Do People Around You Take Your Job As an Artist Seriously?

[69Michi]

A sort of rant but also I'm curious about other creator's experience.

To keep it short, people around me don't seem to take digital artists for a "real" job/exercise. No matter if I was working on my commission or my comic, at the end of the day I'm always seemed to be "playing around on my computer" or "doing nothing" to them. I got used to it but I'm still sick and tired of hearing my sister says "What have you done today? Nothing, as usual." despite the fact I spent the entire day off of work/school drawing, trying to finish up my commission or catching up with the next update's deadline.

So what about you? Have you been in the similar situation? Do people around you actually understand that artist do put time and effort into their art be it for the money or just purely out of hobby?

[6ooey]

I get this all the time with my mom. I dont have an actual desk in my room so I use my laptop in the living room. She would then complain that all i've done is sit on the comp all day "playing games" OTL Literally been a bit restless cause I've been trying to finish my comic update n sleeping so late but she scolds me when i wake up so late cause im "doing hardcore gaming"

It's a different story when I do traditional art though... my mom literally doesn't mind if im doing all nigthers as long as im painting Oz---<

[miseryhunting]

Actually, I think it's admirable, the dedication artists like you have for their work (I love Rebirth btw!) and being abl;e to stay on top of commissions too!
My experience is a little embarrassing to be honest. I'm usually very private with my art around my family and friends, but they seem to be suffering from the delusion that I'm the next "big thing" and like, publish a graphic novel, become international sensation, etc I'm glad they're not negative though

[69Michi]

@6ooey I feel you! I don't even play game that much anymore and most of my time spend on computer are used to draw or watch video (as I draw), or browse website (AS I DRAW, I tend to multitask a lot). Sometimes I take a break from drawing to play a mini game or something, and guess what my family would say? "What? You were working on your art project? BUT YOU WERE JUST PLAYING GAME." when I literally only spent like 10 minutes on a short game match before going back to drawing since I didn't want to make myself burnt out...

I guess when you do traditional art, there is no other thing people could associate you would be doing beside drawing, unlike when you draw on a computer. When people think of computer, they often think of gaming rather than drawing :/

@miseryhunting Aw thank you for the kind words! I really love working on my comic and getting a reaction out of my readers with every update is my joy and motivation : D That is really great of your family though! LMFAO At least they are super positive about your hobby, though I can imagine the awkwardness rising... I would never think of myself as the next "big thing" haha

[LCT_m_a_d]

I work full-time as a software engineer. I enjoy the job. However, I've devoted a lot of my leisure hours, vacation time, and weekend hours to researching references, writing scripts, developing roadmaps, meditating on my creative growth, and ultimately producing all of my artwork 100% independently. Most people (including some of my artist friends) who know me are self assured that this is just a phase.

Honestly though, I don't take it personally. It's scary for most people to trust their gut. Instant gratification isn't the endgoal, but it's today's impression of success. Sure, I would like to think I created something very special for the whole world to enjoy. It would be nice if I had a sizable support cast around me while I'm in the thick of things, but it's my lone responsibility to maintain the vision. It's up to each person to just embrace or deny whatever beautify comes out in the end.

[6ooey]

Yea, I only binge play when I finish w/e I need to do for that week and it's usually not for long cause I end up drawing just personal stuff anyways. Multitasking is such a great thing. I tend to watch a lot of documentaries when I work on w/e I need to do or leave the tv on. I've been accustomed to have some audio in the background to be more productive. x)
It's kinda annoying cause my brother does the same exact thing but my mom doesn't scold him for it x__x

I just with that people would learn how to just jump the gun and assume (especially parents) and actually acknowledge and trust them on what the person is saying.

[Kura]

Depends on the person, as I've run into all kinds of opinions.

Some people think I'm doing nothing all day, and I'm a useless cripple just taking up space in my parent's house.

Others tell me I need to stop working so much on drawing because I'm putting more time and work in commissions and comics than they are their full time jobs, and I'm the handicapped one that can't work, I also don't make enough off art to justify the time spent on it.

The middle ground are people really supportive of me having the dedication to work so hard on something like this despite my health issues.

As for my job as an artist, when I'm getting introduced, people tend to take it much more seriously when they don't know my area of art is 'comics' when I say artists they immediately assume someone in fine arts and are impressed, when I tell them that I work on comics it turns to... 'oh... my kid loves drawing the comic and animes too!'

[carloswebcomic]

Yup. Drawing is not a real job unless it gives you enough money to support you and your family. If you're doing commissions, the best you're going to get is people thinking it's an advanced hobby.
Gotta put bread on the table. If it doesn't, then it's not a real job. That's just the way the world works.

[69Michi]

@DaikotoDwolv I work part time as an Assistant Web Designer and full time college students, most of my free time are dedicated to my art hobby. For the longest time I just drew to satisfy myself and not making any money off of it. Then I took on commission work and that was when I thought "Finally I have a reason to tell my family why I spend so much time drawing on a computer", which I honestly dislike... I want art to stay as my hobby, and I want people to understand that it takes as much time and effort as any other hobby the next person to me could have. I really don't want "money" to identify my hobby, it's great to make money off of it, but I don't want to force myself going down the hard way of depending on art as my sole income. It's why I take software development and work as a web designer.

@6ooey Multitask is my habit now and sometimes I wish I can focus more on my art instead of easily getting distracted by a video haha //

@kurapikasuki Most of my friends understand that I take art seriously, but sadly not my parents :/ And wah people around me actually take an interest in me when they found out I draw anime stuffs, they actually think it's cool and shet LMFAO and don't get me started on "Please draw me as an anime character"

@carloswebcomic Yeah I get that a lot and I sort of understand it. It was actually the reason why I used to try hard to get my commission work rolling because I would finally have a legit reason to spend time drawing. But honestly I hate that. I just wish people take my hobby as an artist seriously. I mean I do have other job that keep my income coming and art is just a side hobby where I earn some extra money. But "drawing" is still not equal "doing nothing". It's tired to hear my family complains I should find something more productive to do with my free time... :T

[60Six]

It wasn't really until I was actually working at a pretty successful job with the actual title of "Concept Artist" that I think I was taken seriously by parents. My mom is supportive, don't get me wrong, but my dad would have much preferred if I just went to an ordinary school and got a more ordinary job.
But now that I'm at another job where I'm not actually drawing, but is still a position that they look for ARTISTS for, my dad kind of feels like "Oh that's all?" about everything I show him that gets published. :'D I basically work on trailers for some big games and my job is to basically be the camera man of the game which really is an art all itself. Buuuut it's not concept art or 3D modeling like I went to school for and previously had a job in, so suddenly this thing he PROBABLY would have respected me more for prior is just the "oh, that's all you're doing?" job. :'D

I don't really attempt to make a living off my actual comic and even refer to it as a hobby, but I've gotten surprising praise from my step-dad (who's MUCH more critical of my career choices) for making a bit of money off of it. I'm not making bank, but he's surprisingly...pleased (?) that my hobby of making comics is something I actually profit off of rather than lose money on, like a lot of hobbies tend to do.

[69Michi]

@Riko Yeah, pretty much you gotta make money off of art to be called doing "something" :/ I mean I'm not even trying to say it's productive, but the fact that people don't consider that the time you spend on art as doing something just gets on my nerve really bad... When I told my mom that I make money off of commission work, she actually said "that is so little", and if I try my hardest at commission and making adoptable, I actually earn more than I used to earn back when I work as a hostess in a Japanese restaurant. But she was still not happy about it. LMFAO

I don't want to force myself living off of my art, it makes art into a burden to me and something I HAVE to do, not just because I want to do it. It's why I didn't pursue an art major when I started college haha

[TomSawyer]

While it may not be financially beneficial. calling it nothing seems quite inaccurate
If it's something that you enjoy. Then isn't that something to be of value

I especially find it humorous considering loads of other hobbies can be considered nothing
What about watching sports? going to a movie? playing at a amusement park?

More so when you are earning money from your commissions

[60Six]

I don't want to force myself living off of my art, it makes art into a burden to me and something I HAVE to do, not just because I want to do it. It's why I didn't pursue an art major when I started college haha

See that's actually why I DID go into an art major. Because I wanted to do something I love doing for a living. Sure, at my last job, I was doing concept art for what was basically a Barbie knock off, but gosh darn if I didn't have fun concepting and painting those Ballerina Princess Barbie knock offs. :'D And at the end of the day, I got to go home and work on my own stuff at my own leisure. It was pretty idealistic for myself but I can see how it could easily burn out other people. Kinda like how I hear a lot of people in the game industry don't end up playing a ton of games, because that's what they were working on all day at work (Though the people in my office certainly game lol).

As for "if it's not making money, it's a waste of time" mentality, that's always bugged me too. My mom, as supportive as she is, has gotten frustrated at me staying home and drawing instead of going out and...I doint don't even know what? There wasn't even anything to do where I lived when I was living with her lmao. Like geeze, at least I'm doing something creative and productive. Would you rather me sit and draw all day and practice the craft I went to school for or sit on my ass and play video games? Because I'm only doing one or the other when literally none of my friends live around me and its 110 degrees outside.

Aahh the joys of living on my own now. :'D Or at least with my house mates who couldn't care less if I never left my room.

[J.Z.Castillo]

I get this all the time. I'm a freelance illustrator so I have the option of working remotely most of the time so I don't have to leave my house. There's times when I don't leave my house for weeks just because I simply don't have to. To my parents I don't do anything and my brothers tease me (in a joking way unlike my parents) about my working habits. I don't really blame them, though. To someone who is not in the business or trying to get in it looks like I don't do anything, but in reality I am working on many projects at the same time.

I don't mind it because at the end of the day it's MY hustle and I have got no time to explain to people how I live my life. I just smile and nod... and make a mental note to get them really shitty Christmas/birthday gifts.

[demthorshie]

It's split down the middle for me. Those in my immediate family take my career seriously. I'm a freelance illustrator full time and they've watched me fully able to sustain myself for a many years now. Friends and acquaintances don't really take my work seriously. I'm known for taking my work on the road with me (during vacations, getaways etc.) since I do all of my work from home. I personally don't care what people think of my job, it's proven to be a very steady occupation for me and I can't really imagine going back to a 9 to 5 job now because of it.

[Wolven_Sister]

Over the past few months, things have gotten easier for me. it used to be only my dad and husband supported my art dreams. But since I've gotten published, hearing feedback from supporters who've purchased my comics, invited to do art for other comic and film projects--people are starting to take it seriously. I still work freelance, so I don't make enough to pay the bills and as an independent comic artist you barely make enough back in royalties unless you're signed with Marvel or DC. However, the money I have made has started paying for my art supplies, convention fees, and other provisions such as prints, copies of my comics, etc...

And now that I'm getting more experience under my belt, there are few people that are starting to come around when they didn't before. When I worked as a housekeeper my co-workers were confused about my art job and some didn't consider it a real job. They tried telling me I should get pregs, have kids, and focus on work for them but aside from that things have gotten easier.

There are days I still doubt myself. I watch my husband come home from work exhausted, paying for the roof over our heads while I'm still just barely paying back for my art supplies with the funds I make and I feel bad. My stamina from drawing all day makes me exhausted and I feel bad because I've been told all my life "oh you did nothing but draw all day" so I feel guilty when I'm tired from making artwork. I can say having someone who legitimately supports you in your dreams helps a lot. I can say without my husbands undying support and reassurances I wouldn't have gotten this far in the first place.

[mariusthered]

just a sec.... :laughing i can answer when im not

even before i went self employed people around me never considered my art seriously . and now I am self employed they seem to think I have all the time in the world to stop my life and do jobs and favors for them . Iv'e given up trying to explain how hard finding art commissions is .

[69Michi]

@TomSawyer I know my sister draw traditionally, and her work and time spent in drawing got taken seriously by people. But not me who works on thing digitally. Apparently sitting in front of a computer all day automatically means you are just fooling around, playing game and not getting any productive thing done.

@Riko It's an ideal thing to make money off of what you are doing honestly! I think that I mean more is that as much as I like taking commission to earn extra money, I actually... don't like doing commission. I like to draw what I want without people telling me what to do, it's why I love making design/adoptable and sell them on DA because that field gives me a lot more freedom with what I can and want to draw. Honestly speaking I wouldn't really mind if making comic becomes my fulltime job if I earn a good enough income, but as of right now I still think of art as my hobby.

Oh yes I feel you. I moved to the US to study abroad ever since I was 15, so ah, the joy of living away from your parents LMFAO

@mrjonzap OMG I rarely leave the house, well except when I go to work 3 days a week or go to school (which reminds me school is about to start soon gosh) My friends actually want me to hang out with me all the time, but honestly speaking I don't really like hanging out that much. I feel like I would be wasting my time and that time could be better spent making more art LMFAO

@demthorshie If you can somehow pull comic off as a stable income job, that is wonderful! To spend the day doing what you love, drawing what you want, telling the kind of story that you like, it sounds like a dream come true haha //

@Wolven_Sister You have a wonderful and supportive husband! I'm really glad for you. It's great to have someone that understands and is supportive of your dream and willing to take on the burden to keep you happy <3

@aronthemason OMG I hate that so much hahaha. Some irl people expect me to do thing for them for free, when I say no can't do, they expect me to give them a discount or complain how high my price is. I'm really tired of people that think art is a just a piece of cake and you don't need to put time and effort into doing it. Next time someone asks me to draw something for free, I'm gonna give them a large canvas with a big NO on there.

[Shanny8]

My whole ordeal is weird. While fam knows I'm trying to do this for extra money, they also at times act like I'm not doing anything. I had one fam member volunteered me up for finding some auto parts for another fam member- without running this by me first, and I'm looking at dude like he was crazy. There were other people that he could went to- but my name dropped out his mouth. Same fam member calls me up, bellyaching about how I dont call or come over & hangout anymore- and I'm like "I'm working on a project". Dude basically doesnt work; I work a FT gig AND I draw comics in my spare time, trying to make more money- I dont have time to sit around doing nothing...and when I do it's usually me trying to get some sleep, rest my body, or engage in something I want to do.

[AnnaLandin]

Yes, they do. My family has always taken my art seriously, and continued to do so once I switched over to mainly work digitally. The fact that I am a fulltime freelancing illustrator and artist definitely helps - art is very literally my job, not just something I do in my spare time - but they took it seriously even before that, and have always been supportive.

There are a few people who don't take it as seriously - my grandpa seems to think that it's not a real job, and keeps asking if I'm still unemployed - but overall, I've been pretty lucky in having a supportive and encouraging family.