Becoming an "Artist"

Going from working in video games to fine art has been a big change for me in many ways. There are the obvious things like moving from digital work to traditional, but more than that, it’s a complete change in mindset. Before, I would get given very specific tasks - and there was comfort in that. I followed the instructions, and responded to feedback. Now, it is up to me to figure out what it is I want to make, and how to do it. 

This has led to a year of a lot of experimenting for me. Trying out new media, new styles, new techniques. And I am far from done. I still struggle to settle on a "style", because I’m having too much fun in this process of experimenting. I don’t want to establish habits before I’ve had a chance to really find out what is possible. But the goal for me is to gradually narrow down what it is I enjoy the most, and "find a voice", that is, a coherent perspective in my art.

Now, that will inevitably evolve over time - change is the only constant, and I believe it should be embraced. My art in 5 years will almost certainly look different to what I’m doing now, and the same 10 years later etc. My hope is that looking back, I’ll be able to see my development, my personal growth, over hundreds, if not thousands, of drawings, each one a tile in a greater mosaic (without sounding too fucking pretentiousness about it..)

All this is to say, I am so happy to have started on this mission. To have moved on from following others and design by committee, to doing what speaks to me, and hopefully some of you! I really do see this as just the very beginning, I have so so so much that I want to do - huge artworks, art stalls, merchandise, art books. This gives me something to truly look forward to about getting older. I know art will stay with me to the very end.