#... i kinda feel like i'm also now *too* reliant on refs?

[ravinoforre]

I posted this on my twitter as a qrt but i may as well post it here too.

Abandoned wip of my favourite gamecube siblings. I had the idea in my head a long while but didn't feel like I had the skills to pull it off, eventually put down this sketch sometime last year but only got as far as this for line art. Michael's pose was inexplicably giving me issues and I wasn't happy with what came out (along with the usual "not being able to draw him in a consistent style" problem I have), and I think the different angled poses I was using for refs just weren't working with each other like I'd hoped?

[kaeveeoh]

hi Kae, I've really looked up to you for a long time and you're one of my biggest inspirations. I've recently switched editors from SV to AE, and your ref list is super duper helpful! however, I'm dealing with a lot of feelings of inadequacy rn and feel really down/hopeless about my skills. (esp bc I want to hopefully do this as a job in the future). do you have any advice about dealing with getting into these "funks," I guess? sorry if this was silly to ask; I just really look up to you!! ;w;

Hello anon!  I’m very happy you made the switch from SV to AE and found inspiration from my works! but I’m also very sorry you feel your skills are inadequate D: While I am someone still struggling with my own place in life, especially career-wise, I’ll try my best to give you some advice:I think everyone at some point in their life struggles with “being good enough.” I used to see my idols’ amazing works and be like “wow I’ll never be as good as them” and feel insecure about my own abilities, especially since I didn't major in the arts and felt behind in progression because of that.  Something I like to think about that helped me push such negative thoughts away is how they had to have started somewhere too.  Your favorite creators didn’t know how to use or do a certain thing at one point, and they went and learned it and stuck with it and now they’re doing awesome things.  If you just think about how your efforts will pay off in the future, I think that might help – it definitely helps me out when I think about the potential future my present practice will give me.  I think it’s about perspective.  Like now when I see my idols’ works I think about how hopefully one day I can do that rather than “I’m not good enough to be able to do that.”  Things take effort but you’ll get there!

Career-wise, I’m still struggling with that myself. As you may know, our field is something that is a bit harder to get into professionally because motion graphics is sort of niche field and even if theres a good job opening, it’s very reliant on high skill set.  I don’t want to give you false hope and say you will definitely get a job using AE, however you will at least get freelance work if you advertise your services.  It may not be a job at a big company you’ll be at, but freelance work from clients will be in your life one way or another.  Theres plenty of motion designers out there who live solely off freelancing and have contracts with very respected companies.  You just gotta build your network, utilize social media, and hone your craft all the while.  One good thing about freelance is you can charge higher rates per hour/day rates. I’ve done work for a client at $55 an hour right after I graduated college through a recommendation, something I definitely wouldn’t have made at a job.  So try and build connections and a following to get those clients!  You’d be surprised at how much work comes from just word of mouth/client recommendations. If you’re at school right now, offer your services for the video people to do titles or intros for them.  Especially if you’re at a university theres plenty of on campus jobs that would want an editor OR if you do motion graphics, apply for designer jobs and say “hey, I use AE and can animate designs.”  It got me a student job at my school (even though it wasn’t on the job description) since I stood out from the graphic designers so hopefully you can find an opportunity and try that!  It also helps to build a portfolio from doing school work, too. Don’t forget to talk to your managers and anyone else who is in your field – always network! (which kinda sucks for more reserved introverts like myself who don’t like talking haha)

I also wanted to touch on the aspect of social media because I know a lot of people feel down when their works don’t get as much recognition as someone else and in turn they feel that equates to their worth.  No one owes anyone success.  You got to work for your own success and it’ll be hard in the beginning, but that’s how it should be!  Good things take time and effort and if you keep at it, you’ll get better at your craft and someday you’ll have someone looking up to you. And don’t forget to make use of fandoms! as doing things that involve pop culture entertainment (video games, a series, celebrities, etc.) is quick access to an audience to be exposed to your works

Remember to pace yourself!  Don’t feel like you have to rush to get to a certain thing at a certain time period (ex. get a $70,000 a year animation job by age 24 at Disney).  Even if you end up in a job that doesn’t deal with using AE, keep using it on the side and in your free time!  Take up some freelance projects too when you can.  You will face rejections at some points, but don’t let that deter you.  Make it strengthen you and show them what they’re missing out on by improving yourself.  You can always apply for jobs later on in life that lets you use AE, but remember to not equate finding a career in it with your sense of self worth and success.  Just remember: everyone you look up to had to start from somewhere.  They were in your position at some point in their life.  Don’t let imposter syndrome keep you from feeling confident in your skills. Keep at your craft and I hope that one day you’ll feel you’ve reached a good place and can say you are proud of what you’ve made :)