Art or a "real job?"
 

Every serious artist has to deal with the attitudes of others. I recently was criticized for clinging to my passion for art as a living at the expense of being responsible. This was a close friend! (Not anymore.) The person did not know how much I did or did not make as an artist, they just presumed that because I struggle with financial matters, that it is because I am an artist, never mind that we have medical hardships and fluctuations in business.

You have to be careful who you listen to. If I lived my life by the criticism of others, what a boring life I would have. It is not fair to generalize any group, even artists. To say that all artists are dreamers, or idealists, or the like, is very shallow. We are all as different and unique as we can be.

I am a pragmatist. I draw for a living because it earns me more money than anything else I can do in this dumber than a box of hair community. There really is not any better job security than working for yourself. You cannot get fired, layed off or written up. And, I am good at it. And, I love it. And, it allows me to grow my art and develop it. No one will do that for you. My work ethic is this: If I don't do it, it won't get done!

As the song says, "You can't please everyone so you've got to please yourself!"

Real job
 

Hello Lon

I'm glad you made this post. In the past I have had similar experiences like you have described here with your friend, and I agree with what your saying.

I often wonder about the term "real job." I guess what they mean is, in order for an occupation to be real it has to be something you dont want to do, but you do it anway so you can spend your life in drudgery, working at something you dont care for, often dreaming about what you might like to do, but never take the chance, because you need the reality of a real job, well what kind of reality is that ?

Hello Lon,

Good luck getting through the pain of the comment. I know it hurts. Somtimes we've just got to let it go. Your friend probably didn't mean to offend you, but obviously he did. How often do we say things that we later realise hurt a person? I had a similar event happen to me though an aquaintence of mine. It hurt me because I hated feeling judged. It still bothers me, and I have had the thought to mention it to him in a gentle way. For now I will avoid it because I don't know if I can be gentle at the moment. Some words from the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius have given me strength though. "It doesn't matter if the whole world is against you, if you know you are right."

We are fortunate. As you mentioned in your thread, we work for ourselves. We also do what we love, and we have the opportunity to grow through it. The ill thoughts or misunderstandings of others may just be the payment we have to make in order to keep doing what we love to do.

There needs to be a payment one way or the other in order to grow through what we do in this world. That is my belief anyway. It may or may not be true.

Good luck,
Anthony

Perhaps your friend was simply jealous.

Jealous, maybe. But I think she is just impatient for my success. I have heard it said the the hardest times are just before the best ones. Part of the price of success, right, Anthony? We have to be patient with friends, but one tends to shy away from those who hurt you. My little hurt won't last, but it surely will not formulate my direction in life.

Michele, now I am singing "Garden Party the whole day! :)

When we were in school, the professor would throw out the lowest grade of the year. I guess that is what we have to do for our friends once in a while; toss out the low point of their character for the good of the rest.

Lon,

I just looked at your site and I can only guess that your friend doesn't really understand how much you have accomplished and how diverse and active you are. We can all consider ourselves lucky if we have even a handful of friends or acquaintances who really understand us. After-all, while we have been living our lives, they've been busy living theirs. Most can't be expected to know us even if they were to "walk a mile in our shoes" since all of us have traveled so much further than a mile to get to where we are. Even "friends" can be clueless.

I hope your medical issues improve, that's more important than anything.

We all need thick skins (I should know) in this business. When you do have that next level of success, don't be surprised to find that you simply get a new set of critics, those who are certain you must have sold your soul or else you wouldn't be successful!

The thousands of people who own and enjoy the drawings you have made over the years would beg to differ with your "friend". If asked, I'm sure that they would say that they not only approve of what you do but are very grateful that you were there to do it for them. There are many more like them out there. Your "friend" is hugely out numbered.

Lon,

I admire your patience and wisdom in your philosophy of "throwing out the lowest grade". And I hope you are correct when you say "the hardest times are just before the best ones". I must have some great times just ahead.

Your resolution is just what I needed at this time in my life. Thank you for sharing.

Best of luck, Lon, and keep up the good fight.

John

Lon, I've been criticized by the same reason during all my life, including household and relatives, the only person who doesn't criticize me for my passion is my wife. She's been one of the very few people who support me in my ideals. Nevertheless, her family also criticizes me for trying to make a living from Art.
Never give up Lon.

I consider what I do to be a "real job". Yes, I'm self employed but so is my veterinarian brother-in-law. I work odd hours sometimes, but so does he. It took a lot of training to get my skills to where they are now, and it did for him, too. No one tells him to get a "real job".

I have deadlines to meet, bills to pay, income and expenses to balance, and so on. Sounds like a "real job" to me. I just happen to love what I do, just like my veterinarian brother-in-law.