What To Do When Art No Longer Makes You Happy / Artist Mental Health Talk + Watercolor Painting

I too am REALLY struggling to make my art. I think its a combination of the pandemic isolation, depression and not knowing my future. Thank you for the video. You've voiced what many are feeling. Sending hugs. Beautiful painting.

This video resonates HARD with me. I spent my whole childhood and early 20’s working toward goals of being a musician. I was (am) really good at it, but it became clearer and clearer that it wasn’t the calling I thought it would be. I dropped my major in college just to graduate as early as possible. I worked service and retail to make money. I now work in a bank and am honestly so happy 😂 We put so much of our identity into our careers, and it can be so crushing. Now I’m able to have the energy and passion and money to pursue my interests outside of a job. I was around 25 or 26 when I started getting interested in visual art, and I am so happy I found this interest. Im slowly getting back to music and have found a new love for it. Seriously, I think the quarter life crisis is real. Our brains are still developing until we’re 25. I noticed it in my late 20’s. At felt like I could relate way easier to 40 year olds vs 22 year olds. Anyhow, thanks for making a video talking about this. I’m glad you came to these realizations, and I hope your video touches others who are having similar crises. Wishing you the best!

I struggle a lot with my own art, too. It's hard to draw when nothing turns out, and I haven't reached a set drawing style yet. I want to progress, but I keep thinking that I'll never make it to the point that my art will be good.

Phew I think I needed to hear this! I have been struggling making art, making videos, posting on social media and I got to the point where I just decided to take a break and think. I am going back and forth on if I should keep my shop, if I want to stop making art to sell, if I want to stop making art videos and I just can't decide but this video and you talking about this has really helped me unpack my thoughts and realize a few things. It is OK to stop something, you don't have to continue it just because you have put years into already, if something isn't making you happy (or that much money anyway for that matter) you CAN change direction! I still want to do something creative make things too, not jewelry but something and I still want to make art and share it but not in the way I have been doing so thank you Momo! This was soooo helpful, more than you will ever know. I am so happy that you have found something that makes you happy and you seem to have it all figured out now <3

I'm glad that you've done what makes you happy! Keep going, Momo!

Beautiful painting 😄🌺🌸🌷. Thank you for sharing 🌹.

glad you are enjoying making art again, draw as many girls that you want to. 😀 I was always told keep your passion your passion, find a job thats related but your passion should stay your passions, thats why its your passion and brings your joy 😀 (thats a lot of typed passions lol)

Thank u for making such a lovely video.

Your work is Beautiful and I think that you are Amazing! Do what makes YOU happy!!! Hugs and prayers! You are not alone! 🥰😘

I really like this. Also with what you were saying about the pics with similar themes, if you've created quite a few like that you could collect 12-14 and create a calendar with them. This could be just one that you make for yourself at a Walmart or something, or you could sell them if you so wish to. I know I'd buy one like that where it's just, like you said, a girl looking strait at the camera with flowers or plants of some kind in her hair. In this way you could have something, weather you sell it or not, that brings together some of your art that actually goes together.

Hi Monique! Thank you for making this video. It gave me something to think about.

Such a wonderful painting! I know Denise would be so glad your talking about feelings and creating Art in spite of your doubts! Creating Art should be a joyous thing, Being a full time artist is a HARD job! creating videos is something I do not think I could do, Kudo's to you and those who do! I love that creating Art with the Earth Friendly palette is a true bonus and spreading the word about sustainability and responsibility in creating art supplies is a concern for ALL! Thanks for this lovely painting and spreading the word about the things are important to you and so many others! Thanks Monique! You did a wonderful painting and talk too!

I so hear you. In my case I haven't been able to write, so I've been sewing and making art :)

You are amazing! 🙏

Good for you. Its great, I think you are so creative you can do many things! I worked as a nurse most of my life because back when I was a child the thing was to have a profession that you could count on no matter what. My parents had been through the depression as young children and wars and so this is where that came from. But after spending so many years with sickness and trying to help the world and finally getting sick myself due to exhaustion and no joy in my life - it was radical to hear "follow your bliss" by that time I was so disconnected I had no idea what my bliss was and when I discovered I enjoyed drawing and painting again, it still took many years to get to a point where I could spend much time at it. Now today I am finally just starting to sell some of my paintings and doing some commissions and make a little bit of money. I have already discovered though that it is important that I paint what I love. I painted a lot of animals and girls and also thought this is nuts why do I want to keep doing it. Well I guess it is what I do best, because now I'm getting some commissions for girls with animals (a girl and her pet raccoon is what I am working on now). So you never know, maybe someone will love your girls with flowers as well as your jewelry and gardening.

Still here, love your videos!

I hardly finish my drawings and I won't feel satisfied nor happy with them anymore. My skills have gotten better a lot but I still keep on comparing mine to others. It always spirals into me not doing anything bc I won't be happy with it

Making another art of Claire wineland You are awesome keep it up

I was just thinking about that girl !!

I am still here.For one moment I thought you had stopped. I too suffer from depression,I have since I was in my teens.But I just get on with things as one does.I started drawing about 5/6yrs old ,by then I could copy a cartoon from a comic !my first being Yassimity Sam I think he’s called .My Dad did doodles that were good and if he did a stick man I told him off .So he told me to do it myself about 2/3 hrs later I had done a reasonably good one after being told to do it right a few times..What I kept telling Dad.From then onwards I was always drawing.Others at school used tracing paper I drew it was quicker.Obviously I improved.Mainly pencil work…I re sat my Art exam with a few subjects while my eldest was in the year before her exams.To help her and for me .Course I got my Art.I then started work…Drawing off and on all the while when I felt like it.My Mum died halfway through one of my drawing.Never finished it.Occasionally I did doodles as I made cards and learnt to colour seamlessly with pencils..I lost my partner 3yrs ago .But in the last year I have started to draw ,Watercolour and finish with my pencils …I post on FB when I finish them as I have certain people who follow me ..I am no way as good as you ,though others think my work is .Mins more fantasy rather than realistic .But I am proud .I give mine away to the ones I love .The one I am doing now is actually for me lol..Now I am retired and closer to the big seven 0 .. you are very young..And have a lifetime ahead of you.If you find it hard to part with your work dont .A lot of artists just get professional prints done and sell them .Limit them to say 10 and sell your work that way..That way there’s no pressure on you that way to part and you can release in your own time .Just check out other artists work love .You don’t need to go without an income but you can do it in your time ..I wish I had continued years ago with my art..I would really hate to see someone do what I did .Also what makes it harder is I have arthritis through my fingers ..it’s getting old for you ..oh for young fingers again lol..Love n Light 🥰