Thursday, June 28, 2012

Updates

Oopsie, guess I forgot to post here. Maybe because there weren't any real updates. I am working on a new Portfolio that matches this blog, though it doesn't seem to fit. I might have to think of something else. feyrah.com

Yesterday I finally got to meet an actual freelance illustrator and got some insight! Stefan Dinter had a speech at our school, it was really uplifting and fun! There is more to it than I thought, with all the contracting, billing and insuring stuff...
I think I might have to contact him and ask for most of that again. I wan't able to memorize all of it. I was going to give him my portfolio in form of a small booklet after his speech, but apparently it turned out  he had forgotten to bring is work examples to show pricing guidelines, so he used mine. It was a huge confidence boost! He liked the different styles, but I need to get faster at finishing pieces. So I will focus on that for now and maybe next year, I'll try to conact publishing houses and magazines. I'm not even sure if that's realistic at all or if I even have a chance.

But I'm simply not a graphic designer. I am great with photoshop, but I don't enjoy pushing pixels around on the screen and manipulating people into buying things with advertisement. The job I am learning to do isn't what I want to achieve in life. I'd rather just illustrate children's books, magazines or whatever it takes, even if it means having client-less phases. The dream of working at Disney one day is still a faint star very, very far away, but the dream of being an illustrator doesn't seem to be so farfetch'd anymore...

Thats about it for today,
Sabrina

Have some recent work:


Thursday, August 18, 2011

It's always the Artist

What is talent? Many people don't have the slightest clue. They just assume it's what makes your art good.
But what if your art is good (by that I mean above the average) until you are about 10 years old, and then you never draw again?
If you don't execute, practise and put all of your blood, sweat and passion into your Art, you will not get better at it.
"Talent" is not being good at something. Talent is the ability to keep going and to improve.
So why do so many people blame someone's artistic abilities on their art supplies, school education, programs, tablets and "talent"?
I have no clue. All of these amazing artists, even they have started drawing using a pebble on the sidewalk's asphalt. They are awesome because they love what they do, not because they own the newest and most pricy art supplies. Honestly, you should never blame the quality of one's art on the tools they use to create it. I have seen artwork created in MS Paint that was just as great as someone else's work made in Photoshop. I have seen amazing artworks drawn with cheap water color or colored pencils, just as amazing as other art done in acrylics, oils or polychromos pencils.
I also wanted to adress, why is it that so many people nowadays think digital art is any less of "real art" than traditional work?
Because it's new? Both digital and traditional artwork have their advantages and disadvantages. Both have things that are more difficult or easier to do than with the other medium. Neither is "cheating". they are merely different techniques of creating artwork. It's not like you could load an empty canvas into photoshop and stare at the screen until it magicly draws itself. Every stroke has to be made by the creator. The Program is just a tool. But still, many people assume said thing.

"So you're an artist? What do you use to draw?"
"I draw on the computer, I use a tablet. It's like a mouse but in pen-shape and with pressure sensibility."
"Oh, so you're not actually drawing? You know that's cheating, right?"


This is one of the typical conversations digital artists have to deal with every now and then. It can be so dissapointing to try to get someone interested in what you do and not being taken seriously as an artist, just because it's digital. Another question a lot of artists get a lot is:

"So someone else in your family draws good? That must mean it runs in the family! You're so lucky!"
"So you're going to art school! No wonder your art is that good."


I also get the latter quite a lot. But honestly, noone gets into a proper art school if their art isnt already good to some degree. If your art is not already good or you're not doing art with passion, you wont magically improve just by visiting art classes, or going to an art school. I was taken in because I passed an entrance exam and handed in my portfolio. The school simply expands my horizon. I learn new things and techniques, but actually pulling them off well requires me to actually practise the things I learn. I wouldn't be able to improve if I just sat there staring at the lecturer.
I have no artists in my family, but I still get the question a lot. Some people just like to assume you become a good artists simply by being lucky. Sorry to burst your bubble.

My conclusion to round everything up:
Every good artist started out small once. But they did not just magically become great just by sitting around and staring at a blank piece of paper, an empty canvas, or the screen. Neither by buying awesome expencive supplies.
They simply drew. They painted. They pracited. They improved. And that's what makes them awesome.

The semi-big day. :'D

I got a reply from her. She said they liked my Illustrations a lot, but they currently don't have any orders/commissions I could do, but she would appreciate if I e-mail her regularily to check back.
I'm not quite sure If that's a good thing - I guess I'll just have to wait. I am currently researching more children's books publishing houses, trying to find some that accept e-mail applications before I print anything and send them. (Prints usually lack quality) But I sure will contact most of them, even by regular mail if I have to.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Big Day

Today's the big day! I e-mailed the publishing house again with a link to my new portfolio with all my recent artwork. Keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck! Im scared my work might still not be multifaceted enough yet. But hey, even if it isn't - I won't give up. I will draw more. And more. As long as it takes me.

Also, my most recent Illustrations:





Thursday, July 28, 2011

Recent Artwork

Some of my recent artwork - So those of you who haven't seen in on deviantart yet get to see it too. Maybe it gives you more of an image of who I am and what I do.



 





















I hope you enjoy these.
Sabrina

Welcome

So here I go. =)
Welcome to my blog!
What is this for? Well, for a number of things. For one thing I want to share sketches, ideas, tips, tutorials and thoughts on art and illustration with you. For another: I am looking to become hired as a freelance childrensbook illustrator and to work my way up to the top. And I want you to be able accompany me on this journey. I want to share with you which publishers I contact, if i get hired and what for. If I actually make it, I want to be able to help you acquiring the same thing.
For now, I have contacted a big german book publishing house and they are very interested in hiring me - but only if I prove to have the ability of adapting to different artstyles, and not only things similar to Disney style.
So this is my quest: Get away from Disney style, and test as many different illustration styles as I can. Try new things! Get inspired! And then contact them again.
Wish me luck!