And what you expect to do in the art field? personally, I see myself as an art teacher and producing at the same time, or at least that´s what I want...

I think that is the role a lot of people in art fall into because it is a steady job, which you can't find in art really! This leads to a lot of poor art teachers :( so It's good to see someone who actually -wants- to teach!

I want to be a graphic designer, for a smaller company ideally. I hope I get something! I mean, I have the advantage of being willing to move to ANYWHERE in the country to achieve this, something a lot of people won't/can't do.

I'm leaving my security job to try the whole freelance thing. No clear idea on what to do, other then commissioning models for projects or possibly having figurines made from my designs.

Problem is my dad's back to supporting me and he worked for one company from start until retirement. He doesn't understand any other way of making money nad when I try to explain it to him, he's pretty dismissive.

It doesn't help when I tell him I have to do a few projects for free before I can expect people to pay for my work. Just wish there was a concrete way to get some cash rolling in.

Have you checked out websites about that kind of thing, I would also imagine emailing people in the profession would be good to gain ideas.
I think networking is so so important, this is why I couldn't do freelance, I'm not a social creature lol :D
Also you can gain experience doing things for charity, I am a bit weary about doing things for free if it's a company making profit...

This is just what I know from looking for things for myself, I think it applies to your stuff too!

I hope it works out for you and remind your dad that kind of job is slowly dying out :(

All I can say is good luck. The art field is pretty expansive but its hard to break into for anyone who doesn't do computer work - at least that's my experience with it. When I got out of art school I thought it would be really easy to get hired at a studio but most of the places that were hiring were looking for either more experience or they wanted someone with a bachelors degree (I only have an associate's). Then when I did find something I might actually qualify for, I never heard back from them. Needless to say I lost my drive pretty quickly. I was lucky enough to land a freelance job right out of school, designing posters and other advertising illustrations for this company based in Phoenix, but those jobs only payed $75-$100 per project, regardless of how many times I had to start over because their client kept changing their mind. I was happy with just that job but my dad and my stepmom started pushing me to get a "real job", and once I started that, I didn't have time for the art job, and it sort of fizzled out.
Fast forward to about 4 or 5 years later, I finally realized that for the type of art I do, there really wasn't going to be anyone out there waiting to hire me to do it all the time, I would have to just be freelance and work for myself. I'm still trying to get my art out there, but its encouraging to see that there are other people who draw the same stuff I do and make a decent living off of it. You just have to keep at it, keep posting your work at lots of different art sites, especially ones like FA that are geared to your specific genre, and if you have the opportunity to show your work publicly at a con or something, go for it. Exposure is your best friend when you're first starting out.
Sorry to give you my life story there lol but hopefully that gives you some idea of what you're getting into. I have noticed that there is more of a market for graphic designers, so maybe you will have better luck than I did.
Oh, and whatever happens, if you are successful or not, don't forget to do the art because you love it, not just to make money. You'll be much happier in the end. =)

Thanks, I know I will need lots and looooots of luck lol.

My current game plan is charity work, sending letters to design firms, sending off loads of applications, it's hard without experience though, it's a circle, no experience no job, no job no experience :( I don't really want my personal drawings to be linked in any way to my graphic design, even if my boyfriend has told me the same thing as you have about that lol.

I'm kind of surprised you couldn't make anything out of Graphic Design though, as well as your talent, you did have experience, and I'm sure you could learn computer work, it's pretty easy and a lot of the programmes are similar.

I understand how it can be hard to make a living out of your illustrations though, the furry community is still quite young I think and so they have less money - that's my theory at least. Maybe as the community gets older there will be full time jobs to be had out of it... but if anyone can make a living out of it, you can. Your stuff is amazing really and a lot of people really go for the natural media style here!

We will make it out there, we must make it XD Here's to determination

It is a hard world out there full of particulars. Some people will never be satisfied with something you produce for them. But others will see your mistakes and even think they are beautiful. It all depends on the customer. Start small. Like, for instance, I am going to paint a mural on someone's wall coming up on Wednesday. Because I was just joking around with him when he told me he was painting his den. I said, "Phffft. I'll paint it." And he had seen my drawings before and asked how much I would want if I did a logo on his wall.

It's a start. Every bit helps.

Oh that is so true about the picky people and easy to please people it always confuses me lol!

Will you be uploading a picture of that? I'd love to see it :D

Thanks!