There was a very motivating talk today in class and well, this is what I've concluded on how to be a better female illustrator\designer.
1) Think like a man
Do you know that in general, guys are more assertive than girls? Basically, they are capable of working along the lines much better than girls do. They're self-promotional most of the time, and are confident in their work. I'm not saying girls aren't like that, but most female are more insecure about themselves, hence, their work. I believe this has everything to do with our EQ level. The fact that we like to feel has become an obstacle for us. So ladies, think like a man. The male rate of being a boss or an employee with a high position is higher than female, but it's not our fault. For such a position, we need someone who incorporates this manly personality, so this generally goes to the guys who are so confident with their work and are able to pull off an interview as though it was a sure thing. All we need to do is think like a man and we'll be able to work like a boss. The world out there isn't all that sexist. We can do this, ladies. It's not what we do, it's how we do it.
2) Doodle with pen instead.
If you're a doodler like myself, and often uses a pencil, change. When we naturally reaches over for a pencil to doodle, this say something about you. Insecurities. The fact that you know you can erase a wrong path chose your choice of tools, and that is also double the trouble of inking afterwards. Yes, a rough draft of your image is fine, but when you start doodling in pencil for a long time, you find safety behind the eraser. Pen's not easy, you'll make mistakes, your line wouldn't be stick straight but it's fine. There's a reason why they're call doodles. And although, the best inspiration comes from mindless doodles, you can however scan them in your computer and digitally correct your mistakes. This again goes back to number 1, it's about how you present it. Naturally, your potential employers would be more interested in seeing your finish product\doodle than your entire sketchbook. Once you've digitally enhanced it, it's no longer a doodle, it's part of your work, now that's more presentable to be in your portfolio than your scrappy moleskin you eat and sleep with anyways. So live dangerously and doodle with pen instead.
3) Practice makes perfect
Now I know this word is overused, but it's never wrong. Especially in our field of practice. Whatever you do, do it often. Even the ugliest drawing gets better if u do it over and over and over again. Sometimes we give up on a piece of work because it may seem to have drift further away from what we imagine it to be, don't. Just remember, nothing looks pretty half done. And beauty comes in complication in most of the case with us, so don't stop until you're done. And you're not going to be done with it until it's pretty. In the nutshell, keep going. Practice is the road to perfection for us. And we can only keep getting better :) I used to seek for perfection, now perfection seeks for me.
And lastly, you don't really have to have a style of work (if you're struggling to find an identity for yourself). Potential investors and employers recognize us by our style of work, yes. But we're designers, we're taught to be flexible and cater to our client's demands. You can always have more than one style with your work. The perks of being a designer, I believe, is that we never need to settle for one. Brace your indecisiveness and brace your difference. In our world, being different pays. And we are always going to be standing alone when it boils down anything in relation to our art. If you've reached a point where you can no longer compromise your work with anything and anyone else, congratulations! You're heading upwards where you will find total agreement with your lost for style and many things else.
Best wishes,
A.
