Can't decide what kind of Artist I am.
4yr
Olga Bruser
Hi there! I enjoy doing several art styles, juggling between illustration and concept art. So I really am average at everything I do. I enjoyed drawing a stylized cartoon car and then a realistic knight, a magic the gathering inspired painting, funny cartoon pigs and I just don't know who I am. Maybe this is it and it's my destiny to jump all over but the thing is I can't manage to do a normal portfolio. I can't target specific companies. I work at a slot game company for 4 years and it's really cool and unusual because each game is completely different and we have all sorts of styles. And the thing is, one day I'll need to spread my wings and leave but I really don't know what to do because going for a stylized cartoon company will take me farther away from realistic work. Doing characters will take me farther from doing creature design. Or maybe I just overthink? Maybe it doesn't really matter as long I improve my fundamentals? And life is a journey so it's ok to jump all over because each step is a chapter of its own? Thanks
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Tim Dosé
4yr
I have had this problem as well for a long time. I actually found the games industry was a good place for me because of the same reasons you mentioned—each different game had different art requirements. I really enjoyed that part of it, but the games industry didn't work for me for other reasons, so I left. For me, I ended up going a different direction. I've realized my real main passion is figuring tricky things out, and then teaching those to others. So, it's another place where having a wide range of skills is valuable. I tend to like Cal Newports ideas around all this. He wrote the book "So Good They Can't Ignore You", which is worth checking out (or a summary). One of the main things he talks about is building up a bunch of "rare and valuable" skills, and if they're truly rare and/or valuable enough often the career part of it works itself out.
Olga Bruser
What a journey! It's awesome you found your passion, that's great. Life is a journey and maybe I just shouldn't think so hard because who knows, I might find something completely different like you did. I should embrace the journey and let things build up organically. Thank you for sharing!
Dan B
4yr
The art you've posted in your album is awesome, so feel free to post more of that for a start :) I think perhaps phrase it this way: "I don't know who I am...yet." Sounds like you're still just exploring and enjoying that process, which is great! I wouldn't try to force yourself into a 'style' if you are actually enjoying trying different things. Is the concern you have that you'll not be as good as you could be if you keep jumping around? Perhaps to help with this, whatever style you are working in make sure it's something that challenges you so you're always learning and progressing, then eventually you'll hopefully stumble across something that really clicks and focuses your style further.
Olga Bruser
Thank you very much! Yeah you're right. Maybe this is just how it works, constantly evolving and changing and I just need to relax and enjoy the ride and this learning experience.
Serena Marenco
Look, first of all it is not strictly necessary to focus on one thing only, knowing how to juggle several fields, on the contrary, in some cases it might be useful. I do a lot of work on book covers where the fashions of the moment play a big part: for a long time I concentrated on doing the classic painted covers for fantasy books, the ones that made people buy books in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Now, at least in my country, a simpler and more graphic style is much more appreciated, painted covers, especially by young adults, are considered cheap and old-fashioned (even if they require a lot of work), so I started to propose shadow theatre inspired covers, with very graphic imposition. Something very different from what I was doing before but which met with the favour of the public. So, as far as I'm concerned, it's definitely better to be versatile, to be able to avoid focusing on what is a fashion that might even be passing and to accumulate as much experience and expertise as possible, so as never to be overtaken by the public's taste and the clients' needs. In short, this ranging from one interest to another, don't see it as a weakness. In the end, you may focus on something you are more comfortable with, but if at the moment you are not clear about what you want to do, don't worry, just make the most of it.
Olga Bruser
Thank you that's very helpful! Good points.
Sonja Müller
As far as I understand being versatile is also a skill but you migth be right that in most cases they either search for a specialist or an allrounder. I think the most important info is missing in your question: what is most satisfying to you, where do you engage most, what is fun? If the answer is trying and learning and improving in several fields, I think you should not ignore that to stay motivated. If you have 1-2 fields that peak out to you, think about focussing on them. So don't approach from the angle what a hypothetical company somewhen in the future migth want, but look inside.
Olga Bruser
Thank you for the reply! It's confusing for me to find what I truly love, I feel like a lot of times it depends on my mood haha.. and a lot of things interest me. But you're absolutely right, I need to take my time and look inside and experiment! Thank you!
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