Why being an Illustrator sucks (right now)

[@RichardThompsonCA]

I was a commercial illustrator for 25+ years in the advertising industry. I started with an airbrush in 1990 and by the end of the decade abandoned that for digital illustration/3d rendering and digital photography. I noticed the slowdown started for me around 2014. Ad agencies closed and art directors were being laid off. The old style ad agencies are dying off because they don't understand the technical requirements for new advertising. They were used to tv, radio and newspaper, and now it's Facebook, Instagram, etc. The new agencies that popped up to replace them don't need anyone else. They can do it all in-house, they code their own software to run their business, have an in-house photo studio, in-house animators and modelers, so they don't tend to hire outside talent on a per-project basis. I watched everything slowly fade over a period of about 8 years until I had to find another career. But this devaluing of art started long before I ever got into the industry. I read an interview with one of the Hildebrandt brothers, he said back when he started (1950's) one good illustration job would buy you a new house. Budgets continue to shrink and all the software is subscription so it's hard to make ends meet. Now they might offer you $500 to create a national billboard campaign. I think AI will be the final nail in the coffin for commercial work. I think real art will always survive, people will always want to buy handmade art that allows them to connect with the artist, I mean who would pay thousands for some AI-no-effort shlock, but work-for-hire is going to be significantly reduced.

[@MichaelWDriver]

Hello! Thanks so much for adding to the discussion! 25 years is a jolly good time to be in industry, I'd love to see some of those air brush artworks! I noticed a lot of 'social first' agency's pop up around 2015, companies like vayner media and social chain being some of the notable ones. You are completely right about the devaluing of the art happening long before social media. I remember reading that editorial budgets for the major (uk) newspapers haven't increased in decades. I do wonder if a strong union could have prevented the drop in prices? I'm holding my breath on AI, luxury brands probably won't use it, AI atm the moment is often used to save money, and if a luxury brand is trying to project an image of wealth and excellence, I'm not too sure that AI has the right signalling. Newspapers have been told to stay away from it for picture editing, as generative fill could lead to more conspiracy nuts. As to other aspects of the industry it's hard to say. Fine art will not be affected at all, there's too much money in it for it to change. when you buy a piece of physical art you are investing in the picture as well as the artist and the narratives that are being told. There is no narrative with Ai. thanks for the comment! Have a great Sunday!

[@seanfaherty]

@@RichardThompsonCA the creams will rise to the top. I’ll still keep making stuff anyway

[@GrimdarkKing]

I have sold a few AI prints of ricers and fly-fishing scenes. But in the “hundreds” of dollars not “thousands”. Really…enough to pay for two annual guided fishing trips. “Pocket money” as they call it. Not “make a living” money.

[@3polygons]

I started painting as a kid, kept at it all the way till even after college (and till today), but I have been prioritizing other "jobs", as those used to look kind of safer, more stable or "serious" (I lacked the proper perspective...). I started in 1995 as a graphic designer (in an advertising agency (not in UK), I could see yet tools to manually retouch films there! They had me painting posters with acrylics while also learning the technical stuff) although I had specialized in Painting at the Fine Arts college. Then studied again and ended working as a teacher (internships for the admin), then worked as a graphic designer, then as a game artist at several studios, first 2D, then both that and 3D, then back as a graphic designer (web & print) for almost a decade, and the latest decade as a full time freelancer illustrator (mostly) and occasional game artist/3D modeler/graphic designer. AI is making a lot of illustrators I know to finally throw the towel and swap to another job or just go broke, but it might have cornered me to go back to traditional brushes, giving me the perfect excuse. I obviously find the pesky thing (generative AI) _deeply_ disgusting, and always will (except when other type of "AI" is applied to medical research, can only love that), a yet to be fully regulated theft, and a plan carefully designed by large VC funding firms (for actual greed, let's be honest) to eliminate creative labor (visual art, writing, music, voice acting, etc) in devastating numbers and obtain immense income from it, but it is sort of ironic that it might force me to do what maybe I should have done full-on without hesitation in 1997 (just grab a brush and canvas/wood board) :D ;). What do they say...."the best way to make Plan A to succeed is not having a plan B" ;-). About that, actually, I can code more or less ok, but I'd hate to go back to that; not even close to my passion). Digital or traditional, I will always be painting, it goes with me.

[@seanfaherty]

@@GrimdarkKing I don’t understand why people pay others to generate AI art for them

[@kthxbi]

I'm a children's editor, and the publishing industry has been struggling so much since the end of lockdown that our artwork commissioning budgets have been slashed to ribbons year after year. I think we spent half as much on our 2025 list than we did on our 2024 list for the same number of books? it's so disappointing because i see all of these phenomenal artists out there that I'm dying to work with, but I know there's just no way I'll get approval for the spend we would need to pay them fairly for their work. I would say on a positive note though that some of our customers (as in the bookstores that buy from us) are now sending us emails clarifying that they are firmly anti-Ai and don't want to be pitched any Ai covers or text, which is nice to see

[@MichaelWDriver]

Thanks so much for contributing to the conversation, as some one who works as a picture book editor you have a unique perspective on the industry. it is a shame to see that due to budget constrictions you are unable to work on books with practitioners that you would like to work with. it is staggering to think that books can operate on less money than they have previously, god knows how artists are meant to make it work! thats brilliant that suppliers are asking for books made by physical people as opposed to those generated by AI

[@benjfischer]

This video sounds like why life sucks for everyone, not just illustrators.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@benjfischer nailed it!

[@ShreyaSharma-l8r]

This is so damn helpful because I am literally struggling at this moment. It's so hard to even get a non-creative job that is part-time even! Thanks for this reassurance that it is not entirely me!

[@MichaelWDriver]

Im so sorry to hear you have been struggling, its really quite bleak out there at the moment, I'm glad you found the video reassuring, like I said in the video there is a lot going on at the minute which is making it very hard!

[@tommead5948]

Newsletters feel like the only place left to actually claw back an audience for yourself from these social media maniacs.

[@MichaelWDriver]

I couldn't agree more, I have completely avoided doing a newsletter as I'm very dyslexic and dont want to expose myself, but a newsletter makes a ton of sense! ( I should of included this in the video)

[@AndrewWhittleAnimation]

Great video Michael! Spot on! In my five years as a Freelancer I've always been fully booked from September up to Christmas but this year its been very patchy, despite all my marketing efforts. I've been finding it hard to put my finger on exactly what's causing the state of our industry, but you've done a great job on summing up all the global issues.

[@MichaelWDriver]

Hi Andrew thanks so much!I'm so sorry you've been having a bumpy time too! Pre pandemic and until 2022 I was absolutely crushing it, but the last two years have been much more precarious, I spoke to my partner recently about how I'm still working hard (if not harder) I and cant seem to get anything to happen. I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I guess my main point is that a lot of the stuff going on is sooo much bigger than your practice and the best thing you can do is just keep on making work!

[@alansmithy625]

Worked as a free-lance illustrator for over 30 years in London and sadly Mr Thompson and others here are totally right. Here's MY little bit of advice for any aspiring illustrator. 1. Learn to be a graphic designer as well as an illustrator. ( the two disciplines feed-in to each other) Be up to date with digital design skills. (Being able to take on free-lance design work directly for small business clients is better than waiting on tables.) 2. “Designers can’t draw anymore.” I worked as a storyboard artist for the last 7 years of my career. Digital / Video/ 3D designers never learned to use a pencil at college. In my experience they didn’t even have the confidence or ability to draw simple stick figures on paper to communicate the scenes they wanted me to visualise. Very few people can quickly draw a realistic image of "an ordinary person doing ordinary things." Hour after hour all day. Draw people again and again, even if you just copy from photos. (Free-lance storyboard / visualising work is tiring, but is far better paid than working in Starbucks and you build up a huge portfolio of work, very quickly.)

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@alansmithy625 thanks for your comment Alan! I have heard a lot that most designers don’t/ can’t draw! Hope you enjoyed the vid!

[@Érinn-o2g]

I was offered online 100 euros for a regular task easy to do job and the next day 5 euros for a complex, emotional and very time consuming illustration. I love art and took the first one and hard pass the second one

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@Érinn-o2g one day you can be asked to draw a cat for £10, the next day you can be asked to draw a cat and be paid £10000, there is sometimes no ryhme or reason to pricing and clients that think that is acceptable to offer such a low fee need to be educated on the amount of labour hours it takes to make an artwork (also labour hours are not the only driver of monetary compensation for your art)

[@Kay-815]

This video was simultaneously so frightening and validating. I really look up to you as an illustrator and designer, the quality of your work is undeniable. The fact that you’ve also been struggling to find steady work speaks a lot to the state of things, even with 10 years of experience. I graduated this June and my portfolio wasn’t as organized, cohesive, or profesional as it should be. I’ve tried working on it and applied to 130+ roles or freelancing opportunities so far, but only a small gig. I’m trying to remain hopeful, take on part time work, and I’m fortunate enough to live with my parents. I can’t deny it’s been very discouraging lately to see talented designers get laid off, peers struggling to find work, or be rejected and ghosted by companies. Entry level positions on LinkedIn ask for 5+ years of experience, it really makes me rethink if I made the most of my education, chose my major wrong, or started working hard too late. I think if this is being felt globally, it helps to remember it isn’t entirely our faults! I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on this sometime

[@MichaelWDriver]

Hello! Thanks so much for leaving a comment! I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to watch my video, collect your thoughts and write something here, you are appreciated! I would like to say thank you so much for the kind words about my work, It means a lot when someone is so kind about it. I am very sorry to hear how hard you are trying and how you are struggling to get seen by clients and employed . please continue to make work! You are needed I promise. The market just isn't very good at the moment, whilst it is discouraging it does not mean that you and your work is not brilliant!

[@FyreHeartStudios]

This was just incredibly validating. Thanks for laying it all out like this.

[@MichaelWDriver]

No problem at all! thanks so much for taking the time out to watch the video and comment, It means a lot!

[@katjweiss]

"consider getting a part-time job" lol that's me!!!! I honestly wish we could normalise doing our freelance gigs part-time, especially when times are tough.

[@MichaelWDriver]

10000%

[@KpxUrz5745]

I would say that being an illustrator always sucked. All my background was in fine art, so I never intended to try illustration, nor built a portfolio for that purpose. But I gave it a try while first looking for an income source after college. Finally had a nice illustration printed in the NY Times for an ad for a university. I was proud of that starting accomplishment and placed the printer's proof in my portfolio. Continuing to pound the pavements in Manhattan seeking more illustration work, I made an appointment at Sports Illustrated. Showed the bigshot art director my portfolio. When he saw the complex pen and ink drawing for the university ad, he was taken aback, exclaiming "You didn't do this!" I was completely unprepared for my skills, honesty, and integrity to ever be called into question. I stammered "look, there's my signature". He said "Anybody can add a signature. The artist who drew this came here last week and showed this to me!" Then he angrily said "so get the hell out of my office!" Wow!! Who could ever imagine such a thing happening? That experience was so horrendous, and so degrading, that I thought if the big art directors in NYC are this wrong, this false, this angry, and this nasty --- then I don't want anything to do with a career in "illustration". That really killed it for me, I quit it then and there, and I don't regret it for one moment. I did just fine after that in other avenues, and never faced another jackass bigshot art director again. Someone please tell me, how do some NYC loudmouth art directors ever get so stupid and become such poor judges of talent and character?

[@MichaelWDriver]

ahhh thats a pretty crumby experience, I'm sorry you had to go through that

[@KpxUrz5745]

@@MichaelWDriver Thanks for the sympathy... many decades later!!! It still burns my a** to even THINK of Sports Illustrated!!!

[@MichaelWDriver]

@ it really sucks, I can’t even begin to imagine having some one be so rude about my work in front of my face. If it is any consolation, sports illustrated have been in a lot of hot water over AI generated content, that place is a sinking ship! I hope this experience didn’t stop you from continuing to make art!

[@KpxUrz5745]

@@MichaelWDriver No, the art is fine. I have works in collections and museums. I just gave up "illustration" long long ago after that nasty experience.

[@ameliaroseillustrations]

I’m glad to know it’s not just me XD. I hope things start to improve for all creators soon! 🙏✨

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@ameliaroseillustrations I’m sure they will! Things can’t be rubbish forever!

[@ModulerDrone]

It's a race to the bottom indeed. With rising costs of living we're forced to take any and every project while keeping up the high quality of output. We are at a point where if you don't have competitive pricing for THE highest quality possible and deliver in a timely manner you are out. Basically the Cheap Good and Fast connundrum, which is impossible.. almost This forces us to use any trick in the book and start to rely on AI, which ironically being fed will ultimately replace us in. I'm starting to see the writing on the wall and while I love using all of these new shiny tools, I'm very aware that the moment I'm redundant and don't provide a competitive output the doors are locking. So I'm focusing on always being 1 step ahead of the curve and be oriented on problem solving regardless of the field so I can adapt for whatever jobs remain.

[@MichaelWDriver]

indeed! I would love to know how you are trying to stay one step ahead? Personally im trying to pivot to making more physical art, focusing on doing more physical events as well as posting videos on this here KZbin Channel

[@ModulerDrone]

@@MichaelWDriver Well I figured if anyone and everyone has now these tools available to themselves, this logically means that in a really short time what we used to do will be surpassed, it's just a matter of time, and there's not that much left at this rate. So at our company we're integrating all of these AI tools into our workflow as much as possible as another tool or layer to our creative process, and so we're on top of things instead of cowering and retreating and try to make things work in the classic way. While morally I am apalled by the massive theft that has been brought upon our creative community, this is a new reality and it's here to stay. No matter how much we protest or the intense disagreement we might have with these reckles AI companies, the landscape has completely changed and the pandora's box has been fully openend fully with no brakes. It's no different than gentrification or other enshitification practices that are currently happening during this seemingly final phase of sharehoarder capitalism. So you either adapt or you're out. I've been a creative all of my life basically and I can't see myself adapting to a regular factory type job or desk job, my brain is not ready to stop being curious or tinker with things. So it's a very cold cynical calculation that I have to be the best, fastest and still be affordable in a everevolving global market. Otherwise the alternative is just terrifying to me. Most customers and end users do not care so much about the process itself, they care about the results. In this social media driven digital junk food culture there is little romanticism left for the creative curiosity. It's mostly algorithmic slop self corrected to entrap our reptilian brains. While we don't target that kind of content in what we do, we really do treat every project with as much love and passion as possible, this sad reality does influence the market. Saddest part is that it's happening in every aspect of society, for example where corporations and venture capitalists see a thriving place that's starting to be filled with culture, shops and boutique restaurants, they just to come in and plant huge overpriced real estate developments that destroy the very thing that brought value to that area in the first place. It's mindlessly miopic and driven by short term profits (ironically by scamming other rich aholes into believing it's about long term) So people are forced to move and reinvigorate other places. I draw that parallel because it's the same thing that I feel it's happening to our agency's work, mainly music and graphic desing. We are "attacked" at both ends. So like those gentrified neighbourhoods we are forced to move to new places creatively and nourish another enviroment. While on one hand there's a race to the bottom, on the other hand it's a real opportunity to reinvent and learn from past mistakes. For example our graphic department collapsed because of the same reasons you specified in your video some 2 years ago, ironically just as AI has started to rise which was wild to see happen.... We never stood a chance on that front. So our core was left scrambling with no option but to do whatever is possible to keep the doors open, so to supplement the lack of personell and income we started to use AI to do mockups and moodboards, and as technology progressed to use the most advanced capabilities possible using custom local workflows in conjunction with every other traditional technique. Now we are leaner faster and more productive, while also having our creative dignity intact as we don't rely on AI, it's just a tool that gives us time, or gives us previously unimaginable possibilities. So basically what I'm trying to hint at is: If we used to record and compose and mix and master music in our studio, now we do that, but on top of it we also use AI for what is good and unique. If we used to produce imagery with photo shoots, 3d renders, digital painting, traditional sketching or moodboarding, now we do all of that BUT also use AI as well for faster ideation and for things that are impossible or really expensive or time consuming to create recreate. Basically if there is someone out there that can do what we can do traditionally we have an advantage. Vice versa someone that uses solely AI, we also have an advantage. At the end of the day I really care about the end result and it's intrinseic artistic value, so if AI can make it better I'm all for it. As for physical products it's the same. There is a workflow that I developed a couple of years ago that took everything into consideration. Hand drawn sketches, collage, 3d modelling, AI ideation intro 3d printed molds that resulted in really unique art pieces. It's the same strategy. If a new tool appears embrace as soon as possible and be on top of the technical development otherwise someone else will.

[@enamnoeki]

Thank you for being transparent.

[@MichaelWDriver]

no problem at all! I hope you found some benefit to watching my video! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@enamnoeki]

@MichaelWDriver Definitely.

[@lucythaxter6723]

Feels the same in film & tv industry. Im freelance and have been struggling to find work for the past year and a half. 😢

[@MichaelWDriver]

I have a few friends in film, and they have really felt the pinch!

[@MrJfergs]

While I am not an illustrator, I feel like I could have made this video about being a freelance web developer. It's really tough right now living in in high cost of living countries with the entire world competing for jobs / opportunities.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@MrJfergs 1000% the video is transferable to most industries really, I just work as an illustrator..

[@ANUBASS]

its the same with design, 3D and mograph, social media algorythms got cooked and even with 20x better skills and portfolio I find it 10x harder to find work than I did a few years back when my work and knowledge where trash

[@Mag_1418]

I work in a field and style similar to yours, Michael. This year has been really rough for me. I’m thankful to still be able to make a living out of this, but who knows for how long?… I am planning on working some more organic shapes, maybe even hand-drawn elements into my art. Looking forward to what you come up with.

[@MichaelWDriver]

thanks so much for the comment, im sorry to hear it's been a rough year for you! it cant stay rubbish forever! Pushing your work makes the most sense I think, it's time to go back to the lab and cook something new up, Im hearing from producer friends that clients have really enjoyed commissioning more physical work this year! (maybe becuase of AI?)

[@WishBear]

Let's not forget the hiring model has shifted even more so with remote becoming the norm, companies can now source great talent from anywhere in the world, with reduced rates. They could pay 1/3 what you charge Michael and that would still be good for them due to the currency difference. They have the same digital tools as everyone else.

[@MichaelWDriver]

yh I kind of hint at this with the 'you are in competition with the world' statement.

[@alyssarussell5416]

Just started my first year of freelance illustration as a children’s book illustrator. Your channel makes me feel comforted especially the part about how maybe it’s not always our fault or our style or the way we draw noses lol. Do you think you’ll do a 2024 wrap up despite the insanity of this year?

[@MichaelWDriver]

congratulations on joining the industry! I hope despite the turbulence you are finding work and enjoying making it! Some good news for you, the publishing industry is doing just fine, so you should be fine! I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I will indeed be doing a 2024 wrap up, there's lots of stuff to talk about, that I haven't spoken about on the channel just yet!

[@alyssarussell5416]

@@MichaelWDriver oooo looking forward to it! And yes first year has gone extremely well, now to figure out how I can replicate these 2024 results into 2025…I don’t know 😅 just going to throw things at the wall and see what sticks and if nothing does I can sleep well knowing I worked my ass off lol

[@MichaelWDriver]

it'll be a video worth sticking around for I can assure you of that! im glad it has gone well! Im very pleased for you! I had this conversation with my partner, in the past I've said 'I can work harder' but I cant work any harder than I am now, and that is actually quite nice, I'm giving it my all!

[@_k4ken]

All really great points :) would love to hear your thoughts more in depth in another video someday! I’m in the US and there is definitely tension around money ( amongst other things lol) during election season, but it never clicked to me that that translates to freelance work as well. Hoping and working towards a more vibrant future 🤞🏻

[@MichaelWDriver]

thanks so much fr the comment! Let me know if there is something specific you'd like me to cover! everything is so interconnected it's quite crazy! looking forward to brighter days, it cant stay terrible forever!

[@robobop3721]

i'm in the same boat and I even had a good year last year but I've decided to tap out. Early this year I was getting bargained down and I was just so over it. Also, its not just doing illustration, its doing all the other stuff around your business. And I was worried about my employability in other areas, for example I used to be a designer but it was so long ago and wages aren't good. How else can I make money? So I started working in an art organisation and also teaching uni, while studying to teach high school. This leaves me open to work on my own stuff also. However, it is the essential dilemma all of us creatives share - time vs money in oder to create!

[@MichaelWDriver]

sorry to hear about your struggles, it's a tough market at the moment, congrats on managing to find a place where you can teach! you are completely right in regards to money vs time, it seems like every creative is always trying to figure out that equation

[@davidcallow]

A very thoughtful and considered video. Excellent work Michael 🏆👌’It is not 2012 anymore’ - yes indeed

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@davidcallow thanks David! Glad you enjoyed it! Working on my next video now!

[@davidcallow]

@@MichaelWDriver mate, well done for getting through it whilst recovering from the flu too. That’s tough- kudos to you. And we look forward to the next one. You have an excellent way of bringing the big picture to a subject. You and I are both on the grind huh, I’m editing a video for Sunday, but then realised I need to finish another older video for next Sunday - and start filming a third video from tomorrow morning, documenting the next two weeks 🤯🤣 who knew this KZbin life requires so many memory cards 🪦 not quite sure how we stay in top of it all

[@na_haynes]

Art has always been more of a luxury. Also, visual media is abundant and cheap nowadays. On the bright side, if you're decent at drafting, figure drawing or you have a super creative method/perspective, you can get yourself a following and people will subscribe to your work. You probably won't be able to afford a car though.

[@MichaelWDriver]

this is why i'm interested in pivoting to fine art, in the uk the middle class is vanishing, it makes sense to gun for the richer folk who spend money on expensive art. you are completely right about visual media being abundant and there being a need for cheap media. I do have thoughts about social media challenging the old media model ( art artist previously was paid a portion of the ad spend to make the creative) I do wonder if an artist has distribution if they can take a larger portion of the pie. I do not own a ca but many of my illustrator friends do!

[@na_haynes]

@@MichaelWDriver I had same thought, ditch digital media for fine arts, as if AI and tech stuff has made traditional media more valuable. But I don't believe this is an easy pivot to make. There's an abundance of traditional media art out there too, distinguishing yourself is difficult. I make money from my art, but really not much, developing a brand and marketing myself is something I've struggled with. I'll help you if you try.

[@ArtByEmilyHare]

Yup, it's really really different. This is my worst year since 2017 and not sure if it will pick up. I'm not a freelancer (I was), but sell my own books and art but it has tanked so much this year. Very worrying indeed!

[@MichaelWDriver]

Sorry to hear you have been struggling too, its worrying isn't it, I guess it cant stay rubbish forever, there's a lot of market factors that are making it really hard and I hope they change so we can all prosper!

[@christinas-lookbook]

Thanks for the thoughtful video! I think there will always be parties that seek to devalue the work of creatives for greater financial gain, but I believe that art and creative expression will always hold intrinsic value in society. This is what allows us to surpass the limitations of regular life to explore eternally relevant concepts and find beauty and meaning on a higher level. And AI's not going to do that for us. Unfortunately, I can relate to wanting to support work I believe in but not being able to afford to due to ballooning housing and grocery costs. Hopefully meaning and beauty isn't something that only the rich will be able to afford in the future.

[@MichaelWDriver]

I could not agree with you more! Thanks for commenting!

[@CheerUp2]

Just a little comment. When looking at your thumbnail, its hard to read at first. The yellow part that says "sucks" is white on yellow, so it basically disappears. It also perfectly lines up with your blanket thats in the background that has a camouflage effect. So at first I saw your thumbnail and I saw "Why being an illustrator" and I was confused, "why what???" And then I looked over to the title and than I was like Ohhhh and then I zoomed in my webpage so I could read it better. Then I finally saw the sucks part in yellow. So I would suggest maybe making that text a darker color or using a different color highlight with better contrast ratio.

[@CheerUp2]

But yeah as an illustrator I've been laid off like 3 times since 2019 😭 So i've been shifting to work as a visual/brand/graphic designer recently. Even that is hard

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@CheerUp2 thanks so much for this note! I’m actually AB testing two thumbnails, if you are seeing the yellow one that’s because it’s performing better than a red alternative (funny I thought the red one would perform better) but I’ll keep this in mind for next time!!

[@mrstevemccarthyradio]

Everything you said is so spot on

[@MichaelWDriver]

Thanks Steve! its a big soup of lots of stuff which is all interconnected!

[@maisontangible]

Didn't know you were making videos on YT. Nice to see you here ✌

[@MichaelWDriver]

Thanks so much! I've been playing with it for a while! Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@maisontangible]

@@MichaelWDriver Yes I did. Now I have to watch all your older videos 👀

[@oiausdlkasuldhflaksjdhoiausydo]

You are the perfect guardian reader

[@MichaelWDriver]

I don't read the Guardian? I exclusively read the daily star!

[@oiausdlkasuldhflaksjdhoiausydo]

@@MichaelWDriver right opinions, right irony. Extremely proper. Well done and very well adjusted.

[@Weewoo12309]

Sound advice and perspective. Yes...money is also changing. The medium of money is becoming interwoven with the Internet. Now we have cryptocurrencies. The value of these work with 4 year business cycle pegged to the Bitcoin halving. People who want to make money should consider learning about this and think about throwing their hat in the ring.

[@MichaelWDriver]

Interesting! Im thinking about doing a video about crypto, I spent a short amount of time playing with NFT's on the Tezos block chain and I felt like I learnt a lot, particularly around, money, community, provenance and the need for physical events.

[@Weewoo12309]

@MichaelWDriver yes I delved into buying NFTs during the frothy period of the last cycle. There is no doubt in my mind that once the bull run arrives, this will have a knock-on effect with the NFTs market place. Given where we are in the current crypto cycle, an NFT gameplay might be worth keeping in mind 👌

[@MichaelWDriver]

@ always keeping my eye on the market and on its star players!

[@MrArtist1971]

Hey bro, your solution is illustrate your own books. I personally have made great money at that. Go for it bruh.

[@MichaelWDriver]

thanks for the heads up! I have a few ideas, and with me being a print maker it would be nice to print them myself!

[@trence5]

I keep trying to tell my family that now is NOT a good time.

[@MichaelWDriver]

I have taken a fully avoidant stance and try to avoid talking about work at the minute haha

[@Slumberprince]

I won't have a good read on it my art has value because the value of art has been so devalued by ai and company practices it would take an incredibly higher skill gain on my end to make any difference. I now only create for my own ip's shielding it from AI and honing my skill.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@Slumberprince that’s a really clever way to shield yourself from AI, I’d love to see some of your IP’s!

[@janrozanski]

great video!

[@MichaelWDriver]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate you taking the time out to watch the video and leave a comment! Have a lovely weekend!

[@altunafan]

I think the internet made it to easy to produce art, now there ara more artists than clients, too much offer too little demand, and its going to get worse

[@MichaelWDriver]

The barrier to industry has certainly got lower, You can buy an iPad and procreate for a few hundred pounds.you dont have to go to university, having said this it does still take a lot of willingness and talent to get on the radar of most clients.

[@na_haynes]

@@MichaelWDriver The barrier to entry is low, but you have to do it for a long, long time before it starts paying dividends.

[@fw4568]

Bro, everthing sucks right now.

[@MichaelWDriver]

thats kind of my point! Thanks so much for commenting! :)

[@VinylSkillz]

Im disappointed you didnt touch more on the effects AI has had on the art community...but right on!!

[@MichaelWDriver]

maybe this is because Im working on a whole god damn video about it! :)

[@GMMike]

"Is not your fault you can't get work and what you can do about it..." "Get a partial-job". 😅

[@MichaelWDriver]

it's a piece of practical advice haha

[@halaneverson4549]

and "create your own stuff"

[@VirideSoryuLangley]

More artists means more competition and lower wages, which is what you were complaining about just a minute earlier.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@VirideSoryuLangley yes I very much agree. What I meant about more artists, was that they come up with new ideas which is good for society because society needs new ideas and artists often sit on the periphery where they can make astute observations about society itself, I then point out that more artists will cause chaos in the jobs market. I have the capacity to hold two ideas that oppose each other

[@PokeFangOfficial]

ADAPT

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@PokeFangOfficial that’s all we can do

[@PokeFangOfficial]

@ It truly is, but that can be looked at with deflation or elation. I see this time as a massive opportunity to pivot and become an expert at something that’s still in early adoption. So that once it’s mainstream, we are more than equipped to create at scale and meet demand. No one is stopping us from making our own manual art out of passion, but if commercial art is how we get paid then we evolve that skill at the pace of the tools. 👍

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@PokeFangOfficial agreed! I personally am doubling down on KZbin (artists are still pretty underrepresented here) and spending more time making physical art, I have a bit of runway space financially (but not much) being nimble and good at pivoting is what is required to brave this storm

[@huntingfashiondolls3307]

People are consuming different things, and society is not taught anything about art, people don't visit galleries anymore like in the old days ,people are not impressed either. They need markrting to tell them what to consume and like, i can see that with social media bullshit, people who pay for views and traffic get noticed, you have to be creating silly videos and fast content to keep people engaged, real artist can't do everything and not all of us are whealthy or have all the time to invest everything in getting exposed. Besides, nowadays all we see is made in china cheap stuff made with cheap art and thats what people like because they DO NOT appreciate art. Books are not popular anymorr either, people dont like poetry, dont like to read short stories, so, illustrators are not hired to illustrate good books anymore. In a fb group of childrrn book illustrators i saw a bunch of losers with no skills for writting but a huge ego and money to throw away printing their s tu pid books with covers ilkustrated by themselves (no skill at all) ir even worst, Ai. Things have changed, nothing lasts forever.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@huntingfashiondolls3307 I agree with some of what you’ve said. people’s consumer habits have changed, large chunks of culture are ring fenced by monopolies, Spotify and Apple have a strong hold on music, Amazon has a strong hold on books and meta and TikTok have a stronghold on attention. All of these platforms require ‘artists’ to engage with their platforms in different ways taking time out of the creative process to play hard and fast with algorithms which enable ‘artists’ to receive visibility. These platforms don’t pay ‘artists’ or even publishers WELL, in comparison to previous modes of revenue generation. You are correct that consumers don’t care, people want culture thick and fast and they don’t care about who made it, how it was made and what it was made with, these tech monopolies are perfectly placed to service consumers, what these monopolies don’t do is prioritise creator revenue. But who would have thought that VC shortermism and techno solutionism would ever lead to race to the bottom economics or that it was even a good thing? A quick Google search shows that poetry had a HUGE year in 2023, museum visits (in the uk) were down 4% (but 12 million people still visited the major institutions), the uk book market is down by 0.8% (they still sold 116 million books). It’s not so much that consumers aren’t consuming the things you mention, it’s the way in which these things are being consumed that is part of the problem. I’m not quite sure what the answer to this problem is. I’ve seen suggestions of ‘artists’ disengaging from platforms, focusing on doing things in the real world but it’s hard to really understand how this works for illustrators like me… Until I’ve figured that out I’m going to continue to make work and post videos of me making the work where I talk about the amount of time I’ve spent making the work and the ideas I’ve had that lead me to that point.

[@DC9V]

Not many can claim they've worked for Apple.

[@MichaelWDriver]

I should probably not disclaim I have worked for them, they have tight NDA's, nobody has seen the work nor will I show anyone!

[@DC9V]

@@MichaelWDriver Oh, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I'm in the process of switching fields. Hearing about success motivates me.

[@commonwunder]

More artists making more 'corporate Memphis' art... is not a good thing. If corporate Memphis is all there is... then good riddance to it.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@commonwunder I suggested more artists were good because society needs new ideas and artists often sit on the periphery of society allowing them to make astute observations about society itself. This is not about styles, styles go in and out of fashion and corporate Memphis is truly on the way out, the market is moving towards more tangible less digital art. Whether you like an artist/style or not there will be people that do like it, that’s life, get on with it.

[@commonwunder]

​@@MichaelWDriver Corporate Memphis sucked all of the life out of illustration as an art form. It emulated, or became emblematic of what is always was.. wallpaper for the Capitalists. So they could hide behind it. Its job was to be innocuous. Conformity, made illustrators became inoffensive decorators. Purely decorative, ornamental practitioners. Art where you brain has to be switched off, in order to enjoy it. If you lived in the states, you'd be swallowed in-house by a design, animation studio or computer game company. Where the need for 'talent' never diminishes. It's only in the tiny pond of the UK, that was always small. The pinch can be so drastically felt. Good luck with adapting your corporate Memphis stylings... you were for a period, one of its key members. Funnily enough, you actually look like a corporate Memphis character yourself. I is said, we pick a breed of dog because it mirrors ourselves. Perhaps illustrators pick art styles that mirror their own soul?

[@commonwunder]

@@MichaelWDriver Corporate Memphis sucked all of the life out of illustration as an art form. It emulated, or became emblematic of what is always was.. wallpaper for the Capitalists. So they could hide behind it. Its job was to be innocuous. Conformity, made illustrators became inoffensive decorators. Purely decorative, ornamental practitioners. Art where you brain has to be switched off, in order to enjoy it. If you lived in the states, you'd be swallowed in-house by a design, animation studio or computer game company. Where the need for 'talent' never diminishes. It's only in the tiny pond of the UK, that was always small. The pinch can be so drastically felt. Good luck with adapting your corporate Memphis stylings... you were for a period, one of its key members. Funnily enough, you actually look like a corporate Memphis character yourself. It is said, we pick a breed of dog because it mirrors ourselves. Perhaps illustrators pick art styles that mirror their own soul?

[@MichaelWDriver]

​@@commonwunder thats your opinion and you are welcome to it but it doesn't mean its right or true. whilst I agree with the style largely being appropriated by Silicon Valley, I think the reason it largely exists is due to its appreciation of 50-60's illustration and the need to make vector work for ux and Ui design. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Illustration is an applied art form part of its application as a commodity is to be decorative, this is a an issue generally with illustrations perspective from those operating in the fine art space. My style is not Memphis, I do agree I look a bit like some of my work, I think im proving pretty credibly that my thoughts are not as flat as my work, I bid you good day x

[@seanfaherty]

I'm pretty sure people will get sick of the look of AI art. I could be wrong. Photography didn't kill painting, it changed it. AI will change it further.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@seanfaherty it’s a good point, I think with Ai, it’s definitely taken a small portion of the market (those sorts of jobs where a local business needs a logo etc). AI will never work in news media (I have friends who work at big newspapers) their concern is that using AI, in image production could help fuel conspiracy theories. There are a lot of brands that deal in the luxury market that will probably never use it because Ai isn’t a good fit, Ai is often seen as a cheap alternative to the real thing and I think it’s hard to sell products under the label of luxury whilst using art that feels cheap or is the same as everyone else’s Those are my thought! Thanks for the comment, I appreciate you taking the time out of your day! :)

[@seanfaherty]

@@MichaelWDriver I did see an art magazine with an AI image in an advertisement. I’m not against it in principle but in this application it was jarring - beautiful art throughout the whole book and then a jizzless bag of crap on the back cover.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@seanfaherty oh I can totally see why thats jarring!

[@saramations]

photography was a new medium. Generative AI is just a regurgitation tool that anyone has access too. I've seen people here on YT comments when discussing art pricing, "why pay an artist when you can generate it?" I don't think that was the case for photography vs illustration.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@saramations great point! This is why I talk about the NYT VS Open Ai court battle that’s happening about copywrite infringement

[@idkwayta1722]

Im sorry I have to disagree with the art school part, people don't need to go to art school and pay to learn art so I don't really care if many schools struggle maybe it is better if they scale down their operation. If anything it might positively affect the public by being more efficient. So I don't see why it will affect current illustrators negatively.

[@MichaelWDriver]

Thanks so much for your comment! I appreciate you taking time out of your day to write something! I think out of the 12 points I made, for you to disagree with one is pretty good. out of all the points, it's the one I considered not including In the video. you are correct that people do not need to go to art School, but a lot still do. I think maybe a better point is ( and I should of included in the video) access to industry has become much easier since the internet and the barrier for entry is now the price of a laptop or iPad and a subscription to photoshop or procreate! have a great Sunday! :)

[@mattheuslukas4258]

You're just yapping because you're lacking of skills necessary for your career.

[@MichaelWDriver]

@@mattheuslukas4258 I knew somebody would make this lazy and uninformed comment. I prove in the first minute that I’m a skilled worker that has a decade of experience. I’m also proving by moving into video production and print making that I understand that the industry is pivoting towards social media and physical art practices, you engaging with this video is proof that I am in some way doing a successful job