Read on Twitter
How a random woman on a plane predicted my job a decade in advance and also kinda changed my life
(AKA be nice to young artists: a thread)
(AKA be nice to young artists: a thread)
Iāve been āseriouslyā drawing since I was 9, but tbh even before then Iāve always been drawing animals. Even in my āanime phaseā, I was drawing both realistic and stylized animals.
I always came back to illustrating the natural world one way or another. Images c. 2011/2012
>>
I always came back to illustrating the natural world one way or another. Images c. 2011/2012
>>
Around the time that I was 9, I was on a plane working on an observational caterpillar sketch I had started before my trip.
The woman next to me complimented it and told me that she was a professional illustrator, and that she drew bugs as her job for science textbooks.
>>
The woman next to me complimented it and told me that she was a professional illustrator, and that she drew bugs as her job for science textbooks.
>>
She told me that she hoped I continued because I would make an excellent zoological illustrator one day, and sheād love to see my work in a textbook sometime.
My life was changed. Fireworks exploded. Mind blown. The entire trajectory of my life? Shifted. I was shook.
>>
My life was changed. Fireworks exploded. Mind blown. The entire trajectory of my life? Shifted. I was shook.
>>
Just kidding. I took the compliment but told her I wanted to be a conservationist.
And that was my plan. Undergrad in bio. Masters in wildlife conservation.
Except, money is a thing. And I could only afford 3 years of school. So I finished early with my BA in TESOL.
>>
And that was my plan. Undergrad in bio. Masters in wildlife conservation.
Except, money is a thing. And I could only afford 3 years of school. So I finished early with my BA in TESOL.
>>
But that womanās words stuck with me. A REAL artist said I was good. A REAL illustrator.
It may not have changed my life in that instant, but it introduced me to the world of scientific illustration. It showed me that it was a job. It was a career. It planted that seed.
>>
It may not have changed my life in that instant, but it introduced me to the world of scientific illustration. It showed me that it was a job. It was a career. It planted that seed.
>>
Backtracking slightlyālet me just say I had excellent art teachers in high school. They all encouraged me to illustrate and told me that I could have a career in art, even as my parents were telling me the opposite.
We donāt talk about my middle school art teacher.
Anyway..
>>
We donāt talk about my middle school art teacher.
Anyway..
>>
Keep in mind, I didnāt think I could have a career in art. Nobody ACTUALLY had a career in art. All of the good zoological illustration jobs were taken, I was told. Thereās no room.
This whole time, I was still drawing animals just because I love them.
Images c. 2012/2013
>>
This whole time, I was still drawing animals just because I love them.
Images c. 2012/2013
>>
Even while I was in college (2015-2018), I didnāt take *any* art courses until my senior year when the head of the art department called me into his office for a meeting and asked to put me in 2 senior level illustration courses. He believed in me.
Images c. 2016/2017
>>
Images c. 2016/2017
>>
Those courses changed my life. Not because of the content, but because the professor and the art department head both genuinely believed I could have a career in artāthey both told me I was good enough, even as I told them I didnāt have the skills for it.
>>
>>
Even then, I planned to do bilingual childrenās books, because thatās what everyone told me my style + degree was suited for.
I had this nagging need to do zoological illustration, but I needed a degree for that. I needed more school. I could settle for any job in art.
>>
I had this nagging need to do zoological illustration, but I needed a degree for that. I needed more school. I could settle for any job in art.
>>
Fast forward to my first convention that I signed up for on a hypomanic whim... I showed up with less than 30 sticker designs, a couple of prints, and some buttons. I was a mess. It was laughable.
... but I completely sold out of my animal stickers. All three days.
>>
... but I completely sold out of my animal stickers. All three days.
>>
I decided to do another convention the next year. Iād bring more stickers.
But 8 months before my next con, I moved for my husbandās job. I made an Etsy as a side project while looking for a TESOL job in my new city.
Within a month, I was so busy, it was my full time job.
>>
But 8 months before my next con, I moved for my husbandās job. I made an Etsy as a side project while looking for a TESOL job in my new city.
Within a month, I was so busy, it was my full time job.
>>
I think of that woman on the plane a lot. I really wish I knew her name. I may not have my illustrations in textbooks, but I get to illustrate my love of zoology every. Single. Day.
Be kind to young artists. Encourage them. Your words could honestly stick with them for life.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="šæ" title="KrƤuter" aria-label="Emoji: KrƤuter">
Be kind to young artists. Encourage them. Your words could honestly stick with them for life.
" title="I think of that woman on the plane a lot. I really wish I knew her name. I may not have my illustrations in textbooks, but I get to illustrate my love of zoology every. Single. Day.Be kind to young artists. Encourage them. Your words could honestly stick with them for life.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="šæ" title="KrƤuter" aria-label="Emoji: KrƤuter">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
