EFII’s own
Marc Scheff just launched a new collaborative project today called 52 Shades of Greed. 52SOG is a fully illustrated deck of finance and OWS-themed playing cards with drawings from 28 top illustrators, art directed by
Marc Scheff and
Daniel Nyari.
Marc and Daniel had a project to make a set of playing cards. It was pro bono, and limited in scope. Daniel suggested adding just a few more artists to add some more oomph to the deck. The project quickly ballooned to 28 illustrators from around the world, 56 cards, a huge fundraiser, and an incredible amount of buzz. The deck is beautifully illustrated and currently available exclusively through Rocket Hub for a limited time. When the fundraiser is complete, there will be a limited set sold at the Society of Illustrators’ Museum of American illustration.
This project is a testament to what we can create together, when we get off the island.
This morning, over a cup of coffee, I discovered that Chris Oatley had sent me a link to the most amazing TV Commercial for Flea Market Montgomery.
It just so happens that today is my Birthday, and Chris unknowingly gave me one of the greatest gifts a person can give.
What makes this video so special is that within just a few seconds you find yourself shaking your butt to someone telling you to come on down and buy a couch for your living room. Flea market owner Sammy Stephens lets loose the funky beats and slides into a 2-minute rap with repetitive and simplistic lyrics, accompanied only by a “dad” dance and pure charm.
So far, I haven’t been able to resist replaying the commercial, and I think the song is going to end up on my iPod.
What does this have to do with Illustration?
Aside from the pure entertainment and joy that I receive from this guilty pleasure, I want to share with you the deeper reason that I feel inspired by this video.
It’s rare to witness somebody letting it all hang out like Sammy Stephens does, and such a sight can be a reminder of how much fun you could be having with your artwork and your business. If you want to evolve, you have to be willing to make a fool of yourself, be bold, and take risks from time to time.
I’m not recommending that you record your own rap video, but I am suggesting that you consider ways that you can open up and let your personality shine through. Not only will this result in greater happiness, but it will also make you a more original, intriguing, and memorable artist.
For me, this video inspires several important questions:
Are there ways that I can improve my art or my business by having more fun?
How can I make my business more personal?
Can I get away with playing this song at my wedding?
I hope you find something inspiring, or at least enjoyable, in this video. I know I did. In fact, I’m going to watch it again right now.
How do you instill your business with your own personality and style? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
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Are you working on any of your own personal art projects, or just giving all your energy away to your clients?
If you’re like many Illustrators, chances are you’re not making personal work a priority, and your creative self-expression and freedom is being sacrificed for the sake of running your business.
This is understandable, because the demands of a career in freelance Illustration or Design require a seemingly endless supply of time and effort, leaving you with little to keep for yourself. The thing is, neglecting to work on your own projects can have a negative impact on your creativity, your inspiration, and even the quality of your work.
The good news is that it’s never too late to start, or restart, your own personal projects and tap into the following benefits of creating art for art’s sake.
Freedom of Expression
Pursuit of Creative Vision
Personal and Artistic Growth
Inspired Work for Your Portfolio
Alternative Source of Income
Development of Skills and Techniques
Exploration of New Ideas
Remember the days before you were a “professional artist”?
You probably enjoyed all of the benefits listed above, and more. Isn’t that what made you want to create art for a living. The challenge now is to hold on to all of these rewards while working to please your clients and executing the daily tasks of running a freelance career. If you can manage to set aside the time to focus on your own personal Illustration projects, you will be a more inspired, productive, and satisfied artist.
Are you working on any personal projects? Please share your thoughts in the comments section of this post.
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12 Comments on The Importance of Personal Projects, last added: 1/26/2010
Escapee Speaks:
I recently wrote a post called Try to Hate Your Work in the Future, where I explored the idea that growing to dislike your work can actually be a sign of progress and improvement.
In response to the post, Anthony Grimaldi made some great points in the comments that I’d like to highlight here, because they shed some light on the other side of the equation.
Anthony says:
All the time I look at previous work and think “Maybe this is why I have difficulty succeeding as an artist and designer.” However, I also always feel a sense of pride in whatever piece I accomplished, even when hated by myself and others. These pieces are relevant to your particular growth and development and are crucial to the learning process. You yourself are standing on the shoulders of your own work, good or bad, and they serve as new starting points or jumping off points to different, new and excellent work.
I’d like to thank Anthony for pointing out that it is important to maintain pride, or even love, for your work as it settles its way down to the lower ranks of your overall collection. After all, you may not be creating the quality of work that you are today if you had never created the work that you now hate. In addition, this mindset helps you to practice your art for its own sake, rather than pass harsh judgement on your own craft.
Escapee has spoken.
Have you ever had a similar experience? I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments.
Related Post:
Try to Hate Your Work in the Future
Creating For You
Read More Escapee Speaks Creativity
3 Comments on Try to Love Your Work in the Future, last added: 12/3/2009
Escapee Speaks:
How to Find Your Own Style
Do You Take Enough Chances?
Or, do you find yourself working from a place of fear when creating an Illustration or a Painting? Are you afraid of making mistakes, bad choices, or wrong turns?
If so, today I encourage you to take renewed ownership of your work, and steer it in any direction you choose. Remember that it all comes from you. Remember that you only have this moment to create the way you have always dreamed of creating. Give yourself and your art the greatest gift of all by taking chances, pushing limits, and breaking rules.
Be reckless.
Be bold.
Be brave.
After all, that is how personal styles are truly created.
By declaring yourself an explorer, you will allow yourself the freedom to live within your work, and to let your personal truth rise from it in the form of inspiration and beauty.
Nothing will please you more.
Escapee has spoken.
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How to Do Anything You Want
Fear of Failure
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Who is this Escapee guy anyway?
Have you ever found yourself looking back on past work in your portfolio, only to cringe at the thought that you included something of such low quality?
I propose that this is a good thing, because it means that you have evolved as an artist.
Many Illustrators tend to be discouraged when they notice some old relic in their portfolio that they despise. Personally, I rejoice at the thought that my best piece today will be my worst piece tomorrow.
So today, and every day, I encourage you to look at past work as mileposts that prove that you are moving forward on your journey as an Illustrator, and try to improve in such a way that you will hate your current work in the future.
Escapee has spoken.
Have you ever had a similar experience? I invite you to share your experiences in the comments below.
Related Post:
Try to Love Your Work in the Future
Be Willing to Destroy Your Work
Read More Escapee Speaks Creativity
Who is this Escapee guy anyway?
Have you ever been halfway done with an Illustration, only to find yourself becoming too precious from a fear of ruining all your hard work?
This can be the perfect time to let everything go.
Often, we shut off the creative part of our brains after a while and switch to “execute mode”, where we are just doing the busy work of inking, rendering, or coloring. Today I challenge you to carry that creative spirit with you throughout the entire process. This can lead to some surprises that might take you to the next level as an artist. Taking this leap requires letting go of a bit of your original idea, or at least your preconceived notions of exactly how it was supposed to turn out.
Breaking the Chains
The best part about this approach is its tendency to lead you down roads you might only travel in your dreams. We spend so much time letting the world around us place restrictions and boundaries on our creativity that we sometimes forget the whole point of being an artist. Take a look at some of your Illustration heroes, and there is a good chance you’ll find that some of the things that really inspire you about them are unique ideas or approaches to creating that required a leap of faith on their part.
Keeping One Foot on the Ground
Obviously, this won’t be applicable to all of your client work, but your personal work is the perfect time to go as crazy as you dare, because nobody is looking over your shoulder with expectations or needs to be met. In fact, with a little courage you might discover that you have your own needs as a creator that are extremely rewarding to meet.
What do I mean by being willing to destroy your work?
I mean that in order to really take a leap, you need to be open to the possibility of sacrificing the particular piece you’re working on for the greater good of expanding your boundaries as an artist. Being willing to destroy your own work can potentially open the door to a new way of thinking or a masterpiece of Illustration that would have remained hidden under an otherwise mundane approach.
Escapee has spoken.
Have you ever tried this? I invite you to share your experiences in the comments below.
Read More Escapee Speaks Creativity
Who is this Escapee guy anyway?
Take a cue from Holly DeWolf in Episode 10 of the EFII Podcast, and make some time to create for yourself, for the sake of creating.
As Illustrators, we often spend so much time working to help our clients realize their visions and taking care of the business side of our freelance career that we neglect our own needs as creative spirits.
Making your own personal art a priority will refresh you and remind you why you chose to follow the path of Illustration in the first place.
Escapee has spoken.
I invite you to share your experiences with this practice in the comments below.
Read More Escapee Speaks Creativity
Who is this Escapee guy anyway?
That was great! Thanks for sharing your Mini Mall Rap gift.
Hope you have an awesome day – Happy Birthday :)
You’ve got to check out http://ilovelocalcommercials.com/
Two guys who love low-budget commercials and make tongue-in-cheek versions for all kinds of small businesses. Absolutely fantastic videos. Maybe an opportunity for good humored yet shameless self-promotion for the discriminating illustrator there too.
That was an absolute killer! I have this terrible urge to head straight for Flea Market Montgomery and buy 15 couches and 26 chairs!
Your main point was right on, Thomas: a willingness to play the fool is not only liberating, it creates goodwill. I’ve been acting foolish for many years– I speak with authority… : )
Now I’m gonna have that tune going thru my head for the rest of the day– thanks a lot! (Happy Birthday!)
Sammy rocks. I mean raps! Either way, that really is a great commercial. He’s spot on with his lyrics. “I’m a flee market that’s like a mall.” SIMPLE, catchy, and fun. The best part is you’ll remember it. Thanks for the suggestion to keep your own web presence the same way. Keep it simple and memorable because in this micro millisecond word of catching a customer’s eye, branding has become so important.
Thanks Mark. I had that song in my head all day, but that’s probably because I watched the video about 20 times. I’m glad you saw the deeper ideas in the commercial as well.
That is awesome! Did anyone happen to see the Cleveland version?
This post did remind me of something that happened to me lately while drawing in a coffee shop. I can’t remember exactly what it was that I drew (maybe a goose, I’ve been drawing a lot of geese lately) but I surprised myself with the way it came out and got me cracking up. The more I draw the more enjoyable it gets.
There was a guy at my church growing up that had a mental disability but sometimes I would be walking around after the church service and he’d be in this room where they had childrens services and he’d be playing the piano and having such a great time. I still remember him playing his heart out and being so happy. He was pretty good at piano too!
Thanks for bringing back those memories.