Focus (December 2014)

Sorry for the delay in posting a December thought. I've been a bit distracted. So I think I'll do a quick post on how to keep on drawing even when you are too distracted to work. In an ideal world, an artist can put pen aside and wait for the muse of creation to posses their imagination whenever she gets the chance to pop by. If you are a working professional artist, however, waiting for such a time is not on the schedule. Sometimes, you just have to buckle down and start. It may be hard and slow to get the creative juices flowing. You may have to toss out the work you start off with. But eventually, the mind will forget the distractions and start feeding your art. The more you focus on the task at hand, the more the other distractions will fade off into the distance.

Now, I have been in this spot many time in the past decades. So I know that focusing on art is not always as easy as it sounds. If I really can not focus on the drawing, then I set it aside and lose my mind in some form of meditation that will drain my brain and help me forget about everything around me. Right now, I find I can do that by losing myself in a jigsaw puzzle app on my iPad. The task of making the puzzle is so mindless - yet overwhelming - that I find all thoughts of the day leave and I relax. When my brain has had its reboot, I shut down the app and am able to focus on the task I need to do.

Find the one thing that will clear your brain completely and use it to help you focus your brain. The key is not to panic. Relax. Find your focus. And begin! Good luck.

Keep On Movin' (November 2014)

I just found out that I have cancer. So, I thought I'd focus this advice not only on creating art, but creating your life in general. Life is forever presenting us with obstacles on our path. Climb over them and keep moving on. If you live every day honestly then you will find a way to keep going forward. By "honestly" I mean being honest to yourself. Do what you feel is right and important. And do it to the BEST of your abilities! Do NOT go half way thinking you will do better tomorrow - today I just want to be lazy. Laziness and procrastination are just insecurity finding a way to take you over. Have confidence in yourself and believe in what you do. Do not let you insecurities tell you you can not do something or should wait to do something you really want to do. If what you do makes this world a better place, then move on it. Get it done! Then keep on movin'!

Move Me, Baby! (October 2014)

Ok. I am sitting here listening to Barry White. Hence the title. As an artist, I work to move people and love to be moved by other artist's creation. I think the best thing we can do with our lives is to put positive energy out there and make the world a happier, more pleasant place to live in. I am amazed at how much 'entertainment' out there is based on negativity. I don't find it entertaining to laugh at people being idiots. I don't need to cut others down to make myself feel better. I'd rather find ways to raise up and make life better - not just for myself but for others as well. It may sound campy and 'old fashioned'. But think about it. After watching television at night, do you have nightmares and stress dreams or do you feel relaxed and happy? If you're going to move me, baby, make me happy not stressed or afraid. I love the phrase: "BElieve THEre is GOOD in the world!"

Sorry For The Delay (September 2014)

I was having trouble getting my MAC to be compatible with the updated services that are designed for PC usage. It is frustrating when things work great one day and not the next. Sort of like working for the entertainment field. Just when you figure out how to do something and get use to the way to make it work, tastes and demands change. Suddenly you are back to square one trying to relearn - or reinvent how to do your business. Stress is the number one health hazard. Take time every 25 minutes to step out of the work zone and meditate. De-stress with a few stretches or a walk about for a drink of water. Even if you are crunched for time, use 2 minutes to realign your mind and keep the stress from building. You will find it much easier to find a workable solution after stepping away for a minute from your worries. Look at me... I got my computer working again and didn't toss it through a window! :)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T! (August 2014)

Respect yourself. Express yourself and who you are as a part of this planet. Share your beliefs with your work. Protect what you believe in when others try to change your art. Expect people to have difficulty understanding your art at times, but don't let that stop you. Correct what does not say what you meant and do what it takes to make it right. Trust that if you do the best you can do that people will respect you as an artist. 

Call Me Sue The Invisible Woman (July 2014)

If you want to become an artist because you want to be famous and have everyone marvel at you for your work, get another job. Let's face it. There are billions of artists in the world. How many have house hold names? How many of those are still alive? In reality, you could be the greatest artist of all time, but walk down the street and no one will be following you with cameras. Your art is the superstar. Your art will be what people want to see and remember. You can travel to very remote corners of this globe and still find Mickey Mouse. But how many people can tell you the name of the guy who originally drew him up? (And no, it was not Walt.) 

If you truly wish to be an artist, then get rid of the ego. Be prepared to be hidden behind your art. Kind of like being a parent. Your art is your baby whom you nurture and grow to be the best it can be. Your baby is what people will ooh and ahh over. Your baby will go out into the world and impress people. Someone might remember that there was a parent molding this baby into the piece of work they are. But don't hold your breath for any parades or awards. They will go to the baby. As a professional artist, you need to decide what type of parent you want to be to your craft. Will you be angry that no one pays attention to you or be thrilled that your art is getting all the attention? You put so much time and effort into making your art perfect, you might as well love that it is going out into the world and speaking your message to others. After all, isn't that message you are sending out with your art the point of creating? If you create just for attention for yourself, then don't talk to me. Be prepared to become invisible as a person and let your art be what everyone sees. 

New Jobs (June 2014)

Schools finish up in June here in the US. Students are looking for that summer job or even their first "real" job as they graduate into the working world. What advice can I offer the first time worker bee? "Say 'YES' to everything." I watched an interview with famed Hollywood fashion designer, Edith Head. That was her advice too. Take every job you can get. Turn nothing down. Even if you really hate the job or think it is beneath you, do it anyway. Obviously, working every job that comes your way is a great learning opportunity to sharpen you skills and increase your resume. It also is a fantastic way to show future employees your work ethic. You are willing to work with anyone and do whatever it takes to get a job done. Showing fantastic work ethics is probably one of the best tools to put in your career toolbox. There are tons of people who can do the job. So, employers want to hire the one who will not only do a job, but do it with solid and trustworthy work ethics. What are those ethics? DEPENDABILITY. HONESTY. HUMILITY. Yes, "humility". No one wants to work with a "know-it-all" that will spend more time complaining about the job than just doing it. Which brings me to one of my most important rules for work ethics: SMILE. Even if you are miserable or can not stand the people you are working with, smile. Positivity goes a loooooooooooong way! So, good luck all you Grads or first time job seekers! Go build those resumes with a smile and solid work ethics.

LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS (November 2013)

When I develop ides for a picture, I really get excited and want to chat about the fun I am having. Unfortunately, I can not. Letting the world know about what new idea you are working on can really ruin the chances for a successful project. You might think a little publicity might help spread interest. True. It can. But the wrong sort of interest can be damaging if "interested" parties steal your idea and flood the market with versions of your product long before you can bring yours to the table. Look at when we did "Hercules". Word got out that Disney was developing a film on the Greek legend and suddenly everyone was doing Hercules-types products. Animation takes a long time to make. So by the time our "Hercules" made it to the screen, everyone was tired of seeing other versions of the myth. The film did not financially do as well as the company had hoped. It doesn't matter how well your product is made if over saturation has decreased peoples' desires. You can bring sirloin to the table, but no one will eat if they already are over-stuffed with McDonald's burgers. So, Lillian, I wish I could gab about what I know of upcoming ideas, but I can't. I haven't worked on "Moana". I hope I will in the future. In this world of instant blogging, remember to keep your ideas protected. Wait until you are ready to produce to start the publicity. 

When I started boarding story, Brenda was the only other female in the department. As a Visual Development Artist, I had Jean Gilmore as the other female in that department. Eventually, the feminine numbers grew, but in the beginning we were few. I am proud that women like Brenda are standing up as positive role models for girls and representing women in a strong, positive, and talented light. I have found that the key to succeeding as a woman is to first and foremost be yourself and represent who you are as a talent. Talent should know no gender and should speak for itself. Fortunately these days, it will. But every now and then, you do need to work a little harder to be heard. Stay strong and let your talent speak for who you are and what you have to offer.

_Sue