TL;DR: If you support yourself with only your art or craft, how do you do it? What are your struggles and triumphs?


Hey guys,

Slightly less happy journal than normal. I just… need to type this out I suppose and I wish to ask for advice. Everyone struggles with direction ad stagnation from time to time in their lives, but mine has almost been predetermined by family events. I have two older brothers. Both of which my parents tend to deem as being failures.

I am the 3rd child and was the ‘final hope’ if you like. That I would do well in highschool, and that I would go on through university/college doing some degree and go on to some high paying job.
The highschool bit was fine. I did very well and did more than my brothers ever did. Towards the end of year 12 I started to freak out a little as everyone does. What do I want to do as a career for the rest of my life? I don’t know- I have no idea- bloody hell I’ve only existed for seventeen years at this point. Out of desperation I choose a games design course. I like art and I like games, how could this go wrong?

I hated it.

I hated it so much I never want to go back to Uni. I loved the people I was with but being in a school environment again brought be so much stress and anxiety- drawing back on the pressure my parents put on me to do well.
I took a leave of absence hoping my fears would settle and I might be able to return to that course. Two years later I am as strongly against it as when I began.

My parents have tried hard to push me into some sort of other course- anything else. Dad wants me to be a nurse for some godforsaken reason- I am by far not the kind of person suited for that job or anything close to it.

Because of lack of experience from a young age I have struggled in getting any form of work. I used to have a casual job as a waitress for a little while. I did a few shifts but then they just stopped asking me back. So yes, I need to get some sort of work simply to have on my resume—I understand that. But it’s the age old problem. Can’t get a job without experience, can’t get experience without a job.
Even people with experience are going through hell trying to get work these days.

Though I will keep searching for another job of some kind be it retail or whatever, all this has led me to look at something I truly enjoy. I love fursuit making and I know I’m good at it. If I believe in my abilities and work harder than I ever have before, surely I can progress 8Bit-Works into a small business I can support myself with?

My parents certainly don’t think so.

And that’s almost what’s hardest. They supported me immensely with my initial foray into costume craft- why not now? When I really need their reassurance that I can do this- they turn around and snap at me- “Fursuit making isn’t a real job.” “You’ll never be successful enough to support yourself with this.” “It’s just a hobby.”
“Do something with your life.”

I can see the disappointment in my mother’s eyes. She has said to me “so you’re going to be just like your brothers, right?” Alluding to their ‘failure’ in life.
Yeah, I guess I am going to be like them. Only in that I don’t want to go back to university unless it’s for a small business degree. Which again they also don’t seem to believe in.

All this being said my parents aren't horrible people. They insist they say all these things for my own good and I truly do believe they only snap at me because they don't want me to struggle further on in life when I don't have them to help me. Though I understand that...It's difficult to make them understand me.

I’ve told myself I can’t let them get me down. My close friends and boyfriend have helped me so much, comforted me and told me to ignore them- That the ‘starving artist’ stereotype doesn’t have to be real.
But it’s gotten to the point where I severely doubt myself and by work.

I’m scared is the most honest response.
No, I don’t know if I can do this but I want to try… I look at other makers-  phoenixnest  ruffleddesigns  autumnfallings  skyprofursuits  lazylupe  lobitaworks  thatsfurredup and so many, many more—I want to be like them. Why can’t I be like them? If they can do it surely so can I.

I used to be so lazy…. But a swift figurative kick in the butt from  paramedicoyote cured that. I began working so much harder, and I’ve come to realise so much about myself and how easy I have had life.

I want to get better.

I want to do more.

I want to get a ‘proper job’ as well.

I want my parents to not see me as a failure.

But most of all I want to grow 8Bit-Works to a point where I can support myself.

….do you think I can?
Please tell me

And please, if you support yourself off of your art or your craft, please let me know how you do it and your struggles but most of all your triumphs. I know it must be hard- but if my heart is in this I need to know of the reality as well as the fantasy.


To thank you for reading this;; it truly does mean a lot.
And thank you to  paramedicoyote  dorchette  riorioriorio  eagleironic and all of my irl friends for supporting me with so much love. I wouldn’t be here without you guys.

And of course all of you guys, my watchers- you mean so much to me and your comments always cheer me on <3

That’s enough of a vent for one day I think..

Back to work.