When your dream seems impossible and hopeless
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2024
- Tutorials/Templates/Brushes - gumroad.com/trentk
Twilight Monk Game on Steam- store.steampowered.com/app/19...
Books + Merch - www.aquatic-moon.com
Discord = / discord
Twitter- / trentkaniuga
Cubebrush tutorials - cubebrush.co/trentk
When your dream seems impossible and hopeless, it's important to keep perspective, and remember the big goal while focusing on the steps right in front of you. This is a common mental state that occurs whenever you're aiming for a lofty goal. Remember that it's natural to feel that you're not making progress. But when you take a step back, you may find that youve made more progress than you thought.
Games I've worked on -
Fortnite (Environment concept art)
Overwatch (Environment concept art + Sprays artwork)
League of Legends (Character design + Environment concept art, UI + Icons)
Diablo 3 (Character design + Environment concept art)
Hearthstone (Illustration)
Burning Crusade(Character design + Environment concept art)
Wrath of the Lich King (Character design + Environment concept art)
Indivisible (Environment concept art)
Final Fight Streetwise (Voice Acting + Character Design + World Design + Cutscene Direction + Co writer on script)
He Man GBA (Pixel Art)
Terminator 3 GBA (Art Direction + Pixel Art)
CannonBallers (Character + World design)
Ikeda: The Scrap Hunter (Programming + Art + Design)
Goblins and Gnomes (Concept Art)
Books available-
CreeD Re:Imaginary (2021) - 2 part Comic series
Twilight Monk - Return of the Ancients (2021) - Illustrated Novel
Twilight Monk Secrets of Kung Fulio (2020) - Illustrated Novel
Escape from Giants Crown (2019) - Illustrated Novella
World Of Twilight Monk Vol 1 (2019) Art Book
The Man and the Moonken (2019) - Illustrated Novella
The Beast of Tuksa (2018) - Illustrated Novella
Twilight Monk (2012) - 2 Graphic Novels
Nova Colony (2009) - 1 Graphic Novel
CreeD (1993-2007) - Comic Book Series
Ghost Rider (2000) - Comic Book Series
The Fuzz (1997) - Comic Book - Zábava
Dude, I used to watch your videos when I was learning 3D and used them as motivation. Months later, after finding a job and becoming an environment artist I find these videos again, and it made me smile. Thanks for your support, even if you didn't know, you helped me push through at times. All the best.
Did you get a degree in 3D Rendering, because I have an arts associates and I'm wondering if I should go back to get a 3D degree
*Tell us your secrets*
Trent, I'm jumping back into art, after all these years I realized this is the only thing I'm truely good at. I'm studying and practicing every day. But truth be told, I'm worried lol. I see people with much lower skill level being much more popular on social media than me, and I don't want to lock into a single niche opposing to popular recommendation by pros, I feel like that just kills me as someone who's trying to be a creative individual. Especially when I'm not even as good as I want to be yet. Also bills are knocking on my door and age is creeping up. So thank you for touching on these subjects which I'm sure is concerning many people.
;)
Yes me too, I start all over, man, after all this year I work on oil and gas, car paint jobs, and others, then it's not working out, then this year I try to draw again and be a freelancer, I don't know in the future, money is the real problem, I hope it's worth a try,
I'm in the military and know what you mean. I'm 48 and am setting myself up for a full time art career after I finish up in the Army. I think as long as you follow your passion, you'll do great. Next week I'm joining my local art society so I can build a personal presence along with an online one. I've ran into some people in my own town who were mentioning they enjoy seeing and talking with local artists. While social media is a trend, it doesn't have to be the only one.
I'm in the same boat. How old are you? The crazy thing is people seem to feel they are too old to start no matter what age they start these days. It's like we feel we need to be toddlers to have a shot. I'm 34, so not crazy old, but I still feel like i wasted the past 15 years pursuing the wrong stuff. But then I think that in that time I met my wife, had a kid, got a house, travelled the world and did a ton of other awesome stuff. I have friends who DID do art only the past 15 years. They want what I have.
There is a lot of underrated/overrated art, I don't focus on my numbers anymore. I just draw what I want and what I feel, and I do it for myself. People know to sell or get likes even if it's ugly or they spent 5 minutes doing it, because they know how to do it. So many talented and amazing artists are underrated.
After leaving the military and starting a family I realized that I still had the dream of pursuing and having a successful career in illustration. Between work, raising a toddler, college and more, I sometimes feel as though it's hopeless, with no time to hone my skills. However, I've learned that regardless of whether anything comes of it, art makes me happy. I give up a few hours of sleep after work at night to work on something I like, setting a goal to make each of my illustrations better than the last. Who knows? Maybe one day they'll be good enough to make a living!
Wow. Me too. I joined the military to pay for art school. Ooops. Life happened, got married, and raised a family. I ended up 24 years later pursuing art on the side but am going full time in the next few years.
I'm 46 years old man and I'm still trying to make something of my art!!! Is it very good? That depends on who you ask. Ha ha!!! I will say I've done a few commission pieces here and there when time allows. To be fair, I do have a little more time than most with a much older son in college. I could be more motivated to take an art class or watch a tutorial to hone my skills. Listening to Trent today really got me to thinking that I...WE can do whatever we set our minds to!!! Whether you make it a side hustle, a full time business or just do it because it makes you smile!!! KEEP ON DRAWING!!! Never lose sight of your goal, I've doubted myself for too long now. It's time to make it happen!!! Yeah, I know, who is this old man and why is he ranting under my comment...HA HA HA!!!
@@EddieTheComicGuy I appreciate your rant actually! It's a great motivator and it's nice to get some perspective from an older fellow artist! Listening to you and Trent is pretty inspiring when it comes to thinking about the future! There are a lot of external pressures that are trying to steer me away from art as I am about to enter my 30's, but seeing guys like you that are still very passionate long past those pressures is only evidence that I should never give it up. Keep the fire going!
@@Selwynn I will say this my friend. If you have a lunch hour, or even a half hour, you have that much time in-between chewing to draw something!!! It's all about getting in that practice!!! I hope everything goes well for you Chris!!! KEEP DRAWING!!!
I hate my job with a burning passion and art is my ultimate escape but at the same time I be so exhausted from work that I can only have energy to draw on weekends and even then I'm too tired to get out of bed. The struggle is real
Started drawing again last night after about a month or two of being discouraged and not drawing anything. This video was just what I needed to become motivated again thank you Trent!
I like to have this thought that, whenever I feel down with my illustrations, I think of how many bad art has been made and published out there, how something worse than what I do is actually being sold out there, so that means that if that made it, then I can make it too. Always lifts me up somehow.
"That person there is so ugly and theyve got a girlfriend so I can have one too" is what you're saying. Basically shitting on someone else to make your own work feel better. Nice job
You're like the Yoda of artists. Wise, intelligent and skilled. Thank you for the video. I really needed to hear this today. 🙏
One of the tricks is not thinking giving up on art is some sort of failure. That's a really toxic, fear and scarcity ridden mindset.
Things change, people take different paths. It's not a 0-1 thing.
Mann.... this video couldnt come to me at a better time... as a mid 30s dude who always feels "im late to the game".... this video helped.
I'm 37 (just turned yesterday), started drawing again properly in my early 30's, saying to my partner that one day I'll make this my job, it was a tough ride especially whilst having kids, but after being able to go freelance fulltime for the last few years I now work as a background artist at an animation studio doing background designs and paintings for netflix shows etc. I've still got a long way to go to catch back up in life, but finally landing a dream job is more than possible in your thirties, so don't give up man :)
@@SyGardner thank you so much for sharing this... this definitely helped my moral a bit ... I have to keep a consistent positive attitude if I want to make it. And maybe after that get over the imposter syndrome lol... I'll keep at it 💪 tysm
@@zenon3003 no problem man, the imposter syndrome is there for everyone I know, and I know a couple of people who work for other big studios etc, none of us ever know everything, so always remember that we all have stronger points and weaker points, but eventually your stronger points make you employable :)
With the internet, people of like interests are finding each other and creating a market.
Trent- thanks man. I have been trying to build my body of work for the past year and…I’m gassed out. I don’t have a community and the algorithm kinda burns me out. These videos help me come back to center.
I hope you’re doing well man. You’re doing great.
Thanks.
it's always good to remember that everyone feels insecure from time to time. We all go through it. We all fall. The difference between the winners and the losers is just deciding to continue.
I feel this. I graduated with a degree in CGI in 2020. I've been applying to stuff ever since, all while doing competitions, practicing, pushing to get better at what I do... but outside from being shouted out by a couple of youtubers (which was super cool) I've seen zero success. Nothing I've applied to recently has even resulted in an interview, and it's all been entry level stuff that's well within my skill level. My family keep asking if there's something else I'd like to do but there really isn't. So I've got to keep going, but man is it hard sometimes to keep that motivation up...
I've been seriously pursuing art for 15 years with very little success until this year when I finally got a contract job as an art director and received a scholarship to a high level art intensive that will hopefully yield good job connections. 15... years... 2 seems like not that much. Especially with how volatile employment has been for any job type.
I'm in that same place. I've showed my work to friends, teachers, and even some fairly known art directors and they are impressed, yet there isn't a place for me yet. It's really hard for me to say motivated, too. I have people say that I can do all these things yet... crickets. All we can do is keep moving, no matter how slow it may feel sometimes. I'm pretty sure you get comments and likes and such from friends? I keep them close and try to not compare myself to others cause when that comparison mood strikes it strikes hard.
I’m in this boat and need something soon. My family has given up and wants me to do a laborious job at a plant. Every day is a struggle to keep going and I wonder as an illustration major at nearly 30…why bother? It’s incredibly saddening. I have no connections or directions and can’t find help. Wish I hadn’t “followed my dream” and gone to college.
@@SushiPredator that's the most frustrating part! Everyone seems to love your work but when you apply anywhere you just get a boilerplate rejection email - no opportunity for feedback. So you're stuck wondering whether you're just not good enough yet, or if they didn't love your cover letter, was it your cv perhaps?
Definitely feel you on comparison stuff. Sometimes I'll see something on artstation and think... will I ever be that good? Usually though I'll look at that person's profile and it turns out they're like a senior artist somewhere, which makes me feel a bit better. They're 5+ years ahead on the road.
@@axeliasalaria8905 also on that boat of having 30 turning up not too far away. I remember years ago thinking I'd have a career going by now, plus wife and kids maybe xD rip that idea.
I needed this talk. I have not drawn in a few years due to a pretty bad art school experience.
Never give up!
So, how’s it going bro? It’s still not too late. It never is.
I've only read the title but this video already hits home so much. it's like trent knows exactly what we need at any given time..
Trent, you give so much of yourself to encourage the rest of us, so I want to also give back to you by saying that your game is coming along so nicely. What you’re achieving is huge, and ive no doubt you’ll make your big break in the indie game scene and become the next team cherry-level success story. I’m getting on steam today to wishlist Twilight Monk.
Thank you- a fellow delusional artist
Already wishlisted and followed as soon as I could! Thanks for you the videos, the inspiration and the classes! :D
Thank you so much for this. Love how inspirational your videos are 💘
Hello Trent! this is a very helpful video for so many people, including me. When I started with art I felt so lost because all the artists I follow are way younger, went to an art school and look very adorable too.
But like you, I feel a burning since I‘m a kid and I finally take care of that and draw, sometimes until my hand starts hurting LOL
Sometimes we humans need to relearn many things even when we are adults to be able to pursue our dreams and that is not shameful or silly.
I started to follow older artists, who also are on the same experience level and that alone gave me a burst of energy and confidence.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
Your video popped up on my recommended and I am thankful for it! Thank you for the talk and the encouraging words, it definitely impacted me today. I resonated with every point you made. I also wishlisted your game and am excited to see you work on it more! Thank you again, and have a great day!
Ure incredible!! your teachings come to me when I need them most, listening to you speak and above all UNDERSTANDING this type of situation helps a lot.
Love u man
Absolutely great advice. I feel like this sometimes while painting and its not going my way. But I always drown it out with music and try to focus on the moment. I really loved this video. Thanks man.
A good motivational talk, and a very good way to think. I'm always glad to hear your insights!
I love wakening up at 5:30 am, booting up photoshop or Figma and chilling along your vids
I love this channel because of your honesty. I really appreciate how you talk about the difficulties and the struggles you went through or going through. It makes me feel that I'm not alone. Thanks a lot.
Great advice again Trent! Love hearing your perspectives on the importance of grit and being a constant learner
Thanks man, I needed this today!
thanks for the advice, trent! this vid came at just the right time for me, because i really needed to hear this. thanks again and best of luck with all our endeavors!!
you always have the best advice at the right moment. Thanks Trent
Thanks Trent, needed this.
thank you for the vibe i really needed that, it was like you were sitting right next to me encouraging me to take another step toward my indie game and finish that anatomy study. It is 9 am in the morning and i was craving that kind of content when i sat down to draw. Jumped right onto steam to wishlist twilight monk.
I legit needed to hear this... I don't think realize how important this was to hear. Thank you for yiur content and your effort!
WOW!!! It is so interesting to unintentionally revisit this a year later. ... I remember the video, but I didn't even realize I had left this comment until I looked under the video. At first, it's discouraging to admit that a full year later I'm not any further along on this "dream"... Of course, I look back and see what all I accomplished in other arenas over the last year. Even in hindsight I know that I prioritized correctly in that I would do it all over again even if I knew ahead it would cost /postpone my vision. However, it still brings in so much doubt as to whether I should even keep chasing this dream. Almost like "Well I've got time now, but what's the point? It wouldn't surprise me to have life kick me in the teeth again tomorrow." .... But honestly... I get a little nauseous at the idea of giving up. Learning everything from scratch is so intimidating! but I suppose it's what you're referring to around the 12 min mark in this vid. I am hopeful... gut wrenching doubt... but still hopeful!!!!!
Thank you so much for your encouragements videos Trent. It's feel so good to hear your view on the job and life. It helps to remember why we do it. Have a really good day man !
Thank you very much for this. It helps me a lot. Thinking just of the next step, without worrying about the journey.
Great video as always. Thank you. God bless your projects.
Your words = Pure gold. Thank you so much!
Thanks man, I really needed to hear this tonight. Just saw something in artstation that made me go down the doom spiral. It just feels sometimes this is all about who you know, and that there's no real access to work without fame or friends. It really gets in my head all the negativity, I'm sure its all bs lol.
Thank you for the pep talk Trent! Came across your video and it is exactly what I needed to hear. Sometimes it really is hard but I will hang in there and try not to overthink things! Thank you! I will definitively be giving your game a try!
Your game looks super interesting. Looking forward to it!
Thanks man. The way you explained missing the trees while looking at the forest really hit me. We stare to much at the endgame vs the everyday little steps it takes to get there.
Thanks-
This is definitely something I needed to hear. Thank you for posting this. I always view art as an entire race and not the individual steps so I often put things off or quit before I even start.
I can relate so much! Having a good mental health is important if you want to reach your goals / dreams.
Really sound advice, definitely needed it at this point in my life, hope you gain a huge following
Trent, considering your accomplishments as an artist, really appreciate your persepctive on this. Keep going man, I will too!
"don't think just go" sounds like a recipe for disaster and triggers my anxiety or resistance, but it's actually the smartest thing to do when you're in this situation.
Best of luck 👍 supporting you by putting it on the wishlist. Might be streaming it. Hope that the game has entertaining content
I found this video in my recommendations and it was exactly what I needed right now, thank you so much Trent! You just gained another sub :)
This is an amazing video, I needed this.
this is my favorite video from your channel
Thank you for the pep talk Trent, I really need this. I keep telling myself this everyday, but what I really need is for someone I look up to telling me this.
Appreciate you Trent ✊🏽
Added the game to the wishlist - and I really mean it :-) Thank you for the video!
Can't wait to play your new game, man. Looks awesome
New to the channel and this hit home trying to get myself back into something i love for a long time...thanks
Who put onions here, why are my tears dripping.
I'm just gonna say thank you for inspiring us!
Thank you. I needed this more than you will ever know.
Man i needed to hear this trent ! thanks for being a solid dude and a solid teacher. im going to reset and roll out back on track to my goal of being a concept artist.
Im at the stage of dropping art career pursuit. Today I got the reminder about the piece I did 9 years ago that started the pursuit and thought "damn 9 years..." maybe I should drop it. But I guess I'll listen to you and do 10 more steps. Thanks for inspiration!
Great video! I've faced many obstacles--both internal & external--over the past 6 years or so while pursuing a career in video game concept art, so I absolutely understand those negative thoughts, things, and people who can drag you down & distract you from your goals, (with the added challenge of me being nearly 40 years old now.) That negativity will never stop coming at you, so you must be adamant in your pursuit of said goals, & try your best to continuously rewire your brain, & hold onto that passion/vision/self-awareness/discipline, because with that you can't lose, it's just a matter of time before you win.
Unfortunately I can't add Twilight Monk to my Steam Wishlist, because it's already been Wishlisted!
Your speech was great, and the meaning is true for life in general. Thanks a lot !
Added your game to my wishlist! I love metroidvania games.
This was fantastic, I needed this. Thanks Trent!
Honest and raw content as always. I appreciate the transparency and perspective here. As an Artist that's just started my CZcams journey, things can seem daunting. But having fun with the growth, experimenting and being able to improve, and even laughing at areas that weren't the best has helped tremendously. Twilight Monk is on the Wishlist! Can't wait. Cheers Trent 🍹
ty for your word dude!
Loving those kind of video Trent o/ take care
As a ex-entertainment designer gone engineer/programmer to feed his family, I really enjoy your channel and these talks. I hope to get back into graphic novel work as a hobby once things get more stable financially for my family in these crazy times, (currently juggling 1.25 engineering/programming jobs)
yea dont go into art for fulltime employment it sucks, keep it as a hobby
@@seb5659 Why? I’d kill for that- don’t care how I’m treated or how much I’m paid. Just want to do art.
Thank you 💚🌹i really needed to hear this
One of the nicest speech I've ever heard, so inspiring thanks a lot👍
Great video. Really appreciated your views, a good reminder to keep going and focus on your own journey rather than focusing on what others are doing. Wishlisted Twilight Monk, it's looking great!
God bless you Trent, big fan, thank you!
Thanks for this video. I paid for an online art course and have been feeling like a loser lately. Like I’m wasting my time and I will never be able to get a job. I guess I feel like that girl on the bike. This has definitely given me a boost to keep at it and not surrender. Thanks again.
Heartwarming talk, Trent, always helps to hear these things! Wishlisted your game, now back to my ongoing 10-day game jam project, almost done 😅
Please share it when you are done! Id like to see it.
@@TrentKaniuga I'd love to, but youtube won't let me comment with a link in here (rightly so, I guess) :-/
Beautiful artwork, man. Loved your encouraging commentary as well! Keep it up dude.
I remember your game Ikeda on Steam, and it reminded me a lot of the oldschool MegaMan games. It's inspiring to hear that you are working on another project, and sometimes that alone is the reward. Working on something regardless of how much attention or fame it gets, and just creating worlds and characters and bringing them to life. That's what makes artists cool is they have the power of God in their hands and can create life on paper right in front of them. You have a power that most ordinary people do not have, you are gifted and unique.
I’m just starting my art learning journey. I really needed advice like this :) Thanks man. Cheers from a soldier from Singapore!
You dont know how much I needed this video right now. Its totally serindipidus that it came onto my home page. Thank you
I did appreciate this video and I loved watching what u made and Yh~ I defo will check ur game out !
you are always encouraging artist and give great advice
I needed to hear this.
I deal with depression and constantly battle the lack of motivation. I like to draw and want to dabble in making small video games.
This information is really useful, especially the story of the pessimistic woman. I've been through a lot but I'm resilient. The greatest challenge right now is to teach myself to be optimistic again and keep that after so long of being pessimistic.
Ty for the help!
I needed to hear this. I've been getting close to quitting recently but this video has been refreshing and encouraging.
Man, This is powerful.
Very well said, reminds me a lot of the same mentality David Goggins shares on interviews and his book "Stay in the fight!"
Thank you for this video, it was very encouraging and helpful!
thank you ! that's what I needed to hear
Thanks Trent, needed that
thanks trent! awesome vid
You're doing great!!!
This is exactly what I needed! I love your videos their always super inspiring :)
I really needed to hear those words right now. Thank you:)
No idea how I came across your channel, but I like what I'm hearing. This is definitely advice that can apply to a lot of areas in life.
Here's an example. I started trying to learn web design and just making small apps about a year ago. I was in the middle of a tutorial, things got hard, and I gave up. Didn't touch it for 8 months. Then decided to pick it up just over a month ago and have made a few small apps that I'm proud of; largely without following tutorials, just scouring the documentation and using web resources to solve problems as I met them. Just today I was thinking, " OMG, I wouldn't have had a clue how to build this stuff two months ago".
The differencing being that this time, I paid a lot less attention to the negative naysayer in my head. Of course, there's a universe out there that isn't obliged to comply with our ideals. But, often, in the past, when I've said 'I can't...'; it's not so much that I can't, but that I 'think' I can't, and am too afraid to try and fail, and throw the towel in after a while. I mean, doesn't everybody have to cross that discomfort line? Yet somehow I imagine that other people who have already travelled this road I'm now traveling haven't. But, how on earth could I know. It's like that girl in that challenge; she imagined that everyone else was having it easier, and doing better than her and her partner. But she had no access to other people's experience, so it was pure imagination.
if there is metroidvania tag, i need to have it in my wishlist...great paint!
Keep at it Trent, you're inspiring us to go for those little wins EVERY day.
Thank your for your words.
Watched, downloaded, and stowed for a murky day.
this channel is a true piece of gold
I literally love you man
The first time I ever saw your art was in the Sons of the Storm website. I loved that site back in the day, that first Diablo manual and the artwork of Samwise and Metzen was what first got me into drawing and thinking about concept art. I remember when they added you on that site I was almost insulted at first, to see how much better you were than my art heroes.
Your words meant a lot. I’m a writer and I’ve been writing this trilogy for 5 years and sometimes it never feels like I’ll finish…sometimes I just edit or write a paragraph and say “ok. I won today.” And that’s it.