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Annie Lumsden, the Girl from the Sea
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.
“How do I know if I’m creating for my audience or to impress my peers?”
If you’re illustrating for children, you’ve likely noticed they love simplicity. Clear concepts and stripped-back or even messy drawings are relatable to them. They care more about the colors and feelings associated with each image than your technical prowess.
Adults, on the other hand, praise art for its execution. If you prioritize the praise of your peers over the enjoyment of your readers, you’ll find yourself overcomplicating illustrations and trying to show off your abilities.
It’s not necessarily wrong to want to impress your peers, but it might hinder you from creating work that connects with your intended audience. Signs that you’re creating for the wrong audience include obsessing over your reception on social media and being overly concerned with technical accuracy.
To step out of this mindset, set an intention for each piece you create. To whom are you speaking? What is the goal of the piece? If it’s an image for a children’s book, forget about the parents or your peers and create for the children. Remember that kids love simplicity, so you don’t have to overcomplicate your images. When you know the audience you serve, all other voices fade into the background.
Robert asks, “What does it mean to find your voice artistically?”
Your voice is a combination of your taste and personality showing through your art. Like handwriting, it emerges over time as you experiment with different styles, copy ideas you like, and refine your preferences. Although your overall style will shift through the years, you’ll see threads of yourself in everything you create. That is your voice.
While your voice will develop with time and experience, you can encourage it to grow in certain directions by imitating what inspires you and feeding your creative bank account with art and music that speak to you. At the end of the day, however, your voice comes through naturally, whether you try or not. It’s the essence of who you are, and everything you create reflects the uniqueness that is you.
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