Am I actually an artist?

This is my response to Morgue Design's video. Running a pyramid scheme is kinda a federal crime, so, I figured I had to respond. I hope this is the only video I'll ever have to make on this topic. Additional thoughts below 👇 In the wake of the original video, I've received some criticism for offering paid 1:1 mentorship. I've said repeatedly that I've felt impostor syndrome offering these services, and started explicitly because my audience kept requesting them over and over for years. At first, I offered entirely free 1:1 calls. I did about a dozen and even posted a few to this channel. Over time I gained the confidence to start charging for the time I spent working with these people and researching for them. I think often people looking for help aren't looking for expert advice, they'll say as much, but instead someone who has been where they are, remembers the experience well, and has practical advice for how to navigate through it. If someone takes a call with me and I don't think they're in a place to take action on my advice, or aren't ready for help, I turn them down and give them their money back. If someone takes a call with me and doesn't like the experience, I would gladly give them their money back, but it hasn't happened yet. Also -- something else Morgue mentions is how my pay transparency videos (I used to make 1-2 a year depending on how things change over time) present an unrealistic view of what's possible as an artist. I've consistently made videos and spoken about how this is a journey that takes years, how important consistency and self reflection is, on not expecting instant success. Those videos represent how I'm making this work for me, and represent the revenue my business brings in. I mention this often in those videos, but about 25-30% of that immediately goes to quarterly taxes. I live in a HCOL area so expenses are high, and I pay myself a salary, which involves paying yet even more taxes every month at payroll. If you're interested in learning more about how gallery artists make things work, or folks that focus on art licensing or book deals etc etc etc, you should ask those artists! They might not be popular here on Youtube. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 02:08 Morgue Design's Video 03:30 Testimonials From My Actual Customers 08:05 Editor's Note 10:36 Yes, I Do Make Art 16:40 Why The Definition of "Compensation" for Creative Work is Outdated 20:30 Our Unrealistic Expectations of Life As An Artist 25:20 Going Forward EMAIL FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES: hello@kelseyrodriguez.com