HOW I BECAME AN ILLUSTRATOR
June 3, 2007
I initially put together this presentation for a college group I spoke to. It was for junior and senior level students who were studying to pursue art full time. I think a lot of students (and maybe even professionals) feel like they should know more than they do in order to do a good job. But really? I think everyone just makes it up, asks a lot of questions, and does the best they can. (This thrills me!)
To read the whole essay (pretty short, don’t worry), click here.
November 4th, 2007 at 11:01 am
penelope …
thank you for your wonderful essay! it was very inspiring. i am actually on quite a similar path. last monday i very very nervously sat down in an office and quit my day job, gave up my health insurance, my steady pay check, my work friends i see every day, in order to pursue illustration full time. i’m glad to know i’m not the only one who feels like i don’t really know what’s going on …
November 12th, 2007 at 8:00 am
OMG! Just about to re-start my life and do an Illustration degree here in Good Old Blighty. Scared stiff as have always been ‘arty’, but life kind of got in the way until redundancy from management last year forced my hand… Thank you so much for telling it straight! Will revisit when inspiration deserts me (on a daily basis, if necessary) to receive a top-up of power to my elbow…
December 31st, 2007 at 3:54 am
I love your website and I also visit Keri Smith’s website! I’ve been making the leap to be an art illustrator, that’s what I call myself :) for (7) years now and it’s been the most difficult, scary, insomniactic, rewarding, beautiful and tearful thing I do! I’m making even more changes in 2008 and I want to thank you and your posse for all your encouragement via your websites! It has been very scary to be 49 tomorrow and realize that you’re at the start of a dream, where you have no credentials, but are going to do it anyway! Happy New Year!
June 16th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Hi Penelope!
I’m a fan of illustration friday, but I’ve read your essay without knowing that you created it. Now I’m at the exact point that I really want to give up the idea of being a lazy girl and start the hard work, first time of my life for the love of illustration. It’s very relaxing to know that even an art director in an ad agency can feel the fear. Thank you for your story and for all the inspiration that illustration friday gave me!