a motherfucker.
first you get a shitty job and your self-respect backthen you sacrifice all the free time you have left working on your art, never telling anyone about it until it's donehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVnLW47cpFkthis is about creating pitches, but it applies to any kind of solo project
>>7975316It’s bad form to tell people about things in your life before they materialize. It’s not like this behaviour is uncommon or notably pathetic thoughever, I’ve known plenty of people who say they’re going to get in shape and stay fat lmao. Ideally your work should speak for itself, and saying you do art is just getting your foot in the door to advertise it to interested parties.
JUST DO IT, MACACO.
Yeah a lot of people like the idea of being an "artist" or their own childish idea of what that means, but when it comes time to do real artistry, they can't do it. By the way, I noticed that truly skilled professionals call themselves illustrators, not "artists." I think that has something to do with the childish view that people like you have of "art" as this mystical thing rather than a defined practice of work that you engage in.
Just use AI. You'll find that only a vocal online minority actually gives a fuck. Corporations and businesses use AI all the time and despite "backlash" nothing happens. They save a ton of money on hiring artists, and still people buy their products. Start learning to use AI for your comics and stop listening to crabs.
>>7975755delusional shill. It will never be normalised. Ever.
>>7975316>I need to finish something to prove my worthNo you don’t, you can call anything finished, maybe you don’t know how to finish, I'm not sure who you are or what you do. If we share anything in common, shut your mouth. Never speak of any of the above to friends family strangers doesn’t matter, you are not an artist. Only that way you can do comics/art freely, or let it die naturally, you’ll figure which one.Let me read your post 3rd time to spot more detail.---26 is baby years in today's world, you literally can start anything now from zero and never look back.Now think, there are shit comics out there, published, you can continue with that approach.Maybe I'm giving a crazy assessment now, but looks like you have conditioned yourself to not finish art(the comics), if you still want it, you’ll have to power through one complete comic, like no matter how shitty, as long as it has the label "FINISHED".You have doubts about quality? let me find a shit comic that has been published quickly.---Ok I'll be honest, most comics look good, but I've read for sure some shitty one, shitty plot/story, shitty art.So go ahead! Make that shitty first, or decent first one, or perfect one I don't give a shit, you have till this weekend and I want to see results.Hmm now that I have read my words out loud, it sounds dumb. Make a sitcom style comic, every chapter something else, don’t overcomplicate, don’t overthink, just have one goal, to create something from start till finish. condition yourself to finish stuff and your whole art life will look different.
>>7975316Same bro. My parents think I'm going to make my magnum opus on rpg maker VX ace and become successful in my FL studio lofi hiphop career at 16. Now I'm closing in on 30 with no development experience, can't understand jack shit about music theory and all I have is cuck porn addiction
