SVS Friendsgiving - What are you thankful for?

chrisaakins

@nkdrawings What a great idea! Thank you for suggesting it!

I am thankful for the comradery and fellowship I get here. I don't have many art friends here in Georgia with whom I can talk shop on a meaningful level. I am also thankful for the connections I am forming. Many of the regular contributors here are starting to feel more like friends rather than just online anonymous peeps.

I am also thankful for the growth that everyone's honest critique has caused in me. I think I arrived at the forum a year and a half ago a little full of myself and my abilities but with everyone's patient comments, I realized I have a ton to learn. That new growth mindset has helped me more than anything, both as an artist, but also as an art teacher.

I would tag people specifically but I don't want to leave anyone out. You know who you are!

Amanda Bancroft

I'm thankful for SVS and the forums because I work from home in an off-grid cabin (it's a tiny house on wheels) in Arkansas, so I'm isolated from other people and artists. Without SVS it would be more difficult for me to keep myself accountable to my art, because the challenges of keeping our home going plus the day-to-day busy-ness of business (I own a greeting card business) would drown out the little voice inside me that says "Make great art!" SVS amplifies that voice. I've gained so much knowledge and new skills since joining a few years ago.

THANK YOU SVS!

KathrynAdebayo

I’m thankful for a space to learn about children’s illustration aside from a traditional college setting.

I’m grateful that the price for a subscription has been kept low to make learning about this profession more accessible to more people.

I’m grateful for so many forum members being honest, generous and kind, and for helping me develop an attitude of never-ending learning about illustration.

I’m grateful for so many chances to be exposed to illustrations that are shared on the forum, at whatever stage of development, because I learn sooo much by perusing and analyzing them.

I feel like as a new illustrator, if I run into snags, this community has my back. That is peace of mind.

Chip Valecek

I am thankful for all of you! Being part of this forum has built many friendships outside of art. People come and go in the forums, some stick around longer then others. Some find their way back. Its in those connections that friendships are made.

Jeremy Ross

Hi @nkdrawings great post!

Definitely grateful for this community, the entire SVS team, the SVS podcast, the ability to continue learning and take courses here on SVS to further sharpen my saw, and finally - following my passion of illustration and creating stories. It doesn't pay the bills, but it certainly serves me well. Although I don't have much free time due to full-time career in non-art related field and having a family to raise, I fill any available free time with the following (4) major categories:

First and foremost (family time)
Art (illustrating, animating, writing, guitar or ukulele)
Learning (book, courses, research, etc.), and
Training (e.g., calisthenics, weight training, martial arts or some form of cardio).

I'm grateful to have the opportunity to take care of my mind, my body, my family, and just having this intrinsic drive for constant betterment through the beginner's mind.

Recommended reading: The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck

Thanks!

PS. Just for fun, here's a quick drawing I did during a camping trip in October (warning - fan art). We had s'mores too!

Spongebob Camping.jpg

Anni

I'm thankful I found SVS recently. My art focus was stalling, I needed some direction and SVS fit in perfectly with everything else going on in my life right now. I'm looking forward to getting more involved!

demotlj

I am grateful for the beauty I find here both in people's artwork and in the kindness of the teachers and forum members. In a world that feels all too ugly these days, SVS is a balm.

TessaW

I'm thankful for:

The composition class here. I took it a couple of years ago and I think it was exactly what I needed at that point of my art progression- it propelled me forward quite a bit.
The safe and creative atmosphere of this community. The vibes here are so good!
People posting their process and their work over time. This motivates me in a big way. When I see the work people are putting in, I know that I can work hard too.

Thanks SVS! You make me a better artist and person.

RG Spaulding

Hey everyone,
Really thankful that I found this forum. After spending an entire career in engineering, it is so refreshing to come to a place and be a beginner in art and learn and improve something that I love doing. I am so glad that folks here are nice and help with improving my art. So glad @will-terry, @Lee-White and @Jake-Parker for starting this so I can learn art outside of art school. I can't imagine going to full-time art school with all the family obligations.
I am just in awe of all the talented folks here!

ArtofAleksey

I'm thankful for SVSlearn classes and the SVSlearn forum because they both continuously give me confidence that I am on the right path to become a professional illustrator.

I'm thankful for the great people I met on here that I can consider my friends and colleagues. If I'm ever in a place where I'm swamped with art jobs, I'm coming to ya'll for help. Ya'll are great

I'm thankful for people loving my snarky remarks.

Coreyartus

I am incredibly thankful for the information gleaned on these forums that is generously shared by others just to share it. Every time someone shares news or discoveries or challenges, I learn a lot more about the world of illustration. When I see constructive criticism, I can often apply it to my own endeavors. When I read freely given advice to honest and earnest questions, it makes me more of a professional, more worldly and more aware. The spirit in which all these things are given--without judgement or disdain--is truly remarkable. I'm incredibly thankful I found this forum, the classes and everyone here. You all help make my efforts better in a myriad of ways.

Heather Boyd

@Aleksey what snarky remarks, lols

ArtofAleksey

@Heather-Boyd the ones with snarks.. The Snarky Snarks sounds like a fun childrens book...

chrisaakins

@Aleksey ha! I get the reference. Aleksey Jones and the Mountain of the asnarky Snarks!

ArtofAleksey

@chrisaakins what is that a reference to? Pls explain

Pamela Fraley

@nkdrawings This is a great idea! I love SVS. I am in a weird spot in life. Busy with kids and grandparents and my husbands businesses and and and... I have to set “artist me” on the back burner a lot more than I want to. But, between the SVS forums, the podcast, social media, and all the classes, I feel like I can still be connected. I’m still learning things and I’m encouraged to keep at it with whatever time I have. I’ve made some good friends along the way too. So thankful for this community!

chrisaakins

@Aleksey I thought you were referring to the shout out from my earlier post.

ArtofAleksey

@Pamela-Fraley the back burner is ideal for simmering. Idk I was trying to make a motivational quote I think I failed.

Pamela Fraley

@Aleksey said in SVS Friendsgiving - What are you thankful for?:

@Pamela-Fraley the back burner is ideal for simmering. Idk I was trying to make a motivational quote I think I failed.
Haha! Thats actually true though! I'm working on some writing projects as well as a handful of art projects and I'm constantly thinking about them. When I do sit down to draw or write, I literally never hit a block with what to do... only how to do it.

ArtofAleksey

@Pamela-Fraley yeah Will Weston spoke about this. Once you gain the technical skills to solve problems (which literally anyone can do with time patience and practice) the biggest struggle is the ideas, themes, and concepts. Taking time to think about the ideas and themes and story before addressing the technical skills is also valid.