New Blog, new directions

Years ago, back in the blogger days (15+ years ago? oh no!) I used to steadily keep a blog about my quest to become an illustrator. I had recently graduated from college and I was trying to make my way through the world of freelance illustration. The illustration world seemed so much smaller back then. Chances were if you sent out some postcards and had your work on a couple of paid sites, clients could find you and you could connect with work relatively easily.

Since then, the world has changed so much, and so have I. I started my quest to be an illustrator around age 22, and I’m 39 now. In the past almost 20 years I’ve worked as an art director and producer for a software company, I’ve done work for a line of products for Disney, I’ve taught art and illustration classes at Cal Poly Humboldt, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and Butte College, and I’ve illustrated 10 books for the mass market. I’ve also had some huge set backs that slowed down my career in a lot of ways. In 2018 our house burned down in the Camp Fire, including every piece of art, every file, and every art material I had ever owned or created. My husband and I had our beloved son who was born hard of hearing and needed my focus and attention as we went through surgeries, therapies and normal baby-toddler aged stuff. My parents are approaching their 80s and also need my help more than before. For a good chunk of the last 7 or so years, creating art hasn’t been as much of a priority as figuring out how to rebuild a life from scratch and raise our son.

This year, I have been deep in thought about the importance of art, creativity, and my future career. It is daunting and sometimes distressing to work on refocusing my work as an artist in the time of AI. I think it is undeniable and foolish to think that AI isn’t changing the creative landscape and financial opportunities for artists. But I cannot escape the undeniable truth that there is a spark in me, and in all artists, that comes alive when you create something with your hands. The meditative art of practice, of challenging yourself to become a better version of yourself is not a wasted endeavor. I have stories and characters that have lived inside my heart for years, waiting to come out and live, and it’s time they came out.

So, here’s to second winds, and creating in the face of adversity. Let’s do it.