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I have a childhood friend who became a doctor. Everyone admires him. He's a good dude and deserves it. But I often find myself feeling like I wasted myself by
by boppo1 3y ago
I have a childhood friend who became a doctor. Everyone admires him. He's a good dude and deserves it.
But I often find myself feeling like I wasted myself by not pursuing medicine; I had the grades. Instead I've pursued illustration. I haven't made any seriously good work, but that's not what bothers me. I often wonder " what if illustration was a less worthwhile pursuit, right from the outset? What if I made the very best works possible in illustration-- they're still not saving any lives.
I found a lot of comfort from that just now with the thought: "what if Bill Watterson had chosen medicine?"
- ilinx 3y agoThe world has doctors. You chose a path that added your unique voice to the artistic chorus of our species. I’d almost guarantee that the effects of your work have rippled out there in unknowable ways. Very few artists ever get the chance to see exactly how their work has influenced the world, but pay attention to how the illustrations you see around you impact you. Which ones do you remember from childhood? Even things like logos and magazine covers can have deep personal meaning that anchors people to their humanity.
- DougMerritt 3y agoVery well said.
- DougMerritt 3y agoAlmost everyone sometimes wonders "what if I had chosen a different path", but it's very important to note that that means that you still would have wondered that if you had in fact taken the other path! It's just human nature. Whatever you choose to do in the moment (continue illustrating, stop illustrating and go to medical school, some third thing), pour your heart into it, and you can find satisfaction in that.