Don't give up on art because you don't make money at it. Art is speech and everyone has a right to a voice. Make art for yourself, it's fine. Art is you speaking in your way in your own time.

Money doesn't make you a good artist, and it doesn't make you a bad artist. It just means you make money at it. Making money at art is dandy, but if you have the tools and the time, make art whether you make money or not. Just for fun. It's OK.

For whatever reason, many think art making is selfish. Some seem to think artists believe the world owes them a living. I don't think so, I think we just want to get paid for our work when others consume it. That's not selfish, that's self preservation. Money to make more art.

It's wonderful and a great privilege when other people like your stuff and pay you for it. It can be painful when they don't. But art is important even when it does only what you need it to do for you in your own heart and mind. Whatever that is. Go make art.

Money is not the measure of the value of your art. It's a yardstick professional artists use of necessity, because hey, it's our job. But it's not a measure of quality. It says nothing about intrinsic worth.