An artists passion?

[mhoyle]

Im new to this site and I have a question I have been itching to ask someone: How passionate should one be about art if they are considering it as a career? I push myself to practice, somewhat successfully, on a regular basis. The problem is I often find my motivation comes in burst; i'll go for weeks, sometimes even months, without doing anything more than doodles and gestures and then I will have a burst of inspiration that keeps me working for hours, days, and sometimes even weeks. I know I love art enough to continue even if I don't do it as a career. The problem is, im not sure im ever going to be able to keep up with the pressure put on professionals at the rate im going. Should I go back to the drawing board and consider a different career?

[AG.]

To answer your question, you should be completely passionate about it, and love what you're doing in order to keep at it for many hours everyday. Same goes for any other career. If you love art as much as you say you do, then don't worry, continue pushing yourself and you will make it.

[goldilockz]

I think most if not ever artist(s) go through the bursts, it's just how determined you are to push through the non creative times. Deadlines can be that push, usually. Even when I'm not "feeling it", if I have a deadline that will result in me being paid, it's a strong motivator LOL!

[Ryan K]

Even though you only practice in short bursts, I bet art is still what you do the most out of any other practice or hobby right? For some people I think it's just about building up stamina. Developing a good habit can be difficult but well worth it.

[dpaint]

There was a story that when Frazetta got the job to do the conan covers he screwed around playing baseball and didn't start them until a few days before the job was due, even though he had been given weeks to work on them. Well he got the job done and the rest is history. Passion is what you put into the work itself, not how steady you are.

[JeffX99]

Hmmm...hard to say. In the end you are the only one who determines whether you have what it takes. I think most of us sort of "mature" into our own careers and creativity if that is our goal and passion. What I mean is there will be times when you have to spend 18 hours on a piece - non-stop - all-nighters are commonplace, etc. If someone had told me that early I might have thought twice about being an artist, but as you develop you realize this just comes with the territory and it becomes a part of the "passion". Then again, I've always wanted to be an artist so there was never really any other options.

[Psychotime]

There was a story that when Frazetta got the job to do the conan covers he screwed around playing baseball and didn't start them until a few days before the job was due, even though he had been given weeks to work on them. Well he got the job done and the rest is history. Passion is what you put into the work itself, not how steady you are.

Frazetta was quite the role model.

[Ivory_Oasis]

If you are only drawing a week or two out every couple months.... that is not enough.

If you are going into it as a job, you need to get used to doing it every day (because, well, that's what you will be doing when it's your job!). You can work up to it of course (it's hard to just jump into working the entire day just drawing and pumping work out).

Every gets burnt out and takes a day or two to relax ... but going for months without working is a LOT of killed time and lost money.

You really need to access if you are willing to put in the work required to do this kind of job. Just getting to a professional level takes a lot of dedication. If it were a part-time kind of thing where you could just draw now and then when you felt like it and still make a living.... everyone would do it!

When you start looking for work, you are going to compete with people who really want it and really dedicate themselves to it. There are countless people who graduate with an art degree who find they just don't have the skills to actually work (having done the "now and then" drawing and last minute studying to pass the classes and get the grade which is all that is needed in a lot of other jobs).

Basically, there is a good chance you will end up like one of them if you don't make sure you are serious about art and put in the effort required to make it... I have found learning art is one of the most time consuming things I have ever attempted (and this is after getting an accounting degree with comparatively very very little effort).

Then again, it also depends how much time you have till you are wanting to enter the work place. If you are just starting highschool now.... well... it really isnt that vital that you hunker down and study like crazy. But, if you are getting out of college in a couple years and are at a low skill level... well... it would be time to really give it all you have.

[tobbA]

Nothing comes in and out of itself. You can't just sit around waiting to be creative. It doesn't work that way. If art is something you want to do then that means you have to practice practically every day. If you love art and really want to be better that won't be a problem.

[mhoyle]

That is something I have noticed. For artists, it's your actually skill level, not your education, that matters. I suppose I do fear of getting a degree in the fine arts, getting out there, and then having to go back to school because I can't get a job.

Thank you for giving me the honest truth I knew was coming at some point or another. I guess im going to have to push myself and figure out if im passionate enough on my own.