Pod Cast Question - 3 Point Perspective
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I currently work retail, and have for a while, and the company stores have been closed for a few weeks now. This has given me time to think about the various projects I would like to do and hope to accomplish. My ideal illustration career would revolve around making my own comics.
I have several ideas for comics I’d like to make. Some are abstract and some are wholesome. What I’d really like to do is adapt some russian fairy tales I grew up with into comics. They were really influential on me and I’d like to share them with others. I just have to do some soul searching and really figure out what about those stories made me feel the way I did and what messages I want my comics to have.
After listening to the comiclab podcast I picture some of them being webcomics. I would be both writer and illustrator.
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@Will-Terry Hi Will, Not sure if you still need input? But I love this question, it's always nice to dream! I'm still in the early stage of learning the craft. My dream is to write and illustrate children's books and create designs for kids products like toys and things to decorate their room with. I love to help create a magical place for them to explore and to escape to.
And have fun in as well! 
I love when kids roll over the floor, laughing their socks off. -
I keep thinking about this question because it feels like everything has changed. If this profession is harder to break into I need to I need to rethink my dreams to help me stay open to whatever pursuing this ends up looking like. But am I being too negative? I am spending more time drawing because it keeps me sane, but I want to be realistic. Are all the pros here ok getting work? I think I'm going to focus on social media rather than getting published.
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@carolinedrawing Every publisher I work with has successfully transitioned to work from home and it's going smoothly. I'm currently working on books that will be out next year or even 2022, so it's the long game and it's still on track. I know it can be scary to get into a profession that's harder to break into. But there ARE people who are doing this for a living... so why not us?
I'll always remember the words I overheard from an animation teacher when I went to my art school's open doors day, before enrolling. I wasn't sure yet if I wanted to take the plunge and was scared about going into arts. The kid in front of me was with his parents and the dad grumpily and suspiciously asked the teacher "Are there a lot of jobs in this field?". The teacher replied "Some. But your kid doesn't need a lot of jobs.. he just needs the one job, doesn't he?" This really stuck with me and convinced me to go for it. Yes it's hard, and most people who try fail because they have no idea how to go about it. If you are smart about this and approach it in a practical way (make a great portfolio, get experience, get an agent, etc) then there's no reason you wouldn't succeed. There ARE openings, and it's up to you to decide if you want to do what it takes to grab them. I'm a prime example of this - I'm not special, I'm not the best illustrator in the world. Just a girl with a plan
vanessastoilova.com
instagram.com/vanessa.stoilova/Check out my Youtube channel for tips on how to start your career in illustration! www.youtube.com/c/ArtBusinesswithNess
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@NessIllustration what an amazing quote! I'm putting that in my back pocket. I just need the one job
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliamurrayart/
Portfolio: www.eliamurray.com -
@NessIllustration What a great story, thank you!
One of the only assignments I have completed is my business plan for the svs 'Making money in illustration' class series, where I wrote that my advantage was that while I am average in illustration skills, I'm great at budgeting so cut my costs enough to have a chance to learn. I showed my husband and daughter to try to get them to understand that I didn't want to lead them on and that in five years i might get a job. They weren't too amused by this
And then everything changed, especially when I think of freelance work as a small business...
Thanks for always bringing such a steady and positive perspective to this forum. -
@NessIllustration WELL SAID!
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@NessIllustration Exactly what I needed to hear right now.
I'm graduating in a few weeks and terrified of finding jobs. I'm going to screenshot your comment and save it. Thank you for sharing. -
@carolinedrawing @burvantill @EliaMurrayArt @baileymvidler I'm so happy this quote could help you as it helped me. This was from my very wise teacher, Bernard Leduc. This made me realize that even if there is just one opening out there, that means I still have a shot. My focus shifted from being scared of the stats to thinking "Okay if they pick just one person, what can I do to ensure that's me?"
Here's another surprising fact: when I got my first studio job after graduating, the studio was actually hiring for 4 artist positions at that time. I got one, a fellow graduate got one, and the remaining 2 stayed vacant for MONTHS. They kept interviewing people, giving the animation test, even hiring a few people who didn't pass the 3 months trial period. I could not believe, with the hundreds of applicants competing for this job, how could they POSSIBLY have trouble finding someone? Turns out yes there are hundreds of people competing for these job openings... but very few of them are actually qualified. And it's not just drawing skills: good communication, teamwork, enthusiasm, hard work, resourcefulness, confidence and business skills are even more important than talent. The amount of competition that everyone warns will be our downfall is so much less relevant than we believe. I gave an animation industry example but in children illustration, just think of the amount of amazing artists who have never really thought about storytelling in their pieces? Or how to compose a book spread with space for text? I think everyone who has found their way to the SVS forums probably has a 100 miles of advance on the competition. It should not scare us, because we can all learn to become highly employable in this field
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@carolinedrawing Budgeting is an incredibly important skill so you're way ahead of us! But for the record I think you have much more than just average illustration skills
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In a perfect world, I'd be directing stop motion animation. I've studied it, collected the tools, technology, and training, but have always been sidetracked by life before I can start on a short film.
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@demotlj yeah, that’s a good answer
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@ajillustrates 🥺 life definitely gets in the way. I wish I could be working in stop motion too. I'd want to build puppets and props. It is such a difficult track to get on and needs such a huge time dedicated to it.
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@Will-Terry this is shameful: my dream is to be “discovered” without ever risking putting myself out there, and get paid far more than I deserve, learning the skills magically as I go. So lazy!! Then I wise up and begin to get excited about the actual process of learning and growing and being a member of the artist community (like here at SVS). The dream transforms: to put in the time and effort and put myself out there and see what can actually happen. But that’s not a dream... that’s commitment, discipline, resilience, and sacrifice. But then again... that does feel like a dream
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@Will-Terry In my perfect world I am writing and illustrating my own children's books and someone actually pays me money for that. No readings, no school and bookstore visits. I hate being around crowds
For now I am in a half-perfect world. I really am, I have the opportunity to write and illustrate stories all day long. Can't wait for the new podcast. -
@NessIllustration so happy to see this when I was rereading this thread.
thank you -
@Will-Terry My hope is to work full time writing and illustrating my own comics/webcomics!
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@Will-Terry Would love to author/illustrate picture books in a 3d styling similar to stop motion (Red Nose Studio/Aardman/Laika hybrid), make funny greeting cards, and design/create/write for a Mr. Rogers/Muppet hybrid sketch show that would have different artist guests.
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@johnchoi I’m just listening to episode 29 “Building a strong portfolio” and I’m totally in the beginning of phase 4. This “dream” is basically not wanting to grow through the phases.
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@Whitney-Simms I love that! You want to paint pancake recipes. That made me smile. And the illustration is perfect too.
