answering all your questions about art, business & youtube!

To close off the year, let's spend some time answering all your questions! Thank you to Squarespace for sponsoring this video: squarespace.com/kelseyrodriguez
I get a LOT of questions in my comments on a regular basis, but it's impossible for me to reply to them all. In this chunky video, I go through some of the most popular questions I haven't covered in other videos; talking about how to structure your finances, how to grow on art KZbin, and how I like practicing art!
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[@KelseyRodriguez]

I want to make some videos where I give some of y'all one on one advice via video call! These calls are totally free, and will help me make better content! And you might be featured in a video hehe. If that sounds like something you're interested in, fill out this form! iwuzawnp27j.typeform.com/to/Yn05OJXJ

[@tschoiy]

That sounds like a great video & really awesome help! 🌞💕

[@sketchesofshay]

It's insane that just a year ago, I watched your art career strategy video. I was introverted, fresh out of school, could not find any art related jobs and had no idea where to start but now I have a channel I am proud of and a community I deeply appreciate and enjoy creating content for. I wouldn't have been able to make art a fulltime commitment if it was not for finding your channel. I owe so much of my growth as an artist and KZbin Creator to your workbook. It has been inspiring seeing you grow as an artist and seeing more of your paintings, can't wait to see more of your work in 2024. Happy new year Kelsey! Thank you for all that you share!

[@bxwieknxfe]

Shay, your sticker making video was a GAME CHANGER for me!! Can’t wait to see both of you in the new year, so thankful for the resources you provided to us. Let’s kick 2024’s ass!

[@sketchesofshay]

@@bxwieknxfe AH so happy it helped you!! let's make this the best year yet for our art!

[@samiraingold]

just did read this comment, so amazing how much you grew and how confident you are. love both of your contents and art a lot. as someone who just started out here on art youtube it’s really motivating to see how it can go. i’d like to come back to this video and comment in a year and see how i am doing 😅 much love and keep up the amazing work 🤍

[@AshleyMurphyArt]

It’s funny to hear you say different…. I watched a video earlier and guy was suggesting staying the same the entire time I was listening to him I was like dude… people are different not everyone likes same over and over… I think this is how people get stalled creating because they are listening to what someone suggests and then they don’t feel like themselves because they technically should’ve been doing the opposite.

[@DecafZombie]

Thank you for the wonderful info as always! You helped inspire me to actually submit and get into my first art show and im working on making a plan to take my art way more seriously! Happy new year!

[@anthonyw2931]

your insights and suggestions always wow me. It's like having a free consultant who is very good. And it's usually unexpectedly. I'm not a full time artist, but I'm making it work through your video suggestions. You're inspiring and highly intelligent. Thank you for all your hard work and may all your dreams, hopes and wishes come true in 2024.

[@jesikaneemann3703]

30:53 I've been feeling this as well. I hardly watch any art youtubers because they aren't relatable to me in this phase of my life right now. I think there is a massive gap of mothers / parents who are also creatives or gamers. I get it. No one wants to record when kids are at their feet or the house is a mess. Idk. It's a tricky one. It just feels hard because the handful of artists/creatives I follow don't have kids. It makes it hard to realistically gauge "hey why haven't I sat down with a cup-o-tea in perfect silence with candlelight and drawn in my sketchbook?" and then I realize "oh yeah I've got 5 little kids and their life is not realistic for where I'm at right now." I'd just love to watch someone more in my shoes or down the road from where I'm at in life. I think there is a lot of wisdom in having a creative practice in all phases of your life.

[@AmandaRuth_Artistry]

Omg I feel you! I’m barely starting on my channel and I have only 2 kids and I decided well I’ll just be real it is a struggle and my timeline won’t be like others but I wanna show my art and my ideas and everything, it’s just gonna take longer and the house will always have a mess to clean, and I will always have ideas. I don’t have to have a clean house completely tidy for me to create but it’s been such a challenge. I just really really relate to your comment here and it gives me hope that I’ll find ppl who will relate to me and my content as an artist who is also a parent. I hope you’ve been able to create!

[@mimisart]

Very insightful. I always take something from your videos. I agree it’s a long term journey. I recently picked up my art again after a 4/5 month break. It has to be organic and joyful so if you go through a rough patch, that’s ok. Put the brush down and pick it up when you’re ready again.

[@PriscillaCash]

Really enjoyed this q and a, especially seeing your enthusiasm when it came to your subject matter and supplies!

[@khadijasillustrations]

Hey Kelsey I've been following your channel for a while and have to say that I love the "long winded" answers and really appreciate all the details. And that the video doesn't sound scripted! As someone who wants to make money as an artist some day all of the details are so confusing and overwhelming, the more details the better! Really appreciate you sharing all your wisdom

[@KathBeredoart]

I always enjoy listening to you, Kelsey!❤️ Thank you for sharing great ideas and advice!😊

[@scoutofthewoods]

this video was so great, i listened really closely to the youtube part! i always appreciate your honesty, it's one thing i love about your advice... and yeah im v v sick of the studio vlogs that feel exactly the same as they did 5 years ago!! also i'm glad you mentioned that variety is good. a lot of my ideas right now are the same and i can see myself in the future feeling like i 'have to' just continue my 'making' vids... i guess it's also good to keep track of trends and how audiences move away from/get sick of certain formats, like those studio vlogs! if that's all you got, then maybe itll be harder to keep up with the times!

[@Craftydork]

Kelsey , you are such an inspiration. I love how authentic and down to earth you are. Your videos are informative, inspiring and entertaining. Not to mention you have a great voice and i could listen yo you talk all day (creepy i know) please keep it up!

[@liminalsister4078]

Thanks so much for answering my question! Great information and insight, as always! 🖤

[@jiojiart]

Naming studio vlog formats and mentioning "plants" was so accurate and specific 🤣

[@tschoiy]

Thank you so so much for all the advice you give us! I just started my own art KZbin journey and your videos have been a huge help ♥️

[@sheilafinchfineart]

Great video Kelsey! Love your honesty. You have a good heart and it shows through in your videos. I'm on the far side of my career (50 years as a selling artist) and planning to gear up and share on KZbin. Everything you've said in this video is spot-on! Really great advice to newbies!😉

[@leannedelux]

Ooof!! The whole thing with art youtube feeling the same...I'm so glad you said this! Not because I'm not also guilty...I am...it's just nice to hear this publicly acknowledged, because I've been thinking the same thing, but was wondering if I was the only one. I know I need to put more of my own personality/uniqueness into things, but for whatever reason, I feel hesitant (or just lazy?) but this has been very encouraging. Thank you, as always!!

[@Stygian360]

Always insightful information, much appreciated

[@nadyartillustration]

Thank you a lot for this video, I especially liked hearing your thoughts about KZbin. Food for thought!

[@nadyartillustration]

I would want to add that there are people out there enjoying the same type of video over and over again. To neurodivergent people this is like a cozy, comfortable hug that fits well into predictable daily routine :)

[@rebeccasartcorner]

I totally agree with you about being tired of art KZbin. I feel like most of it is just the same, specially (as you said) vlogs. Which also makes it hard for me since my goal for next year is to post at least one KZbin video related to art😅 Also is it just me, but it feels like most of what is showing up for me right now is related to gouache or digital, and a couple of years ago everyone was into markers.

[@Shadowkitty360]

This was cosy 🤎🤎🤎 Thanks for the chat! Great video as always.

[@amandac8836]

“Your thumbnail is a picture of your armpit.” 😂 Lol that caught me off guard haha

[@catalpaillustrations]

I love your channel! You inspired me to spend more time making art..

[@makinsavage5975]

Yep detailed answers are good. Great video!

[@ChantelleArts]

Brilliant video, you have such a fantastic community 😊😊

[@sincerelyharmz]

Always packed with value! You’ve been so inspiring to me. ❤ I finally started my youtube channel after years of resistance!

[@theashbucket]

Same, been saying I want to for 8 years... Will absolutely be posting 2024 and a lot of the confidence to start came from watching kels this year

[@KELSEYsecretsideaccounf]

Very useful info! thank you

[@Skeletalacademia]

Thank you for sharing! I love your honesty about artist vlogs became boring because I have been seeing the same pattern in the past years, artist being doing the activities at the same time like a trend, or sth but suddenly my timeline all appear the same contents of the same style/ aesthetic/ same period of time. But on the other hand, its ok if they enjoy it. I hope artist feel comfortable trying new things by themselves and not feeling so force of not doing what they dont enjoy (out of comfort when its might suppose to be relaxing for them to make). At least for me who just started my art channel, I am glad I like different things (sometimes I tried to be like some of "the same" art bloggers, but I couldn't and it was uncomfortable) so I thing my chance just doing the "maybe different" thing and hope I will find the audience who will enjoy my art and contents.

[@fatal_laughter]

Thanks for answering my question! 🎉

[@yenovefa]

"im kinda tired of art youtube i wanna see new things" me watching this, preparing to take my art youtube etc more seriously: 😭👍

[@harbingersolution]

I haven’t watched yet, but I’ve been following your channel since very early on and it’s nice to see you with so many subs now. I very much appreciate your channel and the more art business side of things. I’ve used plenty of your tips over the past few years, and just recently have come across some success. I’ve made about $1000 dollars since the beginning of this year painting custom cat portraits!

[@paulsnewartworld]

You are ...great, love the way you think; feet on the ground and just start. Thanks

[@carolinamartins5483]

love all your videos! i wanna start my small business but i live in Europe and don’t really know any manufacturers for stickers or art prints, can you do a video about it?

[@KelseyRodriguez]

i live in the US so i’m probably not the best creator for that! theprintspace is the one that I know of that serves europe

[@carolinamartins5483]

i will definitely check it out! and once again love your videos! thank you

[@isabelledebionne]

I enjoy your videos and I have a quick question I've been meaning to ask: what microphone do you use? Thank you!

[@fuzzydragons]

i hate using duralar lol, way too smooth for me, but a lot of people i know love to use it if i started to vlogs, i think they would be more off here this is such and such in scotland, very pretty and if it ever stopped raining long enough and the wind wasnt tying to kill me, I would sit here and paint the scene.So a comb of nice landscapes, any odd thing i find and maybe some art thrown in. i have had people ask me to film more around here, so can do at least that

[@the101connection]

This is a great channel..i would love to replay some of your shows on my online radio station I broadcast out of Perth Western Australia. The 101 Connection. With your permission, of course.

[@KelseyRodriguez]

as long as you give me credit, go for it!

[@DreadfulOdds]

Hello! What do you think about KZbin shorts? Have you seen it work to grow your channel?

[@EarthToIndiaa]

You've inspired me to start my own art youtube channel and was ready to upload my first video until I realized recording voiceovers/talking to the camera is so foreign to me, I feel so awkward that its noticeable in my recordings that im not comfortable speaking on camera & I don't sound natural due to it. I've recorded many times hoping to get used to it. I'm not even shy, but recording on my own knowing people will hear it is so out of the norm for me. Do you have any advice on sounding more natural and fluid when recording for youtube and ways to push through the discomfort? Did you ever struggle with this? Also, where can I post questions like this on the discord server? (:

[@Stygian360]

If it helps you at all. I've watched so many videos where people sound beyond clunky but as long as you seek to always get better... just do it. Don't wait to be perfect or you will never start.

[@KelseyRodriguez]

we have an art youtube category! it’s opt in, so go to “channels and roles” and click them when you find them. as far as recording goes- it’s a practice thing. do it a bunch and it’ll become a lot more natural and easier over time. talk to the camera often and you’ll see improvements faster!

[@hedgecomber]

Best advice I ever got was to just accept that your first handful of videos will be terrible 🤣 Just publish, learn, improve and move on. You can always hide them later on if they make you squirm too much (but don’t ever delete!)

[@EarthToIndiaa]

@@hedgecomber thank you! I agree that's the best advice, why expect it to be perfect your first try? I realized this and decided to just upload my first video(:

[@AquilaOdell-uo9ig]

I do not have a yt set. I post shots is that okay?

[@Proko_]

Hi I am artist my question is how to join an art group and make money with them also thanks for the video it was very helpful

[@jesserogers3869]

You are so beautiful❤I am mesmerised by your beautiful face

[@mellamomati]

Kelsey, it's been one year more or less since your ai video I want to objectively know how has this thing affected the illustration community? Are there any real statistics on that? Any research?

[@KelseyRodriguez]

i’m not sure if there are concrete numbers there, but i also think it might be too early to tell?

[@biomuseum6645]

​@@KelseyRodriguezI've personally seen ai images used mostly for KZbin thumbnails A few real life ads A few small musicians A few indie games I feel like it didn't quite make a big impact but nevertheless we need more info

[@juliab3326]

@@biomuseum6645 I see AI getting used for texts, summaries, and artwork. Most of my pinterest is FILLED with AI and it's getting annoying. I've seen AI generated pictures getting sold on websites as well (marketed as hand-drawn or something like that). I don't have any numbers but I can imagine that some people prefer to use or play around with AI instead of commissioning artists.

[@user-fn3kj9fo8q]

Yes , I am not that say 😊

[@Spiritbox12]

Hi

[@gabrielegarcia358]

I don't comment very often, but I love your channel so much! You are one of my inspirations and your advices are so on point. Even being a Brazilian artist I can identify with everything you say, we sure need more people like you

[@victoriapinheiroart]

I thought i was the only one SO TIRED of the same kind of content/lifestyle/aesthetic portaited by our community. As a community is normal to have a lot in common but damnnnnn we need to find a way to do better than what's going on. I mean, mixing things up is enough. Before being artists, we're people, aren't we? ~

[@beautifulcaramelman]

So what are you doing now that koji is dead?

[@KelseyRodriguez]

squarespace has a link in bio service i like! i’m using that one

[@lightlawliet3526]

don't mean to brag but my drawing is better than yours haha as i have more art experience overall . but i guess video quality lacks a lot and it's quite difficult to do everything on your average phone with very limited storage on top of that. and the whole marketing stuff is mind numbing sometimes. but can't give up soon i guess. it's been a year and currently under 200 subs. aiming to make it to 1k by december. fingers crossed.

[@0K5YT0Z1N]

You need to become a professional art teacher. Seriously.

[@vanphutan5702]

Every artist try their best to fit their art, project into thumbnail, and there is this girl try her best to hide her actually project, talk about giving out art opinion( more like her face). You just chasing view please stop.