Today is my last day as a full time artist at Reel FX Studios. After much deliberation, I've decided now is the time for me to throw one hundred percent of my efforts into being a full time freelance illustrator.
I spent four great years at Reel FX working on over 200 commercial and film projects with a hardworking, kind, and talented team of designers. But at the same time, for the past three years, I've been moonlighting in the publishing world, doing all of the books and covers you see here. I never wanted to publicly admit how hard this double life was, how crazy the hours were becoming, because I kept feeling like my luck would change.
After working on over 25 books this year alone, it was clear I didn't need to keep waiting for a sign that I'm ready. Anything pursued with hard work and passion has a tendency to work out. So when it came time to choose, I knew the world of kid lit was my home.
This time last year, I spoke to students at Ringling College of Art and Design about my experience working on childrens books. One student asked me what my dream job would be, my reply was something along the lines of "Well, I already have it. I want to make books for kids for the rest of my life."
And I do. So here we go.
7 comments:
Best of luck! I love your work.
How perfectly wonderful! The very best to you.
Congratulations! :-D
Awesome! Congrats! Great to hear you are living the dream! Your work is very inspiring. Best of luck to you and I look forward to seeing your art work in the book stores :)
Erin, This is Jon Holtz-Art Teacher from Minnesota. I was just visiting your blog and wanted to say congrats!
Hope all is well with you!
I was there for that talk at Ringling! I'm one of your alma mater I guess. And I've been blog stalking your artwork since seeing your painting that got into Illest of Ill 2008.
I love your artwork. And your story of getting places and doing amazing artwork since being out of Ringling has been such an inspiration to me. Good luck with your freelance career in Children's books. I can only hope that one day I can follow in my own way into the realm of children's picture books. :] Though I know the road will be tough, long and winding. It really brighens my day seeing one of my Ringling seniors succeeding in their dreams.
-Erica
I was there for that talk at Ringling! I'm one of your alma mater I guess. And I've been blog stalking your artwork since seeing your painting that got into Illest of Ill 2008.
I love your artwork. And your story of getting places and doing amazing artwork since being out of Ringling has been such an inspiration to me. Good luck with your freelance career in Children's books. I can only hope that one day I can follow in my own way into the realm of children's picture books. :] Though I know the road will be tough, long and winding. It really brighens my day seeing one of my Ringling seniors succeeding in their dreams.
-Erica
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