What the hec is that Quaker?
Well one of my goals in life is to be a complete artist. This means for me at least to get to know a little about every discipline in the artistic world, and hopefully get good or at least competent at a few. I started out in fine art doing the gallery snob thing, then moved into digital about a year ago, what a trip it has been.
My next venture is into Motion graphics, 3d modeling and what not, I would like to learn some web junk too.
ok so I’m looking for storys about the different skill sets and workflows you took as a growing artist. Some recommendations about stuff thats a must have for the competitive modern freelancer. This could be programs you found to your liking, interesting classes in school, client interaction tips.
The obvious danger is falling into the "Jack of all trades and master of none" hole (can’t remember who that quote is from, but it has got my noodle boiling, thanks)
So from what I have seen of other portfolios.
and from my own experience in other fields.
I will need to be really great at one thing, skill, or style, look and what have you, and good enough at the others to at least be able to ask the right questions and hire the right people.
hmm did I just contradict myself here...
What I am trying to get at is that I feel like an old dog that needs a new trick.
Not a complete refresh, but rather a newer direction.
I am an analogue artist in a digital world.
This is the big picture part of my brain ticking now.
So far This is where I feel I’m at.
Illustrator:
*I feel better with now.
Painter X:
*Just as natural to me as the real thing, getting better with file management so that I can actually use some of them.
Photoshop:
*Needs work, I have the fundamentals but nothing spectacular yet
3d: I use, Modo 301, Daz 3d, Cinema 4d, After Effects and just picked up z Brush
*I can get some projects completed (at this stage its trial and error and I can’t always replicate results) I need to learn modeling, rigging and the boring junk
css/indesign/web junk/Flash
*I have all the knowledge of a baby learning to walk
So am I barking up the wrong tree here, I have been looking for a studio job and I find that I have wasted a good amount of time and money on college for a weak sauce skill set.
I do have a BFA in Fine Art from a good school, and some experience making stuff over the years. But I lack the impressive resume of my colleagues.
This could be just a simple freak out on my part. I have only been digital a year.
Maybe I should stop wining and earn a spot like everyone else but I feel like I’m missing something that can help me be a better freelancer.
Anyway some feed back and mentorish words would be appreciated.
18 Comments
Simply Complicated said 3 months ago
im sorry but they’re millions of disciplines so being a complete artist is impossible... pick a subject and learn that don’t bounce around
quakerninja said 3 months ago
yeah poetic license I guess. What I’m really after is what is a good bag of tricks so that when a client ask for something I can say "Yes sir, I can do that you will have it by Monday"
I’m not makeing ends meat at the moment with my day job so I really need to step it up. I’d like to do artistic things, because it makes me happy doing the work, rather than get a new day job that sucks me dry.
I see your point though, Ill just keep on keepin on.
a killer wombat said 3 months ago
I have to disagree on this one, I consider myself a very well round artist / designer and I feel all the better for it... I dont want to sound like I am bragging because in no way am I but I feel that I stand out in almost every area of work I put my hand into... I am not just known for this type of work or that type. It gives you so much versatility in work and satisfaction that will only help you out down the road. I don’t think there has been one day where I have sat and done just one style project. Just yesterday I went from coding out a flash project to a few php tweaks, onto a photo shoot, started inking drawings for a book in the works, and ended then night starting a new painting I have been dying to work on.
Its all about the constant pursuit for knowledge and creativity. And what artist would ever limit themselves to one sort of artistic expression? Not a true one.
an Quaker, the best way to gain skill sets is to start a project you don’t think you could finish. Set the bar crazy high and do what ever it takes to make it happen. I, along with several of my industry friends, do this and its an outstanding way to learn new languages(software, styles, etc... I use the word languages loosely). And never be afraid to look someone up and ask questions, any decent person will at least point you in the right direction on how to get something done, if not show you how to do it themselves.
Jon Kruse said 3 months ago
I think to be great, and I mean really great you need to be focused on one thing. If you spread yourself to thin you will be average at a lot of things.
quakerninja said 3 months ago
Thanks wombat, I can see both sides of this, it has been a struggle. I mean silly fighter pilots walked on the moon thats starting from scratch in a way, they had no Idea what weightlessness was or the dangers. I think if I try to be someone else I will fail. I’m just trying to be a better me, and that means not holding back.
a killer wombat said 3 months ago
I have to agree and disagree, haha... I love these types of convos, this used to be what emptees was about, thanks quaker! I agree in some sense because of the over flooding of people who want to be in this industry, they just get to the point where they can make money and stop progressing (not people on here, but a lot of the younger kids who want to design for their favorite bands and just got photoshop). They make money doing some simple shirts and think, "hey I can do a myspace" or hey, "why not a website" so it floods the market with an abundance of "blah" talent. Not many of the younger generation is really appreciative of the time and steps required to get to a so called, "mastery" level on all areas of a craft.
I think to be really great you need to be naturally great. It sounds strange but you need to almost have your mind function in a different way in which I am sure almost everyone on here can attest too. You see things different, you understand things different, etc... and those differences are will what makes you great. As far as being "great" in many areas it all comes down to passions and desire. If all depends on what you want out of the experience.
How I see it, frenden is a great illustrator, edgil is a great illustrator but those guys choose to make that their main craft. I don’t really think they do much more outside of illustration (and if you guys do I truly apologize) but to me that is what they are known for. But in the same respect I hold others like the guys from Go Media, or Team Doom, or even us lonely synapse folks in the same regards. Even though we are all not known for just one thing I do consider all of them really really great at everything they do.
I dunno, its so hard to have this style conversation without a beer and over a computer, and I don’t think I could have said great anymore in that post, haha.
quakerninja said 3 months ago
Talent is important, Training is one thing, but its not the total package no matter how good the teachers are. When I started out in my teen years, I would just grab a pen and paper and see what would happen. Later after college I tried to meet expectations, and I found that the spark was not there anymore, just not as intense. I find that after the diploma I should have just stayed with my pens and papers.
I was looking at some of my old sketches and there so much better than what I’m doing now.
I had that blank slate can do anything attitude.
This started when I went to a gallery one day and saw the price tags. I thought I can do that, and who would pay for a stupid painting of a house in the forest with lights on anyway.
Joey said 3 months ago
Whoa. Thanks for the shout out.
I’m way on the fence about all of this. I love that I am alright at most things, but I don’t think I will ever be really really really good at any one thing because of it.
I think for some people, they just know what they want to do and they get way way good at it. That rules to me. I, on the other hand, cannot stand doing the same thing every day. For example, if we’ve been working on sites for 2 months straight, I cannot wait to do a shirt or a cd layout or something. Once I’ve done like 10 shirts in a row, there is nothing I want to do more than make a website.
Some people just get sick of doing one thing. I have all the respect in the world for the dudes who can just do one thing and murder it and also for the dudes(and dudettes) that can tackle 100 different things at the same time.
Different strokes for different folks I guess.
a killer wombat said 3 months ago
I feel like a huge nerd responding to this post so fast but eh, its fun.
@quaker: its never to late to go back to the pen and paper duder, I just bought a new desk for my room that I am refusing to do any work on. Its only allowed to be used to draw / paint on... and apparently hold my car keys cause of how prime the location is to the door. I miss that element of my life so much its nice to have a little sanctuary to just sit and create without a computer.
@joey: I am in the same boat man, I get tired of working on the same thing over and over again. I love the versatility of being able to know when I am a little tired of web work I can switch it over to a shirt or a cd. Hence why this is the perfect industry for us, haha. We have the options of bouncing around.
quakerninja said 3 months ago
maybe thats what I’m feeling I’ve been doing shirts for 9 months. I should get some watercolors and make a mess.
I’ll expand a bit more. My friends are in college for animation, and I have plans to open a studio when they get out. I feel a bit of pressure to hold the whole thing together. This is more of what I want to do, I haven’t discussed it that much with them, they think its a great idea, but I’m not sure how committed they really are. With this goal of mine in constant fluttering I’m starting to feel that getting a solid start on my own is a good bet, and then hiring them on down the road as an option.
Joey said 3 months ago
I know right? I’m so glad we can do that. I’m much too all over the place to do the same thing every day.
quakerninja said 3 months ago
Thats one think I like about digital. A hammer is still a hammer, but with computers the tools are always getting better. (not that there’s anything wrong with a hammer mine you.)
I feed on information tit bits like there doughnut holes. I’m not a know it all but I want to be.
image620 said 3 months ago
In my experience the only way to become a "well rounded artist" is to have the willingness to learn, admit you need help when appropriate, Hang around others who challenge you at your craft (i.e. people you look up to as artists and friends), keep your goals in sight, and pick up any and every bit of inspiration you can. Dont worry about being a "jack of all trades, and master of none" find a way for everything to mingle together.
quakerninja said 3 months ago
Thanks I don’t have much contact with real live artist, most of the stuff is all online chatter. I’m looking to get confident enough to work in a studio setting.
I work as an usher for Portland center for the preforming arts so that keeps me inspired, ( I did some dance, and theater in college too) ballet, musicals, symphony, comedy tours, and what not.
When I say all of art that includes, Music, and Preforming arts. I also play flaunt harmonica, crappy piano, a one string guitar, and violin on occasion.
Most people looking to hire don’t really care about the other stuff. All of them have been helpful.
Improvisation and stage presents helps with the nerves, and public speaking/presentations.
Music helps with organizational skills, composition.
I feel that by sticking with one thing I may be really good at it, but I’m missing out on the other wonders.
Killer Napkins said 3 months ago
yeah i totally agree with wombat... you can do many things and still be good at them, as long as you set goals for each one and then once you hit those goals set more goals and so on and so forth... the determination keeps you going to try and learn new things... before i came here i really didn’t know much about tshirts but i think this is the next thing in line for me that i want to push myself to learn more and more about....
Simply Complicated said 3 months ago
he said "every discpline" that is why i said it is impossible, i think it is very possible to be a well rounded artist
i consider myself on that track, im decent at painting,drawing, and digital stuff i would love to learn sculpture but what i was getting at is try to focus on things that are within your grasp yah know?
like for me...i would never be good at furniture building because im bad at measuring stuff that is just how it is lol
Killer Napkins said 3 months ago
treydeuce.. here learn maquette sculpture ... its fun!
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18287
quakerninja said 3 months ago
oops your right I meant visual arts, preforming arts and web junk.
Thats why I want to learn animation, it requires me to be a director, actor, sculpture, and painter all in one.
I would make a terrible architect, I don’t know what X equals.