The artist shares his journey to becoming a digital artist and animator, starting from his childhood in post-communist Romania where he grew up in a small room with his brother and grandparents. He found solace in drawing and comics, and at 14, he discovered digital art through the website deviantART. He saved up to buy a used Wacom tablet and began developing his skills, volunteering for small projects, and building his online presence.
The artist emphasizes the importance of growing both artistic and business skills simultaneously, and not relying on formal education. He shares his experiences working for other companies, including SourceFed and Smosh, before deciding to focus on his own channel and content.
He offers four key takeaways: don't expect others to provide all the solutions, get involved in art communities and forums, volunteer and build your online presence, and don't believe the myth that you need to go to art school. He also highlights the importance of continuous learning and perseverance, noting that it took him 13 years to get to where he is today.
The video is sponsored by Wacom, and the artist promotes their new Cintiq 16 display tablet, which is more affordable than previous models. He recommends it for intermediate artists and highlights its features, including a 15.6-inch full HD screen, anti-glare coating, and ergonomic pen design.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The speaker grew up in post-communist Romania in a small room with their brother.
2. They were raised by a single mother and grandparents.
3. The speaker's grandfather slept on the couch, while their mother and grandmother slept on the floor.
4. The speaker was bullied in school for drawing and used it as an escape.
5. In 2006, at the age of 14, the speaker discovered the website deviantART, a forum for artists to share their work and tips.
6. The speaker fell in love with digital art and decided to become a comic book digital artist.
7. The speaker saved up money by running errands for other kids and bought a used Wacom tablet for 200 Romanian lei (around $60 USD).
8. The speaker used the tablet every day and developed their drawing skills.
9. In 2009, the speaker earned their first $5 for a drawing, which was mailed to them by a client.
10. The speaker started getting more commission work and eventually dropped out of college to focus on their art.
11. The speaker moved to Denmark in 2011 to study web design but later dropped out.
12. The speaker started their YouTube channel in 2013 and began creating fan art and animations.
13. Philip DeFranco reached out to the speaker to create weekly animations for SourceFed.
14. The speaker worked for SourceFed for two years and developed their own style and visual sense of humor.
15. The speaker also worked for Smosh and other companies before deciding to focus on their own channel.
16. The speaker turned down a job offer from Kylie Jenner, which led to a turning point in their career.
17. The speaker now creates their own content and has built a large following on YouTube.
18. The speaker is now 26 years old and has been working on their craft for 13 years.
19. The speaker uses Wacom products and recommends them to other artists.
20. Wacom has released a new Cintiq 16 model, which is a more affordable option for intermediate artists.