Can You Be a Pro Artist Over 30? What You Need to Know

Marshall and Stan answer a caller's question on if they're too old to become an artist. Clip highlight taken from Season 1 episode 18 - • Too Old to Start Drawi...
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ABOUT DRAFTSMEN
Stan Prokopenko and Marshall Vandruff are art instructors. If you love the arts, particularly the craft of drawing and painting and image-making… and you want to level up your skills or even make a living with your skills, we are here to answer your questions. We’re here to offer you advice, refer you to our resources, share your love of the craft and maybe inspire you! Learn to Draw - www.proko.com Marshall Vandruff - www.marshallart.com. Subscribe to the podcast at bit.ly/DraftsmenPod
ABOUT PROKO:
Instructional How to Draw videos for artists. My drawing lessons are approachable enough for beginners and detailed enough for advanced artists. My philosophy is to teach timeless concepts in an entertaining way. I believe that when you are having fun, you learn better. I take pride in producing high quality videos that you will enjoy watching and re-watching.
CREDITS:
Hosts - Stan Prokopenko (www.stanprokopenko.com), Marshall Vandruff (www.marshallart.com/)
Production Assistance - Brandon Storer, Charlie Nicholson ( shloogorgh), Sean Ramsey (www.peoplewhodrawstuff.com), Katrina Collins (www.katrinacollins.com)
Editing - Charlie Nicholson ( shloogorgh), Katrina Collins
Audio Engineer - Brandon Storer
Intro Animation - Cody Shank (codyshank.com/)
Intro Jingle - Tommy Rush ( / tommyrush )
Music Used with Permission Intro - The Freak Fandango Orchestra

[@markdinsdale4869]

Yuko shimizu went to art school at 38 and is now one of the best modern illustrators. You're never too old, as long as you have life to live and time to learn properly you're never too old.

[@marisangiovanni]

Mark Dinsdale great point, Mark!

[@Doggieworld3Show]

😳🥺 I see...!

[@motherofpearl9430]

She is amazing!! Love her work!!

[@jojorabbit4095]

Not correct, This was the date of her enrollment when she came back to New York but she has been drawing since she was a little girl.. not the same, I yet to find a professional artist who made it after the age of 40.. the work of every artist I saw who started after the age of 40 is somehow childish and unprofessional in comparison

[@manishbarik2267]

​@@jojorabbit4095 Thanks. I wanted to know the same. People just see one side of the story: XYZ started their career late but when we dig deeper we get to know that they have been working on that skill since teenage years.

[@pindurski712]

Maybe someone will read this and be encouraged. I drew up until college, but I was never really that good. Then I decided to give it all up for 17 years. I started my art journey when I was 34. I woke up at 2:30AM every weekday morning for 3 years to self-teach and make art for 4-5 hours before my day job started -there is so much good content on KZbin and Patreon. After about 3.5years I started to get small jobs and over time as I got better so did the clients like Wizards of the Coast. I am 43 now and I no longer get up at 2:30 because I now have a family, and my art-time is relegated to the evenings after the house is asleep, but I can take on as much "work/art" as I wan't. Starting art later in life may have it's disadvantages, but it also has it's perks... Like they mentioned in the video once you "learn how to learn" then you can expedite this whole being an artist thing.

[@frogturtle]

Can you explain where you found the energy for this? Art for me is a lot like...I have a car, I know where I need to go and which roads to take, but I can't ever get it to start. Sometimes I try to start it and after a few tries I just accept that it won't turn on and give up. I simply cannot get myself to make enough volume of art to see any real progress. I can't even finish a single piece or dedicate myself to two days in a row of practice. I went to art school for 5 years and had my own mentor. My goal was to do games and I got interviews at a couple notable studios but they fell through. I already have a lot of experience in drawing and digital painting and am well above average. I've seen the finish line which is why this sucks so much. I just need an idea of how people find the energy to push forward. I literally feel lifeless whenever I attempt to do art again, and it makes me very sad. Either I want to rekindle that energy or feel okay with moving on, but neither has happened. Sorry for the monologue, thanks for sharing your experience as well, sounds like you really turned things around for the better and found a happy relationship with art.

[@nilyad04]

hugh pindur I love this! I have wanted to be an artist since I was just a kid and always loved drawing (although I was never all that good either) but I got discouraged later on in my life. Now at 29 I want to start again by actually learning how to draw correctly and I’m loving the feeling. I’m beginning to fall in love with it all over again.

[@milosradmilac8911]

OK I HAD to google you, and daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn you're good! Yes it did deserve that kind of damn. :) Very motivating!! :)

[@nilyad04]

@@milosradmilac8911 haha your comment actually made me look him up! He def deserves that damn! Amazing art!

[@hunnybunny7014]

Thanks a lot for this comment.i am 25 years old and now I'm starting my art practice again.

[@africaart]

30+ means you are mature enough to understand the work ethic needed to succeed

[@grahamfinlayson18]

Exactly this.

[@masterkc]

30+ means you're desperate and will not fail...It's now or never attitude 😂

[@B_H_Cat]

I'm 50 and I've just started going to art school. Why not just give it a go?

[@spongebob03]

How is it working out for you?

[@nam0007]

How is it going?

[@sarathkmr39]

Big respect 🖤

[@mintacgaming8924]

Why art school?

[@spartan.falbion2761]

@@mintacgaming8924 he's fooled by the old way of learning. I learned 20% of my technique in art college, the remainder from books, tutorials and intense practice. INTENSE PRACTICE MEANS 40 HOURS A DAY (tipping hat to TwoSetViolin).

[@phipsart6424]

this comment section is the most positive influence I had in a long time in the internet

[@sarahsantana4439]

I actually like to read the comment section. So many wise and encouraging people.

[@jimneysweep9810]

It doesn’t matter what age you are . You can do what you want . Just put the work and passion in .

[@bezalelstudioz4719]

Thats nice

[@Donkeyhead]

You don't even need the passion. Getting better at something can make you more passionate about it :)

[@cmralph...]

Shit! I'm 65 and just opened my studio 3 years ago! HAHAHAHHA

[@dylon185]

Me: watches every episode of the draftsmen podcast in their entirety Also me: watches every draftsmen podcast clip

[@timowthie]

these podcasts should be watched multiple times. you'll get other things from it every time

[@dylon185]

timowthie ^^!!

[@koljak9395]

I started out drawing in my mid-fourties, just turned 50 (in the midst of a successful software engineering career, far removed from art). Making good progress - as was said, with age comes more seriousness, discipline, etc. But: Be prepared to go through some growth pains as well! The 2 biggest surprises for me were: 1) Drawing and painting infected me so badly, I lost most of the love for what I used to do for a living. Definitely moments of panic there. At some point you need to make up your mind and be as fearless as you can. 2) Life experience didn't save me at all from disorientation. As you grow, you will be exposed to so much fantastic art, your taste develops, whole new interesting areas pop up all the time. Goals change. I started by drawing comics, then got interested in film concept art, 3D sculpting, painting portraits, animation, ... the list never ends. It's an ongoing struggle to sort out the things I'm not serious about, finding a focus, setting new goals, remain open to exploring new territory. An incredibly intense journey.

[@oshin33anika]

Wow i am an SE too and i took this career only coz it pays great but my real passion is painting.

[@lisasternenkind6467]

@Kolja K ..... I can relate soooo well. Same here. ;-)

[@koljak9395]

@@lisasternenkind6467 So it’s not just me :) Good luck on your own journey!

[@koljak9395]

@@Ty-1452 I switched to part-time freelance for a while, to have more time for doing art. Definitely improved, but never felt at ease with any given "art career" perspective. I always wanted a way to bring all my interests together, so right now I'm trying solo game development, and am absolutely loving it! Having a real blast using a wide range of hard-earned skills, but I don't know yet if it's going to pay my bills in the future.

[@samguentherillustration]

I’m almost 30 and have been a respiratory therapist for 5 years. I’m going back to art school to ultimately be a medical illustrator and my experience in being in the hospital already is very important to my work. That background is what feeds my passion for medical instruction and gives me an edge.

[@lallidutoit7720]

I started with art age 26. Im 37 now, and I only do art, I teach art and I also do commisions.

[@hellraiser888]

So you don’t think 16 years old is too late? I’m an absolute beginner I’m talking beginner beginner lol but idk I wanna try it out it seems fun and maybe I can make something out of it yk

[@luislizarralde5946]

This spanish writer Cervantes wrote his book Don Quijote until his 50's after livig all kinds of jobs is never to late ;good chat thanks!

[@almanicholls]

I'm 45 and started back drawing after quitting out of highschool, 25 years not doing so. I'm not planning on having a art career Just have fun with your art 😊

[@dungofrungus7659]

That's just it, don't worry about making it a career. Just because you do art for fun doesn't mean you're a failure. Nobody wants to be the bad guy and tell the truth that most people don't make it. If all anyone thinks about is making money from art they will hate every minute of it anyway.

[@Sabamonster]

I'm a medically retired Vet with nothing but time at 36 and about as dedicated as it gets. I don't know where I'll be in 5 years of 5 days, but I'm gonna make something of it.

[@UnconditionaISurrender]

How goes it?

[@tantibusdraws6165]

I recently turned 30. I've always loved drawing, but gave up during my mid twenties because I sucked. Now, I just invested in a good Cintiq along with a small library of how to draw books. Hoping to go pro by the time I'm 40. Really want to work for a studio like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, or Disney.

[@DiegoSanchez-fe9dx]

same dream buddy

[@hendrikbode933]

How is it going? Hope you‘re still at it!!

[@CodeLife_12]

10 years is more than enough to become pro if you're dedicated! How is it going so far? :)

[@cmralph...]

LMAO - I'm about to turn 66 and going strong running 2 studios. When I was 30 I was still picking lint out of my navel.

[@grahamfinlayson18]

Inspiring

[@Archerry]

Thanks so much for this. I'm 32 years old, and have spent the last 20 years of my life learning software engineering, and doing it as a primary career. I have a lot of desire to be able to tell stories in ways that I can't with engineering, and I hope to express that through drawing. I needed to hear this.

[@chrishubbell115]

I'm 42, and just getting back to painting after basically a fifteen year break. This time it feels like I have the discipline to take it to the next level. Never too late to learn!

[@ninosawbrzostowiecki1892]

I made my first oil painting when I was 13. My parents convinced me there was no point in becoming an artist so I studied architecture and pure math. Now I'm 32 and I wish I had followed my dreams.

[@grahamfinlayson18]

Never too late. Paint a picture tonight.

[@onequietday]

Same thing happened to me. I'm 37 and starting over 💖

[@mullac1992]

Being an older artist can actually mean you have a lot more insight into life than a more talented younger artist. Comedians often aren't successful until their 30s or later since you don't get real, dirty life-experience until after that age. Why not artists too? For artists, being talented young just means you're going to copy whatever your tutors think you should be good at. You are more likely to stick to what you know. Whereas struggling to succeed as an older person means you're more likely to take on influences and art parents from a variety of unorthodox places.

[@edzejandehaan9265]

"Take color out of the mix" That resonated with me! It is exactly what I decided when I picked up drawing more seriously about a year ago. Concentrating on value in black and white mediums ( charcoal, graphite, took up silverpoint), having fun with it. I am 50 btw, and don't have professional goals.

[@arielrgh]

I watched every episode of Draftsmen and somehow I forgot this little gem. After starting a career as an academic researcher, I am making a transition to being a fine artist, while working as a pharmacist. It's encouraging to hear this.

[@benjaming7325]

I'm 40. Just started drawing a year ago, and just started messing with watercolors a year ago. I really appreciate this video

[@SketchyTrav]

I feel I’m the poster child for this specific topic. I work as a pretty successful graphic designer, I have all the adult life responsibilities at this point in my life covered, house, wife, two little girls, everything is pretty golden, except I have this feeling that I haven’t fulfilled that creative void in me and it eats at me daily. I have been working at becoming a better illustrator my whole life and I enjoy it immensely but I’m in my late 30s now and sometimes I feel I will never get to the level I want because I can’t live that immersive life. I love it, so I will always battle for that next discovery but I would love for that passion to take on a larger role in my life. Thanks for this amazing channel and the insights from people living the creatives dream.

[@johntynan8161]

Same for me.

[@AbrielX22]

I was in a slump until I watched this video. I was almost about to call it quits with my art but I have renewed faith. Thanks.

[@216kingDavid1]

Everyone talks about getting paid to do art, I just want to be great. If someone wants to pay me down the road that would be great. The idea of doing it for just money drains me, but doing it and not improving and having no direction is just as much detrimental to me.

[@PhantomV13]

Good stuff. I become 28 this March and feel a lil' crisis. Trying to make up for lost time with ancient Proko vids! Not aiming to be a pro, but drawing helps my other activities and... is fun. But I comment mostly to note how satisfying Marshall's voice is. When the deep tones sink in, my gosh, that's voice actor material.

[@MilliePat]

I always wanted to be a painter, and my parent told me it was very difficult to make any money as an artist. So I got a career as a clinical microbiologist. A lot of years earning a salary working for horrible institutions. I recommend learning art as a hobby while working another job before throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

[@Brenda-uf8pk]

Thanks for covering this and the guy who asked ❤️👏🏽

[@DubiousDom]

Is this something people worry about? It’s not Olympic wrestling, it’s art. There’s no cut off for improvement, just keep practicing. Hell, you can be a professional artist when you’re 80. Nothing is stopping you.

[@marisangiovanni]

Dubious Dom I agree!!! Great comment

[@ljpimentel]

I had a career in finance and after my 30s I'm starting to study music seriously to make that my new profession. Yes, that is something we worry about. It is a capitalistic world and after you are older you worry about how you are going to put food on your plate everyday. That kind of question and the answers they gave were very motivational to me. Even though that was nothing I haven't heard before, these kind of insecurities are not rational and having people being empathetic is very motivational. Very few people in this world have done such huge shifts in their careers and sometimes we even feel like aliens. You are 100% right on your comment, but your tone dismisses the doubts and insecurities of people. Try thinking about that when in real life someone puts up questions like that :) It's all about being helpful, not right.

[@mondogenerator1775]

Dude I love this channel so glad I found it .

[@caramellyjelly]

This is so uplifting. I practice music and dance too, on top of illustration, and illustration is the one art form that you can keep going at till you’re old and your body doesn’t work as good anymore.

[@webeburnin333]

I love this!! So good for older people to hear 😌

[@AmandaBear26]

I'll be turning 30 in March and I only just started art as a hobby a few years ago. Videos like this are very encouraging to me. I just do it for fun and I think as long as you're having fun and you're getting fulfillment out of your expression, then it doesn't matter how old you are when you start. You can start anything at any age.

[@KeanKennedy]

I remember reading one of the artist exposés in Artists & Illustrators magazine many years ago that focused on a very solid pro landscape painter. Turned out he'd only started after he retired in his 70s. His time management was also interesting - he didn't like painting all day, so half of his day was spent organising, making connections, sorting out exhibitions and all the rest of it.

[@antonioblanco3086]

Good Talk! Thank you

[@Zumanji__]

Just discovered this. Struck a gold mine of content 😂

[@Garl_Vinland]

I find that learning art when I’m old (I’m going back to school) versus learning art when I was young, is that I can wrap my head more around the process and logistics of form, anatomy perspective etc. When I was young, I kind of just jumped into it without thinking. But now that my brain has matured, I can take this slowly and understand.

[@chrisgenovese8188]

I just turned 35 yesterday...art has been a major aspect of my life for the last fifteen years and I have sold art here and there, but I've always been too afraid to commit to it as a means of a living, that it has never gotten the full attention I wish I could have given to it. The ratio of how much I think about art to how much I actually do it is massively disproportionate, and the ratio of how much I spend on it to how much I make from it is much of the same, but it hasn't stopped me from doing it for my own needs to create and provide what the world doesn't already, and from hoping that maybe one day I can make even enough money from it to cover the cost of supplies. It comes down to how hungry you are to provide with your art, and if you are being nourished by other means, you just won't bring that necessary hunger to the table.

[@lonefaolan6042]

Have you seen the KZbinr Rafiwashere. He started selling his art in late thirties and lives full time on it. He started with nothing. It’s worth a listen too.

[@Lasse_Jin_B]

I am 42 and just startet. My goal is to make my living of drawing when I am about 50+ Even if I was older I think I would go for it, just for the love of drawing.

[@flaviolozoya]

It's all about training I am teaching my six year old to paint color mixing ...light shadows abstract all while playing around with paint , so in a few years from now she might be a power House and will surpasse me in painting so it's all about practice.

[@Nierez]

I got out of college 3 years ago. couldn't make art work. I'm regrouping my efforts into getting a stable income and give art another shot in a few years.

[@raff5184]

I am "Giovanni"! Just needed this

[@sarahsantana4439]

I am going to be 50 this month. I do not think is age related, it is will related. A great observation and a great pair of glasses are needed at this time. I am transitioning to front end developer and got my first assigment today after slowly learning art(pencil coloring, scrapbooking , wordpress, html, php, pencil drawing and caligraphy at the same time). I could not persue web development if I would not had started drawing. There must be some brain waves that nurture brain power in common to be discovered in the future. I am more focus, smarter and simply have more patience and persistence after I started drawing about 6 month ago. I have being 3 years doing little practices of web, 1.5 year all art stuff and 10 month drawing.

[@TamaraRidgeTraumaEraseMethod]

Thanks for this! I just discovered in March that I could paint as part of a 55+ painting class! Now, I'm creating art every day at 57! Planning to make my way into the profession cuz I still have at least 30 years for creating! :)

[@khaosng1398]

This is a good watch for me. I used to draw all the time when I was younger into my late teens. I then started working full time and did the usual growing up stuff and hardly drew. Im 32 now and went back to college to study a Games Art degree at 29, now at University carrying on my studying. I sometimes feel too old and feel that its too late for me to get into the business, but at the same time i see it as a challenge.

[@michaelsorrentino3346]

So true- is all about desire

[@ThePigeonsFlight]

This is a very wonderful insight! I know I always wanted art but my career is not based on that, which is like most people's story perhaps.But I decided to use my career and love for arts work together. So I'm a teacher and 2 years ago I self published my first children's book and I have an instant market. I really agree when you say we shouldn't compare ourselves to these young artists, they have their own struggles. We have different goals at different stage in our life.

[@barbaricexpression]

waiting for season 2 eagerly

[@m_a5944]

Can You Be a Pro Artist Over 40???? I don't care if someone has done it before, I'll be the first.

[@neguinlk]

Yes

[@zigzaggsting]

Yes my girlfriend started at 50 and 3 years later is sell all her paintings now

[@marisangiovanni]

I also want to encourage people that It’s never too late to start a KZbin channel, I started mine way after I turned forty. Document your journey and invite us all for the ride while you are learning your art!!

[@kaptanashikar]

I'm 45, not that good at drawing but I'm learning from various books and online courses and my long term plan is to write a comic book, at least start drawing one in one year. no color of course :)) only black and white. I wish I could tell you after I succeeded but at least I'm hoping and you should too.

[@ericmonaghan1231]

Dudes, Marshall is the greatest.

[@jluiscc25]

i´m 33 and learning to draw as i want to be concept artist, yes i did drop learning when young as my parents choose my career and i felt down, now i have to relearn and well now i can do what ever i want, so here i go. by the way, you made me cry, thanks a lot for this i really need this push, we are the ones that put the speed to our path.

[@zarastorm4981]

“Learn how to learn” good quote

[@NoblesseObligedCP]

A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley another book for learning its about her switching to become a mathematician but the techniques are great in there.

[@strenith]

This clip helped my confidence to pursue a career in art. As a kid I loved drawing and was good at it for my age, but when I told people I wanted to be an artist when I grew up I got all the typical “you’ll stave” or “that’s not a real job” reactions to the point I gave up on that dream at too young of an age. I was 12. Since then I’ve spend years denying myself that creative outlet because it was “worthless”. But after going to trade school and learning to weld, getting the welding job and realizing I’m not happy doing this I started going to University. Engineering was the way out! But man I’m bad at math. I’ve been attending that Uni for almost 3 years now trying to get my general education out of the way all while trying to put my finger on what it is my soul is SCREAMING for. I took a walk through the Art Building. For the first time in a very long time I felt at home, I felt calm, the wind was at my back and my momentum felt effortless. I then spent the next semester losing my mind still pushing for an engineering degree only to drop all my classes but one and pick up the pieces of myself and have a good hard look at what it all meant. I’m 30 years old, I have no proper education in drawing. And I want it, screw the degree, screw the negative comments of the people who just want to see me succeed, I want to hone my craft and make something with it. Use my creative voice in a way that doesn’t deplete my energy. I’ve worried myself awake several times since enrolling in drawing classes next semester. “What if I’m too old and there’s no way I can cut it now?” I will cut it. Will I be world renowned? Probably not. But at least I may finally find happiness and fulfillment in something. So, thank you.

[@StoicriderX]

Good luck with your pursuit

[@resueah7257]

How are you doing now? :)

[@blondiesque_8237]

Amazing video

[@Songfugel]

Being almost 40 myself and still on the early steps of my new career path in gaming, I was so anxious about clicking this video. Rationally I knew what they'd say, but still my mind started conjuring what if? what then? nightmare scenarios that just seeing the video pop up in my recommended vids caused me so much anxiety, that I had to tune out of Art content for a while. Eventually I put off watching this video for several months. So glad I finally had the will to watch it and they said exactly what I had rationally expected them to say. Our subconscious minds can be such a-holes at times

[@siulhisaleehernandezsantos6672]

Gracias

[@michaellagabby]

I am at my 40's and I enrolled in art school.

[@imperialtutor8687]

I had my breakthrough 2 years ago and I was 35 at that point. it's never too late but you need to do more complex pieces, challenge yourself. study harder and more to get even better. a good example is kentaro miura who has been working on his masterpiece berserk since the 80s. he was good back then but he got much better over time and the guy is now in his 50s About 10 years ago I personally think he reached mastery. you can do that too!

[@alvinjones670]

NEW SUBSCRIBER!!!

[@StornCook]

When I lived in Southfield, MI (near Detroit), there was a display at the public library of Suess's advertising work. Including a couple of car ads for the Big Three, that were fairly realistic and didn't quite have the cartoony stylization that he became famous for.

[@barrett_miniatures3408]

Im 36 and deciding to try and get into art professionally. The key is to not get impatient and set up micro goals moving toward the main goal. I have a another career though so there is no pressure so i can enjoy it more. I wouldn't worry about age, its drawing not MMA or the NFL you can be doing this well into yours 60's or beyond. Which is one of the reasons im pursuing it since i dont feel like have to watch the clock.

[@julyol119]

I'm kind of in the same boat. In my family art was never seen as a real job and I never had any community in art, it was always a self-teaching thing without peers. And I was kinda good in other things, too, so I opted for a different career path. Now, as an academic at 31, that needed way too long to get their degree because of reasons, I kinda don't know what to do with it. I do have passion for my research and I'm good at it. But it has never really gotten me into the zone as drawing has. And now that I satisfied my parents' desire for academia, I feel like I've done enough and can finally 'live'. I don't even know. But I can attest to the notion that I study art way more focused then I did back in time as a teen. And my progress is visible from project to project, so I do feel like I have it in me. But I'm still very lost at what to do next. Thinking about going for a part time job or just do freelance work and spend the rest of the day studying art. But no idea it that can work out.

[@bluewavesoverfuji]

I went back to university at the age of 37, terrifying but glad I did it. Like Marshall said I was very serious and attacked the work with a purpose. It's possible to make a change though mine was also several years in the making, I went through a mental and gradual move towards it. Good luck!

[@davidk3009]

Great!! Please share what you studied, I’m so curious. Congrats!

[@luciliusduiliuscaelinus1512]

No, age does not matter in my experience. I've seen people start painting in their retirement and slowly over a period of some years build up a practice and a clientele without even trying. I'm talking people who start painting when they're like 50, 60 yo. That said it does take time to get good. All those learn to draw this or that in five easy steps books are bullshitting you. Learning visual art is all about practice. It is a craft. I would say it takes about 4-5 years to go from basically zero to being professional level. That is, with a lot of hard work and doing the right things, as in, having the right mentors or simply doing the right tutorials and actually carrying through on doing the exercises over and over again until you are as good as the person doing the tutorial. That said, for visual art I think it's important to understand that it is very much a business in which you as a freelancer have to have the ability to handle contracts, clients, time management/project management, and most of all marketing. I know people who are not that great but who are able to make a living because they are good at hitting the sweet spot in their marketing and they are very dependable in terms of their output to clients. They know how to underpromise while still satisfying the client demands and then delivering or over delivering to make sure the client is happy at the end. Also they have an acute sense of how to negotiate and charge fees for the work. These business skills are arcane and difficult to teach, especially stuff like negotiation but these are critical to surviving as an artist. I realize there are some people who don't do freelance but frankly permanent employment as an artist is really really rare. Even people who work for a company do so on temp contracts on a per project basis. At the end of every project they're "on the market" to find work again. It's a constant grind of selling yourself and negotiation with people who will hire you for a project or commission pieces.

[@apolakay9954]

i"m 56 and iam a beginner in arts

[@bryanparmenter1981]

This is completely me, I do know where I want to specialize, which helps. Fantasy world building, and I do plan on focusing on character(primarily)/creature and environmental/world building. So I know I can do character sheets, or just kind of like a portrait/scene. Having been a student in game dev I'm familiar with needing the reference/character sheets. I'll be 37 this year, retail work isn't cutting it so I'm looking at going back to roots where I used to draw and enjoy it.

[@yobeenocreative6984]

Age is only a negative if you let it be. Make a list of all the skills you have acquired over your life's different job disciplines, not just art, it will be extensive. That life experience is priceless.

[@DaniEaston]

I'm 33y .. I will not give up... but is very hard to begging to study kind of old =/

[@lrdalucardart]

You don't have to study, you are grown up(like me). Just do what you want, when you hit a barrier, find it, learn it, execute/nail it, keep going until you find something you lack again and repeat. Just aimless studying without know what you are learning said thing for, that's a waste of time. Just "study" as you go/need.

[@scottbrancato4797]

33 is SO young! You have 50 years of doing what you love ahead of you. Hard work pays off exponential dividends. You can learn in 1 year what takes others 5. Have fun doing it and you will be there soon! Don’t compare your path to other people

[@echowalker2153]

I used to have a steady strong hand. I'm well over 40. I had hopes of spending my retirement getting more practice in. How old was Michelangelo? DaVinci?? Georgia okeefe was amazing.

[@darrenhorve3261]

Feel like, for the clips, at the end when you do the Draftsmen theme it should say "Its a Draftsmen Short"...

[@StoicriderX]

I’m in my late 30’s and have always had a “natural” desire to draw characters. But never really had the self confidence or discipline to push myself towards making something of it. Years later I’ve been stuck in a dead end job and have four kid’s and not much spare time, I’ve recently started drawing again in the little spare time I have, and my passion for a career in character illustration for comic books or cartoons is stirring inside me more than ever, but I feel that with my full time job and my family that depend’s on me to provide food and a roof, I am forever stuck and will not be able to pursue my dream .

[@danaobera4207]

I just started being a pro artist 5 years ago at the age of 41.

[@CodeLife_12]

I'm 32 and started to draw last year. I spent the first half of my twenties not doing much, which I regret a bit in hindsight. From 25 onward I went to school and became a software engineer. Now I want to be an artist but unsure if it'll become a career change or just a serious hobby. At any rate, I can say that having a decent income from my job and with the discipline that comes with age, it feels like I have the perfect recipe to become a proficient artist.

[@bethdejuan8909]

Inspiring channel. I'm close to retirement and planning to find a hobby.

[@Marionantolin]

Hi, I am 30, I am planning to move from IT engineering to traditional art (painting / illustration). You talk about keeping your current job and just « doing art for fun» BUT what if is it a burning desire since you’re a kid ? What if your current career is a disaster because you went wrong with some choices in life ? I just say in a way you are right, but there is no single solution / answer to the question. Everybody has a different path and I am not sure one is better than another :)

[@BlazblueFan]

I was always interested in drawing however I never learned how to draw properly. For some reason no one ever explained to me basics of drawing, so my drawings weren't really good. When I got older I stopped drawing. I'm 32 now and just a month ago I started an online course on drawing which really clicked with me. I don't if I'll make a career out of drawing but learning it is fascinating either way.

[@al-mosheytidal1296]

the Big Kopinski on the table yay!

[@artbycatfitz]

I'm very late 40's, did no formal art after age 15. An currently a medical scientist. Came to art a few years ago for my mental health. Am now seriously asking myself where I want to go with my art. Started with more traditional art (watercolour), but am now looking seriously at digital art. How can I learn and transition to an art style that seems overwhelmingly done by people half my age or younger. Since I can afford it, I'm buying that digital drawing tablet and having a go. I love the styles and freedom that digital art seems to give. Good luck to all those older creatives out there. Wish me luck. I'm not giving up my day job just yet. Maybe one day!

[@dustyrustymusty3577]

"Talent does what it can, genius does what it must." There are tons of people (whatever age) who have great talent and never make it into a lucrative art career. If you don't know how to schmooze and market what you do it won't matter how great an artist you are.

[@lisasternenkind6467]

I believe you can become an artist at any age. You just need to be fully into it and have a good deal of self-discipline. You really have to be truly committed to this, or else you won't be able to cope with obstacles. And it also might not be a good idea to immeiately tell all the people you know what you are in to, because this may result in discouraging comments. Some people don't care about such comments, but for me such comments would have held me back. So I only talked with my boyfriend about these plans and with all of my sons. I was 48 when I started my painting journey. When I was a child, my mom said, that I wouldn't have the talent to draw, so I gave up and it never came to my mind to try it out. Only after my youngest son left to live together with friends in an appartment, I started drawing, then painting. I had always worked as a writer and freelance journalist, and I made fiber art and handicrafts with my sons still at home. But after my last and youngest son had moved out, it came to my mind, that all my ancestors on my mothers side and also all the female ancestors on my fathers side, had been very creative with some of them being artists So I decided to give it a go. My then already dead mother had proved to have said wrong things to me, as I came to know after her death, so I thought, maybe she also wasn't right, when she said, that I wouldn't have a talent for drawing and painting. Meanwhile I realize, that art can be learned and that one just needs to dive deep and be disciplined and practice, practice, practice. I do artwork with various media and I do so in phases, by painting watercolor for 2 weeks or a month, then acrylic painting for a week or so, then some kind of fiber art for some time, and so on. I use a media as long as I like using it, and then I switch to whatever comes to my heart and mind. I sold some of my artwork, even paintings I would describe as practice pieces, which I also told to the buyers. I also do single, as well as mixed media fiber art. In addition, I make crochet and knitting designs for decorative and usefull objects, and also fashion. I also make embroidery, weaving, macraweave, fiber techniques from the past, and a mix of these techniques. I also have made some wood carving objects in various sizes and I have worked with clay. I kind of end up using various media and techniques for my artwork. Exploring the possibilities of materials, textures and techniques, is a great element with my artwork. Since I like pencil drawing the least, I only do this for practice and reference purpose in my sketch books. I still can't make a living out of my artwork, as I only started with drawing and painting 8 years ago, but I am sure that I will someday. Also I am not taking part in social media, which seems to be important nowdays. So I only sell in my region. I have already been asked to showcase my artwork in public places like the town hall and the town library and in the towns castle, but until now I haven't agreed yet. I don't want to exhibit too early for fear of failing. I suppose I would prefer to exhibit together with other artists and with a certain topic, because my artwork is so differentiated. It would be not only paintings to show, but mixed media fiber art, paintings, wood carvings, felted installations, and also texts and poetry. I would also like a music artist to arrange his or her artistry around such an exhibition, and maybe a food artist as well. I really like the interdisciplinary approach in art too. Soooo, well, we'll see..... ;-)

[@Deepa-vh1ph]

I m in my 30s and started drawing 2-3 yrs ago. I m still not good and was sometimes disappointed that i stand nowhere compared to other young kids. But now I think I should compare myself only with me. Am I progressing? How much time and effort am I giving to myself to improve and achieve my goal. 😁 and since then i m happy with my progress. It doesn’t matter to me how old i m bcoz i cant change it. So i can either b happy with progress i m making or miserable about something i cant change. 😁

[@ArtWithMarc]

In this day and age, anything is possible if you're willing to put in the work. I'm 34 years old and picked up doing artwork towards the end of 2018. If you want a career in art it is up to you to go out and get it. I'm pursuing it through online means. I'm still a beginner just barely getting started but I'm building a website, a youtube channel, an Instagram, a twitter, and using it all not only to document my journey but also to build up an audience AND an online income. All while I'm still learning. While I hope it doesn't take me 10 years to get to a full time income, I'm in it for the long haul. I'm ok if it does. I love the challenge of improving my skill set in all the necessary avenues to not only produce great artwork but great and helpful content as well.

[@apome6983]

I’m 21 and I feel like I’m too late. Any advice on how to get better faster ? Or just better in general

[@TheWoolyWolf]

So i have this concern and it applies to a lot of things I do but it happens to art the most. The issue is i have a mindset when i draw where drawing feels like "work" where learning from sources reminds me of study for school. drawing also feels stressful than relaxing sometimes, but i dont exactly know why im like this and a lot of people say i should do drawing to relax and I do find it relaxing but only sometimes. Any ideas why or how i can fix this?

[@donovanmedieval]

His estate has forbidden us the opportunity to read "To Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street."

[@manuelrobledo8072]

I was just listening the video and up to 9:48 I thought they started singing

[@CosmicBun]

i'm 29 and I really want become and artist to be honest, I being working for the last 7 years improving my art skills ; but Im confident enough on my skills and persue a career as an ilustrator.

[@sdeeyOu]

he should watch a short video about the han lasko i think called the pixel painter

[@rivh12]

Im 28 it's been 3 mont i learn art,i do research before i decided to learn,i ask artist what is the most difficult human body to draw and they say head,so i test my skill to learn to draw head for a month 4hrs every day, if i see a progress i will keep going if I didn't see a progress i will stop, after a month i can't believe what i see compared to my first draw,then i send my sketch book to professional artist to ask did i improve or not should i keep going or stop,and they told me that they impressed by my progress,and now i keep learning even harder

[@hozzoh9936]

Just a thought: doing art for fun, as a hobby, just for yourself can be so much more rewarding than doing art for other people, as a "professional". Very, very rarely will you find an art job that gives you the true creative freedom of doing it for yourself. Also, as a professional you may reach a point where it’s no longer that satisfying to get a job done because you’ve done it so many times, you’re doing it forever, the client takes it for granted that you will do a good job and has very little positive reaction to what you’ve done (isn’t part of the satisfaction of art to see that "wow" moment on someone’s face?), or you’re under tight deadlines and just trying to rush everything out the door. I’m going out on a limb here and saying that being a professional artist is a bit overrated, depending on what kind of art career you have. Some art careers have a high degree of creative freedom and are super satisfying and pay well, but... well, it’s kind of a lottery. There’s absolutely no shame in doing art as a hobby and loving everything you do.

[@luisfernandez-izquierdo502]

Do anything for which you have passion ... don't let arbitrary and artificial social barriers to stop you.

[@LordHugorion]

Where´s the podcast gone ? I did´t see any new sessions for a long time . Did i miss something ?

[@Draftsmen]

It's coming back! Right now we're just posting clips from season 1, but season 2 will start in April.

[@hiteshkaushik4563]

I think of it like this, if i die tomorrow and during my last breaths i should not be regretful that i did not started.

[@DaveThomas123]

As long as you are willing to expand that old gray matter, anyone can learn new things.

[@NineZeeArts]

Great Contene!! What's name of a book with female figure on cover?

[@nathensprings3470]

ImagineFX magazine issue #158 it's the variant cover that doesn't have text.

[@TheSwiftestWolf]

im 38 and only sell my work part-time as i work a ''normal'' job during the week and try to work on my art when i get some free time...the sales of my work doesnt support me and i dont have worry about getting work that i really dont want so i can pay the rent etc...i think its a better balance for me this way...

[@TheSwiftestWolf]

i have been a professional artist since i left school at 22..not always a full-time artist but did do that for 18 years and that kinda turned me away..if that helps at all