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Q: What advice would you give a student entering the field of illustration (image making)?
A: In school, the idea that I might not find success as an artist never entered my mind. I found illustration my second year in art school, and I fell in love with the visual problem solving required in the discipline. I was aware of the horrible attrition rate of professional artists, and I would shrug off the doubts as if they were other people's concerns. Reality set in when I graduated. I began asking the tough questions- What am I doing differently than the thousands of other students graduating from art schools across the world? How to I begin? How good is my product? Who will by my product?
I waited tables, worked at a gym, taught a bit, worked retail, and somewhere I found the courage to look above the mire that my life had become. I found a community in the Illustration Academy, and I committed to a total immersion of my life in art- much as it had been in school.
Be sure to embrace your arts community. You are not above it, better than it, etc. An artist can't live in isolation. The period immediately following school can be very depressing. It is the first time that you aren't punished, or rewarded for doing/not doing your work. You aren't required to be anywhere, or to answer to anyone. The lack of parameters can be very difficult for the undisciplined. You must set goals, set a schedule, and follow them. There will be more on goal setting next post.
10/19/2008
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6 comments:
I'm struggling a lot with this right now. It's really helpful to hear your thoughts/experience on the subject.
Thanks a lot for keeping this blog, I look forward to reading more.
Kyler- my pleasure. I've been there, and I know that you guys need a resource. I hope that I can help.
It's always good to hear stories of working 9-to-5's from an established artist. It makes the idea of "success" more real and attainable...if you work hard enough.
"Community". I agree with you on this one 100%. The first summer after graduating was one of the most depressing times for me. Not necessarily because I was lacking work, but because I missed being surrounded by my artist friends..being exposed to that environment was so important. Self motivation can only go on for so long, regardless of how disciplined you are. One of the main reasons I wanted to teach in the first place, was to surround myself with people who wanted to do art. I think most illustrators, when they work, tend to work 'alone'....have their own space...that's why getting together regularly with fellow artist is so important. (even when they all end up drinking for the most part..hehe j/k)
-T
Sterling, this is an awesome premise for a blog! It's times like these I'm totally thankful for cyberspace.
And quite the common denominator of depression after graduation! *Hahaha* Now I can buck up, for crying out loud.
Please consider following my blog, Sterling!
Richie- Everyone struggles. It may seem that certain individuals are on a rocket to stardom, but even they struggle. Everyone faces their own demons- motivation, distractions, a life changing event that redirects priorities, a slowly developing career, etc. It is all relative. Often those who seem to get to those goals faster, are severe critics of their own work, and find short lived happiness moving from one perceived accomplishment to the next. They internalize everything. I read once that Jim Carey took a job cleaning toilets so that he would know what it felt like to be a the bottom. Hard work is certainly a factor. There is a direct correlation between how hard someone work, and how quickly they improve.
I believe that being a creative problem solver makes for a much more interesting artist than a great draftsman. I always ask, who is the better singer, Mariah Carey, or Bob Dylan? Academically, Mariah Carey is phenomenal, and Bob Dylan's voice leaves a lot to be desired. Who then is the better musician? Bob Dylan without a question.
Tin- I refer to this phenomenon as "social withdrawal". No one talks about it. It hit me very hard. I lived in Kansas City soon after I graduated, and the only person that I knew was my roomate. Add in a long distance relationship, and a total lack of schedule- I was miserable. In that time, I found my conviction and making art daily became a way of life. Drawing is much more of a discipline than a compulsion for me. It is something that I have to make my self do, not something that I can't help but do.
Owen- Thanks for you input. The "void", the "abyss", the "gap", whatever you call it, the period of time after you graduate sucks, especially if you are trying to find a way to identify yourself as an artist. It is a very difficult thing to do. This is the time to be decisive and become a rifle (set your sights on a target, and attack) versus being a shotgun, and trying to do everything. There is no wrong direction to pursue, as long as it is heading forward. Once you have established a consistent stream of revenue, it becomes much easier to move laterally within the art industry. (I enjoyed your blog)
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