I noticed most of us here on Deviantart have aspirations to become wanted in some way or form in our medium of choice by our peers on a professional level.The thought occurred to me that many of us,myself included,wished or still dream of making this a viable career choice.Not that I haven't given up on the notion,it's just after 1 failed marriage,2 daughters,crazy bills and many lacking college/career efforts later,reality of making this a option at this point has waned some.Don't get me wrong.I love drawing and still find it very rewarding,especially recently after my nine year old daughter said she wanted to be a artist like me.(I had to hold back the tears).So,here is the following advice I can give from a proffessional high school friend after a chance encounter about a month ago.
  
** Now,I want to say that NO ONE please bother Brett to try to get you a job at Warner Brothers or try to say that I in anyway shape or form told you this was my intentions or said it was okay to do so.The only reason I am sharing a link to his website is for:
1.)Promote his work as a professional  
2.)Use his website as reference for the purpose of this Journal log **

    I have a old high school aquaintance that works for Warner Brothers studios with whom I recently had the chance to run into at a mutual friends wedding.Brett Hardin(website:  [link] I caught up on old times and he noticed that I posted drawings from time to time on facebook through the use of my deviantart account.I went on to explain that I admired the fact that he was able to make himself a career in this field because it was something that I always wished I had pursued more when I was right out of high school like he did.So,I asked, "How did this come about for you?How did you pursue where you are to this point?".His response:"Self promotion.I just drew A LOT and after graduating college & art school I moved to L.A. and just started seeking the right people out to show my work." Brett went on to explain how he was hired by D***** to work in their website animation and art studio department for a few years.When he didn't get the promotion for the job he sought out he moved on.He went on to 'self promote mode' by creating his own website to show his body of work where in after a time Warner Brothers sought him out.He is now a Technical Director II of their animation department.

    My point being here,especially for the younger up and comers who dream to make this a career path,you can make a solid go of your medium of choice but,like anything else in life,must submerse yourself into it.Now,I hate to come across as anyone preaching because I have always been the anti-preacher listener, but,if you want to make a serious go of this heed the following...Make responsible decisions without distractions of too much partying(like I did) and other vices(sex["unsafe & unresponsible sex"] & drugs).A little partying helps on the social networking front though and to help get some of those pesky long nights of work off of your brain for a minute .Obtain a degree in something that particulary pertains to that career.Art schools in particular are recommended but not necessary to obtain this either.Start through your local city college and find a counselor to help guide you in the right direction.I was seriously considering: [link] There are many great Art schools that people in the business take a serious look at for serious applicants in their fields.I highly recommend you seek those places out.Use the internet as your resource.Usually most colleges have programs that help guide you towards obtaining a career right out of college by having open houses where big named companies are invited to view your work.This is where your chance to shine is if you do go this route.If at all anything,get a degree in something wether it ends up being in the art industry or not.That is the bottom line.
    Then there's the the self taught artist,like myself.Although I have taken some local college art classes,I am mostly self taught.Pick up the medium of choice and do it a little bit each day if you can.The more you draw,create,write or photograph the better you will get.Create a website or have somebody help you if it's not your thing.In any case when you are ready to be taken seriously as an artist this is a big step in that direction of self promotion for your body of work.

    I know I'm not the first to help instruct others in this matter,but thought I would just try to lend a helping hand from an experienced failer.I'm still trying.That is the human endeavor.Never give up,never give in.Constantly keep your eye on the horizen but take a moment once in a while to take it all in and regain your center.Your place of Zen,if you will.