James Gurney: Life is an Adventure

Art by Analise Black
The legendary James Gurney joins Jake Parker, Will Terry, and Lee White to talk about his life as an artist, from a train-hopping twenty-one-year-old to becoming one of the most iconic illustrators of our time.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • 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.

RESOURCES
Jake Parker: mrjakeparker.com. Instagram: @jakeparker, Youtube: JakeParker44
Will Terry: willterry.com. Instagram: @willterryart, Youtube: WillTerryArt
Daniel Tu: danieltu.co.
Lily Camille Howell: lilycamille.com
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