Skeffins Sketchbook

[Skeffin]

Children's books are a big challenge, but a lot of fun. I did some for a uni grad who was writing an allegorical children's book. The challenge is being simple while being readable so the story can be followed easily and you know, obviously appeal to tiny humans. It was about truth and lies and if you feed the lie it becomes a monster, so it was somewhat up my alley.

Ignoring all the indie projects and friend's favours -  I ended up with three local publishers with me on their books for gothic/horror art. One had me collaborate with another artist and the linework is pretty much in limbo until they decide what to do with it. But, it made me about two weeks rent worth. Lucrative, I know. The others I worked so hard to get, before pulling out myself because the offers were starting to become scifi-oriented or I kept being asked to do things I had no evidence of being able to do in my sample work. Probably was a test, but like I said, the opportunity was there but I limited myself. I could find work, and if I cut a lot of strings I would just be doing illustration.

 Currently I work in sales and am very much a Jill-of-all-trades after redesigning and launching several ecommerce sites for my Boss and doing a lot of merchandising for our own imported products. So graphic design and advertising, mostly. It's been crazy because there's a lot of competition and I would much rather be putting that energy into illustration so I am forever telling myself make up your mind!  It's weird, I would pick up a job any day doing ecommerce, social media management and sales, but I hesitate when it comes to whether or not I think an illustration job is worth while. 

I think there's a lot of value in graphic design education because it contains knowledge that applies to a lot of artwork commercially and that's where you can really build a business for yourself while supporting your independent or preferred work. 

There's a ba-jillion ways to get from point A to point B so I don't dictate the how to's on getting work, but just know there is always work there. I'm just a picky bish. 

Is it because for conceptart art is more the method to get the design idea across, vs focusing on stuff that makes art art in the traditional sense?

 Yeees. I think. Concept Art is a fast paced job that relies on listening to your client, your skills in design, your proficiency to convey an idea quickly, no matter the level of finish, and to produce produce produce. I don't think that's the place to start as that's more of a -what you're able to do- job once you have proficiency, competency and I guess comfort in illustration and design. So it's like, be an artist first then concept art is the role, not 'be a concept artist'.

I'm totally in the right place to be saying such things. It's been a long day. I'm pooped. I hope that made sense and thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Hey I appreciate the long reply, cheers for taking the time! It's good to hear how other people went about getting openings and stuff. The childrens book/gothic horror art you mentioned sounds like it was pretty cool to illustrate.

I don't think it's weird at all to hesitate about illustration as a career. If someones doing a job that's not like,  their lifes greatest passion or whatever, then you're more willing to accept the usual frustrations that come with any job. I think it would sting more if you were doing art but the subject matter itself didn't appeal, because well, you love drawing, and you don't want it reduced to something that bores you. Plus all that stuff about "don't make your hobby your job unless you want to end up hating it" etc is something you hear a fair amount.

What you're saying about conceptart makes sense though. I do want to focus on some areas I'm lacking in for the rest of this year, but maybe after that I should try hustling for some commisions or something I know I'm not ready for them yet because I did one for a friend semi recently and I was having a shit time with it.  I'm a picky bish too, given I've only ever had to draw stuff I actually have some sort of interest in, short of studies.