Let& #39;s talk age and art, since that& #39;s an interesting conversation happening now. Speaking for myself? I walked away from art for six years after my BFA-to-nowhere, and only started trying to & #39;level up& #39; again at age 29. Got my first paid commission at 33. I& #39;m nearly 38 now, worki-

-ing professionally for about 5 years. And I know plenty of successful artists with similar stories. Art is hard, and the path to/through it isn& #39;t straight or simple. Throw yourself into the gears of industry too young, and you might burn out and leave, even. I don& #39;t regret my

years away from art. Years spent at non-art jobs, traveling, blogging, paying off student debt, expat-ing , gathering grist for my creative & #39;mill& #39;. It was life well lived, and prepared me for what I do now in many hidden ways. Being an artist isn& #39;t something that can be taken aw-

-ay from you, so do what you need to do to live best you can and prepare for long term goals rather than focusing on what is or isn& #39;t happening NOW. Art will always be waiting for you; there& #39;s no shame in letting it serve your timetable rather than you serving & #39;its& #39;. Oh, and if

you followed the thread all the way down here, behold, my art in 2012 vs 2019.

This represents a marathon, not a sprint; both pieces are informed by that time away from art.