transition (v) to move from one thing to another

The strange thing about life is that regardless of how you try to hold onto the things you love, there always comes a time when you need to stand back and ask yourself "why do I do the things I do..."

This last month, this came to me when I began applying for new jobs. Having spent my 2nd year as an art teacher, my wife and I were considering a change in local. I saw this as an opportunity to leave teaching and reach back into a more art oriented career. So for the last few months I have been applying here-and-about and waiting for any interest.

The problem that struck me was my resume of artistic accomplishments. And of those, primarily my website. If you did not know me or who I am, this is what you would gleem from looking at my art online:

"Brian Schmoyer is a promising teenager who likes to make funny animations about movies and videogames and has posted a few doodles on his website of random backgroundless cartoons in uninteresting poses."

The problem is, I am not a nerdy teenager...

I know this may be a harsh persepective, but nothing about my work screams as to what I have thought myself capable of. Yes I am an animator, but I have nothing proving my dedicated skills. Just some funny meaningless films. Second, while I have been drawing characters, I rarely put them together in scenes with backgrounds AND forget about any examples of digital painting techniques...

I guess the problem is simple. I have been treating my art and animation like a hobby, and for the last 4 years, have not been serious about what I do. So while other artists (many whom are my own age) have professional looking websites and portfolios that scream "hire me" mine looks pretty much like it has for the last 5 years.

SO... what am I to do? Well, simply put, I think I need to redesign not only my website and image, but also how I approach my art. Every piece needs to raise the bar on what I have done before. As people who see my art from another perspective, does any of this make sense? Have I fallen behind? Could I seriously hold a candle to half of the artists in my experience bracket? And what would you suggest I focus on. (and dont say more Star Wars animations...)

While it looking like I may be teaching again next year, I hope in a years time, my portfolio will better represent the person I want to be.