TOPIC: Skyfire’s journey to success

You're exactly right yeah, had already considered doing some work on Fiverr but like you said I was apprehensive about my skill level. I'll set up a fiver page right now and start promoting my work. May as well get some money for what I'm already doing I guess. Thanks for the advice man it was really helpful.

Man that's fucking awesome. Link me to it when you're done - my girlfriend said she is really excited for you.

Just finished it now, here's the link for anyone who's interested. www.fiverr.com/s2/ebc12f861e\

Luke

Just wanted to update what I've been doing for the last couple of days to get my thoughts down. Firstly I finished my tied up woman which I did in pen and ink, I wasn't really pleased with it so am not going to share it. Going to do another one in pencil though, I think I'm just not that experienced in using ink, definitely feel a lack of confidence and expertise when I try and ink something compared to when I use pencil. I guess it just takes time to develop skill.

I also read Chris's article and listed to his podcast which talks about DEMAND and SUPPLY and how these are essentially the two most important things when it comes to business. I find this difficult to disagree with. He also mentions how following your passion is not necessarily the way to make a lot of money, which also seems likely but I'm determined to try and monetize my art. I've also rationalized this in terms of art, there is a DEMAND for high quality entertainment art by studios, art directors, game companies etc. I can SUPPLY this demand by creating it, it;'s that simple, obviously the only problem is the length of time it requires to be able to do this, to get to this level it will likely take me another 5 years. I could teach myself some graphic design to try and supplement my income however this may just be wasting time. I'm not really sure. From the standpoint of becoming financially independent through my art, this seems like it could take a while

Besides my art, I've also been focusing on applying for jobs, mainly delivery driver/courier type jobs. Had 2 offers however these were a waste of time. Went down this morning and literally couldn't do the job because my phone wouldn't install the app. Bad luck I guess. I'll keep on trying.

Although girls aren't the focus anymore because of different priorities I still fuck around with tinder a little bit. I've attached a convo I had with a girl. Managed to get her insta and snapchat, which in my experience is optimal for getting a girl to sleep with you. I also messaged her on insta but she stopped replying the next morning. I'll pop up to her again in a couple of days. Obviously the biggest problem at the moment is me not having my own place, this is definitely the biggest limiting factor for pulling girls. I could move out in my second year of Uni but that's expensive asf. Again I think I'll just have to focus on my art for now as this is what I've chosen to do.

Why can't you pull girls without your own place? I think it's better to just say getting girls is not the current priority, rather than put up a false obstacles about it. Don't know your living situation, but you can easily pull girls without your own place when it's a priority to do so.

You are correct. I can pull girls without my own place I just don't particularly like doing it because I have to sneak around shit with the parent situation. They're not cool with me bringing random girls back. So like I said that does become a limiting factor.

I think you are right, and that pulling girld should just not be a priority at the moment

Interesting last couple of days, been drawing for at least 2 hours every day. Going to get a wall planner and draw for at least 2 hours everyday for 365 days as Andy suggested. Think this would be a good way to challenge myself.

Like I said I was going to do I did a sketch of a woman tied up that probably took around 2 hours, I like it it looks very sketchy but that was what I was going for, I've realized I like things that look drawn instead of being photo-realistic. Yesterday evening and today I did a drawing of an alien from Star Wars naked, I probably should have designed my own alien but I don't really know how to do that yet, I've attached both below.

In other news, my friends want to do LSD again. I'm actually quite apprehensive about taking reality-bending drugs again, the last time I took LSD I realized I wanted that art was my life's mission yes but it also came with a host of other problems, in other words I feel like it unlocked some repressed issues that perhaps were exacerbated by the drugs. My life at the moment is good, I have no real reason to change it. I'm focusing on my art, I'm happy. No need to risk something you enjoy just for the sake of it. I think I'll tell them I'll tag along but I won't take any drugs.

Also one of my other friends has asked me to move in with him in April, this could potentially remedy my situation in terms of girls but this would not solve the money issue, he also has a slightly unrealistic plan of trying to buy a house without a stable income. I don't think that this is a good idea. I've told him I'll think about it, but at the moment I'm leaning towards a solid no.

Other than that I've met up with some friends, smoked some weed and just focused on getting my artwork done. Nothing too wild. Getting to a high level of artistry just takes time.

Luke

Didn't do any drawing yesterday, largely because I was helping my Dad sort out buying Quail and a hutch for them (Quail are birds which you harvest eggs and meat from). Had a couple of ideas of what I wanted to draw but just didn't get around to doing them. One of the ideas is of a Terminator stamping on a guy's head with his brains hanging out. I think I'd like to do this one in colour which is why I haven't done it, I'm not so well versed in doing things in colour really. Another idea is just this cool photo of Morpheus I found from the Matrix, this doesn't really require much effort I'll start this today.

I've also watched Chris's Take Action video on Youtube for perhaps the 9th time (over the course of years), I'm starting to realize all this self-improvement stuff is all just procrastination when you get to a certain point. I'm obviously not taking action by watching Chris's video. Looking at the forum multiple times a day is also procrastination. Don't really know how to get around this though because we're so connected to technology, all the time. I could block this page for a few days though, this may be useful.

Ironically I also read this guys manifesto on how the technological-industrial "system" restricts human freedom and this is why there are so much mental health problems today because humans are subjected to intolerable conditions and they essentially can;t achieve their true goals. This wasn't really procrastination though this was more for enjoyment.

I also haven't bought my wall planner yet mainly because all the ones on Amazon are shit. Gonna buy one right now though so I don't waste anymore time

Not sure what else I could be doing to take action, don't really want to read anymore mindset stuff. Think I might look into how to start selling and the psychology of selling. This may be beneficial. Went on GLLs recommended sites and found Thumotic again, he recommended Art of the Sale by Donald Trump so I think I might start with this. Other than this not much else has gone on.

Got my first commission on fiver today, sort of a landmark because it's the first time I would have made money online ever, even if it is only £4.16 haha. I've attached what I've been doing for the guy. Thought that's all he wanted but he wants me to do a black outline on the outside of the image too. Shouldn't take too long, should be able to finish it by tonight. Definitely going to raise my prices though, not worth this effort just for £4.16 and I think people would be willing to pay more. Andy was definitely right, I feel like I've been being a perfectionist and that I should value my artwork more.

Additionally my work planner came today so I have decided that I am going to spend at least 2 hours a day drawing every day for 365 days, even on Christmas. I've also decided that I'm going to record a Youtube video showing my progress over the 365 days and saying what I've learned, not only will give me more exposure but it will be interesting to document my experience doing it. Of course this will help to build me a following online and thus the potential for commissions (and higher paid commissions) and increasing the likelihood I'll be be found by a studio, if I get a real following going I could even build a store with merch. This is of course in the future however.

Again to help increase my instagram following organically I've decided to enter into a weekly illustration group in my local area. This week's theme is Apocalypse so I've decided to enter my terminator idea. Think this will keep me motivated also.

Overall I think I'm taking action to the greatest of my ability, whenever I want something done I've been thinking I NEED to take action right now and get this done and I feel like this is working, this also correlates with Chris's idea on staying productive, however I've also realized there is nothing wrong with procrastinating for a little bit, it's natural we're not robots.

I think I'm doing everything right, I just need to stay committed and dedicated and the results will come I think.

Luke

Fuck forgot to attach the image

I like the action plan man. Success breeds success. Keep after it.

Okay I tried to write this post this morning but my computer crashed so I have to do it again. The day before yesterday I completed my first commission ever, he was very happy with it, he gave me a 5* rating and said for other people to check me out, so this is good news. What I didn't realize however is that you can only take money out of your Fiver account once you've earned over $20. This is not a problem, it just means I have to do commissions at a lower rate first to ensure I have customers. who are willing to pay. In fact the guy who I did the commission for has just messaged me again asking for something else in colour (which I a going to charge more for). So in terms of getting experience and working for other people, this is going well.

I also told my mates that I won't be doing acid with them, they've been very cool about it, in fact they don't want to do it now either. So my mental health will be stable for the foreseeable future

Although I'm not supposed to be focusing on girls at the moment, one did message me the other night telling me to "Come over". This turned out to be a massive waste of my time, although it was probably just bad luck. So I drive over to hers at 11pm, problem was that she didn't give me her house number so I didn't know which house it was. I ring her twice, no answer. I message her twice, again no answer. I then decide to drive home because I'm just like fuck my time being wasted. Anyways when I get home, the girl has fucking messaged me saying what house number she's in and by this point I'm just like nah, I tell her we can just do it another time. She tries to convince me but by this point I'm not in the mood. Again, it was probably just bad luck.

Other than that not much has happened, I've just been doing drawing and trying to get my terminator idea done. Will probably take a couple more days.

Luke