Fiko's Corner

 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.   

 Storytelling is in our DNA as humans. We love to tell stories. It is the stories behind our favorite shows, comics, animations etc that connect us to the characters and worlds in these media. A great way to elevate your work and create more interest in the images you make is  to incorporate storytelling elements. These make the viewer ask questions hence the work grabs their attention and they begin to connect to the imagery. We've all seen work where the artist doesn't have a crazy draftsmanship skills, however, what drew your to the image was the story they told. A great storytelling doesn't always have to be complex. Keep it simple and show how the characters in your IP interact and relate to each other in the world they live in. 

 As a creative it is definitely important to make ends meet through your full-time studio work or through the freelance gigs you do. After all we all need the money pay our bills and other necessities. This notwithstanding, in my experience it has been of great benefit to indulge in personal projects as well. Personal projects give you a creative outlet to put down your craziest ideas and explore new and exciting concepts outside of work. Sometimes you just need some space to work on something for you, with no strings attach. Personal projects allow you to also test out new things that you otherwise would not be able to do at work. Personal projects can also lead to new opportunities that you never could have imagined. Go back to the drawing board and dust off some of your old ideas. Start working on that personal project :) 

 Burnout is something most artists and creatives have experienced at one particular point in their career. It is often spoken of from a negative standpoint but it can be a good thing. Why a good thing? Because it your body speaking to yourself. It is telling you to take a break. Sure, you have so much on your plate but is it really worth risking your future by damaging your physical and mental health? Take a break and replenish your energies. Allow your body and mind to heal again. Pace yourself in your work. It's better to go at a slower pace and have a sustained art career than to work at a  frenetic tempo which might permanently take you out of the art game. Listen to what your body is telling you. 

 This is something that has helped me immensely as an artist. When I don't have a full understanding of an issue, I begin the process of finding solutions by asking questions. It doesn't matter if I'm stuck with a painting. I ask questions. What is the value structure? What shapes make up the composition? Where is my light source? It doesn't matter if I'm having trouble with a client. I also ask questions to get a better understanding of the situation. What are the deadlines? What is your budget for the project? What are the deliverables you expect upon the completion of the project? Asking questions doesn't make you look dumb and inexperienced, rather it helps you to acquire the necessary information you need to tackle the problem. It shows that you want clarity on the situation. And there's nothing wrong with that. 

  I used to think that it's impressive to make images with as little external help as possible. No references, no external feedback from close friends etc. you get the idea. I made the final work all on my own. But I realized this wasn't always smart. There's nothing wrong with relying on a little help here and there. Use reference when you can, get feedback from other artists on what you're working on, use 3D in your process if need be. The final artwork is what matters. Sure, there are people like Kim Jung Gi who exist. His ability to compose entire images out of his imagination is incredibly impressive. But it takes a lot of time to get to that level of mastery.To the normal folks out there(myself included) don't feel shy to get some help when you're working on your stuff. You don't always have to work harder when you can work smarter ;) 

 You have to go through creating bad work in order to reach the point where you make work that excites you. You'll make lots of paintings that suck. Your first fifty attempts at writing a novel or script might suck. However you have to note this. By going through the crappy phase, you learn the skills and build the framework that allows you to produce great work. You won't pop off from the get go.  You have to get through the bad to get to the good. 

 This might sound a bit weird but it's true. To a great extent, you determine your own luck.  I don't deny the fact that you are going to face challenges in your creative career. Unsupportive family members, harsh instructors, lack of funding, difficulty in obtaining your dream job, etc. There are a myriad of factors that will try stop you but ultimately you hold the key to your own creative success. Work hard at the craft, develop yourself. Learn how to communicate and relate to others. Play nice with people. Understand the rules of the game. In the words of Steve Martin "Be so good they can't ignore".  The ball is in your court, or rather, the pencil is in your hands ;) 

 It can be often frustrating to find that your art career is stagnant when you see fellow creatives getting their lucky breaks in the industry. We all have an expectation of the time frame within which we should breakthrough in the industry. We compare our journey to that of others. But I have come to realize that it's important to go at your own pace. Things won't happen as quickly as you expect. Your best friend got their dream job at a well-known studio right out of college but it doesn't mean you will automatically have the same experience.  Move at your own pace. Be consistent and diligent in the work you make. Stay true to your internal compass. Everyone has a different journey. Your time is coming. 

  If you want love, give love. If you want friendship be friendly towards others. If you feel others don't empathize with you then ask yourself 'Am I empathetic?'. The universe is like a mirror. It can only reflect back to you that which you give it.

 You should be bold enough to imbibe your personal essence into your work but also self aware and analytical enough to realize that critique isn't always an attack on  your personality. Sometimes people might not like your work simply because they have differing tastes and preferences — and that's OK. Always take feedback with a pinch of salt. Other times the person might actually be right and you would need to do some more studying to get better at hands. That's also fine.   

 We often get our personalities wrapped up into the work that we create. It is understandable. As creatives we usually put  ourselves into our work since art is a form of self-expression. Nevertheless it is important to understand that in as much as you channel yourself into your creations, the things you make aren't you—only a reflection of your knowledge, skills and abilities at this material moment. When people critique your work, don't take it as a personal attack. Be objective and try to parse out the truth in their observations and  work on these gaps in your knowledge so as to elevate your work.  This can be hard to do but it makes for a happier creative life in my opinion. 

 We are surround by so many things on the planet we live in. People, creatures, landforms and a myriad of other phenomena. Sometimes we take these things for granted but you can find so much awesomeness in the ordinary things we see daily. It takes a mind shift to realize that there is so much beauty in the people and things around us. Take a closer look. You never know the amazing things you're gonna discover

 Don't underestimate the impact your dream has on the life of others. The achievement of our dreams are intricately tied into the lives of so many others. Imagine the millions who would be impacted if the great women and men in history had never pursued their dreams. You have a responsibility to manifest your dream. Even if people don't understand your vision, pursue it because that was what was given to you to do. No one will be able to  paint your illustrations or write your book or open your boutique or give your speech etc. You are the channel.

  We often search for that unique style that sets us apart from the rest. You don't need to force uniqueness into your work to distinguish yourself.  Imbibe your own personal essence and life experiences into your work and you will stand out. Be you.No two humans experience the world in the exact same way. This is true even for twins. Twins my share certain similarities but tend to like different things and experience the world differently. In light of this, we realize that every person’s life experience is unique from the next person. People like different things and all of these differences set us apart from our fellow human. That is where your power to be unique comes from.  Once you’re authentic in your self expression the world will not be able to help but notice your rare and unique voice.

 Social media can be a scary and turbulent place; so many things are happening and changing on the daily. People use it for different things; some use it for work, for others it's a form of entertainment. Social media can be a great tool that can help you achieve a lot in your life and business but much like real life, you have to focus on building deep meaningful connections. Don't approach it with the mindset of collecting followers. When you bring people value and build real relationships with them(although virtually) it opens the doors to new and exciting opportunities that you could never have imagined. Be genuine in your interactions. Have conversations with those that engage. Be generous with your compliments. Be nice. Connect. Be a human. 

 This question has been asked a million times. Some people are so jaded by the question and roll their eyes at the mention of it. Knowing the tools that other artists you admire are using is very important, no doubt. But even more important than that is the mind behind the tool. If you don't understand the decisions the artist is making, you can buy all of the same tools they use and still be unable to achieve the results you want. The key here is knowledge. You have to understand the mental framework that the master is using, then and only then will you have a chance to get the results you seek. A quote from a Japanese animé, Naruto, brings the point home, "A master with a rock is deadlier than a student with a sword". 

 Sometimes the first version of your creation will come out very bland. It won't meet your expectations and you would be questioning yourself as to why you even tried in the first place. Don't stop there. Keep reiterating. Tweak. Push and pull. Work on new versions until you get it right. The first computers could fill an entire room, now a computer can fit into the palm of your hand. Don't underestimate the power of iteration. If at first you fail, iterate and iterate again. 

 When you're trying to improve as an artist, you don't have to do something huge. You can make small efforts that will take you closer to your goal. It may seem minor and insignificant but the accumulation of the little actions will have an appreciable impact on your artistic growth. You can just decide to write/draw/dance/do whatever it is that you do for 15 minutes every morning. At first it might look like an exercise in futility but as the days and months go by the time will add up and there will be a compounded effect on your skills, knowledge and abilities. In the words of Brian Tracy: "By the yard it's hard, but inch by inch anything is a cinch". Take a step. Even if you move by an inch, you're now an inch closer to your goal. 

 Perfection doesn't exist. It is just an illusion in our minds. By trying to make your next piece perfect you a holding yourself up to unnecessarily high expectations. This is not  to mean that you shouldn't hold yourself to higher standards. No. It means you should be aware that we are all imperfect people. Our creations might be flawed and imperfect but nevertheless they will remain beautiful in the eyes of others when we create from a place of authenticity and passion for the craft. Trying make everything you create perfect will block you from actually unleashing all of your creative energies. Be bold. Be brave. Forget what the naysayers are saying. Create something perfectly imperfect today. 

Perfection doesn't exist. It is just an illusion in our minds. By trying to make your next piece perfect you are holding yourself up to unnecessarily high expectations. This is not to mean that you shouldn't hold yourself to higher standards. No. It means you should be aware that we are all imperfect people. Our creations might be flawed and imperfect nevertheless they will remain beautiful in the eyes of others when we create from a place of authenticity and passion for the craft.

  To whomever is reading these words I'd like to welcome you to Fiko's Corner. What is Fiko's Corner?   This is a space where I chronicle my journey as an artist by sharing the insights and knowledge that I have gathered thus far. Who is this space meant for?  This blog is primarily aimed at creatives and artists but not only limited to this pedigree of people. It is a place for people from all walks of life who are trying to make their passion into something that creates impact and brings themselves joy. It is meant as a place to inspire anyone who has the natural will and desire to make or create something. Someone who is willing to take the leap of faith and dive into the bottomless depths of creativity and imagination.  I hope you join me in this new and exciting journey.