Fiko's Corner

Taking the first step can be very hard. I know this because I am a victim of this too. Difficult as it may be, we risk stagnation if we don't develop the courage to take a chance on ourselves and make that first move. Of course, you are going to make mistakes. Your first stab at a new venture will not always go as planned. Things will come up that we didn't account for. These errors along the way will give us an opportunity to be able to adjust course and get ourselves back on the right path.  People are much like airplanes in that when an airplane travels from one point to another, it rarely does so in a straight path. There are obstacles along the way that would knock the aircraft off its course. Luckily, the aircraft has an internal guidance system that monitors progress toward the destination and makes adjustments so that it stays on track and can eventually reach the intended destination. It could be that you are trying to learn a new skill. The path to mastery will not be...

 As freelancers, there are times where you get a torrent of new gigs. Other times, it might seem like you're experiencing a drought and no new job offers might be coming through. This is why it's important to build multiple revenue streams of income. There are a number of ways by which you can make new streams of income. Each method has its pros and cons but ultimately they can help to give you some level of financial freedom. Here are few things I came up with; commissions, prints, merchandise, online tutorials, art books, YouTube, art licensing, original art, sponsorships etc.  There are many more ways to make extra income as a freelance creative. Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. 

 When you are starting something new there's always that sense of unease. There's that insecurity that you might feel. It doesn't matter what it is. Be it a new online course, or a blank canvas, or a new gig. It can fill us with dread of the unknown. Don't let that stop you though. Feel the fear and do it anyways. You might triumph. Even worse, you could fail. But either way you will come out stronger and wiser than before. Don't allow fear to stop you. Go for it. You just might be surprised by the awesome things you will discover.

 ... "master of none". This quote always used to trip me up. I always felt that as an artist I have to stick to one thing. Pick one style. Pick one area of expertise. Don't get me wrong. There is value in specialization. No doubt. However there is something to be said for generalization as well. Human beings are complex creatures and this means we are multi-faceted. There is great power in tapping into your different interests, no matter how weird it might come out to others. You like 2d character design, but you also have an interest in sculpting. Fire up Zbrush and give it a go. You don't have to put yourself in a box.  To end, I'll leave you guys with the full quote. "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one."

 We all reach points where we feel a sense of stagnation. You feel like you're treading water. Your work doesn't excite you as much. This can be frustrating. However, there are things you can do to move  you to the next level. Sometimes all you need to make is a small change. Shake things up a little. Try out a different medium. Do things a little differently. Other times it can be a matter of getting  back in touch with the things that got you into art as a kid. What are the things that got you excited about art. Dig into those influences and let them seep into your work . You just might see a new shift in your work that would excite you. Never fear plateaus. Just make sure you keep climbing up the mountain. The sky's the limit. 

 This is a realization I came to recently. I used to hold artists I admire on a very high pedestal. Once I realized they were all imperfect people just like myself it took away that veil. All other phenomenal creatives have their own insecurities that they battle with. They might be very good at painting, drawing or telling stories but one thing always remains true, they are regular people trying to make out their way in this world. This doesn't mean I discount all their great work, far from it. I still appreciate their awesomeness but I do realize their flawed humanity as well.