I quit my dream job at Google to be an artist. Was it worth it?
Last month, I quit my job as a Product Designer at Google to be a full-time artist. This was quite an emotional video to make, and has been a long time in the works, but I really want to share my story in the hopes that it will inspire other artists.
I will break down why I decided to quit corporate and follow my passion, how I went about doing that in the safest possible way, what were my struggles along the way, and the exact financial realities of everything, from how much money I make, to my revenue streams, and what my expenses are like.
✨ If you feel like supporting an unemployed artist, check out:
MY NEW WATERCOLOR ART BOOK: Tokyo Hidden Gems!
It’s my hand-illustrated guide to Tokyo's best-kept secrets: https://www.etsy.com/listing/44879144...
🎨 OTHER ART BOOKS & PRINTS: https://www.etsy.com/shop/travelingpa...
📸 FOLLOW MY ART JOURNEY: / bingying.art
Check out the Superbowl commercial Google made for the product I designed! It is so wonderfully wholesome: • Javier in Frame | Google Pixel SB Commerci...
✏️ MY ART SUPPLIES:
・Watercolor Palette:
⟡ I sell the exact palette I use with my choice of paint: https://www.etsy.com/listing/44694782... ⟡ Or, you can get a cheaper version (without paint) on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tojyjI
・Fountain Pen: Kaweco Sport piston filler - https://amzn.to/4aty2al
・Waterproof ink: De Atramentis Document Ink Brown - https://amzn.to/4bD2e3R
・Water brush: Staedtler - https://amzn.to/3MfuS0x
・Pen case: Sonic SMA-STA - https://amzn.to/4a230GA
Full gear breakdown in this video: • My Mini Travel Art Kit: Secrets to Quick &...
Disclosure: I earn a small commission from these links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!
✨ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
01:22 How I became an artist (without art school)
03:45 Life as a Google Designer & corporate perks
05:39 WHY did I quit?
07:24 My "free trial" at testing out artist life
09:40 Struggles of a new self-employed artist
12:32 What I love about my art career
14:35 How much $$$ do I make as an artist?
17:06 Expense breakdown
19:35 Was it worth it?
👋 ABOUT ME: Hi, I'm Bingying, a traveling watercolor painter based in Tokyo. I recently left my 12-year career as a UX designer at Google to focus on my art full-time. On this channel, I share the reality of building an art business, travel sketching tips, and the quiet moments of life in Japan .
KEYWORDS: #IQuitMyJob #ArtistLife #ArtBusiness #FullTimeArtist #SelfEmployedArtist #GoogleDesigner #TokyoArtist #WatercolorPainting #FinancialTransparency #EtsySeller #CreatorEconomy #ArtistDiary #ArtistVlog #SellingArt