4 valuable skills for artists

What advice would you give to your younger self? Bobby answers this question with these 4 valuable skills for artists. These are pretty much applicable to any profession but these are listed with artists in mind.
Hope these tips help you as much as they've helped Bobby.

[firecracker]

Video summary.
1. Patience, put time and effort into your craft.
2. Persistence, keep going. Never give up.
3. Concentration. Don't be distracted.
4. Communication, be articulate and clear with your messages.

[ellimaanpaa]

All the 4 points make sense in art but also in life in general. I also need to mention how much I love these plant-head-guys. They're adorable ☺️

[ulrickts]

"Money can't buy you skills." While this is true, the frustration I've had is that this is invisible to hiring HR directors who don't understand and disqualify anyone without a BFA or more. This is frustrating to me as I do not have such a degree, and I can't get into many jobs because I don't have an expensive piece of paper with my name and a fancy school's name upon it. Nevermind 7 years of agency experience and a portfolio...

[AuroraPUNK]

The whole communication thing is such a struggle for me at cons or events. Not because I can't find the words, but because of my speech impediment. The weight of potentially ruining a business opportunity because I have to replace words, pause too much, or end up being unable to talk at all is pretty heavy on my shoulders. I've seen plenty of people not take me seriously, assume I'm dumber than I am, or at the very least assume that I'm new at this/socially awkward/intimidated by them. This is mostly a vent post, sorry about that--but I hope those of you who ARE able to practice your speaking skills don't take it for granted. It's easy to forget that some people physically can't.

[pandakimmi]

Thank you for spreading your words for motivation.

[yeye]

totally resonate with the writing over talking part. I'm a real linguist when it comes to writing impactful messages but when it comes to "real time" I just don't know how to talk. I also persevere but I get distracted very easily. The best way is to remove your distractions people, having a chocolate bar on the table vs in a cabinet will make your life a lot easier. Take care!

[Funkermonsterco]

My personal main takeaway from this: I most definitely need to practice concentration most: Most days I end up just wasting time with social media or being lost in thought and don't concentrate enough on expressing or improving my art, and I think I've grown to consume others' art more than actually making any. And even when I do start drawing, somehow my mind races off to things (which are negative thoughts more often than not) the actual subject matter of what I'm drawing and it gets kinda annoying or frustrating sometimes.

Found you through an artist on Twitter suggesting your "Perfect Bait" audio months back, and I'm glad I stuck around. Hope to see more videos like these, those little fungi/plant men are so cute! Always enjoyed those vids of yours the most, wish I was able to sub to schoolism..

[ArtistSoul]

All of these problems I can relate to but #5 is my personal favorite. Money.
I went to Sheridan college for 7 years and was on OSAP the entire time. I wont say I was the best student but god damn it I am dedicated to this. I busted my ass off for 3 years in VCA to barely squeak by into the Illustration program with my p.o.s portfolio. After that I continued to struggle to stay in the course but I would never give up. Still, it gets hard to keep going or improve when you have classmates openly saying that your work sucks in an open crit yet they're unwilling to point out glaring flaws in their friends work. I was lucky to have a few good people around me to keep my morale up and tell me how to improve. From this I learned what a real critique is- you help someone improve as long as they're willing to keep trying. You don't tell them to simply give up, you fucking give them a path to the solution to the problem they wish to solve. If you have nothing to contribute towards my artistic goal then shut the fuck up.
By my second year of Illustration I was doing really badly and even had a teacher who straight up told me to give up after I worked my ass off for the entire semester. Why do you think I showed up to class every fucking week to only get reamed at crit? Cause I like it? No. I came looking for guidance and all you did was take my money and laugh at me.
Fast forward to the first semester of third year, I have no funding at all anymore due to my shit marks in the previous year. I got cut off because I was placed on AP. At that point I was too damn afraid to try anything new with my work because experimentation with my work could tank a project and I can't afford to have my marks drop. I was blessed enough to have a teacher who believed in me enough to help me and I was improving but in the end I just couldn't do it anymore and had to drop out by the end of the semester. I was getting no sleep since I took up a part time job to be able to live while being in school. At night I was in the lab and by sunrise every day I walked out of there to sleep and prepare for the next day or class. I also picked up a lot of bad habits (drinking, smoking) to deal with the stress/loneliness/state of despair about why I even tried so hard yet it felt like the whole world was telling me to quit and I'm in a massive amount of debt.
My argument is this- if the school had been paid then I would have finished that damn course. Yes, I'm not the best student but my work did improve and beyond many peoples expectations I made it as far as I did. I am a willing student and it makes no sense to me that I should have to pay so much money to get so little help.
During my time in school I had the opportunity to go to a Schoolism live in Toronto and met Marcello Vignali and Nathan Fowkes. I said it to a few friends then and I'll say it again - In those three days I learned more than most of the time I spent in school. Why? Because they were great teachers worth every cent spent. You shouldn't have to die to get a good or even semi decent education. I look back at all the time and debt im in for Sheridan to only give me the boot and think to myself 'If I had to spend money to still suck afterwards, at least I can spend it on artists worth the money'

[artxbang]

your the best...i remember back in 2009 to get up at 5 am to listening the chiustream it was so motivating. i lost my track and now im trying to grow again in digital art..thanks for your words

[rubenespinoza]

These are great reminders for me. Thanks Bobby!

[jensheart]

Totally agree on distraction topic.

We want to be best at everything and at same time keep being destructed by countless vines.

And time is valuable.

And especially rn when generations constantly compete with everyone and themselves.

Like on a good side we have amazing really young or "new" in art artists. But on the other hand I find myself in rush and hyper multitasking as I want to learn so badly and don't wanna waste any time. And it's can really stress out.

Also because we have much opportunities and info all around it is harder to see or choose the path clearer.

[miggybase]

a lot of art channels tend to just copy the content other people created. your channel is really original, keep up the great work :3

[sfargo]

Bobby, I go to your site regularly during COVID to learn AND to smile. I LOVE your characters. I have told several people about your site and sweet characters. Thank you!

[flightlesscoffeebirdboy]

Very good points, need to write this down and pin it up a wall.

[Sukeile]

I always feel encouraged from your videos.

But I'm commenting mostly to thank you for that banana drawing. The outrage of the little parent was hilarious! <3

[VladimirZiryanov]

Thank you mr.B! It's the strong pieces of advice!

[marieli]

Thank you for making all the videos! They are educational and motivational to me and I feel encouraged!

[vonnart]

Another great one man, love how you articulated and narrowed the tips down. Well spoken and always appreciated!

[michiel-vdheuvel]

Thanks for pointing these skills out. The video was a good reminder and made me realise I should definitely work on them.

[JillWouters]

Those plantcreatures are so cute!! But I like the wisdom behind it