I was born in Iowa but moved to Alaska at age six. Living in the Alaskan bush most of my youth severely limited my art exposure outside of what was in my mother's art books from the 50's and 60's and my dad's old encyclopedia set. That didn't stop me from drawing from the moment I could pick up a piece of charcoal, pencil, brush, crayon or marker however. Everyone in my family was artistically or musically talented, accept for me, or so I always felt as a child no matter how much my parents tried to say otherwise. I was determined to make up for my perceived lack in natural skill with practice and sheer stubbornness.
My mother, who had studied to be an architectural draftsman, was the one who initially taught me to draw. Her dreams had been dashed quiet cruelly by her own parents so she wanted to make sure I had a chance at my dreams even though she also constantly emphasized that "art is for fun, you can not make money off of it, look elsewhere for a career" at the same time. So I mostly studied the sciences, especially biology. I never focused on art as I should have, and after breaking my drawing wrist three times, drawing also became associated with physical pain. Then college happened. Several events in college screwed up my designs of going into genetics and pediatrics. So I tried to get a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration in an attempt to say "screw you world! You can too make money off of art!" I got that degree too. Unfortunately every job I applied for after graduation, every job I interview for, it was the same. They basically told me "you spent six years in collage?! Your a little to old for this field. Your style does not fit our image. You can intern with us without pay for two years, working full time hours but there is no guarantee we'll have a job for you at the end. But hay, its great experience right?" I sadly could not afford unpaid intern work and I could not afford to move out of Alaska to places with better opportunities. So I worked retail. I worked accounting. I worked customer service. I worked in print and copy shops. I worked in security. I worked for the state. I did what ever I had to in order to make ends meet for 12 or so years. This left precious little time for art sadly. The stories and ideas were there. I'd have notebooks full of ideas jotted down. Things I wanted to do and try, and this grand dream to someday own my own art business. I even got the business license and got my business name registered locally. But as time went on and chronic depression and other physical health issues kicked in, my motivation to draw slowly died.
The local bias against any artist that didn't feature 'Alaskan themes only' like moose and mountains, northern lights and mushers, and Alaskan native mythology in their art and the local bias about my age (the two phrases 'aren't you a little old to be drawing in this style? Shouldn't you have kids to worry about instead?' and 'my 14 year old can draw better then you' still haunt me to this day and I hear it at least three times a month, especially at conventions, even now as I try to promote myself) didn't help my dreams or self esteem any either but thats all discussion for another day.
Fast forward to six years ago. My then roommate, later boyfriend, now husband and I had just started living together. He knew how much art meant to me and understood how my life lacked without it. So he started gradually encouraging me to draw again. He helped me perfect drawing with my left hand to avoid pain in my right. Over time he wold replace my ancient limping lap top and track pad with a slightly more up to date lap top and a touch screen tablet monitor that lets me draw with either hand with minimum discomfort. He started encouraging me to draw outside of my comfort zone and try my hand at literally everything from children's illustration, to logo designs, to murals, to adult hentai stuff. And three years ago I made the decision to get serious about the business and he's been backing me in every way he could.
I had to relearn to draw almost from scratch again because I'd lost a lot of skill from years of inactivity, but non stop drawing literally almost daily is starting to pay off. I'm at least back at the level I was when I was in collage though I like to think my anatomy is a touch better then back then. I'm still working on developing my style but also pride myself on being able to produce different styles as commissioners request them.
Today White Noise Graphics is working on illustrations for several local and non local gaming groups including ZAWW and we are attempting to get our own Alaskan made fantasy visual novel, Suitors, up and running. White Noise also provides art printing to local artists at a higher quality and cheaper price then the local office printers in an attempt to give back to the community some. And this is on top of working one to two other jobs and still forcing myself to draw daily, maintain a presence and promote myself on social media, attend conventions, post new art semi regularly, and take commissions (I'd love some non hentai commissions please and thank you! I'd especially love some challenging monster or critter commissions or super cool landscape or character design commissions).
Its crazy hectic and sometimes overwhelming insanity (especially for some one who still suffers bad chronic depression and has always been a bit of a wall flower) on the best days, but I've never been happier (even on my bad days when I think I am no good and everyone hates me and I ruin everything). And I am determined to make this work and prove that despite my age, regardless of if my style is popular and in demand or not, and in spite of my physical and mental health limitations, I can still do this. I can still make something of my dreams to be an artist.
And please feel free to still drop a line or text and chit chat. I actually do love talking to people even if I seem quiet and reserved at first. I'm really quiet load and geeky once you get to know me. ;P
Main Site
White Noise Graphics
Project Sites
ZAWW
Suitors - Adult Content (some character anatomy studies that might offend people)
Art Sites
DeviantArt
Hentai Foundry - Adult Content (its hentai, be afraid)
Social Media
Blogger
Tumblr - Adult Content (artistic nudes and hentai both)
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