4 posts tagged “art”

My life has completely changed in the last week. For the better I think. Though I'll have to see if I keep getting enough hours from Loomis to afford it.
I've done a lot better than I'd thought, which means I must be getting better at budgeting. Though Halloween is around the corner and it's hard to resist splurging a little on costumes and decorations. I'll be strong.
With the sudden ending of inEthos I found myself with an entire week off. Even two days in a row had been unheard of since I'd returned to Canada, so I really enjoyed sleeping in and spending the day on the couch drawing and vegging out on the couch. I also made time to apply for several jobs, and even rekindled some old contacts. I met my old boss Linda for brunch which was a really good thing. She gave me some good advice and some potential leads on work. *fingers crossed*
After talking to several people I was surprised how many of them had been worried about me before. Lots of my friends seemed glad to hear I was changing jobs, and felt I was being undervalued and overworked. It's weird that these things don't come up till after things change. Sort of like friends voicing concern about your girlfriend after you break up. Ah well.
I do feel like my stress level has dropped off a lot, and I feel like things are wide open for new opportunities. One of the biggest things for reducing my stress is realizing that there is no shame in working at Loomis, or doing any other kind of odd job. Art is probably one of the hardest jobs in the world, and it takes, patience, persistence, and a whole lot of luck. Someone recently had a look at my work and said "Wow you are really talented! Don't give up! You're only 27 right? I mean you won't be discovered till you're 45 and all bitter"
I thought that summed it up well. Except for the getting bitter part. But yeah, these things take time. And determination. Many good friends have advised that I should concentrate on creating art I love, as opposed to compromising for an easy buck. Why burn out on creative work that is uninspiring, when I can do retail, or something else non-art related and keep my creativity up for that big illustration job when it comes.
It's been such a short time, but I feel like my life has completely changed. I think I see my goals more clearly now, and I definitely feel much better about where I'm going.

Hello, My name is Jeffrey Ellis and I studied Graphic Design and Illustration for three years at Capilano College. I won the Potter's Vodka label redesign contest and had an Illustration published in BC's Write from the Heart project while in school. I created several illustrations for the Royal Bank of Canada, and produced several corporate identity packages for friends and family. I've built three website by myself, and had a comic story published in the Little Sisters benefit "What Right?". I also spent two years living in Japan where I produced two semesters worth of cartoons for their "Cultural Awareness" program. Recently I finished a stint as a junior designer where I was the regular layout artist for
In spite of all this I still live hand to mouth, and could very well be moving back into my parents basement by December if you don't help me out.
So why should you care? What makes me any better than any of the other schmucks out there? Well that's a good question. Most of my friends think I should be successful at art, they always seem impressed, and my family always pushed me to keep studying art. To be honest I've invested so much into being creative I don't really have many other skills to fall back on.
Now don't walk away just yet. I mean I have skills, lots of artistic skills. I'm good with my hands. I can make stuff. Not just paintings and cartoons mind you. I think well spatially, and I'm good at working in 3D as well. if you give me a box of odds and ends I bet I could glue them together into something cool.
I also am pretty good at Halloween make-up, and decorating in general. I'm crafty.
I work hard and stick with something until it's complete. I'm good with people, I have excellent customer service. I'm fairly organized and tidy.
My weaknesses? You always love to ask that question don't you? Well I suppose it's that I get easily discouraged. I prefer to follow instructions rather than take chances. I suffer from delusions of fairplay, and a naieve belief in the archaic system of submitting resumes for consideration, and a fair wage for a fair days labour.
I realize you've already given the job to your cousin or your friends friend, or to that guy with the slick sales pitch how called a few days before I did. But thanks for your time.
If something else comes up I hope you'll think of me, and offer it to me and save me from starving to death on the streets.
 

I've been settling in well in Vancouver, naturally with a few missteps along the way. The one thing I wish I could focus on more however is my art. Part of why I left Japan was to get into more creative grounds, yet I still find myself procrastinating from creating. Not that that's anything new. I'm starting to think the only real difference between me and the successful illustrators out there is that they spend every free moment drawing. Whereas I find all number of distractions. Like spending all of last night watching the Canucks play Dallas for what turned into a five hour freaking game! One of the ten longest hockey games ever I believe.
Ah well, I'm tempted to further fill this journal with more lamentations about my failings and limitations, but I think that is the root to the whole problem. So for the future I'm going to try my best to accentuate the positives. As well as try to have fewer expectations in my pursuits.
In an effort to get the creative juices flowing I'm going to try to blog some artwork once a week. I'm making this resolution while at work however which means I've nothing to post today I'm afraid, BUT I highly encourage any and all of you who would like to see my artwork to pester me about this promise as much as possible.

Expect the first weekly improv this Saturday!