Step Off My Dream Of Becoming An Artist - Tips For Artists

[@TrishGolden]

The best revenge is massive success.

[@TheSkittishWhippet]

@@Rafiwashere May I just add "success" being contentment and creative pleasure, not necessarily material success, tho nothing against having that too ;-)

[@melissaaldosari8024]

Absolutely!

[@deeknits]

"Practical" jobs for creative people are like a slow, torturous death.

[@rpcalee]

Yeeesss!

[@zarembskiartgreenarts2457]

been dying slowly on the job for almost 40 years, so I totally hear you on this one. When I was in college in the late '70's and early '80's, I was always told that I was wasting my time on art/liberal arts. In those days everyone was studying business; if you weren't you heard McDonald's jokes ("you want fries with that degree?"). Nowadays most of those business majors have been either forced into retirement or are on their 19th banking or finance job, having been laid off or fired 18 times over the past 30 years. Me? I'm going to be semi-retired from the workaday world next month, and going gangbusters on my art career. Finally. Don't waste your life like I have.

[@zarembskiartgreenarts2457]

@Instrumentality1000 Thank you.

[@PourYourArtOut]

@@zarembskiartgreenarts2457 So happy for you, it's not a waste!! I'm sorry you couldn't start earlier but I'm happy your love for it is still alive & that you're going for it!

[@zarembskiartgreenarts2457]

@@PourYourArtOut thank you!

[@alishasimms2846]

I know my depression was triggered by trying to fit into the box that society said was for me. When I decided to pursue my business idea - and I remain in the beginning stages of starting my business - it felt as though a physical weight dropped off my shoulders and I felt free to be the person I was created to be.

[@marlenekallstrom-barritt7326]

I had a long health-related career which was chosen because of interest in the field and practicality. When I told people what I did for a living, I’d get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as though I was lying. I didn’t know why that feeling as I had the credentials, got the pay cheque, did well in that career. Now, finally, I am intentionally building my art career. When I tell people what I do, there is no sinking feeling. I believe that’s because I’m doing what I should have done in the first place. Oh well, better later than never. 😀

[@jenna2431]

Second comment--forgive me: My advice after 61 years is: Look to the level you want to be--not where you don't want to be. If you want to be an artist, look to artists who are successful. You become who your friends are.

[@artiemuse]

"Your vibe attracts your tribe"

[@pennykent5687]

Agree.

[@saltwaterjoyskelleyjoyce-f8114]

Jenna Caruthers so true! She should find some motivated friends

[@sharonoddlyenough]

My friend, a mountain bike rider, always cautioned against focusing on the boulders in the path, because sure as shooting, you'll hit them. Focus on the way around, and you're much more likely to make it past.

[@toomuchiwannado1777]

I've always loved art. I had a teacher that liked to cherry pick details in drawings, shit like "it's not done". The art teacher I had next year would say "I don't know, is it done? It's your art." This kept me going with art off and on until the step-dad. He was great at art but when I brought up I thought it would be cool to be an artist he mentions "better artists than us don't make a living. You need to do something that guarantees a job". That and his other bullshit has made it tough to keep practicing consistantly to this day several years later. I'll be doing my best to keep it up and work on many art related projects but it's definitely been a fight. Love your rants!

[@mikemcdonaldart]

What field has a "guaranteed job" anymore? These days a college degree is a gamble no matter what you study. Anyone who thinks there are any guarantees anymore is someone that you should definitely not take advice from.

[@deeknits]

@@mikemcdonaldart EXACTLY!!! People get fired, laid off, companies file bankruptcy and go under. No such thing as a guaranteed position/paycheck anymore.

[@attheranch873]

When I was a child my dad used to yell at me that artists starve to death. You’re right, I wonder where he heard that. I was so young I didn’t even know what an artist was. I just knew he didn’t like me to draw. Funny, his mother was an artist. She was also a Farmer’s wife.

[@johngronning465]

1 Mintute 27 Seconds "What the French Toast is that about" Awesome Klee, love it. Also love the rest of the content, but hit like right after this Klee-ism. Oh and I am totally stealing this. I also liked the idea of work. Show, Fail. And then get going and do it again. I failed at my "Real Job" for 10 years before landing this great job in Austin. Now I am also in a Awesome place for continue per-suite of my life in art. Making Art is my life. I will never retire from. "Real Job" Definitely has a end retirement point

[@mikehilbert9349]

You can fail or succeed in any field, but that is dependant on you, the individual.

[@Kurtiscott]

Now, that was one fine rant. As an animator for the last 20 years I've found that the most helpful career advice usually starts with this sentence: “In my experience”....... Love you guys and your healthy relationship vibes. Cheers!

[@lorrihildebrandt6320]

That's what my mom said to me years ago when art was thought of as hippie van living and because I didn't have enough confidence I listened and have been lost for 30yrs trying to be happy in a crappy job. It's easier now to do art than ever follow your heart. Very true you guys good rant!!!

[@colleenbeers8572]

LOVE.this rant!! Thank you! 💪🏻

[@dh7217]

It is extremely fortunate that this young artist has caring, supportive parents, will have the supportive info you and Klee give to lean on. Sounds like the 22 yr old had quashed dreams and lack of dream support, too, if he's living in his mother's basement gaming. Hopefully, as the young artist grows into her sense of self, she will be strong enough to choose her dreams for her own reasons. Awesome rant 💕

[@lisastevens3104]

It says something that her Dad is supportive and wants his daughter to follow her dream. His opinion should matter more than a friend. One thing I would say to them is that a Small Business course would be beneficial for her. Eventually, she will have to focus on that. Be prepared. And... what the french toast! Hahahahaha!!!! Thanks Klee ❤🙂

[@kristyphillips547]

"What the French Toast is that about?!" Love you, Klee :D

[@linseybachko4470]

Totally agree - what kind of friend completely dismisses another friend's dreams? Misery loves company and this guy obviously is pathetically trying to pull others down to his level. So many people in this world tell you what you can't do. Another big one that goes along with this is when you get a degree (largely because someone told you to/pushed you to), hate it, and decide to finally pursue that dream you put on hold and all they can do is complain about how you aren't using your degree and why did you even bother to get that degree in the first place. If the person doesn't have to live with the result, you don't have to listen to their advice/opinion!

[@naaruoracle4786]

I've been working in the Healthcare industry since I graduated from college because I had so many people tell me including my family that art is not a sustainable career. I had a teacher tell me that I wasn't good enough and should quit doing art in college. This led to a backup degree in case I couldn't make it. The backup became the main career and while I was learning my art techniques suffered because I couldn't focus on doing the art as much as my peers. I just recently started to really create again and am trying to make it a career. I hate people like this my family is still nay saying the idea and wanting me to play it safe with a typical career.

[@matthewpicklesimer293]

ART is a BLESSING from GOD! Go for your Dreams! Be Blessed

[@georgewallace6525]

My grandmother thought it was the craziest idea that a company would sell bread. In her mind you bought bread from a baker or you made it yourself. I personally never thought I would see the day when people purchased virtual items for their gaming characters. Success is in the hands of the individual. You will have to work hard and loads but you control your ability to succeed.

[@justathought7221]

Rafi Klee THIS IS MOTIVATION!!! I love you guys and thank you so much for this rant. Every artist should hear this. And I will play this every time life wants to beat me up. You will be that shield and sword. God, that was awesome!!!

[@jmora6529]

Are you guaranteed to succeed in art? No. Is there a clear path to take to succeed in art? No. If you're like me, and can't handle unpredictability, then an art career is probably not for you. However, I do see how there are more opportunities today for artists than there has ever been.

[@adelacreative]

Success depends on the individual in any field!!! You tell them!!

[@mikemcdonaldart]

That girl's friend sounds like a product of the "everyone should code" movement we've seen over the last 20 years. And it's having the exact result I always thought it would. We're creating a culture that over-values modern tech knowledge and undervalues creativity. Even within the art education world, for years we've seen fine art students encouraged to get into the computer stuff, major in graphic design, digital arts, etc. Now we've got a ton of computer science graduates out there, competing heavily with a global market of comp sci grads for jobs that frankly are often short-term and start-up-based. I'd venture a guess that the job prospects for an art major might actually be better today than those of computer science major. At least art majors have far less competition when they get out of school. My freshman-year college roommate mocked my art major, said I'd never get a job. Guess which one of us is currently working in the field we majored in...

[@CoCoComet]

You might be onto something here, regarding the saturation of tech majors and the actual quality of the job most of them end up doing. A lot of the people who don't see any practical value in pursuing an art career think the same of pursuing a humanities degree, like history or literature. Yet, they don't see the disconnect between this stance and how they get so engrossed with the art and the storytelling of their favorite entertainment, often to the point of buying prints or artbooks of a videogame or a movie. Sure, a lot of people with an art or humanities degree have to resort to working in a related field like graphic design or teaching, but it's also true that a lot of STEM majors ultimately become code monkeys, easily replaceable as soon as a younger, cheaper alternative comes up. Oh, and never before there have been so many people with the means and the will to buy original art, something that not so long ago was exclusive to the very rich and powerful!

[@mikemcdonaldart]

@@CoCoComet We're definitely at a saturation point with computer science majors. For a time, CS was sort of a guarantee, out of college you'd get a job for sure. But that was in the late 90s, maybe early 2000s. So it's an outdated selling point. That and the fact that people keep misdirecting people to computer science. Not everyone who wants to work on video games can or should be a coder. The idea (another outdated one) is something along the lines of, "Well, you're working inside a tech/software/videogame company so you should know something about coding." And people take that to mean, "I should major in Computer Science!" But it's just wrong. In fact we should have been pushing art degrees more than coding. Want to work in video games? Video game companies need really good concept artists, designers, 3D modelers, illustrators, etc. No one tells the law majors that if they want to be a staff lawyer for a tech company that they should learn how to code. We need to crush this idea in other fields too that to set foot in a tech company you need to be a comp sci major. It's ridiculous.

[@CoCoComet]

@@mikemcdonaldart Yes, again, very important insights you put out, thanks for replying! I'd say we can't do without a more holistic approach anymore, in any field. Want to do CS? Be prepared to deal with the fact that most of what you code and how it is translated into an interface is aimed at humans. Want to do law? Be aware that technology and communication plays a significant part in whatever you'll be dealing with, and so on. I know this is slightly off topic regarding the video, but I think these considerations play a big part in the misconceptions Rafi discusses in it.

[@Vixtronic]

Thank you for talking about this, it is really encouraging. Here's my bit of advise on this topic: For me I heard all my childhood that music and art were the worst careers because you would be broke and drunk all the time. All of my friends and their parents pushed the "practical" job garbage. It wasn't until my late teens that an older family friend encouraged me to pursue art. He himself was an artist who had just started his art career after retirement. I started to take the creative path, and when I was in college realized just how dumb people were since when I said "I'm studying to be an artist." they would mock me or say I shouldn't do it but when I said "I'm studying for an associates degree in fine art and majoring in graphic design." they would tell me that's interesting and not fuss over it. To most people "Artist" just has a bad connotation, and I find it's easier to just not elaborate on what you are actually trying to pursue. Nowadays, I create whatever type of art I want, whenever I want, and am a lot happier. Everyone else is only happy for you when you show them the finished product.

[@onsab123]

Right on!

[@maceyloubrown]

wish you could hear me clapping right now...! This, man....this. so much this. Certain people LOVE to tear you down when they feel bad about their own lives..

[@ourgracefulearth]

I can relate to this on like 124 levels. You guys nailed it!!! One of my own favorite moments, from a walmart employee in the craft section: "You're not really going to make any money doing that..." Me: "I have been for years and I'm so grateful! I even got to go back to Europe! Your tag is upside-down, love."

[@TheSkittishWhippet]

Thanks guys, I needed this! When people don't see the hours you put in in painterly (or etsy shop work!) solitude they can be very thoughtless and dismissive of what you're doing in a very devoted way for the long haul.

[@MrBurgher]

You make some very valid points! As a art educator, I think that there are always two sides to the coin. There are students that want to pursue a career in art, that have no original ideas, get through high school by plagiarizing from Pinterest, and have no desire to improve their skills, and fly under the belief that having no skills can be justified if you claim that’s the way you want it… At the same time, art is a multibillion dollar industry, and there’s lots of room for growth and people that really want to take it seriously, do the work, and strive for improvement. Sorry to rant on top of your rant… I enjoy your videos, and hopefully you can check one or two of mine as well. All the best!

[@MrBurgher]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYKtqXZ5iryip5I

[@pawtraitart]

I love you two so much!!! Great talk.

[@vanishingpearl7522]

I'm the only person in my immediate family with a college degree......in art. Nobody really discouraged it except maybe a biology teacher in high school. I got a pretty basic education and have sold my work on and off through the years to supplement my paycheck. It's not easy, never has been, but it's a life.

[@birdbrain1850]

This was me. My family scared me away from pursuing art in college by telling me I would be poor and on the street. So I got a degree in something I hated and never used. I never stopped doing my art and I have had success but I never did it full time. Now I have two very talented and creative college aged children who are hesitant to go for it for the same reasons. They get bombarded with the state of the world and economics etc. in school and how hard it will be for their generation. I tell them that every generation has had that said to them so please don't let that stop you! I am their biggest cheerleader! I want them to go for what makes them happy and feel alive and to listen to their own heart! There are no guarantees in any career choice so be happy with how you spend your day each day. I am finally back to doing my art fully and I have financial struggles but it beats the hell out of going to a job I hate everyday. Life is short, be happy! This video was excellent! You said this so well! I will have my awesome son and daughter watch this today! Thank you so much, you guys are great!!

[@epitt22]

This is great for anyone giving unsolicited advice without being in your predicament.

[@cordialgreetingsart]

You are what your 5 circle of friends are around you. That person needs a new network of friends. With all the technology and online opportunities out there it’s so different from the 1990’s. You can be anything if you work hard enough for it. That’s what my grandparents told me. I am a full time graphic designer and I Side Hustle my fine art pyrography artwork🔥. I am constantly learning every day about all kinds of things. The starving artist thing isn’t what it used to be especially with all the online opportunities. Good rant! 💕

[@CoCoComet]

Another big factor is that nowadays, at least in the first world countries, there are so many more people who can afford or are willing to buy artwork, even if it's just a print! And, ironically, a good portion of this new demand often seems to come from those in a STEM career

[@jenna2431]

Three words: Consider the source. Unemployed gamer mama's basement guy giving career advice? Nah.

[@alyciaanneevergreenmbc2572]

First of all I love your rant sessions because you two actually give all of us here on KZbin University...😉 free everyday help advice to put into practice daily . Second of all most everyone I know including myself have some kind of degree in a field that we don't, or have never ever worker in. The only thing I can say a degree is good for is finding out if your going to put in all the hard work to finish what you actually started. Third some people are just jealous and secretly don't want you to achieve success because you would just make then look bad. Thanks for all y'all do. Sending love from Porter, Texas

[@ChristopherDoll]

Yes! All of this. Thank you

[@allymonville6491]

I watch your videos a lot because they're so real. I have a lot of people who tell me I can't do something or I won't ever be able to do it. Shoot my own brother made a comment (when I said I was going back to school), and I quote, "Won't you feel really old around all the young college kids?" I'M 25. I think some people will always just look at themselves in this upper echelon light,even though they live in their mom's basements 😉

[@cordialgreetingsart]

Ally Monville you’re never too old to go back to college and choose to change your path of life. My aunt was a dairy farmer and moved her entire family a couple states away and went to college to be an RN. She graduated with honors in her late 40’s. My sister went back at age 28 and now makes 6 figures in accounting in her early 50’s. It’s all a matter of mindset. 😊

[@allymonville6491]

@@cordialgreetingsart it's a good thing I didn't get far enough into the conversation to tell him I want to be a tattoo artist! Then he would really be mad! 😂 I think my brother just says things to get under my skin... Everyone knows how siblings are! And that's awesome for your sister! I'm only going back to take a few art classes and brush up my skills a little before drawing things for my portfolio!

[@DianeDobsonBarton]

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” Eleanor Roosevelt

[@ZenWaveCinema]

Like you said about that Brene Brown quote, if you're not in the arena fighting with me you have no right to speak on my situation... (loosely translated). And... just don't believe the hype (my anthem right now). I am very late in the game, have learning disabilities, and am TERRIBLE at the business of art, but I do it anyway. Failing, failing, failing...undeterred (it's okay, I'm learning and implementing at my own unique pace). I hope she will go for it if this is her dream and passion. Great advice in this rant.

[@charlottealexander2329]

Thanks rafi. I needed a rant today.

[@fightthegoodfight52]

Great stuff and spot on, spot freaking on! There will always be those who think they are the experts of our lives. Oftentimes, they are the same ones who don’t have their own life together-which should be their main focus! I have been doubted so much in my own life over the years, I’ve lost count. Despite the doubters and naysayers, I have been able to accomplish my goals. The driving motivation was not to prove them wrong, because that would be giving their opinions power and credibility! Rather, the driving motivation is always to prove myself right in that if I believe that I can achieve it and work hard at it, I can achieve it! That has served me well in my 4.5+ decades on this earth! We must continue to pursue our dreams and aspirations and ignore the negative noise. The only way that we can achieve them is to put in the work to make them a living reality! 👍🏾

[@CharlesHancockCreations]

Another home run, guys!

[@SssvcreationsAu2015]

Too many people are out there that are very negative which is sad. Instead of encouraging the person to follow their dream they put your dreams down. I remember when my oldest daughter was at school, her grades were going down so I sat down with her and asked her what she wanted to do. Her passion was cooking so I told her that she didn’t need to go to school until year 12 and to find a restaurant that would take her on as an apprentice. She did and was grateful that she did. My son loves music and he followed his dream, he is a music teacher, plays in bands and put his first single out. What parent wouldn’t be proud? I grew up with a negative mother and I told myself I would never be like her. I am 48 and only just now started to have the confidence to follow my dreams as an artist and crafter, had I followed my dreams after leaving school where could I have been at now? I think we all know the answer. Thank you for another awesome video 🙂

[@Buzzregog]

I love the crescendo of energy in this rant :D

[@cordialgreetingsart]

I would advise the person’s daughter to listen to podcasts and KZbin videos and soon she will realize there is a whole other world of creatives out there making it or working hard at it. This is the age of entrepreneurship! Get it while you are young! Don’t work a soul sucking job and wake up in your 40’s and realize you’re not happy. Cause you followed the factory ways of society. Maybe that’s what our grandparents did. But we can change that.

[@GoFarFarAway.]

One of the brown spots on the wall thinkers!!!!!

[@yukifoxscales]

Okay, so storytime. I'm both lucky and unlucky with my mom. I'm lucky in that she supports my chain mail business, and she thinks my pieces are amazing and she gets a lot of compliments from her friends, and she even gives me ideas on things to make [not chain mail or even jewelry related, but she means well?]. I'm however unlucky in that she doesn't see why my house still needs a good decluttering since 'I don't have a job'. Mind you, I worked 12 hours yesterday putting things together for a show I'm doing this weekend [price tags - all the price tags.... ] And the only advice I give young people is that if you want to do art of any sort [or anything else, really] do it. Don't ever make yourself live with the regret of not having done it. I've been doing physical art for years, but I really wish I'd gone into music [and after this weekend, back to learning guitar and clearing space for my KB and laptop so can work with music software stuff]. Now seems a wonderful time to follow dreams, what with the job market slowly and not so slowly going away for traditional jobs.

[@stitchinghaven6276]

good advice as always!

[@jacquelineleubin5004]

I was told all the time that becoming an artist is unrealistic and I believed it. I am now 51 years old and finally working on becoming a professional artist and I 'm gonna make my dream come true and I came so far that I don't listen to people who think I am crazy. My tip (if someone reads this): Get your courage and your believe that you can make it as an artist , from people like Rafi and google about artists and read their bio (I do that a lot on their websites) and this will make you say : "If they can do it, so can I"!! Much love from Switzerland xx

[@Imhotep397]

The most screwed up part of this, I’ve found is that usually this happens when the person chasing an art career “seems” good enough and dedicated enough to actually succeed and the douche bag completely knows it that’s when the overt and/or covert “pushback” that’s actually verbal abuse begins. I had something similar happen with a guy I was friends with that could draw when we were younger and like a decade and a half later we reconnected and he enlightened me on the fact that there were books that laid out construction techniques for learning how to draw. He probably regrets telling me about that. For a while we working together fleshing out some concepts that I had and initially he was good with the direction, but eventually started constantly challenging my concepts to where he was pushing my concepts towards something he felt was more idealized and it wasn’t my concepts anymore that he was drawing. I ended the collaboration not really looking to end the friendship, but as I started getting better with being able to draw the characters I wanted to try to realize and I would show him stray lines on my drawings after showing him my sketchbook started showing up. Phone calls stopped getting returned. I stopped getting invitations to hang out. Needless to say, we’re not friends anymore. All I ever did was encourage him pursue his art development while he always referred to it as a “gutter career” and pursued electrical engineering, which AFIK he never actually practiced as an actual occupation outside of school. A bunch of other shady shit happened, but ultimately it is what is. Regardless of the fact that we’re not friends I’m still grateful for the period of time that he connected me to the idea of finding art manuals to learn to draw effectively on my own. I always believed either you could draw or you couldn’t and I definitely couldn’t UNTIL I started looking at art manuals and once I started putting the work in it changed everything for the better for me.

[@pennykent5687]

You go Rafi!😃🤜🤛💪👏👏👏👏and Klee! 😃🤜🤛💪👏👏👏👏 That was so beautiful 🤧. I mean it! I think we just keep running into Narcissists. It's SOOOOO IMPORTANT to learn about them, their behaviors, what they like to do to GOOD PEOPLE, .... How they LOVE to really work to f_ _ _ _ people up, just for their fun and the sport of it!!!...... But, hey! I so applaud you guys👏for ALL your support. ♥️ you for it😔 Thank you.🤧

[@sarahharless5044]

Lol sorry for the voice texting typos in my previous text.

[@Jules_Pew]

I got talked into a 'safe' career. After 25 years I started to draw again 11 years ago, and I had to learn from scratch. Now I'm starting to sell my art and take commissions. Slowly I'm letting the safe job go bit by bit - still have the mortgage to pay, but I'm getting there.

[@robertsmeltzer1896]

Love it well done you both are good people.

[@tonyaconrad8969]

best rant yet keep it up

[@lauracoelhodesigns]

Thank you! For so many years I kept listening that art isn't a way off living. Thank you, thank you so much. 💜

[@TheCyclingArtist]

Love your response subbed. I am active duty Navy and a girl that served with me did amazing murals on the walls with decanted spray paint and a tiny makeup brush. She joined because everyone told her she needed a real job. She is still serving and an excellent Sailor however; she also has an amazing comic she is putting out and is considering going full time. I have been happy to encourage her any chance I get because she deserves it. She drew my avatar actually. To anyone wanting to go this route DO IT create and your true friends will support you 100%.

[@rsher_digital-art]

My cousin Robert Natkin to me the secret was to just make art. He was poor, living in Chicago. One day Andre Emric approached him during an outdoor art show. Andre was the Matise gallery in Manhattan. Robert Natkin, Google him, rage to riches, you'll see.

[@changingviewspc]

Poetic response guyz. I often preach a similar passage to the Negative Nellies. Gracias! ✌️

[@jricherts99]

Ill have to try that "what the French Toast" edit; if anything we are lacking artist at the moment and I dont mean computer graphics people, those there are plenty of, which I do consider artist but its not the same coming from someone who has done both ( second edit I like the Mr Rogers reference)

[@janetwoodard8467]

Well said! I heard this in my teens from my parents and I ended up going in a different direction. I still carried on with my art on and off but it was put on the back burner by " a real job"! Now don't get me wrong my second choice that I went into has taught me lots that I use in my art career now. Taking that leap now in my fifties. I just wish I did not listen to others and continued the path of art that I wanted to back then. You can do what you want to do...Art is a career, a "real job". Make friends that support you and lift you up in your dreams.

[@wmcrash]

The "real world" opportunities is the set of job openings and work wanted out there at any given time. You look at the trends over the last , you get a picture. In general, some trades work better than others. Maybe art deals and artist hirings are done away from curious eyes, so the general public doesn't know how it works.

[@Phoenix-bz5iv]

I had my own out loud rant over this one.... Senior year in HS, I worked a face painting booth at the local Wool Festival to get extra credit in art class. An artist from the nearest city saw my quick work painting a horse on a girl's face, gave me his card, and asked me to draw templates for him so that he could paint them. After he left, a popular girl in my school looked at me and said "You should give that card to "H" because everyone knows she the best at drawing horses because she's horse obsessed."

[@shellydurham3277]

My family has been telling me that for years and I use to believe them. Not anymore I am going to try my hardest to make it happen. I have wasted so many years letting them talk me out of everything I wanted to do in life. Glad you both keep inspiring us all to keep living our dream!! Thank you!

[@melaniemarr445]

Well said!!!

[@ambervisions]

My father was a professor and did the questioning thing about me being an art major. I didnt have an answer and allowed myself to change my major to Child Development with a studio art minor. I taught for the first few years out of college. Guess what I'm doing now.... I'm an artist and jewelry maker. I'm working on developing the business part and love creating...but DAAAAMN I regret allowing my dad to talk me out of what my heart wanted to do.

[@aligned4good]

I love you guys!!!! I agree with you 100%! I have been given advice my whole life about who I should be. I don’t listen. Be your own person, do what is right for you. I just say ‘Thank you’ smile and do what I want. This is my journey, I get to take it however I want. Whenever someone gives you advice, they come with their own agenda, whether it’s fear, disappointments or whatever. What they’re basically saying is ‘don’t listen to your own guidance, listen to mine’ hilarious, isn’t it?

[@BrookeSR]

Thank you for this rant XD I'm a single mom and I deal with family and coworkers with their opinion. My family are supportive but they turn around saying downer stuff "it's not easy you need to do this and that" and I'm like fo you not think I know the work that will go into it. But I want to pursue my dream and not live in a job that I dont enjoy. So listening to this was helpful.

[@Neonapi]

Thanks guys!! Excellent reminder for a SUPER late bloomer at 54 👍🏾 🤓!

[@SebastianSeanCrow]

7:45 Mr Rogers for decades had been saying things like “you are special for being you” and I still think it’s such a powerful message. Like if Emerican Johnson can make a video on it that’s like half an hour long then obviously that’s something that’s struck a chord with people. I wasn’t fortunate enough to see much of Mr Rogers, but with how people are, I think messages like that are important.

[@staceytomkinson910]

Someone once told me to look at art as Everything is designed by an artist or creative everything we see everyday. It’s one of the most versatile careers ever!

[@mjpete27]

I was always taken aback by people who said you can not earn a living with Art! I replied it depends on the living you want to live! I will say I never had an easy time with making ends meet, IE:paying my bills. I trained in school with traditional methods and I had to change to digital methods to compete with others who wanted the same job! I even had to have several paths open at once! Painting as well as photography, doing portraits and weddings even animal portraits to bring in money. You can never limit yourself or allow others to limit the scope of your life/art! I have not given career advice often, when asked I reply do something that you believe will bring you some kind of happiness or joy. In the long run you are not your job but you do not have to be miserable just to pay your bills. Well that wandered a bit, thanks for the Rant! Have a better tomorrow!

[@jacsfalconer1929]

Oh heck. I am sooo scunnered with the opinionist's. Go on and prove yourself right and be happy 😊 xx

[@JAnaya91]

Most people don't wanna hear about others chasing their dreams because it shines light upon their short comings. It takes certain amount of bravery to aim yourself towards that goal, whatever it is. Oh well , that's my hippie rant . Love the videos keep it coming.

[@sharonoddlyenough]

In high school, I was depressed, so by the time I graduated, I had no idea of what I wanted to do. The classes I came closest to enjoying were english, choir, biology, and the sad art classes that were in the basement. I bounced around for many years in retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and transportation before I wound up where I am. I'm an apprentice rv service technician, pursuing art in my downtime this winter. It would be cool to have two careers at a time running parallel, but I'm lucky enough that one is enough right now. Eta: prior to being an apprentice, I endured 7 years in retail, and I swear I'll never go back. Retail is a mindkiller, I was lucky to escape, and I figuratively had to cut off an arm to do so.

[@Kamala-isa-Criminal]

Let me add to this message... it’s difficult enough as a 43 year old wanna be artist, believing in yourself, just creating anything. Don’t let ANYONE tell you who to be. You wanna create something from nothing and make it a career? GO FOR IT! Be the dreamer, be the creative person you know you are, believe in yourself! You can certainly do it... if anyone else tries to discourage you (no matter how much you love them), do exactly what’s in your heart! Be the artist you already know you are and I want to see you succeed!!! 🤩😊💕🎉🔥🎨

[@arcuda2001]

i was very lucky .. my mom was a sculptress, and always encouraged me( pushed me, even) to pursue my artwork.. she was pretty clear and open about it being a difficult road to follow( and she definitely made plenty of compromises to continue her passion) , as i did ... but i had wonderful support network around me and i luckily never got that negative crap that people dump on us, usually ... any thing that anyone pursues , in my opinion, will get some type of negative crap dumped on them .. no matter what they pursue.. i think it's more an issue of dysfunctional and inappropriate idiots that we all have to deal with on some level...

[@ahlehp]

I don't know why this channel was recommended to me, but I am SO HAPPY that it was. Thank you for making such motivating and helpful videos (especially this one). My mind is my worst enemy and I think I need to kick those doubts out of my mind and make a full-blown attempt an art career. You're a wonderful pair Rafi & Klee!! 😌💕

[@paintingtheskykingdom9005]

yeah, i waited until my 50's to start my art career because of being told it was not a possibility .... only really special people could be an artist, and this I was not. By this time I had no choice, i would rather be homeless doing art than not doing art, it is something i have to do, only thing i am motivated to do.

[@shoshaka]

I can relate and pretty much sum up the way people respond to my "hobby" with digital sculpting and art in general. I used to take that "get a serious job" thing very hard, but eventually I realized that: 1) I have a very expressive middle finger at my disposal in situations when people are actively trying to force their point of view on me. Especially those of non-artstistic background. 2) I coudn't care less when somebody who has not done a shit in their life but fulfilling the expectations of their friends and family trying to "point me in the right direction". People should mind their fucking business and let those of creative nature just be. Damn, I'm getting a little heated up...

[@babyblue61549]

Excellent vid. “The best thing u can do is to prove them Wrong”. 👍🏻and get new friends if they don’t support u and ur dreams. Seriously. I feel that if u have the inspiration and it’s ur hearts desire-Follow it! Do what u 💕 Thank You Rafi and Klee. U guys rock!

[@annadreamsart9756]

I come back and listen to this every so often because it really helps fight the voices in my head. I've had/have friends and family giving me this exact spiel because "they want me to be able to pay bills" even though I've never fit a 9-5. Like, ever. Usually I end up working with/for people who dislike me and try to make my life hell. I've decided I'd rather, literally, forage food in the woods than work at Target. And now I feel like looping Bon Jovi It's my liiiiife it's now or never...

[@Rafiwashere]

We adore you Anna!

[@annadreamsart9756]

@@Rafiwashere I adore you too!

[@tammytjfordart5732]

In today's world it takes people with skills and gifts of all sorts to operate. Is it just me or does it seem like society spends so much time encouraging people to follow their heart then through public school teaching kids slowly get deflated about what those dreams/musings are! It's backwards thinking. Pfhh, gaming wouldn't exist without artists, Lol, and like you mentioned he's regurgitating useless opinions without regard to fact. Everyone today seems to be an expert on everything, I agree, stick with your own schtick!! Be an expert on yourself and get advice from those qualified to give it!! Love the truth you both deliver, it needs to be done!

[@Alwaysmp01]

Love this so much! Been on both sides of this and really regret discouraging someone to not follow their dream. Luckily they didn’t listen to me many years ago and are now my motivation to follow my own dreams.

[@joycemaureroriginal8563]

You guys are so awesome! I hope that young lady watched this video.

[@CroxasWorld]

THIS IS PURE GOLD. Its like all my fear about being an artist left the chat

[@justinhunt4767]

Let's go!!!

[@emmanueldoublin8428]

Thanks...really helps hearing that it's ok to chase your dreams while taking practical steps.

[@SayuriIera]

It took me a college diploma in a field I hated (but was pushed into because "you wont know if you like it until you try!!") to finally try and pursue a career in art because holy gOD I'm NEVER going to make myself suffer like that ever again!! There's still so much resistance about me furthering my studies in art, mostly from my family and i get that they're worried for my future but to hell with it- i dont think i'll ever forgive myself if i dont at least try!

[@AlTorresFineArt]

Great topic!

[@KoongYe]

Those people are exactly the people who made me pursue art late. Until late 20s I thought I would end up in the streets begging, or die of starvation if I went for my artistic passion.

[@shannacosper7366]

To quote the amazing artist Rafi, "tell him he can go eat a bowl of farts." Sounds like she needs new friends. Also 2 of my sons have gone to school for CS. One of them is making $95,000+/yr 2 yrs out of school and the other has not graduated, and is getting job offers making about the same. He needs to get a job. Be an artist. It is hard. But if you love it, you will find a way to make it!

[@MedaHalmaciu]

Thank you Rafi, I needed this!

[@randominternetuser00]

I love you guys - best advice EVAH!

[@eladiocofresi5202]

I feel my experiences have to deal with being told I shouldn't sell at fairs in The Bronx (which to a degree I understand due to tastes in fashion.) While I know of the borough's history, it surprises me to this day to learn of the diversity today. I have seen sides I did not expect this year than in times past. The other experience that has been sitting in my head for a while involves a person staying over and basically said that I "wasn't doing anything," and had me do tasks for him, while I was either clearly at the sewing machine or at the bust form trying to take pictures of product. Meanwhile, this person faced opposition upon becoming a landlord in the eighties. I can't totally accept certain comments about this person, being it was a family member. At the moment, I am merely keeping things at a long distance.

[@melissaaldosari8024]

Yes! Thank you! 💜

[@lonefaolan6042]

Thank you so much! I needed to hear this. ❤️

[@Susanna79.]

Hahaha omg SOOOOO WELL SAID!!!! love it 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💜

[@kevinknight287]

I had this happen to me recently where I got negative feedback from a friend about my pursuing being a professional in the art field. I stood back, crossed my arms, cocked my head and said, "Oh okay! You know obviously know more about me than I do, so tell me how it works then?" They were immediately flummoxed and promptly shut their mouth.