When I was young and lived in San Francisco, I could have just gotten a job and been fine but I was determined to be an artist and nothing else.
The arrogance of youth is astounding. Not only did I refuse to work at a normal job, I thought people would just magically come to me and buy my work . I just waited for something to happen. I lived in a hotel room in a cheap part of town and and painted in my room.
Looking back I cannot believe I did not die. the people that lived there with me in that wonderful hotel were everything from prostitutes and drug dealers. All the cream of society.
I did get a job eventually when I could not even pay the hotel rent that turned out to be a total answer to prayer(even though I never prayed back then) A woman called me and asked me to be a live in cook for two people. In exchange I would get some money and a place to live and Get this= An Art Studio. I never had one of those before. Even though I did not know how to cook I said yes (also the astonishing wisdom of youth). I went to the library and got Joy of Cooking and read it. Every meal was the first time I ever made it. The people I worked for had no idea.
One night I had to make a dinner party for 6 as some famous person was coming. It turned out to be a woman who had been married to a famous artist which I cannot remember now but it was a biggie. Anyway she was connected with the art world. She heard I was an artist and decided to check out my work. Guess what happened next. to be continued…