Why I Gave Up My Art Career

Summary

The speaker candidly shares their journey in the art world, revealing the disillusionment with the commercial aspects of their career. Despite initial aspirations, they found dissatisfaction in the constant revisions for corporate clients, anxiety in fulfilling personalized commissions, and the unpredictability of art markets. Financial instability and health issues further strained their passion. Ultimately, they chose to step away from monetizing art, rediscovering joy in creating without the pressure of profit, and encouraging others to prioritize their well-being and passion over financial gain.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The speaker gave up their art career due to a loss of passion and dissatisfaction with the work they were doing.
• 🔄 They took a different path after realizing that the art they created wasn't aligned with their initial aspirations.
• 📊 The speaker worked as a freelance for large companies, turning dry information into visuals, but faced challenges with excessive feedback and revisions.
• 💬 They set clear communication boundaries to manage client expectations and reduce unnecessary revisions, which improved client satisfaction.
• 💸 Despite raising rates, the speaker found themselves making unnecessary changes for companies that didn't care about extra charges, leading to dissatisfaction.
• 🖌️ They also took commissions for personalized art pieces, but the process led to anxiety and a loss of joy in their work.
• 🤝 Markets provided an opportunity for direct interaction with art enthusiasts, but also came with financial unpredictability and feelings of vulnerability.
• 📉 The speaker's card business started small and faced challenges in growth, including failed collaborations and financial losses.
• 🏥 Health problems, particularly pain from sitting, made it difficult for the speaker to continue their art career, affecting their well-being.
• 🚫 The decision to quit art projects that didn't fulfill them allowed the speaker to rediscover their passion for art without the pressure to monetize it.
• 🌟 The speaker advises prioritizing passion and well-being over financial gain, and to not be afraid to quit and explore new opportunities when work becomes unfulfilling.

Q & A

Why did the speaker give up their career in art?

The speaker gave up their career in art because they realized they were not happy with the kind of work they were doing and it was causing them dissatisfaction and anxiety.

What was the speaker's experience working as a freelance for large companies?

The speaker enjoyed the challenge of translating dry information into visuals but faced issues with overwhelming feedback and constant revisions, which led to dissatisfaction despite setting clear communication boundaries.

How did the speaker handle the excessive feedback from large companies?

The speaker set clear communication boundaries with clients, specifying a process that included a sketch, a first version for feedback, and a final version with a last feedback moment, with any additional feedback incurring extra charges.

What were the challenges the speaker faced with taking commissions from clients?

The speaker struggled with the anxiety of creating personalized art based on reference photos that were not to their preference, doubting their style, and ultimately not enjoying the process or feeling fulfilled even after receiving compliments from clients.

Why did the speaker find participating in markets for selling art challenging?

Markets were financially unpredictable, and the speaker felt vulnerable standing for hours without making sales, which led to insecurity and a reevaluation of their art career decisions.

What was the speaker's experience with selling Christmas cards as a business venture?

The speaker started small by selling cards to friends and expanded to gift shops and distributors. However, they faced difficulties in growing the business and experienced financial setbacks when a distributor went bankrupt.

How did health problems affect the speaker's decision to quit their art career?

Health problems, specifically pain from sitting for long periods, made it difficult for the speaker to focus on their work. This, combined with the lack of fulfillment from their art projects, led to the decision to quit.

What aspects of art does the speaker still enjoy despite quitting their career?

The speaker still enjoys sketching, creating art installations, drawing sessions at museums and with friends, and making YouTube videos documenting their artistic process.

What advice does the speaker give to others pursuing an art career?

The speaker advises prioritizing passion and well-being over financial gain, recognizing when work is no longer enjoyable, and not being afraid to quit, explore new opportunities, or take a break.

What does the speaker believe is the key to success in art?

The speaker believes that real success in art is not about making money but about pursuing what brings joy and maintaining the love for creating.

What was the speaker's breaking point that led to quitting their art career?

The script does not provide specific details about the speaker's breaking point, but it suggests that a combination of dissatisfaction with work, financial instability, and health problems contributed to the decision to quit.