Left Corporate America to Pursue a Career in Illustration
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@KatrinaF Yes, www.katrinacomics.carrd.co doesn't seem to work for me
Followed you on IG!
My twins are 10 years old. One boy and one girl. It's very easy to tell them apart - my daughter is also 4-5 inches taller than my son... they're mini-versions of their parents, since my wife is also 4-5 inches taller than me haha
I'm scared of the teenage years - I absolutely love this golden age (age 4 to present) - don't want them to get older anytime soon... other than to watch specific PG-13 and Rated R films with me
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@KatrinaF your website (first link you shared) also doesn't work for me.
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IG - the link is on there too. If it doesn't work it may be your privacy settings or a browers thing. I asked my family to check the link and all say it works for them. On IG is where I most of my comic stuff is. Thx for the follow.
Regarding kids: I thought this 'raising kid' thing was a breeze until 13 hit and now, tbh, the whole family is in therapy. No joke. Pandemic and antisocial issues and cultural changes with our move hit hard. Love them little's while you can cause there ain't enough 'box O wine' to get ya thru!
Have a great holiday.
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@Mewie Awesome! This is such a great community
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@KatrinaF about your website - it works now... I didn't change any settings either - the Internet is funky lol Glad I can see it finally!
You're scaring me about 13... but we'll do our best
- 9 months later
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This is amazing and gives me hope at 38 years old. I just switched to a new career in graphic design and have the stable corporate job, so now I want to focus on growing my art style and skills in my spare time. I would LOVE to have art be my career - its hard to not feel like I am running out of time but seeing you make that jump really helps. I hope it's going well since this post is old! You should post an update!
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From one person leaving an unfulfilling job to another doing the same, I feel you.
I'm 54 and leaving teaching after 20+ years in higher ed and theatre-making to pursue an art/illustration career. I gave myself two years of prep, and this last summer between academic years was a good dunking in the growing pains I'm going to experience.
It scary, but I have a supportive partner and that makes all the difference. He went through a similar career transition when the bottom fell out of journalism and small periodical publication. So he knows it takes time. But the two years notice I gave my work has really helped me (and them) and everyone else I know come to an understanding that the end is nigh. And that has generated a bit of optimisim and lots of expressions of hope and interest in what I'm doing.
The biggest challenge I'm experiencing is having the patience with myself to understand just how slow the development of a career in the art field can be. What was an appropriate window of lead time to buckle down and make something new of yourself is much longer now--significantly longer than even 10 or 15 years ago. Every step forward is in constant flux... For example, 10 years ago book editors might have received 1000 queries a month--now some say they sometimes get 10,000! Big Social media has not only changed the game but is also changing itself. Covid also changed everything.
So just be prepared... Have your plan and follow through, but be prepared for growth to take much longer than it used to. There are many many exceptions to this, to be sure, but be prepared to ultimately need to make your own path. Examine where the advice you are listening to comes from with a critical eye, as their experience will rarely be yours. Take what you can and forge what's right for you, and be willing to try to play the game especially at the beginning.
We're all finding our way. And each step can feel hard-won and not enough at the same time. I'm still getting used to that ironic duality myself.
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Fellow communications person here. And Iām living vicariously through you. What a courageous decision, however, now you are able to focus on art full time. I wish you nothing but success!