Some thoughts
There’s something funny about calling myself an illustrator.
Let me explain : for the last 7 years, I’ve drawn almost daily, from watercolour to charcoal , Christmas scenes to humorous cosy things. Drawing has been since childhood the only way I had to express myself. When you're shy or as I know now, introvert, people give you two choices : theatre or drawings. I was too shy for the first one and the second one could be practice during every boring classes at school.
But the thing is I've never been to art school, growing up I've never considered illustration as as career except if you're Sempé or Quentin Blake. I was deeply convinced that talent was something that you get at birth, blessed by an arty fairly godmother, and without that, you can't go to art school, let's not say being an artist.
Cut a long story short, I was wrong. Do I regret ? Yes, because I think that art school gives you the opportunity to fully explore techniques, supplies, directions, you can dive into them 24/7 for 3 or 4 years. But I know that it’s something you can do when you’re self-taught in a digital age with Skillshare, Domestika or any zoom class. I really think that being an illustrator it’s not about your art degree but it’s about your voice ! It’s about you .
Sempé has never been to art school and who cares ? When you see is work, you see his voice, you can if a drawing is a Sempé or not. Have you seen a drawing and say “wonder if the artist as an art degree ?” and if not, called the illustration police ? No !
I took me a long time to considered myself as an illustrator and must admit that I only accepted that few days ago when I decided to launch this newsletter.
If you illustrate, if you’re telling stories with drawings, then you’re an illustrator. Unlike an architect or a baker, whom without a solid knowledge of their job can kill/hurt/poisoned someone, you’re drawings won’t. I think that it doesn’t matter if you earn money or not, it’s about doing, it’s about communicating, it’s about giving yourself the permission to be what you’re doing.
I’ll be happy to get your thought on that subject in comment so let’s talk together !
Behind the scene
While I’m working on my own website & developing my portfolio, I relaunched my Etsy store, even if doing it during summer was not the best idea because I added some christmas cards ! There’s also few birthday cards.
If you buy 2 cards, enter MYTWOCENTS10 at checkout for 10 % off everything :)
Some cosy things
Charlotte from A quiet diary will launch her Autumn collection of handmade candles on September 1st ! They say you can buy happiness, I say you can buy candles and that’s the same, so go check A Slow Sunday .
I fell in love recently with Mary Jen Atelier, a french brand creating small batch of handmade watercolour. If you’re looking for new color or just want to switch from traditional brand to small business, you’ll be happy !
I’ve read the beautiful graphic novel Crushing by Sophie Burrows. If you’ve ever felt loneliness in a big city, needed to feel close to people without knowing how, don’t miss this gem.
That's so true, Chantal, it is about our art, our voice, not about a piece of paper. Love, from a fellow artist (musician)!
I can relate to this feeling. Took me a long time to call myself an artist