A few weeks ago I realized that I was tired of not having control of my own life creatively. As a Graphic Designer I am always doing work for others. With that job comes parameters with what I am able to do based on time, the client, and budgets. I often feel as though I am not able to explore ideas to their fullest potential because of those parameters. It wasn’t until recently where I donated my time to illustrate some Harry Potter bookmarks for a youth summer camp that I rediscovered how much joy there was in doing something that I truly loved. I was also able to illustrate scenes from my all-time favorite story without a boss or client breathing down my neck telling me what I could or could not do. It was freeing. For once, I was in control of my own creativity and it was one of the greatest feelings in the world and I didn’t want it to end.
I find that with being a designer I am too limited. As an illustrator or a writer, my biggest limit is my imagination. So the big question is, how do I start over. How do I go from taking the practical route and becoming a graphic designer which holds more job security and a steady paycheck to becoming an author/illustrator with the possibilities of paid work unknown? I have limited time, find it difficult to get motivated and get an average of 6 hours of sleep a night if I am lucky. So how do I start? To quote the wise words of NIKE (trade mark), I will “Just Do It!” And that is what I am doing. I have started this website, Sketch Forward, as my first big leap into starting over with my art. In order to do so I need to identify a goal, figure out what I want to improve upon, make a plan of attack, and get to work. Stay tuned as I go through that process.
Sketch Forward my friends!
Sketch Forward 