ocamixnart asked: Your work is always so inspiring. I was wondering if you have any advice for staying motivated. I really like drawing and it's only recently that I've gotten confident in my designs and have started to share them online. But I've had mixed advice from close friends and family. Some say that I should try branching out business wise and others say that no one would pay for my work. Have you ever come across this?

barachan:

thank you! and yep – i’ve had relatives who told me i should aim to work for disney, and even when i told them i had no interest in creating animation or drawing in their style, i was told i should do it anyway. maybe they suggested it because disney was the only art-related company they knew of, but i got the impression they felt that i wouldn’t be successful in art unless i worked for disney, the end

i’ve also received anonymous comments on my work over the years, telling me how my art was bad and i should just stop drawing

i’ve also been told that my prices are delusional and no one would ever pay them, or unless i completely vary/change my style/subject matter/media no one will hire me

i’ve also found people talking behind my back about how i’d never go anywhere with my work and would have better luck as a prostitute

so yeah – it sucks, but there will always be people who don’t believe in you. some of them might think they’re helping by keeping you grounded, others are just jealous or projecting. it’s all just noise, what really matters is how much enjoyment you find in creating art. i know it’s so much easier said than done, but if you love it, stick with it and prove all the haters wrong!! good luck!