You’ve always dreamed to become an artist, practicing everyday, dreaming about your next artwork, taking multiple mentorships, online classes, you’ve read thousands of books and drew and painted 10 hours per day, everyday. You know you are close, you know that, just a little push can suffice to get to your goal.
But no one answers. And the hustle lasts longer than you would expect. Your savings are getting scarce each passing day. Until you realize : “I need money.”
But you can’t forget that dream. How can you take a new job ? It will definitely waste your study time ! And what kind of job anyway ?
Many artists, freshly graduated (or not) choose to become waiters and waitress or take some kinds of part-time jobs to live-by. Hating that job to the bones. And trying to get by and study once home. Why such a shift in your life ?
You don’t have to ! Your life is precious, you only get one. So, what if you could just play along ? See, everything is Art. Stay curious !
Art relies on yourself, your stories, your experiences. How you handle life, its burdens and opportunities. By keeping your mind open, and your sketchbook or phone camera nearby, everything can become matter of studies. Everything can serves you to reach your goal. A camera, a sketchbook can help you get visual notes and knowledge for further purposes. Another advantage to it, these slices of life and experiences are yours only. No other artists will have the same points of references as you.
Art is expression of yourself. How you do so depends of you only. What you put out there comes from your input. In that sense, everything becomes Art. Be like a sponge and learn from everything.
But how can you optimize this learning process ? Not every job can be really interesting to you, even with a mind full of questions. And it can be tiring to always be thinking about art while working. But some jobs bring you a unique way to enhance that library !
And you don’t even have to be a genius nor have any diplomas for that ! Get out of your comfort zone ! Ask yourself : “What kind of jobs can bring me the most value to my life ?”. And go look for it. Just follow your heart. I know it sounds cheesy but he will get you some wonderful opportunities. Maybe one day will you be able to work at a restaurant, 2 months later working in an airport helping flights to land (yes, it is a hiring domain and you don’t need diplomas to get in), etc. Most of these jobs can be taken part-time, leaving you with many hours to draw and study.
Getting diverse experiences can enrich your life and your art in many ways. Don’t see these jobs as “bills-paying jobs” but instead, learn to see them as experiences. Not only will it help you pay those damn bills. But also gives you something invaluable to share with your art (and some pretty cool stories as well).
And even if you don’t need such a job. Don’t keep your head down on your studies. It’s like having blinkers, looking at your goal like a madman. Keeping focus on your objective is great, but enrich yourself along the way, stay humble and look on the sides, maybe will you see some neat experience, giving you that extra-boost to get to your dream.
What are your thoughts about this ? What are your stories or strategies to pay the bills before you got your goals ? I’m curious to know ! Feel free to share them in the comments !
I hope these few thoughts will help some of you in some way or another ^^
Good luck Steemians ! Cheers !