08-14-2015, 11:01 AM
(08-14-2015, 10:35 AM)Amit Dutta Wrote: I think the key point to realise is, that while gaining skills are such a large focus of self teaching, they aren't the actual reason for doing anything. They are a means to an end. The reason is something else, dependent on you, and I feel it is more important to be clear on that.
That.
That I think needs to be screamed from the top of a few mountains.
It's funny, I don't think I ever had much skill at art as a child, I /enjoyed/ it, it was always my go to thing if I wasn't reading, but I never showed any skill what so ever. My parents have always encouraged arts of all kinds - music, dance, writing, drama, art, I grew up being taken to art museums, theatres, the royal ballet and surrounded by books, and I always wanted to be an artist of some kind, but skills.. none at all.
I guess I feel like I'm starting a step behind and need to play catch up, I want to work professionally, I need to get to the point I can earn some money, but I don't want to leap in without feeling secure in my abilities.
I keep hearing that you go professional because people start wanting to hire you, did you set out with a time frame in mind - a point at which you had to start working/ go freelance, and things fell into place, or did things just happen? I'm wondering if having a time frame is a good or bad idea.
Sorry for thread jacking Zearth, it's just got me curious - it seems to me the people who have gone professional quickly are the ones who already had a lot of skill in art and just needed extra polish, and it doesn't seem to make that much difference if it's via an art school or self taught.