So, this section...

[Shawn]

hey dont go speaking for me.

i can't speak for everyone since some people generally do work as artists but those 2 examples are pretty invalid. both micha and i pursued careers in fields unrelated to art. i only do commissions on my free time to help me pay for things until i'm done college and micha got into the whole jontron/ yotta kinda thing due to dificulty maintaining a job.

so i guess on that topic, one advice i can give to any artist is DO NOT MAKE ART YOUR IDENTITY. get other hobbies and interests, regardless of what they are they will greatly influence your artwork and aid your growth and prevent you from being some shitty uninspired stagnated artist. if someone asks you your interests and all you have to say are "art" you arent a very inspired or creative person off the bat. take up a sport or an instrument or gardening or whatever. no one wants a person who "grew up playing 8bit platformers and n64" because lets be real, EVERYONE IN THE WORLD did that. you arent special if thats what makes you unique.