I’m an artist hoping to get a career in art, specifically as an illustrator.Three years ago I graduated with an art degree and have since been working to make that happen: doing a lot of research, building a portfolio and exploring all my options.I work part time to keep myself fed, but otherwise I’m always drawing, painting and networking.

From what I’ve learned, it takes years before most artists can quit their day jobs. I’m prepared for this; I’m in no way lazy, but I know it will take me a long time. I keep my head down and keep trying.

My family and friends are very supportive, which is wonderful, but there’s one big problem. They don’t understand why it’s taking me so long to get an art job, thus they’re always offering me art advice, though they aren’t artists themselves. Advice on what to paint, how much to sell for, who to work for and so on. Sometimes the advice is a little ridiculous, if not insulting: “Just go work for Disney” or “Nobody wants to buy those kinds of paintings. Paint portraits, those will sell.” Or, “Do it for the exposure if you have to.”

They don’t trust that I know what I’m doing, and they don’t recognize how hard I’m working. It gets to the point I don’t want to talk about my art at all. I want to enjoy my family get-togethers again. How can I let on (politely) that I’m not interested in their bombardment of ill-informed advice? — Struggling Artist