thank you for sharing these observations and thoughts, Julien. It is a peculiar life to live - the one of an illustrators - and you’ve captured something about this group that I’ve been feeling and seeing in my own connection with people who illustrate - I am still an illustrator myself, but finding it challenging to continue on this path.
Do you have any thoughts on what makes some illustrators continue on their path, and what makes others decide that they have had enough of the uncertainty that comes with the life as an illustrator?
Why are some of us so used to being underpaid, what is it that makes this group “feel special” in this shared suffering of making images.
Since illustrators are, as you said, going beyond making images for money, why is there such a guilt coming from within when one decides that they are not going to be a commercial illustrator anymore? Is someone who just makes images because of the joy it brings them still an illustrator, if they leave behind the life of those images being created for a newspaper, magazine, brand, advertising or books, etc?
I noticed you mention that you introduce yourself as “I used to be an illustrator”. How does that feel when you say it? What was the process through which you allowed yourself to go from “I am an illustrator” to “I used to be” an illustrator?
Please don’t feel like you have to answer this long comment, I am just enjoying the analysed perception of your subject and it makes me think of these things in response. Also, please forgive me if I misunderstood anything you meant to say, or missed out from previous newsletter where you might have touched on some of this things.
This is a really interesting read. I've never thought of creatives, and illustrators in particular, through quite this lens, and it was fascinating to think about. Thanks for sharing!
thank you for sharing these observations and thoughts, Julien. It is a peculiar life to live - the one of an illustrators - and you’ve captured something about this group that I’ve been feeling and seeing in my own connection with people who illustrate - I am still an illustrator myself, but finding it challenging to continue on this path.
Do you have any thoughts on what makes some illustrators continue on their path, and what makes others decide that they have had enough of the uncertainty that comes with the life as an illustrator?
Why are some of us so used to being underpaid, what is it that makes this group “feel special” in this shared suffering of making images.
Since illustrators are, as you said, going beyond making images for money, why is there such a guilt coming from within when one decides that they are not going to be a commercial illustrator anymore? Is someone who just makes images because of the joy it brings them still an illustrator, if they leave behind the life of those images being created for a newspaper, magazine, brand, advertising or books, etc?
I noticed you mention that you introduce yourself as “I used to be an illustrator”. How does that feel when you say it? What was the process through which you allowed yourself to go from “I am an illustrator” to “I used to be” an illustrator?
Please don’t feel like you have to answer this long comment, I am just enjoying the analysed perception of your subject and it makes me think of these things in response. Also, please forgive me if I misunderstood anything you meant to say, or missed out from previous newsletter where you might have touched on some of this things.
Thanks for your hard work and observations Julien! Always a pleasure to read your insights about our world. :-)
Loved these reflections and the lens through which you see the world and this little exotic corner of it :)
This is a really interesting read. I've never thought of creatives, and illustrators in particular, through quite this lens, and it was fascinating to think about. Thanks for sharing!