Isabel's Blog

Tag: illustration

Being better

August 8, 2014 / / 0 Comments

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I like that this blog reminds me of things I want to improve about my self and my life.

  1. Last weekend Janice invited us to her friend’s cottage and I ate literally two full bags of Kettle chips over two days (plus regular meals). Yesterday I didn’t eat a single fruit or vegetable. So I started a food journal.
  2. A friend sent me this link yesterday about going seven days without complaining. So I’m trying to complain and shit-talk less (and maybe not at all!). Today is the first day, and so far, NO COMPLAINTS! Will report back on whether or not I last the full week.
  3. I need to get back to exercising. I stopped going to yoga and basically haven’t exercised since. Dave and I went running once, more than two weeks ago, and it was so painful to even do 2k. Then I had a dessert to reward myself. Soooo… back to planks and pushups and cardio. At least five times a week.

(The illustration above is a spot I did for work, for one of our magazine clients. It’s kind of ironic because the dude is so happy and he looks like Dave, but IRL Dave fell off his bike and broke his arm in two places and is currently in a sling and wrist cast)

Back to the drawing board

August 2, 2014 / / 1 Comment

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Last week I bought How to be an illustrator by Darrel Rees. I also spoke to my boss about my plan to move to Hong Kong in the fall. It’s a loose plan, but it’s something that Dave and I have been wanting to do for over a year now. It’s scary but I’m not that young anymore, so there’s no time to waste. If I want to do something like move to the other side of the planet and try to make be a freelance illustrator, it is now or never!

I haven’t read the whole thing yet, but just from the first few chapters a few things have already dawn on me:

My own style
I kinda  already knew this but I think I need a more distinct style. My illustrations could also do with a little more depth, more layers, more textures. I want to experiment a bit. Another thing is that if I want to do editorial style illustration eventually, I’m gonna have to be more clever. Humph.

Other things I want to work on
Since we’re on the topic, I think I need to work more on ideation and lateral thinking. I don’t think I’m good enough at taking different sources of inspiration and combining them. I’m actually best at the opposite: taking a big ol’ mess and straightening it out into orderly little piles.

The biggest dealbreaker might be my lack of self motivation, will-power and self discipline. I’m not sure how I’ll be able to wake up each morning at a decent time and just WORK. The ritual of commuting, even if it is a short walk or bike ride makes me feel purposeful. If I’m working from home, I might just spend the whole day watching TV and eating chips.

OR! The other thing I’m worried about is the loneliness of working by myself. I get so lonely! I like talking to people! I need other people! I don’t know what to do about this one.

Disadvantages
Besides being lonely, I am also disadvantaged because I don’t know any illustrators, I didn’t go to an illustration program, and I don’t have any friends in the illustration industry. I have no illustration network.

Advantages(?)
But I do have some design friends, so hopefully that will be something. Also I am an art director, so I know what it’s like to hire and commission illustration. I know what it’s like to work with illustrators and I know what I enjoy when I work with them. I also know how annoying it is dealing with difficult illustrators and how I like working again with the pleasant ones.I know what good sketches look like.  I can tell the difference between the pros and sloppier artists.

Anyhoo, I guess I still have time to figure these things out. I just have to keep on drawing and make the time to work on my portfolio. Tomorrow we’re going to a cottage to spend the rest of the long weekend with our friend Janice, because it’s her birthday! Huzzah!