The Response: Ambition

THE RESPONSE

AMBITION

Makeda

Joseph

“Establishing a career in the arts is extremely difficult.

Most people who enter the field are not successful.”

WE’VE ALL HEARD IT BEFORE. A moment in which you heard this just popped into your head, didn’t it? So why continue? If you’re not guaranteed success, then there must be no reason to work at it...Right?

WHAT’S THE POINT? Maybe we continue to pursue art in the hopes that we’re recognized and

rewarded for our hard work and talents.

BUT WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT? The chapter on an

artist’s “Ambition” mentions that this

“Protestant” way of thinking as being

gifted with earthly

rewards; Rewards one can only gain from living virtuously.

WE DRAW BECAUSE IT’S WHAT WE’RE GOOD AT. So if we think that if we’re good at something we should be probably be

paid money for it, right? But there

aren’t many artists that live solely

off drawing. If you really wanted, you probably could though.

There are fields that offer a few more opportunities than fine arts, like

graphic design, but the work produced is often seen as commercial. That, and with modern advances in typography and simple vector images, actually illustrators and aren’t paid as much and aren’t needed.

WITH ALL THE POSSIBILITIES OF FAILURE IT’S HARD TO SEE WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE.

That isn’t to say

there’s absolutely no way to work as an illustrator.

You’d just have to be really

good. Even then, you’d have to be

determined to get your work seen

by more than your

friends and family.

As I grew and life changed, drawing has always been the one constant thing.

It’s ambition. It’s hard work. It’s a lust and desire for success. I draw almost everyday if I can, and even like half the stuff.

...AND? And there’s improvement and solutions in each of them. Sometimes I keep them. Other times I show them to my mother because I know she’ll praise and encourage me, no matter what horrendous things litter the page.

IT’S HARD WORK. When people ask to see what I’m drawing and are pleased with it, I’m happy.

When they critique it, I’m also happy.

Suggestions help. It’s all encouragement to improve. Sharing your work for free or giving pieces away is the reward.

Connecting with others and sharing our ideas is the reward. All that hard work and ambition doesn’t have to get us paid. If you enjoy doing it, then don’t stop. If a few people like what you’re doing, then don’t stop.

And if even only a few people like what you’re making and creating, don’t stop.

Never stop.

AMBITION

“I love to communicate. I love to see when they get it” - Richard Elmore