How to Survive being an Artist in 2024 (AI Art, Layoffs, and No Jobs)

[@mmallard35]

It seems like the art industry is having its own 2020 moment with everything shutting down, merging, or being replaced. Just like the pandemic, I think it’s time for artists to really go back to foundation of why we like to create in the first place because being trendy or corporate friendly is really being played out right now. It sucks seeing artists who sacrificed their unique voice and style for years to just be tossed to the side like they never mattered. Furthermore, I’m really considering just creating the stuff that I would if no one cared, because I can’t expect anyone to be loyal to me if I can’t be loyal to myself.

[@DiamondFlame45]

Preach it sister! And I am not even an artist! I work a regular 9-5 corporate job and I happen to create KZbin videos as a creative outlet. At the end of the day, we have to take agency in our careers because these companies will lay us off when we no longer benefit them.

[@13sinra13]

True, and you can make your own stuff, art and animations without the “supervision” of executives trying to make everything for babies (sorry, no offense to babies) or other things. Moreover, you can also take your own time on your creations without the shadow of the time crunch or cancellation.

[@jns08d]

Love this, also my belief as well - just create what you want, keep working on the core fundamentals and post everything online, also having a full time job aside from art is such a stress reliever

[@MikaHyx]

The most annoying thing to me is that the person who made AI and the people who like AI are non-creative people. The fact that they don’t care about us losing our jobs hurts me. The government should make rules about AI or ban it if possible yk. But noooo they won’t do that because they don’t see the humanity and creativity in art and the love put in into each artwork an artist has made. Even if the artist hates the art, it is still made with love because artists love what they’re doing. And I get so angry and cry a lot about this and the fact I can’t do anything about it. I don’t want to be replaced by a robot… the only thing that makes me unique from technology has been replaced by technology

[@why.do.I.even.try.]

Ai can't be banned because ai isn't the problem. Actually ai is amazing and helpful, just not in the ways you realise. Just think about medicine, ai needs to have amazing image recognition capabilities which of course includes going through a phase of training on existing images. It needs to train its sight to eventually help us. Ai has existed in all the tools you most likely use long before you heard the word ai as well. Do your research on ai, ignorance is what's making you despair. You can't be replaced by your enemy if you know everything about them and can go above that with your humanity. A useless person who decided to become an "ai ArTisT" yesterday will never do what you do with training AND ai.

[@bdannnn]

I work a job I don’t enjoy to pay the bills so I understand the stress of needing to work outside of your area of passion to make ends meet, However, Have you had a look at job growth statistics? I can’t see any evidence about negative job growth for creative artists in America. Keeping informed by your own research instead of listening to the doom-sayers online may help you to not be so angry and upset. I truly wish you the best if you are searching for a job currently.

[@why.do.I.even.try.]

@@bdannnn I'm in a group where there's some artists who have worked or currently work for netflix, disney, DreamWorks etc. They say it's never been this bad before. Ai isn't helping but it also isn't the main reason behind this. Professionals of 20+ years are forced to leave the industry because they can't keep up with the bills. Being overly optimistic or pessimistic won't help, so I stand by my previous comment (even if you didn't refer to it, just saying) but things are really bad currently. Executives are looking to outsource more work, teams are being halved, although the ones who still have work like that are obviously paid pretty well but they're the lucky (and usually very privileged to begin with) few.

[@bdannnn]

@@why.do.I.even.try. that’s a tough one. the cost of living crisis is brutal at the moment. all i can say is i hope things improve for you and your group.

[@bananian]

Yeah their AI art are super generic and doesn't evoke any emotion in me at all. And it's always cliche like a random car in front of a cyberpunk Tokyo with gibberish Japanese characters in the background, or some hot chick in front of some random super detailed building.

[@LadyBlair.S]

I live in California. And I'm currently building a character design portfolio. I have been working on it for months now somehow. Finishing it has become my top priority. It scares me when I see artists with industry experience not getting hired, that means people like me might be screwed. But better to have a portfolio then to not have one. It is demotivating to see other people not getting hired. It makes it all feel like a waste of time, but you just never know. I currently have no social media presence. I prefer KZbin. I have a channel in the works but it was paused to work on my portfolio. Along with my manga. I am very concerned about my future.

[@articaXO]

even if things like AI replace artist/animators, there are still gonna be ppl out there that will prefer human made art, like me. so id suggests to keep going because someone will be interested in your creations

[@Blobri]

As someone who also lives in SoCal, I agree. I attend so many comic conventions and I ask how artists make it, and every single one of them, for the past 4 years, have said to "go indie" and not even attempt to apply to an animation studio right now. Sheesh!

[@chendazhuo7950]

I'm in the same situation as you. Been drawing for 7 years since college. Currently working 12 hour shift job in singapore while working on my personal comic project. Because of busy schedule and part of me not intending to share them until its done, I did not bother to post them online till now. And I'm also working hard to finish my concept art portfolio. I'm still hoping I could be conceptual artist regardless of the future. Would you mind share a link to some of your works?

[@mariomills]

Bro KZbin IS your portfolio now...

[@Tonicshades]

Honestly as someone who works on film scripts and needs conceptual illustrations most people would prefer real artists than AI, I doubt that AI would take over anything outside conceptual, it's more to do with the current economy, this has caused budget strains and layoffs. The media has it painted that AI is taking over, but honestly I don't think it ever will, it's not specific and starting to cost the same as a real artist to get the best results, also it's limiting if you don't have a computer to run the best AI models. Therefore paying anywhere from 40$-500$ is worth it for real artwork. Stabilization likely will occur in the coming years.

[@MineShackle]

I’ve been working a job with long hours for months and plan to move out of state in January after saving a lot of money. I don’t care what state or city, I just know there’s a studio out there that could use a storyboard artist or graphic designer.

[@Mysterymeateater]

I know someone who just finished art school and got a job in story boarding pretty quickly. She had to move for it, but jobs are still out there thankfully! She also had a medium sized following on social media which probably helped

[@voradorhylden3410]

Why go to a studio? You have the entire world at your fingertips. Make your own stuff. Then you get all the money. And other people dont take credit for your work. I hear all the time about how studios are the ones screwing up movies... we can make them ourselves, so why go to a studio where they can just fire you at any point for any reason. But i bet you wont fire yourself.

[@MineShackle]

@@voradorhylden3410 if it was that easy and financially stable, I definitely would. I think I’d have to cut my teeth on in a studio before doing something that risky unfortunately

[@sgrim_artz]

Just graduated from art school, and theres literally nothing for junior 2D work... honestly, creating videos and comics are all i have to try and make myself known, even though im likely to be homeless next month dispite my best efforts to get work in every shape and form

[@ritika_nelson]

I just checked out your channel and I remember seeing your film at the graduate show at uni and I loved it so much! I’m in the same boat as you lol :”) I hope you soon find work that you love!

[@sgrim_artz]

@@ritika_nelson oh my god, thank you!!! Small world lol, or Internet void in this case

[@changlongwang9898]

you shot yourself in the foot

[@sgrim_artz]

@@changlongwang9898 I tried my best, id hardly call that shooting myself in my foot, but cheers for making me feel worse

[@AA-lz4wq]

I mean you can become a techbro's tradwife and take art as a hobby.

[@jonathanvergara162]

Thank you for the video. ❤ Really needed to hear some advice, being unemployed for several years. It’s motivating to hear that some of us are still keeping the faith.

[@Aarrax]

This is why I'm also learning how to 3D model, so I can create my own 3D models, and have consistency amongst all of my pieces, also perfect hands and feet, but also that I can just pull out a 3D model I made and use it to make drawings whenever I want. And it'll also help expedite the drawing process so I won't really have to sketch too much.

[@ChantelleArts]

I love the way you're filming your videos nowadays more like a vlog 🥰

[@lenesdey]

I wish I kept my online presence going, around when covid started I stopped posting, I still drew a lot but I stopped posting my art on social media’s, I had a good number of following on insta, but at the time it became so overwhelming that I took a long break. I’m back now but my followers are pretty much not interacting with my posts. It’s sad but I’m trying to reach the high point once again. I wanna make sure I have an audience who enjoys my work at the end of the day.

[@Shallsoar]

I had a handful of negative thoughts, but man.. You smashed them with this encouraging video - Thank you! 🙏🏼💛

[@byasiaminor]

Well said... Thank you!

[@helos09]

This is the most realistic and logical advices for the artists out there. THANK YOU

[@Jhihmoac]

I keep posting on to an art-related site that I have been for years now, sharpening my creative digital art skills as I go... Each creation is like therapy for me, and I have started to get something of a following now, with an occasional commission... I guess I won't rush it... Marketing art only takes place in a stable economy, and right now, these are anything but stable times... People don't purchase art of any kind when they're already struggling to make financial ends meet...

[@PaulCohen1834]

I think of this time as good “gym time.” As in, we should use this downtime to better ourselves. Study and practice, practice, practice so that when the industry stabilizes a bit, we’re ready to take off. It is a terrifying time and in the end there will probably be far fewer jobs than before, but we can at least do our best to stay ahead of that.

[@gamers-xh3uc]

Well this will work if there is a dark age in AI which can happen but most likely AI will become general in a few years which is bad for everyone and will become Super a decade from now , so we are cooked, but it couls be good if ASI appears it might be able to come out with a way to make us all happy and you can live without making money and you can be na artist for fun so it could end good or horrible not in betweens

[@giorgiamichelin6817]

​@@gamers-xh3uc ok you're exaggerating both the good and bad sides of this

[@kiara6237]

My biggest problem right now is not even AI art, I don't like to show my face or anything I do in my personal life, but I noticed that artists who used to be like me but one day decided to do a face reveal to make reels suddenly got a massive amount of visibility.

[@nekorina9011]

what are some ways to create your own presence online and have people follow you as a person? I'd like to do that but I'm not sure how to go about it

[@watercolorwithemily]

I currently work in corporate America while I’m trying to grow my art business, I’d love to go full time in the near future so your videos have been so helpful and encouraging to me ❤️ I’m terrified of letting go of a steady income, but encouraged by other artists who make it work.

[@Anna.Borowski]

Very nice, motivating video! Thank you for sharing! I also really enjoy your art, your artstyle is the cutest 😊🌷

[@OokamiAri]

Thanks for sharing this! I have been layoff for 1 year and a half as lead artist. I am surviving from small indie game commissions and is rough dealing with my depression. I wish I had full-time work back again. But I am also overwhelmed by the toxic environment of some game studios, so I'm planning to rebrand my art socials and art commission price.

[@foxtrotelement]

What an insightful and well-presented video. Thank you for sharing. We have similar issues in engineering with selling of our services and maintaining a strong reputation will carry a carrier.

[@Amelia_PC]

And what about the other way around? For example, using a Kickstarter campaign and ads for the campaign (like Google ads, Facebook ads, etc) to build an audience from the start, even if we're professionals and veterans but without a following or social media presence. (it's just an example to understand what I'm talking about). What do you think about this "aggressive" method of starting a following, Michelle? It involves finding real customers/fans with attractive rewards, being upfront that you're offering something valuable (like 80 comic book pages for just $3!), and essentially showing upfront that you have something great to share. Honestly, I'd take 30 paying customers far more seriously than a million followers who never spend a dime on my work. Money shows appreciation and a deeper commitment to being part of what I'm sharing and building together. Of course, I'd listen to my audience and adjust the creation accordingly, finding common ground.

[@Arucard47]

I so enjoyed this video! I met you briefly on Friday, my table was just in the next isle over. I agree on all the things that felt different compared to the previous year and product pricing trends, but I surprisingly doubled my profits from 2023 which was also an amazing show for me. Learning and improving on how I did things last time was a big factor and hope to repeat the pattern next year and it's better for everyone too!

[@wonderlandv]

I need this, thank you so much for making this video, you're awesome ❤❤❤

[@rebekahcampos4019]

I needed this. Thank you 💕

[@shrutisrinivasan8337]

You solved all my dilemma! Thank you❤

[@freuer1]

When an artist create art, he's using intention, memories, feelings, meanings... that the human mind capture even if it's not visually there. When I look an AI image, even it's perfect, I feel something strange, because it's empty, no feelings, no meanings, etc. The problem will be when most of the people don't care about this emptiness (already in progress). The problem is not the potential of IA. It's the massive anesthesia of the human mind.

[@dandansoysauce8762]

I got really interested in publishing books on KDP, and some people who've been in that business for awhile had the potential of making 6 figures. And they were just normal people I've never heard of before, yet they made it! I'm developing the books right now, and in the meantime, I'm picking myself up on Instagram and trying to push myself further and market myself so that once I publish my books, I have an audience to advertise to

[@charafrisk2984]

... it feels tone deaf that I got an ad for classes to generate better ai art before this video >.>

[@mooishiiart]

this video changed my life

[@alonew]

This is such a true and awesome advice 🥰 video

[@artemisiou]

I feel like because of AI art and the new AI Art drawing process videos it might be best to go back to traditional art for digital artists. I love digital art because it’s cleaner and crisper than my traditional work but traditional art is still highly needly in the real world, outside of the internet.

[@magieenvtuber9783]

What artists need to realize is that in age of AI, studios are looking for all in one 2D and 3D small gorups of artists that are willing to work with AI and outside of that art is a performance. Some artists do not even know how big brands are their names. I've seen few artists take deals where they draw characters use X product, or they go out of their way to collab with companies. Let's say Ratatatat74, huge NSFW artist, messaged Yuki AIM for a deal to do NTR girls mouse pad/arm sleeve. Her name would be enough to push the sales. More artists reach out to companies that can be anything: Razer, or even Love Sense i am sure deals would be possible to be made if you already have an audience. How do you build an audience ? Stream your art, show your skills. Artist is a lot more of a content creator nowdays.

[@nobody-nk8pd]

Honestly, I think, one cannot.

[@didi7074]

AI should have never been allowed. It's taking so many jobs already

[@13sinra13]

And the job market’s already in deeper shambles as well with the ghost jobs and low pay and the economy in total.

[@lilcotorro]

AI can take jobs in the future but I think it's been more of a future threat than an established danger so far. I haven't seen anyone be explicitly replaced by the current models that have come out. They've only been used for chat bots and software assistants so far. What I do see is that companies are trying to cut down on cost by reducing staffing to insanely low levels and replacing with offshore (read: low pay labor) where they can.

[@didi7074]

@@lilcotorro Yes. The problem is greed. They want to have as little workers as possible, pay them as little legally allowed and make them work for multiple people for the same pay. As if that wasn't enough, nowadays they have the least amount of permanent workers and most of their workers are temporary, they hire for a few months, usually 3-6 and then they don't have to pay vacation and unemployment because technically they didn't fire them. It's hell. In my country it's pretty common sadly.

[@why.do.I.even.try.]

​@@lilcotorro there's job postings for 2d ai artists, with the qualifications being speed and accuracy, since an actual artist isn't that fast. Ai absolutely is taking jobs. All I have to say is, learn ai yourself and take those jobs so at least it's still an actual artist doing things, instead of a lazy "ai ArTiSt"

[@tiagodagostini]

Not having AI would take far more, because other countries that allowed AI would take ALL the market. To lock against technological advancements NEVER EVER result in net gain for the society.

[@blufudgecrispyrice8528]

Thanks for this.

[@bunaynayslay]

needed this. thank you i will do better I'm inspired

[@insertusername5737]

If you wanna survive the AI as an artist, maybe you must try doing things that AI can't do (or at least that has some problems doing it). If you keep doing art that imitates physic reality (portraits, landscapes), you are losing the fight already. The AI will do that 300% better. But if you try to do art that is hard to describe in words (like abstract art) but at the same time, has some meaning for a human (some details that together can describe emotions or tell you a mini story), then you will have a chance against the AI. That kind of art even probably would be hard to serve as training data for the AI.

[@thatonellamawhoissoobsesse8138]

And remember to keep subscribing or have their usernames (screenshotted) written down somehow becAUSE KZbin KEEPS UNSUBBING ME >:'''0000

[@piplup10203854]

This was such a great video to pop in my recommendation. I am just starting to learn how to draw after decades of discouragement from teachers, professors, etc that I just gave up but I been wanting to create a comic book with my nieces and I always get them art supplies as they love drawing and doodling and my sister bought me this really nice sketchbook for my birthday but I don't draw or anything but I figured what a better time to learn. I don't know if I want to make a career or anything out of it but I would like to be good enough to be proud of my work to portray my vision so I got to keep learning 🥹

[@kasiako355]

Thank you 🙏✨💖✨🤗

[@bander-Coolb]

I miss my 2017 ipad

[@yukouri]

Ohh, you're reading the artist way from Julia Cameron! Good book OvO

[@Sherif-the-Watcher]

Awesome!

[@elysium0610]

no panic guys, i come from future to say, people hate ai, the Ai hype is slowly over, a lot of people lose their jobs, but finally, i can say we can easily win ai is like fast food, its faster and anyone can do by yourself, but it dont make the restaurants and the great chiefs useless ( and sorry by the bad english)

[@pyeitme508]

RAD WORK!

[@CoconutJustice]

Truth bombs.

[@gerdaleta]

😮 the guy below me as a point I am imaginative and creative that's why our has been just amazing for me😮 literally all I'm doing is this crazy thing just called reverse engineering books I've read cuz people don't f****** read😮

[@bananian]

If you can't beat them, join them. Be a better AI artist than the ones around now. They're unimaginative and talentless to begin with.

[@coolmantheonlycoolman9477]

First

[@skrolreapr]

there are industry art jobs out there. I understand your point, but I think its not fair to start the video by saying such a strong statement as there are no jobs out there.

[@bugsinthewalls]

They’re definitely out there! It feels so competitive tho. I’ve been aiming for freelance work rn 😅

[@skrolreapr]

@@bugsinthewalls yea definitely highly competitive, hope youre freelance work goes/is going well!

[@AlliandoX]

Nah I got cancelled by crazy Twitter fans when I was on a show so I don’t dare show my face or be an influencer

[@aeoligarlic4024]

Mighty magiswords? The loud house?

[@imnugget8085]

Guys we live in the future best time like it meant to be we get to do what we love as we should love drawing keep drawing thats it no money thats selfish COMMUNISM OWES AND WILL WIN AT THE END

[@tiagodagostini]

That is normal. Almost every field passes trough those events every 20 some years.

[@Notyouraveragename]

Im not saying it's great, but if someone has a 2 year notice. And they use it to fly out of their own courtrooms. Welcome to reality. You got 10+ chances when a man arrested for stealing ribs got 12. Echo chamber reddits is a great way to get "YES" to r/quityour jobs, have no income, and sell nfts/art/ai art.

[@heroiam4067]

I guess the future career for artists is making the same youtube video every week with 3 sponsored Ads inside until you gradually lose all of the viewers you gained.

[@QuadroVF]

It's super easy to survive as Artist, as long as you doing it for fun, nothing else matters.

[@Silencer796]

No it’s not

[@QuadroVF]

@@Silencer796 Yes it does. You clearly doing something wrong there.

[@Amelia_PC]

Yup, agreed. But it depends on each person's situation. Having nobody who depends on you, like a sick mother or kids, makes things easier. Having good health helps too. Not starving in deep poverty is amazing. But not everybody was born in the same conditions on this planet, we humans are not born equal. (I'm a pro comic book artist. Despite having a sick mother and brother, and being born into poverty, I sacrificed a lot to become an artist. These are sacrifices that I'm not sure everyone would make, and I understand that. People have different priorities.)

[@Notyouraveragename]

It's a great hobby. It's a terrible sole income source for a male bread earner. Apparently a good side hustle for bored stay at home wifes doing "60 hrs" of "laundry" a week while their baby cries for a bottle as their "harder working parent" draws yiff art.

[@Linniepromiio]

@@Notyouraveragenamewth are you talking about?

[@mech2159]

Thighs ❤

[@MADBurrus]

Anime is not art

[@hobbymemer8616]

Average rage bait

[@malenateves]

My son has disabilities and can't use his hands. He uses ai. So, although I agree there are many bad things about it, it IS helpful for people who have disabilities, who can't afford hundreds of $ per illustration, etc. Just keeping it real.

[@astrala9387]

lmao

[@j_bubblez279]

Not all art is hundreds of dollars. And there are artists who do art using their feet, mouth, and other tools. Ai art is not the only option, just the easiest one.

[@astrala9387]

@@j_bubblez279 they will always find some excuses. boohoo, i don't have hands, boohoo, i'm poor.

[@Notyouraveragename]

Welcome to the "compassionate artists", i did have fun doing krita for years and home software. But i kinda agree that some of these people are just looking after one thing. Their own bank account. Just terrible people who see people as "marks" to con, not people who matter. Build up healthy relationships wherever they are imho. "Hey! it's great to see you again" vs "LMAO, idk. giv money now. " -> "WYYY AM I WORKING AT A WALMART! I DREW FURRY PORN!"

[@aeoligarlic4024]

​@@Notyouraveragename strawmanning at its finest, there are artists with disabilities out there.. ai users are just lazy

[@grey__knight270]

Thank you!! 🤍

[@Corolla_place7392]

This lady is sayin’ facts at 4:40