Question Time

I still haven't messaged any illustrators, or companies and it's almost September. Why? Because I spend all of my time worrying, thats why!

This past few days I've been on my own at home trying to get on with work, and I have really struggled. I'm so annoying. Right before I go to bed I often get a surge of really cool ideas and want to do everything at once. So I sleep on it and then by the morning I am totally overwhelmed when I pick up my paint brush?

So then the worrying starts and thoughts to this affect circulate in my head:

• Am I going to go batshit crazy if I work from home? Probably.
• I hate all of my work
• Why can't I make some work that I like?
• No one has bought anything from my shop yet!
• Please buy things I am poor
• I had so many good ideas yesterday and they all look shit
• UGH
• Why did I decide to be an artist?
• Should I be doing something else?
• Oh god I picked the wrong degree.
• Why do people tell me I am good at art when I feel like I suck at it?
• Are they lying to me?
• EVERYONE IS TELLING ME LIES
• I AM going batshit crazy, as we speak
• Okay lets have a break and make some food
• Cry

Hahaha so thats me when I don't have proper human contact for more than 48 hours^^

Thinking about my personality type, I'm not a laid back, self driven introvert (perfect illustrator candidate?). Instead I am a sporadic extrovert who has no self confidence the attention span of a five year old. Which isn't always a bad thing, but I have realised that in order to thrive career wise, I need a balance of working with people and working alone. 

This is somewhat frustrating, as in an ideal world I will probably need to shape my ways of working with my state of being which isn't always the simplest of tasks. But hey ho what is life without a challenge...? 

Messaging Practitioners

Coming back to the topic of asking illustrators questions, I think it would be a good idea to contact practitioners who freelance as well as teach part time, as I'm thinking that this is the direction I would eventually like to go in! 

For example, Jenna Lee Alldread, whom I occasionally work with on the children's art school as part of my student ambassador job. Jenna freelances at Tigerprint as well as lecturing at Nottingham Trent University and leading workshops at LCA. Jenna is so friendly and easy to talk to, so I might ask her ,as well as other like minded practitioners, about their routes into teaching and juggling a busy creative schedule etc.

I also plan to contact agencies and studios for advice on how to promote myself, and what would be expected of a candidate wanting to work for them.

If you're reading this you're probably thinking that I say 'I plan to' a bit too much which I completely admit I do because I put things off for as long as possible if I am in any way worried about it. 

After writing out countless drafts, I started by sending two emails:

Lize Meddings

(founder of the Sad Ghost Club)

Jenna Alldread

I hope they are polite/professional enough without sounding weird?

But yay I have made a start!

I'm not going to go crazy emailing practitioners left right and centre, but I think I might try and send one email a day? Or when I see someones work I like, think of questions to ask and jot them down straight away. 

As for emailing agencies and other companies, I honestly don't feel ready yet. I know its only an email and I'm not introducing myself face to face, but I'd much rather wait until I'm in a better more confident place work wise, so if they ask to see my work I can be proud of it instead of hesitant and worried.

Tigerprint

As I am beginning to think about what types of companies I would like to work for in my illustrative career, I am edging towards an interest in working within a creative studio. I've heard Tigerprint being mentioned by Abby and Rosie from the year above, and also a few members from other courses within college; all with good reviews so I decided to check out the website.

I loved the welcome video!!

Tiger print have studios both in Bradford and in London, home to freelance and in house designers from a whole range of creative disciplines. They produce greetings cards, craft products, childrens toys, christmas decorations and so many more products sold at some of the UK's most well known retailers such as M&S, Waitrose, Amazon, Paperchase etc.

In a nutshell, Tiger Print looks like a really exciting, sociable studio filled with opportunities for creatives. It is the type of workplace that I could see myself fitting into quite well and flourishing in an environment filled with like minded people!

Placements

THEY DO PLACEMENTS! And open days too!

Here comes the predicament again; my portfolio isn't strong enough at the moment. I believe I would have a better chance at being awarded a placement if I had a few more elements relating to pattern design and greetings cards within my portfolio. Realistically,I could aim to apply for a two week placement before Easter as by then I will have had time to build on my portfolio (and confidence!)

I really admire how attentive and encouraging the company are towards new designers, shaping their creative directions and offering the best advice on working for different clients.

Although applying for a placement is something I'd definitely like to work towards, in the mean time I spotted an opportunity to sign up to their yearly competition briefs,'Gifted?'.

Then along came that dreaded question.

(i.e. a cue for trumpet blowing cringiness)

I thought that this was a reasonable attempt.

Something to work towards

Keeping in mind that I would like to start developing my portfolio in the directions of my current interests (greetings cards and pattern being one of them), I'm thinking of setting myself some kind of brief in accordance with this area of specialism as part of my extended practice. For example, 'Produce a greetings card per week'. I think that this would keep the ball rolling alongside other hefty projects, simultaneously up keeping my interest and building my portfolio.

Unpaid Work Dilemmas

My friend, Emily from home is currently doing an internship at Ordnance Survey (the people who make maps) writing articles to promote the great outdoors. I jokingly said to her, 'Hit me up if you need any editorials', and thought nothing of it.

The other day she messaged me saying that she had spoken to her manager, and was keen to ask me to produce some artwork for the articles Emily would be writing...BUT it would be unpaid, "but great for your CV", that old chestnut.

At first I thought, WOW! Ordnance Survey! Think about how many people could see my work?! After deliberating somewhat, I just had Lou Bones' speech on my conscience saying DO NOT EVER WORK FOR FREE, which was totally the right decision. Imagine if OS wanted me to work for them again and I would ask to be paid (as it is my job?) and they would be like "PFFT! well you did it for free last time". Also, with word of mouth, I would absolutely not want to get a reputation as working for free. No way. 

I was kind of worried about telling Emily I didn't want to work for free, as she had made the effort to enquire on my behalf, and she is my friend, but luckily she was totally understanding. She said to me "if the boot was on the other foot and I was asked to write the article for free, it wouldn't be fair". 

So this was my first proper experience of potentially undermining both myself and the industry, and although I could have potentially had some great exposure, it wouldn't have been worth it. I'm glad I took a step in the right direction of up keeping respect towards creative practitioners! 

Setting up an Etsy Shop

For a while now I've been keen to get an Etsy shop going to sell a few of my illustrative products; the idea coming from the success of my 'Positivity'' range a few months ago. I probably mentioned this in a previous blog post but if I am able to build a substantial online show with a steady inflow, this will act as a good cash cow for me when I begin to start my illustrative career.

Here is my progress so far; I've just put on some of the same products from the art market but photographing them properly (and re-thought the pricing of the cushions!)

Unfortunately the shop name 'EllieChappell' was taken, so I had to shorten it to 'ElChap', which I suppose is more catchy? I did think about whether or not it was worth coming up with an alternative name for my shop in which I could potentially develop into a stronger brand in the future, however I thought it may be wise to use my name for now in order to become more well known within the industry.

I've had one sale so far, which is great because I haven't properly promoted my shop via social media yet, so this a great start!

As I only have three types of product online so far, I hope to expand my product range further and potentially try out a few different, more craft-type products.

These include:

• General prints
• Clay insense holders
• Jewellery?
• Painted paper weights
• Painted plant pots
• Hand-decorated ceramic bowls/mugs
• Tea towels
• Personalised house portraits

I still have quite a bit to do; I was aiming to get set up by the end of July, but it has taken longer than I thought to order materials, think about prices and things.