It’s the simple things. I am not one for making New Years resolutions, I’m not. This year, however, I decided to try something new. I made two.

The first is to keep things simple in my life. I have a very bad habit of saying yes to everything and then reaching a breaking point where I feel compelled to complete every task I set out to accomplish and getting overwhelmed in the process. I won’t do this anymore. My art is simple, so will my life be.

The second I only recently happened upon while stumbling through my thoughts the other day. I want to create more art. I want to free my mind of the silly restrictions I have imposed upon myself for no good reason.

I have another bad habit of wanting my art to be perfect. I analyze it over and over in my head before I start a project. This works sometimes, most often though I feel that I would create more art if I just jumped in and created.

I love work that has a hint of imperfection! Why, then, could I not allow myself to create that kind of art? Well, I’m going to, starting with Lad of Los. I’m away on vacation until Tuesday. Upon my return I am going to begin the next chapter of Lad of Los, imperfections and all. (:

~ Jeff

The thing I need to remember is what works. The best way I have found so far to raise interest in my work is to draw for free. Weird huh? It wouldn’t make sense for a standard business model, I would guess. Want to sell more product? Give it away for free!

I suppose this works because as an artist I am not selling a product. I am a creative. I sell ideas. I sell my particular style. I am unique in the way I solve creative problems. I create in a way that no other person creates. How would people know this unless they see my work? Why would people invest in something they haven’t seen before? They wouldn’t, and for good reason.

I have raised lots of interest by drawing people on social networks, for free, or tips. Tips are great. They allow me to feel good about giving away free work, and also feed my gas tank. That gas tank allows me to drive to my ‘other’ job which actually pays the bills.

So. The thing I learned is; Do more free work, but, don’t get bogged down with it. When a paying job comes along it obviously takes priority.

With that, I leave you.

Goodnight!

~ Jeffrey

What an amazing thing! I created so much art this past year. It has felt so amazing to see so many smiles and ‘likes’ and comments about my work. I know a big part of that success has come from illustrating user profile pictures from Instagram using my own cartoony style. I really enjoy the reaction I get from drawing a complete stranger when they don’t expect it at all. I’d like to make more time to give back to the community in that way again. Make it so! (Obviously I am my own numbah one.)

I think a great thing I did up front was giving back to the community that was supporting me by making so many drawings without asking for anything in return. A huge mistake I made, and took me a while to realize, was spreading myself too thin. With the slow growing success of the Folks Portraits I tried too hard to find other ways of making those available through different mediums, like stickers, and prints, and books, and all kinds of other things. At least all of that was too soon. I think all of those things are great ideas and completely possible. I should have stuck with one thing up front.

Oh yes, and Lad of Los. I love making that Comic. I still have much of that story to tell! *sigh* I just need to find the time.

Out of all the art I created the past year, these prints were some of my favorites. I love seeing completed work. I need to frame more of my work for sure. If all goes well, there will be more to come. Thanks for keeping up!

~ Jeff