Loading ...A rant on dreams…
A thought occurred to me at work on Friday. When I was a kid I was always the “artistic one.” I always enjoyed drawing, to the point where some of my earliest memories are of showing my mother things I had drawn. Adults often fawned over how talented I was.
But when they asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” like adults inevitably ask all children. They’d balk when I responded that I wanted to be an artist (I didn’t decide on comics specifically until I was 13 or so). ”Very few people are able to make it as professional artists” or “artists don’t make any money” was nearly always the response. I heard it my entire life, from parents, teachers, and various other authority figures. The message was pretty clear, my dream was unattainable and I should find a different one.
Do they tell this to kids with other difficult to obtain dreams? Such as the kid who wants to be a musician, or a professional athlete, or a movie star? Becoming a doctor or a scientist is hard, what about that kid? What about the kid who wants to be a spaceman or a robot? Why is it usually only the artistic kids who get the pessimistic reactions from adults? Shoot for the moon little Billy, unless you want to be an artist.
I was reminded of this very strongly at one of the webcomics panels at Katsucon, a girl who looked to be in her teens (and happened to be there with an older man who I presume was her father) asked about what to do when people tell you you’ll never make any money at drawing comics. One of the panellists told her just to be prepared to keep hearing that. I don’t remember which panelist is was, so I’m not sure how financially successful he was, but apparently even when you’re successful enough to be invited to a place like Katsucon as a guest you’ll still “never make any money at it.”
I think this is bullshit. True, most artists don’t become fabulously wealthy but most people in general don’t. And there are plenty of people who do art professionally in some capacity. I think it’s morally wrong to tell anyone, especially a child, that their dreams are less good than anyone elses. I don’t really have any children in my life, except for Jawa’s daughter and she’s too young to have formed any life goals yet. But if you do: encourage them to follow their dreams, whatever they happen to be, even if it’s a difficult goal or seems impossible to you, and if anyone ever tells them different you should call that person out on it. Yes, even if the kid in question wants to be a robot.
My name is Kytri and I want to be an artist when I grow up.
February 22nd, 2009 at 5:58 pm
<3
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Kytri, I can TOTALLY relate to this. My mother STILL tells me I can’t make money with art.
To me, its never been about the money. I love making Art. I’ve been doing it since I was 5 (though my father insists it was 4) It was always about expressing myself and telling stories.
If someone wants to pay me to do this…that’s a bonus
Graphic Design can pay the bills…but my comics get me from day to day
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:51 am
I got that from my father when I said I wanted to write. He kinda changed his tune when Mom made him say that I could be anyone I want.
However, the sad thing is that he’s right. When I said I wanted to go to Japan he said “No you don’t” and lo and behold two years later, I didn’t wanto to go there. Also, it stuck with me that yes, my stuff will never be the next Harry Potter or Twilight (which I’m incredibly happy for), and so I’ll hardly get any money unless I write gay smut or whatever. That’s why I always wanted to say that I’d just get married and live off my husband’s money.
And yet now that my dad wants me to pursue my writing dream, he keeps “gently” nudging me in the direction of my original fiction so I can get it published. Man, writing is pretty hard work when you’re actually working D=
May we both end up achieving what we dream for, is what I’m saying, I guess?
February 25th, 2009 at 2:28 am
David and mookie both said It, and when you write sheldon and you still get told that .you really can expect it forever. I can only imagine how bad it must have been for Jim Davis. Besides dearest kytri we the house have spoken we believe in you !
February 25th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Same here about being a musician, game designer, artist, professional crocodile wrangler…
March 5th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
I love this blog. I was always told I would never make it as a writer, too. Its still art, just not the kind you do. “Do you know how hard it is to become a finacially stable novelist? I think you should get a teaching degree and stick with that.” Its crushing. . . .
March 25th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
CAN IS BE ROBOT?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:21 am
hahaha this reminds me so much with what I grew up with. In fact I had to hide the fact I was drawing from my dad or he’d get angry at me. I wasn’t allowed to talk about arts or anything not even when I had to choose a college. I forced to tailor all my studies to pure academics, AP tests.
Infact, anytime I had friends over he’d always ask where they were going for college and most of them were heading out to uc berkely/davis/irvine UCLA. He’d do it just to show me his dissapointment . coming from a family who expects you to become a doctor,lawyer, engineer (like my sister) was even worse.
He was literally the one thing holding me back from looking into art schools. I couldn’t even mention it. My dad had some serious control issues. I had a lot resentment and anger towards him during that time.
Eventually I won out thanks to my mom and complete stubborness. but I guess to anyone who is going to be future parent should keep in mind to have some support for their kids in whatever they want pursue. They’ll hate you less. You’ll grow old with kids who can relate with you.
and for anyone is being held back by their parents or whatever, just keep going.sometimes not giving a shit will come in handy when you’re deciding what you want to make your living out of. A friend of mine was forced to go into accounting at penn state because her family pressured her into it. she hates it. She hates it alot. Don’t give in.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Kytri, that was a wonderful rant. You speak from the heart, and worded it so nicely.
Why do parents hold back their children? They A) want their children to succeed where they failed; B) think they are protecting their children by making them go to the failsafe plan; or C) some combination of A and B. They think they are helping them by restricting them and both end up suffering because of it.
Don’t let anyone restrict your dreams; know what makes you happy and try to build a life around that.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:25 am
I’m an artistic type, and I’ve only recently gotten into TF2 (making do with guest-passes and free weekends till I get my grubby paws on the actual game
) and I want to be independent when I grow up.
I’m used to my parents not having any faith in my dreams, but it was really kind of depressing to hear my best FRIENDS tell me that they have no faith in my dream to become a tracker. :\
Right now, I’m saving up money for courses. I’ll show ‘em yet. D<
August 21st, 2009 at 1:46 am
I’ve dreamed to be an artist when i was young, among other dreams (like being a botanic, a medic or a dancer). I was told by many people that artists don’t make money and usually end up as caricaturists on streets, if they are not genious. I was not sure in my capabilities, and my practical part told me to search for other qualities in me. And I never liked competing with others – a quality that is nesessary in our art schools. I rarely draw, and when i do, I don’t know what will be the result, I never have a complete picture of it in my head. So I draw my current emotional state, so to speak. And I usually do it when I feel uneasy. And I can’t even think of drawing something for sale.
I wish you luck, Kytri. You have talent, you merely lack that which can be taught in art schools – proportions, correct strokes, balance of light and shadow. That is just technique. It can be taught. And the most important thing you already got in you.
February 10th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
100 props. My sister is focused on her art as well, and it annoys me a lot whenever I so much as hear a hint from an adult that she should not pursue art as a serious profession. I agree with your advice completely, keep on being awesome!
February 22nd, 2010 at 11:40 pm
*totally unrealted to post*
WOW.
i have laughed more reading your posts than anywhere else on the internet
(‘Cept TF2 Steam Forums. those people made me hyper ventilate)
But You are one of the most dedicated artist/adventurer/awesome person I have seen that pursued any kind of career and I beileive in you 100%!
[Insert Witty Comment Here]
March 18th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
We had a job day thing at my school a little while back, I told my teacher i was going to be an artist and he was all like, “Most kids dont stick with that kinda job, and you wont make much of of that.” I was like Pffft. We can show them Kytri. Nice rant to. Very heart felt.