But gosh I needed it more then I thought.
So I guess I thought that when I started my senior project I'd be all "yay life is wonderful I'm going to draw all day and make a fantastic beautiful story about something fantastic and it's going to win a student award."
asdf I have never been so wrong.
It started when my professors took a shine to my story I presented. It was my "lesser" story I guess, the story I thought was okay but probably wouldn't get picked.
Come to find out, my professors like snowmen with deep meaningful tragic stories attached to them.
Anyways, sense that day they're always checking up on me, asking me about my drawing and art stuff and taking the time to recognize that I am probably one of the stronger artists in the class. And the stress and pressure of their expectations started to weigh on me.
A lot.
Like I was terrified to turn stuff in because I want to match their expectations.
So I've been a bit of a shadow for the past week or so since school started. I basically go to class, draw, go to work, fret about school, sleep for 5 hours, and then do it all again.
And I finally found my peace with it all.
I went to SLC's Comic Con yesterday, and there were a lot of really cool people there.
I met the comic book artist and the background artist for Adventure Time. (two separate people)
And a guy who was a background painter for Disney for 10 years and an art director for a bunch of movies that I love unconditionally.
... And a concept artist for Lucas Films.
Glob.
That last guy, just might've changed my artistic outlook on everything.
I asked every professional artist I met if they had any advice for me since that's kinda what I wanna do.
And every single one gave me a piece of advice.
And they were all different.
I feel like I got handed the pieces of the puzzle for concept artist success and all I have to do is put them together and it will all make sense haha!
But seriously, that last guy was amazing.
He's a pro, been working in the industry for probably a really long time, and I asked him what I could do to get better.
At first he hesitated, kinda like "woah there's a random blonde girl grinning at me and asking me for help with art what am I supposed to do here", slowly suggesting things like "there's this website you should look at" and such. But as he kept talking he just kept going and going and going and gosh he gave me homework and told me "I want you to draw this EVERY DAY" and work on this and focus on this play with this make sure you understand this...
When he eventually ran out of things he says "Keep pushing for what you want. And don't give up. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't make it."
Gosh. I have never felt so... appreciated? I don't think that's the right word but gosh.
There's a professional artist out there, who legitimately believes in me? And told me that I have a chance?
Granted, every artist I talked to said "it's a competitive industry!", but seriously.
This guy even gave me his personal email address and told me to send him an email if anyone ever bashed my art.
Glob.
I just can't even process all of this.
That was the greatest night of advice and networking and communication I'VE EVER HAD.
The one Adventure Time guy even went to my school!!
Dang it but seriously I have never been so pumped about being an artist.
I'm going to do this.
It's going to be hard.
It's going to give me heart ache.
It's going to drive me crazy.
But as long as my drawing hand is still in working order, and as long as my passion burns a hole in my chest, I'm going to make it.
And someday I'll be an artist at Comic Con.
And some shy artist will walk up to me.
And ask me for advice.
I'll probably start crying when that happens haha
But seriously, look out artistic world. I'm coming so look out because there's a new artist in town.
So I guess I thought that when I started my senior project I'd be all "yay life is wonderful I'm going to draw all day and make a fantastic beautiful story about something fantastic and it's going to win a student award."
asdf I have never been so wrong.
It started when my professors took a shine to my story I presented. It was my "lesser" story I guess, the story I thought was okay but probably wouldn't get picked.
Come to find out, my professors like snowmen with deep meaningful tragic stories attached to them.
Anyways, sense that day they're always checking up on me, asking me about my drawing and art stuff and taking the time to recognize that I am probably one of the stronger artists in the class. And the stress and pressure of their expectations started to weigh on me.
A lot.
Like I was terrified to turn stuff in because I want to match their expectations.
So I've been a bit of a shadow for the past week or so since school started. I basically go to class, draw, go to work, fret about school, sleep for 5 hours, and then do it all again.
And I finally found my peace with it all.
I went to SLC's Comic Con yesterday, and there were a lot of really cool people there.
I met the comic book artist and the background artist for Adventure Time. (two separate people)
And a guy who was a background painter for Disney for 10 years and an art director for a bunch of movies that I love unconditionally.
... And a concept artist for Lucas Films.
Glob.
That last guy, just might've changed my artistic outlook on everything.
I asked every professional artist I met if they had any advice for me since that's kinda what I wanna do.
And every single one gave me a piece of advice.
And they were all different.
I feel like I got handed the pieces of the puzzle for concept artist success and all I have to do is put them together and it will all make sense haha!
But seriously, that last guy was amazing.
He's a pro, been working in the industry for probably a really long time, and I asked him what I could do to get better.
At first he hesitated, kinda like "woah there's a random blonde girl grinning at me and asking me for help with art what am I supposed to do here", slowly suggesting things like "there's this website you should look at" and such. But as he kept talking he just kept going and going and going and gosh he gave me homework and told me "I want you to draw this EVERY DAY" and work on this and focus on this play with this make sure you understand this...
When he eventually ran out of things he says "Keep pushing for what you want. And don't give up. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't make it."
Gosh. I have never felt so... appreciated? I don't think that's the right word but gosh.
There's a professional artist out there, who legitimately believes in me? And told me that I have a chance?
Granted, every artist I talked to said "it's a competitive industry!", but seriously.
This guy even gave me his personal email address and told me to send him an email if anyone ever bashed my art.
Glob.
I just can't even process all of this.
That was the greatest night of advice and networking and communication I'VE EVER HAD.
The one Adventure Time guy even went to my school!!
Dang it but seriously I have never been so pumped about being an artist.
I'm going to do this.
It's going to be hard.
It's going to give me heart ache.
It's going to drive me crazy.
But as long as my drawing hand is still in working order, and as long as my passion burns a hole in my chest, I'm going to make it.
And someday I'll be an artist at Comic Con.
And some shy artist will walk up to me.
And ask me for advice.
I'll probably start crying when that happens haha
But seriously, look out artistic world. I'm coming so look out because there's a new artist in town.
No comments:
Post a Comment