Up For the Challenge

I am so excited for my class at the Art Center College of Design's Night Program. The Intro to Illustration class is taught by the Clayton Brothers. I really enjoy doing art. When I sit down with a pen or paint set out to create, I get the best feeling in the world. For one moment out of my hectic day, I am completely at ease and calm. I'm not worrying about the deadlines I need to reach or the bills that need to be paid, I am completely attentive to the raw creation emerging from my mind, developing on the paper, canvas, or clay in front of me. As good of a feeling as that is I don't do it enough. I get caught up in planning and stressing that I don't allow myself to unwind and be free.

My approach to art is often methodical, which can be counterproductive. My first project in this class is to listen to 3 musical CD's, 1 of an artist or band I love, another of an artist I never heard, and the 3rd of a band I hate and create a piece inspired by the music. I found it very hard to find a musical artist I didn't like. I love just about every genre of music. I picked the Power Rangers Movie Soundtrak but ended up liking the songs on there LOL. The music I chose for my favorite was Sherrie Brown/ SPBR (Sisters Being Positively Real) and Jimmey Couzier. I chose a no name rap group for the music I hate, simply because all they rapped about was money, jewelry, cars, and women. My drawings were scenes from the songs and a few concept sketches.

Once I came to class and listened to Rob critic each students drawings, I realized I didn't quite do the assignment right. I didn't let the music guide my drawings, I let my head and thoughts create the drawing. Low and behold when it was my turn to discuss my drawings my teacher agreed. In seconds of talking to me he said, "You think too much." I couldn't believe it. I've heard this from many people before but not from someone I met that quickly. It's true I think too much I know it, now you know it. But my teacher challenged me to go home and redraw my ideas this time being free without being a head case. Now this is going to be hard. You don't know how many people have tried to get me stop thinking so much and work with my instinct.

I'm up for the challenge. Not only do I think that I will become a better Illustrator from this class but I think I will be a better person. One thing I have been struggling with is finding my artistic voice and style. When I expressed this to Rob he said don't worry about it. Once you are connected to who you are and what your soul is about, it will come naturally. When you paint with your soul, your natural essence and values can't help itself but come out as a visual representation of the beauty, mystery and hardships entrapped in the caged mind and body I call Tatiana.

Getting on the Right Foot

Things are slowly starting to fall into place. My car is back! I have one more week to complete final projects, write papers, and take tests for the Spring semester!!!! A lot of work is ahead of me, but once it's done I will be that much closer to graduating and that much closer to getting on the right foot with my Art.

This week I spoke with a few of my Art teachers about my future goals. It was very eye opening. The common theme when Art critics or other Artists see my portfolio is I need to create more. Now you would think I am sick of hearing that but it's so true. I've been beating myself up about that simple truth. But when I ran in to one of my old Art teacher, Calvin, he reminded me that while my portfolio shows limited work, I just switched to an Illustration concentration a year ago. The other 3 years of my college career I have been concentrating on Video Art and Art Therapy. I haven't had the time to test and try out the technique and material of my choice, research the contemporary Illustrators and the market fully.

I haven't been giving myself enough credit. I just dived into this field and I'm comparing myself to peers that have been developing their skills and style for years. In my formation Art classes the Illustration students were concentrating on how this still object, nude or 3D design will translate into their Illustrations, while I was trying to apply those exercises to moving graphics and therapy of children. Very different!!!!!

But just as I got comfortable with that idea, my teacher snapped me back to reality and told me I can't settle for excuses as a crutch for my lack of work and specific style. I definitely know what excuses are, tools of the incompetent that breed monuments of nothingness and those who dwell upon them, seldom amount to anything! So for real this time I'm writing down my goals and this summer they are as good as done:

• 1 Painting every 10 days

• 5 Quick Figure Sketches/week

• 1 Old Master Figure Drawing/week

• Visit a Museum every 10 days

• Spend some time at Balboa Park

• Sketch at the LA Zoo 3/Summer

• New updated Portfolio

• Comply a Targeted Mailing & Marketing List

• Actively Fill out Artdom Notebook

• Read Rich Dad/ Poor Dad, Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki

• Read GAG's Pricing and Ethical Guidelines

• Read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

• Read Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker

• Read Getting Hung

• Collect and Organize receipts

• Take Advanced Illustration at Art Center Nights

• Work at a Museum or Art World

Wow that list looks really ambitious! But just as my teacher, Brad Weinman, said in his Business talk, writing down goals makes it easier to complete the task at hand. Speaking of his business talk, it was really great. Brad and David Tillinghast suggested some great books and insight into freelancing. Some questions they challenged the class to consider are:
Where are you at?
Where do you want to go?
What do you want to achieve?
Why are you doing what you do?
What is money to me?

Some cool quotes and points from the lecture were:

• J.O.B.= Just Over Broke

• Pursue happiness first, money second!

• Model yourself after successful people, You become the average of the 5 closest people in your life. ie Salary, Lifestyles, Values.
  

• Rich spend money on assets.

• Diversification is key.

• Solid bookkeeping can mean big payoffs in tax return. $450 Bob Hall Accountant-Burbank

• If a shark doesn't move it dies. Keep up the momentum and cover every aspect of the "Illustration Freelancing Wheel of Success" each "spoke of the wheel must be hit to keep it rolling. Wheel Spokes:
  

1. Direct Mail-Good Target List, Be Consistent/Persistent, Follow-Up Call, Specialized
Promotion- Stand out and Crafted Books
2. Self Publishing- Special Edition Portfolios, Hand Crafted Books, Children's Books
3. Directories- Not as effective, Society of Illustrators, GAG, American Showcase, 3 by 3,
Workbook, etc
4. Galleries- Commercial Art crossover to Fine Art, Group Shows, One-Person Show
5. Annual Awards: Highly effective, selected by a jury, Crem de la Crem- Com Arts,
Graphis, Spectrum, Juxtapose, CYMK, etc
6. Internet-Online portfolios, E-stores, eBay, email marketing, newsletters

So as you can see it was a great talk with good advice! Looking over this article already makes me feel like I have accomplished something. Since this talk yesterday to this afternoon, I have set up the beginning phases for a online store with personalized merchandise. I hope to have 3 stores fully launched and running by the end of the summer.
Stores:
1. Illustrations and Fine Art Designs- Prints and Merchandise
2. Greek Paraphanelia- NPHC Original Art Prints, Clothing, and Merchandise
3. Custom Design Solutions- Corporate, Organization, and Individual Commissions

You know what, I can do this! I have a really positive feeling right now.

One Step Closer

I'm one step closer to the semester end, one step closer to graduation, one step closer to being in the real world and lastly one step closer to being a starving artist. Last week I talked about how interesting it would be to live as a starving artist. Over the weekend my car was stolen! Now I have to take my hard earned money and try and replace this material possession because the fact of the matter is life goes on. I'm not sure what the reason is my car was chosen as the lucky one, but regardless I still have responsibilities and places to go. For the most part I have figured out how I'm going to manage getting around the valley and L.A. but now I need to raise money to get a car. So the life of a starving artist just got a little real this weekend. A friend of mine actually teased me and said now that I don't have a car I should just stay at my parent's home and paint all day. That way I don't have to worry about spending money.

Well good idea but I'm going to have to get a car soon. I'm not ready to be a hermit! LOL

But I do see a good art piece coming out of this situation!

Starving Artist

Starving Artist........It usually has such a bad connotation attached to it. But today as I started to plan out my study schedule for the final month of this semester, I really wished I could be a starving artist. I feel so overwhelmed right now with school work, work, and social life. There is so much that needs to be done in what seems like a short amount of time! I know I can do it, I always pull through when I'm put in a crunch.

Frustrations with all the work that needs to be accomplished, had me really thinking the life of a starving artist wouldn't be that bad. When I get the chance to sit for a few hours and just do art, I feel so relaxed. The starving artist is so enthralled and passionate about their Art that indulging in things don't matter. They only need enough to make sure they have a place to sleep, a place to do their art, and food to sustain them to do their art. I'm so accustomed to being busy with a myriad of things, that it's hard for me to just really focus on my Art.

In the last month or so, I really became proactive in pushing myself as an artist. But I'm starting to realize I could do more. My efficiency could be better and my exploration of my skills could be tested more. I feel like I need to do something drastic, something different with my routine, something different with my outlook and dedication to my Art. It's always interests me to hear my Art teacher's story about how he lived on the beach and slept in his car for a year. He got frustrated with the white walls of his apartment and routine, so he lived on the beach and slept in his van by night. Granted this was the 60s and times were different. lol But nonetheless I think it's time for a change. Living on the beach or being a starving artist, probably won't be the next thing I do lol. But I think after this month is over and I'm done with this semester, I am really going to get a lot of Art made. Start figure drawing again, challenge myself to do concept sketches, and make final pieces.