I need art friends! =)x

[smceccarelli]

Hi Lisa! Welcome to the forum and happy to consider myself your art friend! You made me laugh already with your puns
I am 45.9 and I decided to move into illustration at 39. And now, 6 years after that decision I actually work as illustrator practically full time. So let me tell you two hard truths that apparently nobody has ever bothered to share with you: a) it´s never too late and b) you can make it at anything if you put in the work needed. Everybody who says the contrary is just a shameful champion of the „fixed mentality“ - i.e. the kind of people that put Galileo on trial.
I`ve read „The Emperor of All Maladies“ (I was a research scientist in Pharma in my previous life) and consider it one of the best books of all time - that quote made me smile too. Maybe you should read (if you haven’t already) „The subtle art of not giving a f@§k“, by Marc Manson: it also spends a whole chapter on the realization of mortality and its consequence on the way we live.

[Kevin Longueil]

@burvantill Welcome to the forum!

[burvantill]

@sarah-luann yes!

[burvantill]

@lenwen Thankyou for the welcome!
I am looking forward to interacting with everyone. I feel like a beginner again with everything I’ve been learning the last couple months even though I’ve been “arting” my whole life.

[burvantill]

@kevin-longueil Thanx!
I love your Wizard of Oz illustrations. Was that a job or a personal project?

[burvantill]

@smceccarelli Thank you for the warm welcome. It’s funny, when I listened to the 3 point perspective podcast “am I too old to get started” and the guys kept using examples of people in their mid 30s I would just bust up laughing and think, you have no idea.
Thanx for the book recommendation. I will have to get the audiobook. I consider myself an avid reader right up until 4 months ago when I made the decision to stop wasting my time. I look back on my life and it makes me ill, all the time I’ve spent on mindless entertainment when I could have been working towards my dreams. I’ve made a lot of progress in a short time and yet I know I still have so far to go. I’m glad I found SVS. Now I won’t be alone.
PS I love your sock dinosaurs painting.

[burvantill]

@kat Thankyou

[Kevin Longueil]

@burvantill Thank you Lisa - it is a personal project that i have nearly finished (i am actually currently struggling with trying to let it be finished instead of reworking everything I just checked out your website - some very nice work there! - my favorite piece is "Two for Mirth"

[TessaW]

Welcome Lisa! Glad to have you here on the forums. I'll be your art friend.

[Whoopidoo]

Hi Lisa, I was told the same by my high school teacher and so left school at 15. Now at 41 I'm taking my BA in illustration & animation while mentally doing a two fingered jig at my old teacher! I'm a bit of a lurker on the forums but determined to change that

[burvantill]

@tessaw Yay! Thanx!

[TwiggyT]

Welcome, Lisa! You have come to the right place!

I approve of your art dream and your sarcasm. I'm never sarcastic /sarcasm

I'm sorry to hear that your professor squashed your dreams, but it's really great that you're pursuing illustration. Better late(r) than never!

This is a great place to get critique and learn, so I'm sure you'll find lots of assistance, advice, and encouragement on your journey while you're here.

[burvantill]

@whoopidoo You are very brave. Most people wouldn't start college at 40. Well done!

[burvantill]

@twiggyt Thank you! Actually it was a visiting illustrator in a graphic design class. He was like a rock star in our naive eyes, so when he said that, a lot of us were shell shocked. I wish I could remember his name so that I don't accidentally follow him. LOL!

[TwiggyT]

@burvantill Ugh, what a jerk! I think it's terrible when professors say students aren't going to succeed...it's devastating to students. It would be more prudent to just let each student know what they need to address to ensure their success, then if the student addresses it, fine. If they don't, that's on them. But don't just haphazardly crush dreams like that. Sheesh.

Sorry, got on my soapbox there. I had an animation professor and he didn't tell people they'd never make it, but he definitely played favorites and it was really obvious (and discouraging to those that weren't one of the chosen).

[burvantill]

@twiggyt I hear ya sister!

[Miriam]

@burvantill I don't think reading is a waste of time. As Jake Parker says, we need to fill the creative bank account. But I agree, audiobooks are great! You might want to try checking your public library. Mine has audiobooks and I can even get them straight off their website, so I don't even have to pick them up or return them!

[burvantill]

@miriam hi! I don’t think it’s a waste of time either. I love to read, too much, I just have a top priority goal now, so if I’m doing something other than art I feel like I’m letting opportunity pass. I have never been ambitious in the past, but I think I have finally caught the bug.
What type of books do you like? I’m a sci fi fantasy girl. With a bit of suspense thriller thrown in. Maybe one non fiction every other year or so. Lol

[Eli]

@burvantill I read your posts and I'm like "get out of my head! Ha Ha! I am at such a similar place right now--starting late and really prioritizing art and unfulfilled dreams/goals. I have also spent a TON of time reading and while I will never regret it (totally agree with @Miriam that it fills the creative bank account), I've resolved to spend way less time reading and focus as much as possible on the art (maybe get back to writing also). And another sci fi fantasy girl here!

[Miriam]

@burvantill & @Eli Yes, it seems like things often come down to balance. You are right that it's important to prioritize and be willing to sacrifice for what you really want!

That's great that you have found the motivation that you need. You might want to write down how you feel and why it's important to you, so you can pull it out and read it if ever need a motivation re-charge.

I used to really enjoy Dystopian novels (Hunger Games, Maze Runner, etc.), but not so much after my health declined (I have a chronic illness). I've always liked lighter fantasy as well (Harry Potter, Inkheart), so I've been sticking with more of that in the last few years. One of my favorite genres is retold fairytales (like the movie, Ever After). Have either of you read the Lunar Chronicles, by Marissa Meyer? That series is one of my favorites! It's set in a sci-fi type future, and based on several classic fairytales. The first book is called Cinder.