Art by Katherine Tyson
Is an art career for me? Should I use a nom de plume? Why are products better than projects? Join Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry for the answers to these questions and more!
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SHOW LINKS
Andy J. Pizza
Brett Superstar
Inktober
You Need a Product, Not a Project
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Create something every day! Whether you’re a high school student or an illustration pro, this simple practice will have the biggest impact on your career and abilities.
Forget projects; create products. Learning to see an idea to completion and offer it to the world will level up your skills and show you who truly values your work.
QUESTIONS
Javaughn asks, “I'm a high school student trying to decide what to do when I graduate. I'm interested in art, but I'm not confident in my skills and drive to go to art school and make art in a work environment. Should I take the risk and go to art school, or should I do something generic and pursue art once I've got a solid job? ”
This is a tough decision! While there’s no one right answer, here are some things to consider:
- You can learn skills (that’s what art school is for), but a lack of drive can impair your ability to succeed in school and an art career.
- A generic job is great for stability but can make it hard to branch out to art-related careers later.
- Some people are happier making art as a hobby rather than a full-time job. Don’t let your passion become a chore!
Jake recommends using your remaining time in high school to create something every day. Don’t worry about producing great art or perfecting your style; just make something and ask yourself if you enjoyed the process. An art career rests on your ability to create things from start to finish, and this practice will teach you to do so. (Bonus: your skills will improve!) This will give you clarity about whether you could do this long-term. Also, remember that you don’t need to start college immediately after high school graduation. Taking a gap year to work, take art classes, and get some life experience can help you make a more informed decision.
Becky asks, “Do you recommend using your own name as an illustrator? Why or why not? How do you determine what name to use if it isn't your own?”
There’s nothing wrong with picking a cool name to use with your art. Successful artists who use aliases include Andy J. Pizza, Dr. Seuss, and Brett Superstar. Even Jake and Lee have taken pseudonyms (Jake was Agent44 and Lee was Antonio Blanco). A nom de plume- whether completely made-up or a version of your given name- allows you to choose something memorable and reflective of your work. Before you decide, ask yourself who you’ll want to have associated with your finished work. Do you want your real name on the cover of that children’s book, or are you OK with an assumed name getting all the credit? At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference.
Anonymous asks, “I studied illustration and have had a successful career in toy design. I've even been able to work on concept art for TV animation and feature films! I've recently gone freelance and I want to build up the illustration side of my business. I'm burnt out making overly-art-directed work hidden away by non-disclosure agreements. I want to create work that I can show off and hang my hat on. Do you have any advice for an artist that struggles to make and show their original work? I also struggle to make something without the pressure of an external deadline.”
It’s understandable to feel burnt out after devoting your creative energy to other people’s work. To get inspired again, ask yourself what kind of work you want to leave in the world. As an experienced artist, you have skills to match your vision. Now you have the opportunity to discover what your vision is.
Creating a product is a great way to measure progress, get deadlines, and share your work publicly. Pick a doable project to complete by the end of the year. It could be a 30-page comic, a short children’s book, a gallery show- whatever’s up your alley. Then break it down into workable, monthly goals. We’re still early in 2022, so ideally you’ll have a finished product people can buy and give for Christmas this year. Kickstarters, critique groups, and gallery show deadlines make great accountability partners!
LINKS
Jake Parker: mrjakeparker.com. Instagram: @jakeparker, Youtube: JakeParker44
Will Terry: willterry.com. Instagram: @willterryart, Youtube: WillTerryArt
Lee White: leewhiteillustration.com. Instagram: @leewhiteillo
Daniel Tu: danieltu.co.
Lily Howell: lilycamille.com
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