I know what you're thinking... "He's been blogging about illustration for over 2 years, and he's just now decided to get serious!?"
Well, sort of...
During these 2 year's, I have developed a love/hate relationship with my "day job". I love the freedom I have working at home, and the freedom my boss allows me as far as time off "as long as the work gets done." I hate the monotony of the work month to month. I design a magazine which is somewhat of a template that I refill each month with new text and photos. As a result, I developed this "get out quickly" attitude to getting a new job, basically coming up with "quick fix" ideas to move on to what I thought would make me happy in my career. I went from wanting to open a bookstore, to starting a kids website, a kids magazine, a restaurant, and most recently, to becoming an art teacher. Needless to say there are no quick fixes to career bliss. There is a lot of work involved in any choice you make. Luckily for me, I have a wonderful wife who, to my initial chagrin, knows me better that I do, and has saved me from myself many, many times.
After going through the research and development phases of each idea, I finally come to the realization that, deep down, if I am honest with myself, I love art and I love to draw, and I really don't have the desire to do anything else. I really do like graphic design (which is an art form), and am working on my attitude with my job to keep me going until I am able to support my family with an illustration career, if it takes off.
My main problem is lack of confidence in my current art, and my ability to get better with practice. I look at all the great artists out there, and begin to doubt my chances of making it in this field.
That being said, I have decided to join up with Jonathan Woodward and his 12 Week Challenge that will begin on April 5. Jonathan, like me, is an aspiring illustrator who, for various reasons, has put off illustration as a career. Hopefully this will be the kick-in-the-seat I need to get off my pencils and brushes, and really get serious about this journey I started 2 yeas ago.
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8 comments:
Good for you! Go for it!!
Great to have you in the challenge Tom! Jonathan seems like a great guy and I think we'll have fun along the way in the journey. Hang in there...
Fantastic! :D Good luck, and I'll be rooting for you!
Frankenstein's Leprechaun, love it!
Hi Tom! I've given you an award this morning...can't wait to see your list! : )
Hi Tom, wow this is your lucky day, I've given you an award too! You've been really kind and supportive these past weeks, and I really appreciate it, so I wanted to include you with the Renee Award. Thanks!
You have the talent Tom, don't doubt yourself. There is always something to learn, always something to improve on, no matter what level you are at. It just takes work, and commitment. Thankfully your wife supports your goal, that's key as well.
You can do it Tom!
LOL, it;s funny reading how many ideas for a career you have! Wow. Yes, I do design too and sometimes the nature of the work is just down and dirty template driven stuff so when the more creative pieces come along I'm happy but then again stressed as those just take a lot longer !
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