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+---- Thread: It's as good a time as any for this (/thread-1863.html)
It's as good a time as any for this - JBZ - 01-05-2013
This year I'm going to plan for victory.
I've spent far too long to get where I'm at. I'm 28, with an below-average draughtsmanship. I'm not terrible, but I'm certainly not where I'd like to be to get the jobs. The past, its regrets and victories, its feel-good-man's and its im-a-loser times are behind me. They were necessary to get me where I'm standing right now: right in front of the games of Crimson Daggers. Now, thanks for the ride, but I'm planning to go beyond!
I'm going to create a possible yet highly ambitious goal this year. And I'm going public, dears. Let it be said and set here to posterity that I will fulfil my dreams through hard work.
(By the way, I'll be using the SMART system :Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time based) for goal setting. More info here: http://www.quirkology.com/UK/Experiment_resolution.shtml)
My goal is: GET A JOB I REALLY ENJOY (aka: related to illustration, preferably to do with fantasy, science fiction, comics, books or film)
For that, I need to meet 3 sub-goals.
- Improve my skills
- Get a better portfolio
- Get known around
Here's a rundown of each sub-goal.
Improve my skills
I need to practice more. I need to draw for others in case I get a small job or commission, but also for myself. I need to increase the number of hours I dedicate to my passion. I won't set a "complete x y and z" each day/week, because I know all too well that this only will lead to feeling worse when I can't meet the quota for any x reason, even if reasonable. Instead, I'll go for more general mini-goals.
- Every week, I should have drawn for myself (enjoyment), for improvement (studies) and for others (competitions, jobs, commissions).
- General schedule (need to be flexible here, since I work part-time, with varying times):
Morning: Wake up, Draw till lunch.
Afternoon: Relax a bit, then go to work or class (or draw if not)
Evening: Relax (if deadline, work till late)
Night: Get your 7 hours of sleep. Keeps creativity in check.
I'm doubtful of adding "do x hours of drawing-related stuff" every day, since I don't want to kick myself in the balls when I absolutely cannot reach the "magic number". For now, I'll leave it out.
Portfolio
I need to improve my portfolio, and adjust it so it attracts the type of work I want.
- Keep a constant eye for old stuff that doesn't represent me anymore.
- Create and manage categories so possible clients find quickly what they want.
- Scour the internet for good portfolio tips. www.theartorder.com had some good pointers lately.
Get known around
I need to surround myself with like-minded people. I love my friends and family, and won't ever fail them, but I need contacts within the business I want to jump in. If I get a buddy or two in the process, even better!
- Create and maintain a portfolio in Crimson Daggers and ImagineFX forums. Conceptart.org seems to have problems as of late. Team Awesome in facebook is very nice, but excruciating to navigate. Deviantart is a bit too socialnetworky for me.
- Enrol in drawing partnerships or "online classes" through livestream. I've been following sickbrush's from time to time and it's simply golden knowledge.
- Comment, participate in conversations and share. Be thankful and respect your elders.
That's it for now. I guess I'll be updating later on, as I refine the goals and stuff.