abstractsunday

What a truly horrible and depressing event. Worst of all so much more of it happens all the time, without that level of press and outrage.

Apart from having been utterly shocked and disgusted with the brutality and ideology of the attack, the most depressing realization I had was this:

Usually my art is fairly uncontroversial, so I'm in a safe place. But if for some reason, I had an idea that I think would be good and important, but for some reason I thought it could offend the wrong people, I may have very serious doubts about putting it out there. I wish I could say with conviction that "je suis Charlie". But these guys were so incredibly brave and fearless in their fight for a freedom of expressing your opinion.

You have to be an avid reader (especially of the publications you want to work for). At some point you will feel: I would have done this or that differently. That's when you know you're ready to contact them and present what you do.

That hasn't changed much since the 1200's I guess:

The human face. The human body. Perspective. Clothing.

I've you've mastered those, you're good to go. Just for the fun of it you can learn to draw cats and dogs (I still can't draw cats btw).

Oh: and iPhones. Somehow every other assignment I get requires drawing an iPhone these days.

The big question is how much you really and truly and desperately desire to be good at drawing. If so: just draw. As much as you can. And you'll find it's a surprisingly learnable skill (5% talent, 95% practice)

It's a pretty big step to become an artist. If you creating art, you should create art. But one shouldn't forget that in order to make a career in art you have to make art and you love AND that other people love. People often think their own enthusiasm for their work will guarantee enthusiasm from others.