Usually, the first Tuesday of the month, here at Bird Meets
Worm, a new superstar interview with a fellow creative posts. However, since my
scheduled August interview became unexpectedly unavailable at the last moment,
I am offering something a little bit different this month…on a Wednesday!
As you may have noted, if you follow Bird Meets Worm, I
recently graduated from the inaugural Make Art That Sells e-course (Part A) by
the fabulous Illustrator & Art Rep, Lilla Rogers. I’ve been meaning to
write up a bit about my takeaways from the class, but have been busy in a
flurry of new work as well as the development of a new self-promotional plan,
all inspired by Lilla’s class. So this is a perfect opportunity to slow down
and share!
It goes without saying that the MATS class offered a bounty
of practical information about various art licensing markets, how to break into
them as well as lots of career and life tips direct from Lilla. For those,
you’ll have to take her class, but here are my 3 Mini Epiphanies that I walked
away with:
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| My studio with a bunch of Lilla's inked inspirational phrases hung up! |
1) Your Sketchbook Is
a Treasure Chest! Keep It Filled Up!
Until a couple months ago, I did not keep a sketchbook. Not
even when I was in art school did I keep a sketchbook. Why, you might wonder?
Well, because, I was taught that sketchbooks were for sitting in cafes and
going on location to draw the lively cast of characters and scenery around
you…from life…realistically. And honestly, I don’t like drawing in public. I
much prefer to be alone to draw (and to do most any other kind of artmaking
too!) And I don’t really enjoy life drawing, especially realistically. It’s
just not my thing. And this made me really self-conscious for a long time. So,
I never really thought sketchbooks were for me. But this narrow presentation of
sketchbooks cheated me from years of happy doodling and freethinking.
So it was timely that I recently took up a sketchbook to get
out of an artistic rut at the same time I signed up for Lilla’s class. All the
art assignments in the class began with a freeform sketching assignment that
consistently lead to great results. Then I listened to all her artists speak
about their processes, it became clear to me that the sketchbook is a place to
be free, to be your artistic self, to do doodle whatever is in your imagination
in whatever your style is yours. And that drawing 500 flowers in a freeform way
in a sketchbook is a surefire way to make the most fabulous floral illustrations
and designs.
So I started a list in the front of my sketchbook of subject
matter I’d like to draw (robots, Mexican wrestling masks, cupcakes, etc.) and
when I have a moment during the day, I pull my sketchbook out, pick a topic and
fill a page with doodles. And then as time has passed, I now have a treasure
chest of artwork with which to compose illustrations and design repeat
patterns. So fabulous! What a confidence boost! What a way to welcome and nurture
your artistic self! I LOVE my sketchbook!
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| NEW woodland critter image series in-progress. |
2) Good-bye, Good Ole
Boys! It’s a Girl’s World Now!
When I was majoring in Illustration in art school back in
the day, I found myself pressed up against the edges of what I call the Good
Ole Boys illustration world. That is to say that the artwork that was held up
and revered consisted primarily of illustrations that followed in the tradition
of illustration’s historical roots. I’m talking about work heavily influence by
the likes of Howard Pyle, Norman Rockwell, Dana Gibson as well as more modern
icons like Brad Holland and C.F. Payne, etc. The Society of Illustrators in NY are
the end-all-be-all of illustration greatness. Needless to say I didn’t really
fit in. And if you were an illustrator who didn’t really fit in, then doing
editorial/advertising work for major newspapers, magazines and brands didn’t
appear to be your future. So what was left?
Naturally, I pursued children’s publishing because it is
awesome and quirky and fun and there is room enough for every style under the
sun. But what it has taken me nearly 11 years to figure out is there is so much
more out there for freelance illustrators like me!! Lilla cemented this notion
and exposed the range of options available, how they overlap and how to break
in. I think that the reason art licensing, illustrated surface design and
decorative imagery for markets like bolt fabric, home décor and gift were not
truly presented to me in art school is that the rise of these markets and the
opportunities in them is linked to the rise of the female illustrator and her
sensibilities as both a creator and a consumer. Lilla certainly spoke to her
individual experiences as a female illustrator as well as to the rise of the
independent female buyer and how these cultural shifts have opened the doors
for artists like myself. It is exciting! And hearing these things from Lilla is
liberating! I think the generation of female illustrators who work
commercially, embrace the DIY craft marketplace and stay-home with our kids, all
at the same time, are a modern movement unto ourselves and I’m proud to be part
of it.
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| NEW gessoed Super Hoot canvases ready for paint & collage! |
3) Art Is Life and
Life Is Art. Live It!
Like my fellow professional artists, illustrators and
designers, I have a strong work ethic. I can enter my studio, sit down, get to
work and really produce. However, doing so always involves sidestepping all the
trappings of a given day, like your kiddos, the internet, that stack of
pleasure reading and catalogues, your own exhaustion, that itch to move; it can
really derail your butt-in-chair efforts. But Lilla provided a powerful
reminder that all these trappings feed the creative self and so are necessary,
even though, there must be a balance between giving in and maintaining that
strong work ethic.
It can be easy to forget that if you take some time
(especially when it seems like there is none to be had!) to take a nap or go
for a run or pop into a yoga class, it can actually give you the tools you need
to relax, be energized, think, be creative and produce. It can actually help
you maximize your time.
And leisure activities, like reading that stack of Land of
Nod and West Elm catalogues or that new bestselling novel or bookmarking your
favorite items on Etsy or watching the latest summer blockbuster movie,
actually immerses you in the culture you are making art for and thus puts you
in touch with your greater audience. Those catalogues, Etsy favorites and
popular culture entertainment are essentially your own personal trend reports
that can in turn inform your artmaking. Art is life and life is art. So live it
up and get inspired!
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| NEW playground image in-progress inspired by Lilla's talent search assignment. |
I could fill endless pages writing about my positive
experiences in Lilla Rogers MATS e-course (Part A), but there is only so much
time and space in the day, so I hope that the tidbits I chose to share are
helpful and inspiring. I’m all signed up to take the MATS e-course (Part B) this
fall, so I’m sure you’ll be hearing and seeing more from me as the leaves begin
to change colors.
In the meantime, stay tuned for more art and inspiration
here on Bird Meets Worm. We will be returning to our usual monthly interview
next month, scheduled to post on Tuesday, September 3rd. I’ve got a
fabulous illustrator all lined up and am super excited. I’ll give you a hint!
She was part of the recent SCBWI-LA annual conference faculty and she is better
known as Chicken Girl!