I love to draw, from messy scribbles on the margins of my notebook to hours spent hunched over my desk with the fumes of my Copic markers filling the room. I love drawing enough to practice every single day, and I have drawers filled to the brim with notebooks and paper that can attest to this.
I’ve considered working towards a career in the art industry, but there are a lot of factors that leave me doubtful. Not only is art school expensive and rigorous, but I also genuinely don’t think that I’m skilled enough yet to make it into one, let alone bear the work load. It’s also really difficult to make a living as an artist, a sad truth that has only worsened with the state of our economy. But art holds such a big place in my heart that I want to keep at it. It makes me happy, and for that reason, I continue to give it a predominant part of my attention.
Sadly, there are people who give up their true passions because either they feel academics are more important, or their parents are encouraging them to focus their efforts towards school. Academics and education are important, I understand that. But if you truly, deeply love something, pursue it. If you enjoy composing or playing music, play. If you want to write fantastic stories of adventures and romance, write, write, write. Whether or not it makes you money in the future doesn’t matter. It’s your own personal reward. And your efforts do pay off, maybe not in material form, but definitely in pride and self-achievement.
Marthe Troly-Curtin explains it pretty well: “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted.”
Do what you love because you love it. If your efforts went into honing a certain special talent or passion, then you shouldn’t regret the amount of time spent on it. For me, when I sketch on the backs of old worksheets or handouts, I tell myself, “A paper that was used for art was not a paper wasted.” I know I’ll be much more content with myself if I did the things that make me happy, and I won’t spend the rest of my life wondering what could have been if I chose to pursue my personal interests instead of what I “should” have focused on.
This post is my favorite of all your quotes and shows that a person doesn't have to be a chemical engineer making a lot of money to be happy. We have the capability to do whatever job we want and it shouldn't be decided by how much capital one gives over the other.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, very descriptive! I could imagine your room and clouds being created from the markers with every touch of the paper. And I do believe you should pursue that career! The higher you stride the more successful you will be. Setting high expectations give more reason and more motivation to make you try harder and just go and DO IT! I am pretty sure so many talented individuals in the world put their talent to waste because they did not go and pursue the career when they should have. And now they are probably sitting in a retirement home full of regrets. Depressing yes but with loss of drive, what is there to even try for?
ReplyDeleteSomething I can connect with on all levels, art. All I can say is never give up on something you truly love. Something that undoubtedly brings a genuine smile to your face. Everyone doubts their ability to do something because it is natural to strive for perfection. But you should never get yourself down, it's simply all the more reason to push through, practice, and get better. The mere passion for art alone is a gift. As you might agree there is nothing more rapturous than the appreciation of an enigmatic aesthetic piece. And to be able to create your own is pure bliss. So my advice to you, don't ever stop creating :)
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