May 2015
21 / 21
Oct 2015
Oct 2015
myung
May '15

Interesting points, especially if you want to be a professional artist. I like that it was very business centric. A lot of artists try to make it in the industry with misguided expectations. You're still an artist if your motivations for doing it is not to sell or to enter the working world. So don't beat yourself up with trying to be 'popular and economically successful' if you're perfectly happy just creating for yourself.

But if you want to work as a professional there are compromises and contingencies to be made. I've participated in many hiring meetings at a few studios and many of the author's points have come up in deciding who was hire-able.

michaelsonSenior Editor in Chief, here to help you
May '15

Definitely, if I had to describe the article, it would be that it's giving pragmatic advice.

Jrej
May '15
1

Critics can be harsh but we gotta learn to separate ourselves from what we make.
It's not gonna please everyone. That's a fact!
I just hope it gets to someone!

winglesscomic
May '15

I like it. I know it's pointed out some of my flaws I need to work on, like composition and my art is very inconsistent.

I think one of the most important things it says is that you shouldn't expect to be great (or popular) at the drop of the hat. I've fell into that hole too many times and I have to remind myself that I shouldn't expect to become Rembrandt overnight.

...An aside, I think a lot of professional fantasy artists in East Asian countries nail #16. I didn't think that was a legit complaint but I guess I wasn't crazy after all. Their work has impeccable technique but it is soulless and boring and makes me feel nothing.

TristanJensen
May '15

I honestly get why this was made and agree with it whole heartedly.
Every one of those reasons is something I'm certain was or currently is applicable to a lot of artists here, myself included. Of course that doesn't mean you should take them too seriously (or at least not all of them) because I'm pretty sure that would kill anyones motivation and drive to create (or strengthen it... IDK). I mean the title was a little mean, something like "26 ways to avoid making bad art" or "26 problems you might have" might be a little better.
But either way its a good list.
I'm definitely going to keep that list on hand.

elixiadragmire
May '15

"12. You’re just creating" - I fell into this trap a few years back.

I think the title is ment to grab you to get you to read. BUT these points all matter, some are samey. I think this is aimed at illustrator rather than artists. Its something an old lecturer talked to me about, an artist creates out of personal emotion and self driven art, and illustrator is more commercial, visual designers, we create to a market.

Thou looking at point 2 "It’s not targeted" I have to say I'm not sure WHO my market is fo rmy comic. My day to day work, sure! I have that nailed, its kids and private commission its adult 'kids'. perphaps that my comic's market? big kids? I would LOVE to know what demographic is reading Silversong I am now super curious.

AnnaLandin
May '15

Some of the points were a bit repetitive (14 and 17 pretty much amount to the same thing; practise practise practise), and it's very business-focused - there are lots of people whose art is popular who aren't trying to sell it - but it's got some pretty solid advice.

JigokuNeko
May '15

All valid points and fledgling artists must learn to thicken their skin as soon as possible. However, the thing most needed when going into the pro arena is connections. Learning to market yourself and make those necessary connections in what is a very, very jealously guarded, tight-knit circle. Kids that want to go into art tend to believe talent will open all the doors and yes, that may be true for a handful of prodigies but for the rest? Learning to be social with the right people and being your own PR manager all the time is the actual gritty, draining behind the scenes work of an artist. If you can sell it well enough, even squiggly lines in MS Paint will do.

getsuart
May '15

It's ironically funny, because a lot of people kept telling me all those points (but with a lot of bitterness). :/ Fortunately, I know my weaknesses now and some of them are listed in there...

I think the biggest flaw for an artist is that, as said upper, selling yourself in a marketting way as an artist is super hard, and no one will tell you how to succeed. Or even help you to begin with. i clearly remember some people tell me "well you don't make a good exposure for yourself", and when i asked them "this is true, but i don't know how to do it. Can you help me for the beginning ?", they tend to say "Hell no, go figure out yourself like I did".
It's super hard !

elixiadragmire
May '15

^^^^
THIS

This is super annoying! I've read a few blogs where someone was asked at a panel how to make as a blogger and do self promotion, they're response? Start a blog 10 years ago ........ what kind of answer is that?

I understand the 'right place a the right time' has a lot to do with it but still, dont profess you know how to self promote and give THAT as yoru response.

AnnaLandin
May '15

Oooh, seconding this SO MUCH, @getsuart and @elixiadragmire! It's a form of gatekeeping, and I really, really don't like it. One of the best things with knowing other artists is seeing them succeed, and I always do my best to help promote other people's projects - giving each other a hand is the least we can do.

elixiadragmire
May '15

@AnnaLandin I've also heard don't self promote because it doesn't work ... ok, so I'll sit in my house and wish on a falling star that someone's cat walks on the keyboard that happens to be my comic/portfolio web address? It annoys me because its defeatist and like you said gatekeeping

I understand don't be annoying and talk about yourself all the time (need to work on that) and only sell when you NEED to sell instead of all the time, thats all I've really learned so far XD

Doubtcent
May '15
elixiadragmire

If only people who make it to the top were willing to reach down to help out more often. Not everyone is like that, especially here on Tapastic (there are tons of really nice people here, even those who have some "fame" do their best to help others), but for many other professions there's a mindset that says "If you couldn't make it the same way I did, you have no chance to make it at all."

That's a terribly wrong mindset. A lot of potential artists in all fields do not make it because they don't know what to do past the art. And if only there was more mutuality, those potential artist could in fact help revolutionize that industry, if you give it the chance to. Sometimes, the greats are not all that great if they've gotten a big head on the way there. I sure hope I don't ever become that monster.

getsuart
May '15
elixiadragmire

Maybe you need to wish upon a star, apparently it makes wishes come true.
...
(sorry, I couldn't resist)

That's a good point. I think they are talking about the too much self promoting, like if any posts or sentences, you'll try to put Silversong everywhere. But self promoting is important, you just have to not overdo it.

CalebDL
May '15

The title made me think you were about to drop bombs on people who get mad cuz their comic gets no views open_mouth

But that's not how you operate anyway. Great article thanks for sharing!

eagle1
May '15
elixiadragmire

I read that blog. The point the author was making was that techniques that worked for self promotion a decade ago no longer seem to work as well. My experience has been different.

Eagle
(Much different)

ashriott
May '15

Very interesting article, and very spot on for many creators. I could probably relate to more than half of the points listed :'D

1 month later
doktormostro
Jul '15

Hi, i have just a few days in Tapastic and not even uploaded my first comic yet LOL

But surely i had read a lot of info in the site and now the forums, there´s a lot of good advice, help and friendship here, that i´m already happy to had registered.. Tears apart..

One thing i had done with good results has been knowing other artists from all levels, for friendship, work or both. I know is difficult when you try to get close to some hyped artist and they look at you over their shoulder like a vampire.. In that case i just look at their work.

Many people feels intimidated and depressed for this (compare his/her work with other better) But you need to overcome that fact and start to look for what makes that artist special? What can you learn from him (skills, tips, work, promotion, personality)? It´s not about plagiarism or being his clone, but recognition of our strenghts and weaknesses to change and improve.

=)

3 months later
jmhenry
Oct '15

It sounds weird, but I actually feel relieved after reading that article. Everything that's wrong with my art has mostly to do with something I haven't grasped, or a bad habit, or something I'm just doing wrong. It's not something innate like a lack of "talent" or schooling, they're all things I can fix, and that's motivating in a way. It definitely helped for one of my pages anyway.

hannahmcgill
Oct '15

I'm having a lot of fun learning about my audience and about the subject matter of my niche topic, and the biggest thing I would encourage newbies to start by focusing on ONE thing rather than trying to grasp everything. And all those gatekeepers at the perceived top probably aren't as elite as they seem so don't worry about it .^^;; It does take a lot of time so why not start now?

I think the hardest thing to do is pick one topic and stick to it for 5-6 years. My comic is rounding up its second year and there are times when I just don't want to talk about dinosaurs in person anymore. But, I pony up, and it's totally worth it to have an easy connection with new people who also like dinosaurs, and it's so amazing to be able to make them happy in even a small way.