The word "quit" implies that artistic ability is a finite thing that goes away if you stop doing it. Once a person has learned to ride a bicycle, societal and cultural ideas about success do not stop a person from being able to ride a bicycle when ever they decide to get back on.!!!

I absolutely agree! I also used to think I wanted to become an animator or a comic artist, but the thing I've learned during all these years is that I don't think I'd enjoy creating if my sole income relied on it. And I found a pretty comfortable compromise in graphic design - I'm not awfully passionate or great at it, but I get to be creative and makes it makes me money. And then I can spend my freetime making illustrations and art that I want, and if it ever leads to anything - great! But trying to make it into my fulltime job? No thank you 😅

Great video! I've had a lot of dreams of creating games, making stories, etc. I wanted to make a living off of it, but it just never happened. Meanwhile I went to school, worked on my corporate career, and now I am extremely happy with where I am at. A good job to support my family without stress of the next paycheck, and I still get to make what I enjoy on the side. I think if I stuck myself in the "No this is my destiny and nothing else will do!!!" Then I would be miserable. It isn't so much "quitting" as it is realizing that people overhyped us as kids and now we are realizing that, so now we are choosing to be happy in healthier ways :)

You're right. I was working with animation for 8 years and started something new this year. I feel the breeze of freedom right now lol

(sorry for the long post haha, i couldn't formulate my thoughs any shorter) I agree to some extent. It is important to take a moment and think over whether what you're doing now is fulfilling, and if it outweighs the hardships. What i think is so difficult about art is that the majority of the time, your art sucks and it is really demotivating. I’ve been practicing art for 8 years and only until recently i’ve been starting to feel like it’s ok. But the thing with making money off art is that it has to have some kind of monitizational value. Like, commissions, architecture, web design, you name it. And if you’re not interested in any of that kind, it is going to be very difficult, even more so in the animation industry where you have to basically be able to create close to perfect art, especially if you’re trying to get into the major studios. (and it might not even be worth it) I shared your dream and after 8 years of hard work, it still feels like my art is still so far off that necessary quality. So instead i decided to pursue games, i got lucky and landed a temporary contract work for 6 months, which isn’t a full-time job but it is a start. But it is like you say, i’m just making art for someone else which isn’t entirely fulfilling. But there is one thing i can do, to give me the chance to make something i want without getting into big studios. It is to create my own company. I’m working with some college friends to make our first indie game, which is extremely fulfilling. I get to draw the things I want and make a game i love. But the thing is, starting an indie company is risky and i have to work on it on the side, so there is a big chance for burnout. So you have to consider and weigh your options, whether you can either take the risk and make your own indie film/game. If neither that or any other monetization plan seem fun or possible, you should definitely look to just have art as a hobby. Which is also great. But the indie game i’m working on now is so fulfilling, despite the fact that i’m not making money, and i might never do. But there is a slim chance i might and then i get to have a shot at doing what i love. If i gave up 3 years ago, i might not have gotten that chance. Though, quitting your dream and having art as a hobby can be temporary. Maybe a chance will arrive in the future as long as you never quit art (if that is what you love).

I can relate to your situation. But we still gotta earn somehow to make a good living for ourselves, don't you agree?