Thank you Lauren! They didn’t start off like this, just kind of grew into what they are now. Needed something for my fidgety hands during meetings, downtime, teams calls.
I should preface everything that comes next with, I’ve done book illustration, but only for self satisfaction.
I can see the Clive Barker connection. I think the background art on the covers of my copies of The Great and Secret Show and Everville have some similar type of artwork to these pieces.
But to answer your question with more context, I have not really considered it professionally. I'm not opposed to the idea, but my career path only tangentially touches that part of the process. I don't really seek that aspect of it out. As prepress guru in a print shop, my work is technical - setting up incoming design files so they'll run smoothly when they get to press. It's niche work and I'm really good at my job. It's not creative, and odd as it may sound, that suits me pretty well. I don't burn through my creative energy at work selling my soul to eke out a living.
They say "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I've always thought making a career out of something you love is the quickest way to kill your passion. I went to college for graphic design, graduated top of my class, worked as an intern at a design studio, and hated doing that kind of work for other people. I fell into prepress almost by accident. It isn't glamorous, just necessary. Because of what I do, I'm fluent in most of the software to get things printed, and have all the technical chops to bring my personal projects to life.
All the stuff I'm doing and showing on Substack is stuff I've done for me over the years, to fulfill my own crazy and creative impulses. It helps that I'm a perpetual student and devote excessive amounts of time outside of my day job to do or learn about things I find interesting. It's a long answer, but this stuff has been on my mind lately.
I totally get what you’re saying about how making a passion your career is effective poison. I was in the subtitling industry for 20+ years. When I started in it, I LOVED the movies. Like, was a serious cinemaphile. No more, man. Doing that job almost killed my love of cinema. Even now, after being out of it for a couple of years, I’m not nearly where I used to be with it. I think it affected my love of writing too. Selling one’s soul… in our current reality, absolutely. So I totally understand.
Well, we here on Substack get to reap the benefits of your artistic talent! Cheers to that. °🥂⋆.ೃ🍾࿔*:･
Oh man. I bet when you first got that subtitling gig, it must have felt like a dream come true! Besides the grind turning it into a slog, I bet you had to watch a lot of bad movies along with the good. Ouch. Did you see the industry impacted much by the onset of AI, or were you out by then?
Swinging back around to the art stuff - I'm not opposed to doing illustrations for books, but what I want is creative control over the pieces I work on rather than having the art nitpicked to the point that the process stops being fun.
In addition to using the platform as a launchpad for my own passion projects, I'm also hoping to use Substack in a collaborative sense. Joint creation between artists gives both folks an incentive to provide great work without the payment dynamic corrupting the process. So far, this place has been great for just sharing the stuff I've been doing under a rock for the last couple of decades - and I'm really appreciating the enthusiasm and support and genuine enjoyment of my work!
When I got my first subtitling job, I was actually trying to become a 911 dispatcher! It’s a very long, drawn-out process and I needed money while I went through with it with multiple agencies. I’m glad now I didn’t succeed - I really don’t have the temperament or fortitude to do that job, but I didn’t realize it then.
Yes, almost the entire time I was subtitling, there were efforts to eliminate our jobs in favor of machine transcription. They never really got it right, though. I think they’re still struggling with it, but obviously it’s gotten pretty good now. At this point, I’m kind of sick and tired of a system that constantly throws its citizens under the bus. What’s the point anyway?
I’m on Substack for the same reasons you are, really. I’ve been writing for years, but this is the first time more than a few people have read my work and seem to enjoy it. I am beyond grateful for that!!
This is AMAZING! If you ever saw my doodles 🤦🏻♀️! This is really so good!
Thank you Lauren! They didn’t start off like this, just kind of grew into what they are now. Needed something for my fidgety hands during meetings, downtime, teams calls.
You're welcome! Such a wonderful talent! 🤗
Have you ever considered doing book/magazine illustration? Your work totally makes me think of Clive Barker.
I should preface everything that comes next with, I’ve done book illustration, but only for self satisfaction.
I can see the Clive Barker connection. I think the background art on the covers of my copies of The Great and Secret Show and Everville have some similar type of artwork to these pieces.
But to answer your question with more context, I have not really considered it professionally. I'm not opposed to the idea, but my career path only tangentially touches that part of the process. I don't really seek that aspect of it out. As prepress guru in a print shop, my work is technical - setting up incoming design files so they'll run smoothly when they get to press. It's niche work and I'm really good at my job. It's not creative, and odd as it may sound, that suits me pretty well. I don't burn through my creative energy at work selling my soul to eke out a living.
They say "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I've always thought making a career out of something you love is the quickest way to kill your passion. I went to college for graphic design, graduated top of my class, worked as an intern at a design studio, and hated doing that kind of work for other people. I fell into prepress almost by accident. It isn't glamorous, just necessary. Because of what I do, I'm fluent in most of the software to get things printed, and have all the technical chops to bring my personal projects to life.
All the stuff I'm doing and showing on Substack is stuff I've done for me over the years, to fulfill my own crazy and creative impulses. It helps that I'm a perpetual student and devote excessive amounts of time outside of my day job to do or learn about things I find interesting. It's a long answer, but this stuff has been on my mind lately.
I totally get what you’re saying about how making a passion your career is effective poison. I was in the subtitling industry for 20+ years. When I started in it, I LOVED the movies. Like, was a serious cinemaphile. No more, man. Doing that job almost killed my love of cinema. Even now, after being out of it for a couple of years, I’m not nearly where I used to be with it. I think it affected my love of writing too. Selling one’s soul… in our current reality, absolutely. So I totally understand.
Well, we here on Substack get to reap the benefits of your artistic talent! Cheers to that. °🥂⋆.ೃ🍾࿔*:･
Oh man. I bet when you first got that subtitling gig, it must have felt like a dream come true! Besides the grind turning it into a slog, I bet you had to watch a lot of bad movies along with the good. Ouch. Did you see the industry impacted much by the onset of AI, or were you out by then?
Swinging back around to the art stuff - I'm not opposed to doing illustrations for books, but what I want is creative control over the pieces I work on rather than having the art nitpicked to the point that the process stops being fun.
In addition to using the platform as a launchpad for my own passion projects, I'm also hoping to use Substack in a collaborative sense. Joint creation between artists gives both folks an incentive to provide great work without the payment dynamic corrupting the process. So far, this place has been great for just sharing the stuff I've been doing under a rock for the last couple of decades - and I'm really appreciating the enthusiasm and support and genuine enjoyment of my work!
When I got my first subtitling job, I was actually trying to become a 911 dispatcher! It’s a very long, drawn-out process and I needed money while I went through with it with multiple agencies. I’m glad now I didn’t succeed - I really don’t have the temperament or fortitude to do that job, but I didn’t realize it then.
Yes, almost the entire time I was subtitling, there were efforts to eliminate our jobs in favor of machine transcription. They never really got it right, though. I think they’re still struggling with it, but obviously it’s gotten pretty good now. At this point, I’m kind of sick and tired of a system that constantly throws its citizens under the bus. What’s the point anyway?
I’m on Substack for the same reasons you are, really. I’ve been writing for years, but this is the first time more than a few people have read my work and seem to enjoy it. I am beyond grateful for that!!
Here’s to finding good peeps!🍻
I hope, someday, I can do art at least 20% as good as you. :)
You’re too kind, sir!
Post. More. Art. :)
I’ll see what I can do ;)