My Big Art School Fear

Do you fear creative risks because of how they challenge your self-identity? I do. I'm confronting my creative comfort zones vs my bigger dreams. Catch up on art/life lessons with me from a busy 2024 in art- trying to balance my on + off-line creativity.
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#art #creativity #painting

[@isaacjekel202]

Your progression on youtube has paralleled my needs as a viewer so well. I was 14 years old learning how to acrylic and oil paint from your videos, and now i'm 20, and a full time artist tuning into your videos across the states but in the same profession. The things you say now really impact my budding career. Thank you!!

[@RobinSealark]

What history! ❤️ thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your growth 🙂 I hope we continue discovering paths through our creative challenges 🫡

[@rustymotionstudio4717]

I loved the line “being average is not a failure.” You aren’t average, not in the slightest, but I think it’s great to think that it’s okay to just do okay!

[@smishstudio]

Thanks for being here on KZbin and being vulnerably honest about your experiences as your art career evolves with you. Your journey and videos have been a huge inspiration for me, and I struggle with many of the same fears.

[@RobinSealark]

:) thanks friend. It's nice hearing from others who relate

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Robin, I have been watching your videos for quite some time. I started college in the accounting path laid out and took a painting class to fulfill my humanities requirement! Now I have always been an “Artist” since 10 years old when my Grandmother told me that I was so talented and I should never stop painting! In 1980 being a working artist was un-imaginable! I even switched my major to teaching art! I even took part in a pilot program where I was a student teacher at the local high school. Oh God! I was so lost, it was horrible and I just could not finish my teaching credential. I decided to educate myself on as many different mediums as I could do. I spent 6 years in the college art department and learned that if I wanted it an Artists life could be had, but I was going to have to work very hard to make it happen! I have had an Artistic life and I am still an Artist. I am retired from actively seeking clients and at 62 I am hopeful that I have more paintings in me and time to get them out! My 30+ year career was no meteor and I am in no way rich. I am married and quite happy with where I am. I offer you this thought, if you believe in yourself and create art you can be proud of and experience happiness, you young lady are truly a success and a truly successful Artist! I believe that you should always have merch for sale. It can be a passive income stream and once you set up your online store it can make you money while you are enjoying other pursuits! You might even spend that time painting. This was something that was simply not available to me for most of my time creating art. Artists have so many options today, making money from creating videos! I recorded live teaching events, but never figured out how to make any money with them! Yeah this was long before KZbin and selling videos on painting at the fleamart simply did not even pay for the blank tapes! I am just truly glad that you are living your best life! Please enjoy the dream and work hard on never waking up! I believe that you know what I am saying.🥰

[@rebekahwalkarden4876]

I love hearing you speak Robyn, you always have such insight. Congratulations on the your KZbin anniversary:)

[@chloehaberman9467]

Hi my name is Chloe, and I just wanted to say that I can relate to your struggles. I’m currently going to school for Pre-art therapy. I would say that my current fear is knowing what I want to do after college and being able to sustain myself with my art and a career. I’m also a people pleaser and I struggle with wanting to please my parents and get a job that actually makes money as well as hoping I can help people through art and watching your video helped me realize I’m not alone.

[@RobinSealark]

Thank you for sharing Chloe

[@SantiagoMontoya-yi6he]

I've been watching your videos for a while now, back when you mostly painted waves. Haven't kept up much the last couple of years, but when I come back it always kinda feels like catching up with an old friend. I'm a recent art school dropout, though don't plan on abandoning art any time soon, and coming back this time and seeing all the stuff you're doing was really inspiring. Being a pretty young artist looking to make a living out of it is pretty scary, not gonna lie, but im glad to see your journey and feel a little less alone. Best of luck

[@RobinSealark]

:) Thanks for commenting. It's nice to catch up on your backstory. I'm glad you're still art-ing, and I appreciate you. It's been fulfilling this year to challenge myself and work on more valuable pieces. It gives me optimism to see a goal I've been afraid to want is something I can start to attain. I also hope to paint more waves this year. Thanks for connecting- best to you + your creativity!

[@warmdatastudio]

ah, Robin! I love you and your videos so much! I've been watching your journey for years now (just subbed with my new account^^) and you being so honest, authentic and soothingly relatable (and your personality, I wish we could be friends in rl (: ) is what always makes me come bacl and makes me feel seen, like I got a home on your channel! :3 My journey is kinda similar and yet so different - always wanted to be an artist but have been struggling with depression, anxiety and ptsd for most of my life which was so paralyzing, that I spent the last 8 years in therapy, but not able to do a regular job or pursue my artist-dreams or anything else - because yeah, fear of failure, perfectionism, people pleasing etc. it truly is a curse! But luckily one that can be solved (: I'm getting better and better, and though I just turned 30 and feeling like a complete failure in society's eyes for what I should have accomplished by now - I couldn't be more proud of myself and all the invisible wars I've fought and won in my mind. I'm finally taking steps each day to make my dream of a "free life" as an artist (or whatever, really - I just want to live, be creative in any way and enjoy it), finally starting my own youtube channel and smol business after over 10 years of being scared! And it's honestly thanks to people like you, who share themselves so vulnerably, that I never stopped hoping and that I never stopped growing and going forward. I love listening to your thoughts, because they always deeply resonate with me and often remind me of things I might've forgotten for a bit, because I got caught up in my anxiety again. So thank you for what you do, so so much! You feel like the big sister I've always wished for and kinda like the uplifting rainbow after a mean rainstorm (: One day I will have the money to buy one of your absolutely stunning work! :3 Idk, sorry for the long text, but I just wanted to write something and thank you somehow, you give us so much through your videos and I appreciate your generosity for sharing your self with us

[@TradeWise1000]

A good gig for artist is FEMA reservist. It is intermittent work with health insurance. You get to see America and it is just another form of income. My colleague who is a professional artist has worked for FEMA for over 30 years (most as a reservist). She would pack a bag of paints and canvases, paint while deployed and then have shows when she returned, and then just live for a few month before going out again. I do think though you are def good enough to do this full time but... always nice to have a safety net and good insurance. You do you, it will work out.

[@JCarrera_ll]

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