I do have an art background but in a different area. I always wanted to be an illustrator but never made the leap. I am being made redundent at the end of the year and will have some time and money to make a change. I can draw and paint but am rusty. I could use that time to brush up, take some courses, learn some new skills and maybe open an etsy shop, start a blog etc. I get the impression that a lot of illustrators actually get their following from posting work online rather than the old fashioned way of taking their portfolio around publishers etc?
I know I won't be landing print work within a year but just to make and sell my own prints and products, how realistic do you think that is?