also we fucked up as a society the moment we started telling teens and aspiring artists to conflate being an artist with building a brand as if the two things are inextricable. the name of the game if you want to share your art is to work a job and sell yourself as aesthetizied content. back in my day we could just POST SHIT. to deviantart! what the fuck!
pro-tip if ur a teen or aspiring artist: stay the fuck away from tiktok. tiktok is not the place for your art. your art is not content to be sold. don’t listen to art youtubers advice if they dilute being an artist to stats and algorithms. trying to make a business or career out of art is actually something that takes a lot of experience and consideration to go into it is Not an inherent facet to getting started/expressing yourself as an artist. conflating art = selling something/working a job is the fastest fucking way to ruin it for yourself i am so serious. find communities that share your artistic interests make friends and share your art there. be indulgent and creative and experimental. you deserve a period in your artistic journey that is purely selfish and fostering of your growth. don’t let capitalism take that from you yet