Artist’s Statement

So, I’m currently working on my Artist’s Statement.

It’s really important for me to lay out what I feel art is and why I do it. Once it’s created, I’m going to treat it as a compass of sorts. Any of the work that I do in the foreseeable future, regardless of the medium (words, marker, paint, sound, etc.) will comply with and satisfy the Statement. This will allow me to have a body of work that is consistent, and, ultimately, one I am proud of and believe in.

I’ve got to say, it’s a lot more challenging than I thought it would be. I was sure I knew what I would include in it, but every time I write a sentence, I review it to make sure it’s exactly how I feel. It’s become an incredibly dainty task that has allowed me to challenge my current beliefs. In the end, I hope to have a stronger vision to play around within and contribute work to.

Do you guys have a clear idea of your body of work’s purpose?

Have you put it down on paper?

Lit-folks galore

Yesterday, I woke up and went to work. For me, work is wherever I’d like to bring my laptop and sketchbook that day. Quite often, just like this day, it was the library’s Central branch. I arrived at 8:58 and expected to look like the biggest book worm in London, sitting alone, waiting for when I was allowed to go in. As I rounded the corner in Citi Plaza, I’m sure my eyes popped out of my head. There was a huge sea of people waiting for the doors to open. I had no idea that there were this many people excited about going to the library.

But what were they in a rush to go do frantically in there?

As I sit here now, just as I did yesterday, I am looking around. There are people writing in notebooks; people on their computers; people reading magazines and newspapers; people perusing the shelves for the perfect book to hunker down with. Nobody is in a huff now that they’re in. It struck me:

They were in a rush to have a good morning.

They are in a rush to be in an environment where relaxation and enjoyment is the key to productivity.

 

Man, I love London.

What now?

It’s been a whole year since I started this blog. When I wrote my first post (and for most of the year following), I had no idea what the blog was actually going to be about or what I wanted to do as a career. Now that I’ve figured it out, I’m planning on making this year a goal-oriented one. What better time to start than during your Blogoversary Week?

To begin, I’d like to catch you up…

For personal reasons, I’ve decided to postpone going to school. At first, I looked at it as a struggle that I was going to have to get through. I’ve had a really long journey to get to the point where I can finally go to school. But now that I’ve settled into the decision, I’m looking at this as a positive decision.

This year, I’m going to focus on accomplishing some literary goals:

1. Submit at least 3 poems/short stories to contests
2. Submit at least 3 poems/short stories to magazines/journals
3. Complete planning of first novel and be ready to write
4. Illustrate 1 or more stories
5. Design and have 3 book covers or more published
6. Build portfolio (both online and physically)
7. Create website for Illustration clients
8. Sell 10 illustrations or more
9. Read 10 books or more
10. Begin the ‘Art, Craft & Design Certificate Program’ at Fanshawe College

I’m not entirely sure how my list stacks up compared to others. Regardless, I’ve got a lot on my plate and to accomplish these on top of everything else in a year is going to be a lot of work.

Let’s the games begin!

If a tree falls in the woods, will anyone know you’re a good writer?

Here’s a thought: If you want people to read something, they have to know about it.

If you spend all of your time writing and none talking about your work, is anyone going to read it but yourself and, if you can convince him, your cat? You could be the next Sylvia Plath (without the unhappy ending) or David Foster Wallace (…also without the exit strategy) and nobody would know it.

We have to go out and let the world know that we exist.

I guess the next question to ask is how.

My suggestion is anyway we know how that will create an impact. Preferably, a good impact.

Discovering yourself. (To self-publish or not)

Self-publishing vs. being discovered.

Go.

It’s a tough one for me. I have a romantic notion that if you work really hard at improving your skills and write your ass off, you will eventually be discovered. But, in a society that is now all about go-getting and taking your destiny (or whatever) into your own hands, is it the best decision to fill the portrait of a solitary character at a keyboard, writing and writing and writing?

The biggest question for me: Does it take away your credibility as a talented writer if you have taken it upon yourself to make your writing official?

To self-publish, nobody has to think you’re talented except yourself. Not even your mother.

On the other hand, the starving artist lifestyle goes stale pretty quickly. I don’t need to be tortured to write a good story. If somebody is going to discover me, now would be ideal.

Thoughts? Opinions? …Thoughts?

A

This just in!

This just in: I’m going to school!

I secretly applied because, sure, I was a little lot nervous that my drawings and paintings weren’t going to be good enough to get me a ticket in. But look at me now, Ma!

This is huge. After high school, I never had the desire to go back to school. Most likely because I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career and did not want to waste time or money. Now, years later, I’ve decided the path I want to take and everything is falling into place.

So, in January, off I will go with my backpack, computer and thirst for knowledge (ha) into my Graphic Design program. It’s a big step in the right direction. (The direction being illustrating books and designing book covers.)

I am thrilled!

–

P.S. On a side note, check out this blog post. I usually share links on my twitter and Facebook so as to not crowd this blog with all the amazing stuff I find. But, this one is an exception. Enjoy!

The beginning

In a blog post last week, I let everyone know that I’m going to focus a little bit on my personal journey into a career in literature. I’m at the point in that road now that I need to choose which way to go. I feel like I’m standing before one of those poles with a million signs, all pointing somewhere unique and exciting.

Where to first?

I’ve put a lot of thought into where I can fit into the industry. And I’ve decided that for my main source of income (something I admit, I have to factor into the decision), I’m going to work as a book illustrator/cover designer.

I’ve always painted and drawn. As a child, I never stopped trying new mediums and expressing myself through visual images. I’ve sold pieces here and there, but never considered being an artist as a feasible career option. Now that I’m older and know that it is literature that I’m most passionate about, it seems that the perfect career for me is to use my artistic abilities to be a part of the creation of books (kind of like how I’ve incorporated both into a magazine).

I’m going to go grab some new art supplies at the store and get honing my skills.

A

Here is what I want.

Thus far, this blog has been about a few things…

To begin, it was about me trying to find what I was passionate enough about to make a career out of. After realizing that writing about my life on this blog was the most exciting part of my journey, I began to explore the world of literature and everything that surrounded it.

Now, I feel as though I’ve got a good grasp on the field I’m entering into, so I’m actually going to enter it. I know I already have the magazine and that makes me part of the scene. But, I’m ready to take another step towards my life of full-immersion into the literary world.

Here are my ultimate career aspirations:

• To become a book cover designer and illustrator
• To continue my work at Writtle Magazine and grow the business
• To have my writing published (in other publications as well as in the form of a large body of my work)

So, another element has been added to this blog. I am still going to write little article-lettes, if you will, about the literary industry I’m still exploring and getting a feel for. But now, I’m also going to blog about my personal journey into a career.

Stay tuned, friends, it’s bound to be a fun ride!

A

Writing with intention

In the Director’s Letter for the July Issue of Writtle Magazine, I wrote that these past few months have really been about pushing boundaries for me. I’ve pushed them in my life and in my writing.

One of the things I’ve found most difficult with my writing is to show it to others. (Which, obviously, makes it difficult to mould a career). For years, writing has been something so personal and profoundly healing for me. Now, as I move from journaling to writing actual pieces, I fear my intentions are also shifting.

Before, I always wrote for me. I wrote what I needed to write to get me through whatever I was going through in my life. Now, because I know people are going to be reading it, I find myself asking questions about what the reader would like to hear, or what would help them get through a certain event/time in their life.

Does that make for less authentic writing, or simply more popular, sellable pieces? (And, does that make me a sell-out because I’m even thinking about my writing being sold?)

Get noticed or get going

A blog post I read yesterday touched, although not meaning to, on the whole issue of credibility in self-publishing. The general opinion I’ve gotten from fellow writers is that self-publishing is what you do when you can’t get a traditional publisher to notice your work. I disagree.

The post spoke about being a self-made writer of sorts. It said that instead of waiting to get hired as a writer or for a publisher to notice you and then tell you how to proceed, you’d be better off to become the one who calls the shots. It’s better to take matters in to your own hands. Another post I read a while ago (although I can’t seem to locate it) said that if your business plan, as a writer, includes being discovered by a publishing powerhouse, your business plan is a plan to fail.

I understand that it’s prestigious and brag-worthy to get noticed by the pros, but unless you’re one in a million, perhaps you should have a Plan B. Or, you can leave it up to chance.