i've been studying art for years and am still not at a level where i can make a living out of it. do you think at this point i should just think about changing my career, what would your advice be for "failed artists"?

Well, you might not have found the thing you’re really adept at yet.  Maybe you need to try different areas of art to see if anything else really really clicks with you.  Sometimes you’re just in the wrong medium!  And sometimes it takes exploring the other mediums in order to advance in the one you’re currently stuck at.  Keep trying new things!