Help? Advice?

[MelissaJacie]

Hello! I could use some input from anyone willing to offer it.

I'd like to pursue the possibility of working with a traditional publishing house (illustrating children's books). I've considered the possibility of an agent and am open to hearing suggestions. Have you worked with an agent? Do you have one to recommend? How soon does one start receiving possible projects when working with an agent? Have you tried the childrensillustrators.com website?

Do you know of any agents in the Christian/faith-based arena that you would recommend?

[MelissaJacie]

@MelissaJacie Since submitting this to be posted, I've had an encouraging reply from a publishing house that I tried contacting today! Don't know if there will be official job yet, but the door is open! Exciting!

[Meekipink]

@MelissaJacie Hello, Melissa! I haven’t yet gotten to your level, but one agent I can think of who represents Christian works alongside general kidlit is Adria Goetz. I’m hoping/planning to submit to her first once my portfolio is up to scratch. You can find her on Instagram.

[MelissaJacie]

Hello, @Meekipink! You're kind!! I checked out your profile and you've got a real professionalism showing up in your work. Don't sell yourself short. Thanks so much for the recommendation!! Really appreciate it.

[Meekipink]

@MelissaJacie Awww, thank you! I'm super stoked to see another Christian-based artist here in SVS Learn! Your style is so lovely and feminine with a vintage feel. I haven't yet fully developed my style or focus, but I think it would be fun to get into comics and graphic novels (mostly because I enjoy stories and expressive character design but am rarely motivated to fully colour and render a piece, haha).

Best of luck with your agent search! I think I would prefer an agent over direct submissions to publishing houses, as they know the ins and outs of contracts, they can stick up for you and get you the best deal possible, plus they have the right connections. But that's assuming you get a good one.

[MelissaJacie]

@Meekipink Thanks, it's great to meet you too! And thanks for the kind encouragement on my art. I can see how you could do comics or graphic novels! And I sympathize on the motivation issue of fully coloring or rendering a piece!! I think art-making can be work and it takes from us. There's at least a side of me that can tend to do better with faster or "one-off" kind of work, rather than long-planned, thought-out kind of work. Both have their merits.

So don't feel bad if your best skills aren't in long-rendering. Lean into what you're good at and focus on that--unless you're sure you want to pursue more higher rendering kind of projects.

Getting to a place where there's a consistent style can have it's own challenge--but to encourage you, don't sweat it too much. I don't think I'm "all there" myself!! Still development and growth yet to come, hopefully! Just do what feels the most comfortable to you. What do you enjoy doing the most? What causes the least stress? Try not to get tangled in the idea of "this is what I'm best at", or "this is the best-looking art I can create". Do what's comfortable, what you can keep up longer term and try not to listen to any real or perceived influences to "go in a certain direction" style-wise. Let it come naturally. I wish I had given myself more freedom earlier on. It's definitely good to learn solid skills, but when it comes to expression--relax. Ultimately, if you want to make a long-term job out of this, you want to enjoy the process, not just the product. Which is something I need to work on! Creating art can take from me mentally, emotionally, etc, so if I can enjoy the process, it's a win.

And thanks for your input on the agent!! Appreciate hearing your thoughts. I've already tried reaching out to the gal you mentioned on Instagram!

[Meekipink]

@MelissaJacie Ahh! You're so nice! Thank you so much for the encouragement - I love everything you said!!

I completely agree, it's SO important to find the path of least resistance when it comes to making art. That doesn't necessarily mean it's the "easiest" to create, but that it's the most enjoyable for you. I've been seriously burnt out to the point where I'm now associating drawing with torture. I need to go back to basics, figure out what I enjoy doing and just try to have fun without letting that horrible inner critic destroy my spark and creativity.

So thank you again! Every kind word and little nudge is just enough to get me out of that dark place and back to what I'm meant to be doing.

[MelissaJacie]

@Meekipink Dear friend, I hear you! I'm definitely a fellow artist who is no stranger to burnout. Sending a hug your way across the miles. You've been given an artistic gift that has purpose and meaning!! God has incredible plans for you. Someone needs what you were made to give. Take a deep breath. You can get through this.

I like how you mentioned "easiest" vs. "enjoyable"--really good distinction there! I can appreciate doing a loser style myself, but the question can be raised--is this just because I'm tired as an artist? (Like I said, no stranger to the burnout.) Would I still prefer something tighter ultimately? Or is it only because my pride/fear that I may lean towards tighter rendering? (It can help to make me look more talented, for example.) If that makes sense. But there are illustrators out there that can do really neat work that is more loose and styled and I shouldn't feel like it is "less" to do so too. That sort of work when refined definitely takes work/talent! Have you ever struggled with that?

And I know!! Sometimes art-making can actually not sound "so fun". It can be weird in a sense--hey, we're artists right? Shouldn't a long period of drawing something complicated be seen as a blissful moment of delight for us? Creating art can be challenging at times. It takes from us and one my real problems has been when I create art and it takes more from me than it gives--in a sense. You know how you can "work" and yet it can give a sort of kick back of renewal and excitement--inspiration too, perhaps? Like it can add air to your lungs and helps you keep going. It's much harder when creating drains you rather than gives you life. I don't like it and I hope one day I can come to a place where creating mostly gives me a lot of life and doesn't knock me down so much.

Here's a little recommendation: try setting aside 15-30 minutes a day just to HAVE FUN. Nothing you create needs to be professional, sellable, etc. If it happens to be something you want to share, fine, but try not to let that pressure be as much there. If there's a new style technique you want to try this could be perfect!

I've tried to do this kind of thing a little recently myself and it's been good. I need to keep doing it. Let me know if you decide to try this sort of idea too! You can get through this!! You're not alone.

[Meekipink]

@MelissaJacie Thank you!!!!!! (Taking a few deep breaths). Sigh..... it's hard, isn't it? The indecision, the psychological torture, the comparison, the perfectionism, the distractions, the endless possibilities, the guilt....! We start out with hope and good intentions and quickly get squashed by our own insecurities.

Oh yes. I struggle with wanting to do highly-detailed, cinematic-looking pieces but get overwhelmed as soon as I start. Then I jump back to trying a loose, flat style with minimal rendering, but immediately get bored (and discover anyway that it's harder than it looks!). Haha, I need to suck it up and finish something instead of jumping around endlessly with nothing to show for it.

Oooh, yes, that's exactly what I need! To take off this debilitating internal pressure and spend time just drawing for fun. Tonight, the plan is to put on a movie and to work on something with no expectations. Just to relax and see what I can do in my own way - not following a class or prompts or anything external to try and prevent that comparison monster derailing me.

Thank you again. I popped by your website the other day and was immediately inspired by your talent, dedication and faith. I need to surround myself with more people who are doing the things I want to do (because that outside noise is deafening, and I don't have any more time to waste feeling sorry for myself).