When people write me/meet me and say: “My DREAM is to be a Disney animator/ character designer, concept artist, etc.- what TIPS do you have to help me reach my dream?”   A TIP?  To get a position that thousands of people a year try for and miss?  A tip to learn all the YEARS of artistic knowledge and practice you need to be able to GET that job, much less KEEP it?  I used to give long, impassioned answers on how they need to devote themselves to drawing, learning perspective, study acting, movement, overlapping action, gesture drawings, preparing a good portfolio, and on and on.  I would spend TIME with each person crafting an answer that would help them get there (even though I’d not seen a scratch of their artwork, and had no idea what their ability level was)- because it was their DREAM.  Then it hit me- this isn’t my problem.  This is THEIR problem.  I don’t need to give them an answer.  They need to answer a question for me first.  Now, I answer with a question: “Do you draw everyday?”  99.9% of the time, sadly, the answer is NO.  A couple times a week?  ”Not usually,” they say.  At this point, I tell them my Olympic swimmer analogy.  If my DREAM was to make it to the Olympics and win a GOLD MEDAL don’t you think I’d have to get into the pool everyday to get there?  There’s your TIP.  Draw. Every. Day.  Sorry if this comes out bitter.  I actually say it with a slight “loving lilt” to my voice, so it sounds friendly-like.  And- you kids get off my lawn!