Introduction / Questioning My Creative Career...
-
Hi Guys!
I've been following Jake Parker's work avidly for over five years starting with Instagram, watching his Youtube videos and 3 Point Perspective. They have really given me a good understanding of the illustration industry and it’s changed my way of thinking such as Creative Bank Account, Finished Not perfect etc. - Nevertheless, I'm starting to doubt my creative work, especially with the lack of fundamentals. I would really appreciate if Jake, Lee or Will. could point me in the right direction with some personal advice.
I’m a creative based in London, England who dropped out of university a couple years ago where I barely scraped through Product Design with the intention of becoming a designer at The LEGO Group.
I decided to take a break from education with just a regular day job at the LEGO store the past two years, in between that time I applied and managed to get invited to a recruitment workshop in Denmark for the LEGO designer position, which I didn’t get in the end; I was advised to be more creative and collaborative.
In January 2020 I left the store to prioritise my creative career through personal projects and collaborations in sight to make a second attempt at the LEGO Product Designer role later in the year. 2020 happened and now those plans have fallen through for the next 6-12 months. - I've also got to point out that another reason I left the store is I was losing control of work / life balance, given it was my first role in a working environment.
During this downtime I’ve been looking for creative jobs for over five months and I don’t believe my work isn't close to industry level, I’m struggling to match any creative job description. I've just discovered that I wasn’t taught or didn’t catch onto the fundamentals during education.
I’m now ideally looking at the illustration industry as a starting point because it’s always been my preferred creative medium through comics, picture books during my early years and more recently Jake Parker / children’s books, and film concept art / visual development from recent Marvel Studios, Pixar and Star Wars films.
LEGO is very niche and doesn’t have many design opportunities outside Billund, Denmark. So what would be the ideal solution for my current status, what would be the best way to move forward? Should I go back into university or should I try to learn the fundamentals myself through online tutorials and studying the medium through current publications. Do Jake, Will or Lee offer personal one-to-one classes to help learn and get feedback during each stage, I remember hearing that during the podcast.
My folio can be found on my website (adeelzubair.com/illustration) which contains various work including master copies of my recent illustrations. If you'd like you'll able to see my other creative work and about page those are also available. - Thank you to those who've taken out their precious time to read this lengthy post.
Adeel
-
@AdeelZubair Hi, I like all your Lego work but I'm not seeing a lot of illustrations aside from your fanarts. If you want to get into illustration and you feel you lack the fundamental skills, then yes, going back to school is a great idea if you have the Money, Time, and Passion for it. But if you don't, you can definitely learn online. I did not attend art school for monetary reason. However, after subscribing to SVS, pouring endless hours on youtube art videos, practicing, and having my work critiqued here in the forum, I am now working as an illustrator. So it is possible but you'll have to put in a lot of blood and sweat (maybe not the blood part though
). -
Hello! So your LEGO work is very cool especially your inventions and you know what, if you do decide to move into comics and children's books I think your LEGO work can still be used to bring your head ideas into reality. I did art school from 2008/9 to 2016 (long story) but it was conceptual art and they did not teach me fundamentals. It was like this for drawing class, you buy the tools, we provide the space and models, you draw what you see. Now I am working through the SVS curriculum and loving it especially perspective (I am on Objects in Perspective), it has been challenging but so eye opening, I am now beginning to see eye line/ horizon line everywhere and it is making more sense. I work at it everyday, do my own side homework and do their homework and assignments. So I am all for SVS classes!
We are here for you whatever you decide. -
@AdeelZubair It seems like the thing you're really passionate about is being a Lego product designer and I suppose if that's the case, you'd need to pour all of your efforts into that. If you are interested in becoming an illustrator, I think the advice that was given above is good: follow the courses on SVS and then maybe also participate in the monthly contests. I don't think Lee, Will or Jake do private sessions from what I can gather but I'm sure if you're determined, you can improve tons by completing the coursework in from the classes and then sharing it in the forum and get feedback that way, there's lots of professional illustrators on SVS. In any case, good luck with it all
-
@AdeelZubair You thought about doing a youtube channel? Your lego art sounds like the sort of thing that would go down a storm on there, talk about what you made, show builds in timelapse etc, must be loads of enthusiasts on there that would be into that. Would get you a bit of profile, never know, might lead to something. Even you just have it ticking away in the background while you work toward something else.
-
Thanks guys the feedback I reckon I will pursue illustration through SVS Learn and other online tools for now, I'm still looking into art school but it's tough to find something. I was advised by a friend whose field or work is illustration and they've also recommended art school, having an actual teacher and peers around me would help with the development. - I do have the equipment to take my work to another level and I reckon now it's time use those to my advantage than lounging around, make my work at a professional level rather than a hobby.
Edit: Just realised I did the exact thing I shouldn't have; I should have been a little more interactive in the forums before asking for advice, giving it more weight. Thanks Jake for that advice from the 'Critiques' episode.
