- Posted
- Mar 18th 2008
- Mood
- Wired
Revelation. I've figured out why people won't hire me unless I convert myself to a maker of cheap clip art. Apparently, I'm too
edgy. Yes.. that was the word used, in an attached reply that probably wasn't meant for my eyes. Oh, well at least I'm "worth a follow up." Yippee-kai-yay.
No. No, no,
NO. I will not do graphic design bullshit for your pamphlets and your fuckin' banner ads. I will not do your web design. And I sure as
hell will never, EVER tone myself down from the individual I am to sell out to your corporate dreck. I haven't worked my whole life doing what I do and finding who I am just to have my abilities wasted.
And for those who would question what kinds of gigs I apply to, I only apply to ones looking for illustration, storyboarding, and comic work.
Edgy? Jeezus, it's not like I draw porn. And there's tons of art out there that are edgier than mine. Is this just a nice way to tell me my work sucks? How come I get so much support and referencing from my peers, online, my instructors and academic director if my brand of eye candy isn't as sweet as the rest of the box? After years of being told the glories of originality, apparently that
isn't what the "real world" wants.
My conclusion: even if I end up poor, wasting away, and homeless, I will still create my way. Even if I have to snatch crayons and a placemat from a Mexican restaurant to scribble out my twisted designs, so be it. If you find me panhandling at that time, please feel free to toss me a few coins.
I hope I can live off of commissions. Yeah...
right.
Rant over.
PS - Go see Doomsday, you frickin' punks.
mercury yume Says:
only the wise want edgy, only the aware and truly appreciative want edgy. The 'masses' want whatever they want or what they've been told to want.
Good to hear the sense that you're still standing strong at the end of the rant.
VolkColopatrion Says:
Congrats, it's the side-effect of being bohemian. You might die poor, but you'll be happy, which is something beyond what money can buy.
I'm really tired with how people are hiring people. It should be
"We're hiring and want X with Y guidelines."
Then, everyone in question should come in one at a time, be evaluated, and then get a response yes or no with feed back that is truthful.
What ever happened to civility?
Jyoshiki Says:
Dude, fuck them with something hard and sandpapery. I'm very proud of you for refusing to change yourself just to suit their corporate bullshit needs (not that I ever thought you would - you always struck me as one of those people to "stick it to the man", so to speak ;3). They can find someone else to suck them off. Whatever happened to hiring someone based on their talents and not based on the fact that they can mass produce carbon copies of anything that's placed in front of their eyes, or is exactly like everyone else?
See, this is why I detest corporations. They're all fake; they could care less about their employees, their very lifeblood (because, let's face it - higher-ups don't know jack shit about how to run a company at an employee level - it's not their concern; at my job, the higher-ups assume that every branch is run the same way and that every day will run exactly the same way; my own manager doesn't know how to do simple teller transactions, for Chrissake, nor does he even make an attempt to learn; he just dumps all of his transactions on us; at least my old manager knew how to run a drawer properly); all they care about is squashing the competition and making money.
etherealmoor Says:
Haough! Most excellent that you are not going to conform and dull yourself down just to fit what those people want because they want to play the safe route. Its the problem with some people, they don't want to take the chance to do something different because they don't know what'll happen. At least you are willing to go out there on that limb and see what happens with your own style.
Bloo Says:
Doomsday looks like an amazing movie.
And I support you 100% with not twisting to fit the public puzzle.
Your art is amazing, your style is amazing. It is origional and if people don't want that then they're just fucking dumb.
What corporations don't understand is that us art is our soul. It is a clear window into who we artists are. It is like our child, and we're not just going to change who our child is just for them.
I have no idea if that makes sense, but yeah.
StarGazerAngel Says:
You know, for your "edgy-ness", did you ever think of maybe looking to into the rock, punk, techno/rave bands to do promotional stuff? I could see you making mind-blowing promotional posters, unique CD cover art, and tee-shirt designs that could start brawls when a shortage happens. I would definitely look into doing musical promotion for styles that are, well, EDGY! I'd keep at the video games, too...just because I want to play one in your style. :3 It'd be so BAD-AAAAAASS.
You shouldn't take "edgy" as an insult. Just because they're playing it safe doesn't mean you should settle, so you're definitely right there. You know what's going to happen because they're playing it safe? They'll make an income, yeah, but they will NEVER make any sort of impact. They will be dull, boring, lost in the statistics of the consesus. No one will remember their names other than those within immediate acquaintance.
That is not a fate meant for you. Being edgy, different, unique - those are the people that are remembered.
(Speaking of which, what ever happened with Microsoft?!)
FyreNWater Says:
huh. i always thought they liked edgy. sure as hell more noticeable than the hum drum graphics any boring person can come up with.
Oy, you an' me both, sister. We just need to find the cool cats lookin' for the edgy illustrators.
skinnyvee Says:
This is why I've sworn off doing any professional work.
edgofinsanity22 Says:
yeahh I don't know what I am going to do. I want to be an artist... but I think I might have to do graphic design on the side. :/