RE: Touring Nike's Headquarters!
When I started to pursue my dream of making art my career, so many people told me how art was impossible to do as a career unless you were lucky etc.. But really,all through history, art has been one of the things with the most value, and has always been coveted by the most rich and powerful people on the planet. Any wealthy person lives surrounded by art, from the architecture of the custom buildings they often live in, to the cars they drive, to all the small details of their lives. There's almost nothing that can't be embellished with art and design. I was actually an art collector before I started to paint myself. Art makes people FEEL something, something that exists no matter what the "market" does. And that's why I think art can be a good investment, it pays emotional dividends that other types of investments can't.
One of the first paintings I bought, "Peeling Bodies #2" by @chrisdyer
What you say is true but what people told you is also true. If you want financial success in art or music, then you're going to need luck, and that goes for all endeavors. Other factors matter but luck is a requirement. That's the only thing i'm certain of in life.
I only started to paint when I was 31, I'm self taught, I had no art school connections etc.. and within 3 years I made art my full time career. Now only 6 years after I started painting, my art is in collections in 26 countries and I have my own line of silk scarves, blankets, tote bags, tablecloths etc.. with my designs. Most artists don't REALLY want to succeed financially from their art, they just say they do. If they really did, they'd work their butts off to make it happen. "You can't expect to make a full time living working as an artist if you are not working as an artist full time" - @chrisdyer