The Art of Jes

Anonymous asked: What’s your take on entering the art industry? How much did you have to work for in order to battle the common notion of a “starving artist” because it definitely is a very competitive field to go into. I’m thinking of transferring schools and going into an art/design school..I would just like some experienced artist’s perspective on the thought of passion vs. career. Thanks.

samspratt:

The most important moment, is the moment you leave college. What you take with you and even more: what you leave behind, will make or break your future career. I had an amazing time in college. I worked hard, but spent every second I wasn’t learning and making art, partying, drinking, and messing around. When I left school, the question was posed: Don’t worry about what you’re willing to DO to succeed just yet, what are you willing to give up?

For me, it was almost everything. For my first 6-8 months out of college, I didn’t party, I didn’t waste time with friends, I tossed aside my relationships, I didn’t waste time on blogs (well, other than Gizmodo which I worked for), I didn’t drink, I spent the bare-minimum, and in the wake of everything I gave up, I spent 12-18 hours, every single day, weekends included, working on artwork, trying to get better, trying to reach more people, and learning every step of the way. It was a sacrifice. It was giving up a lot of the simple pleasures in life everyone tells you that you “should do while you’re young”. Those 6-8 months were my running start that enabled the fairly stellar life I now have. That’s not for everyone, some people would say that the things I put aside were the more important things—I think that’s valid, but I chose my career over everything else because for me, once you leave college, the excuse of doing shit because you’re young loses its validity. I don’t regret it one bit. Now, a year and 8 months out of school: I am doing what I love more than anything in the world, I get paid silly amounts of money for it, and I now have all those freedoms I gave up for just 6-8 months without any of the restraints and consequences from not having a job as well as none of mental/emotional toll from doing something for a living that I don’t want to be doing. I still work a ton, that should never stop when your work is what you love, but it’s with the future in mind—not for some survival day-by-day/carpe diem nonsense. 

Basically, I don’t think it has to be passion vs. career. I believe that if you put yourself—your time and your effort—into your passion, then YOU can make that your career. But just as I was asked when I got out of school: What are you willing to give up to make that happen?