Whether it succeeds or fails, each project you launch is a stepping stone towards your next idea. Don’t bank so much on the success of one project that you don’t move on to the next one.
Do common things uncommonly well to set yourself apart.
Don’t force every idea to become a cash cow; leave some art just for yourself. You might still make money off of it, but don’t create it for that cause. Focus on the purity of the craft and let other endeavors (artistic or not) pay the bills.
Time spent perfecting your craft is not time wasted, and neither is time spent earning a living. Find the balance and appreciate both pursuits.
Diana asks, "What does the advertising illustration landscape look like today?”
While illustrating for advertising was once a viable career, it’s now more of an occasional gig. You’ll still find jobs in the advertising world from time to time, but not enough to keep the lights on. A more reliable way to work in advertising is as a concept artist, but with the rise of AI, even that position is gradually disappearing. If you want to work in this field, plan to diversify your income with other illustration gigs and self-published projects.
Andrin asks, “I often find myself daydreaming about the projects I am working on. While sometimes I end up with a nice, new idea, I mostly dream about a future in which the project is already finished and everyone loves it. This gives me an odd feeling of satisfaction in the moment without actually having finished the project. Do you have any strategies to stop daydreaming and start drawing?”
You may prefer dreaming to creating because you’re afraid of failure. Everyone loves your work in your imagination, but in reality, you’re bound to face some rejection. Call fear what it is and choose to start drawing anyway. Start making marks on paper, knowing that the result probably won’t live up to your dream but that the more you create, the closer you’ll get. The mistakes and potential failures are worth the growth and finished projects.
Take the pressure to create a huge masterpiece off yourself. What is the minimum viable version of your idea? Start with that. J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, a self-contained story, before attempting the much more involved The Lord of the Rings. Give yourself a trial run of smaller projects to build your skills and stamina before launching your big idea.
Creating a work schedule and building in accountability are essential for overcoming procrastination. Accountability could look like joining a community of artists who will hold you to your goals, or creating a firm deadline for yourself: booking a gallery or purchasing a ticket to LightBox Expo or a comic con where you plan to show your portfolio, etc. Whatever helps you make promises and keep them, do that! Not only will you grow artistically, but you’ll increase your self-respect as well.
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