Dragons, myths and illustration are just some of the things that inspire today’s guest, Collette J Ellis. And, in this inspiring interview, you’ll hear how she turned her passion for making art inspired by legends from her native Wales into a full-time career as a freelance illustrator.
You’ll hear how art gradually became a bigger and bigger part of her life, how she developed her own unique style, and how a series of successful Kickstarter campaigns inspired her to leave her part-time job and carve out a new full-time creative career.
So, if you’ve got a passion for drawing something (but you’re wondering how to take the next steps as an artist), you’ll find plenty of great advice in this interview to help you move forwards.
Dragons, Myths and Illustration – Collette’s Journey as an Artist
“Illustration was something I knew I always wanted to do – it was just finding a way to do it full-time. And, as soon as I started drawing what I wanted to draw and what I was interested in, that’s when it started to change.” ~ Collette J Ellis.
Key Takeaways From This Interview:
- Why your best art comes from drawing and painting the things you’re truly passionate about.
- How to make the art you really want to make – not the art you think others would like to see
- How to launch a successful Kickstarter or Patreon campaign
- How to say no to low-paid art commissions and working for free
- Why exploring ideas in your sketchbook is so important
- How to approach organizations for funding opportunities
- Why your local audience can often be your best one
- Why dragons, myths and illustration are loved by audiences all over the world
- How to approach galleries and publishers
- Why pursuing your passion can take you to all kinds of new and exciting places!
Watch Collette being interviewed on TV for Welsh Language Arts Series, Channel S4C below:
We hope this week’s interview with Collette J Ellis has inspired you to follow your true passion of becoming an artist.
What subjects are you really passionate about drawing or painting? Let us know in the comments box below!
People on this Episode:
Links From This Episode:
- Collette’s Website
- Pre-order Collette’s new art book on Kickstarter
- Follow Collette on Facebook
- Follow Collette on Instagram
- Visit Collette’s Etsy store
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Thanks for listening to our show! We’ll be back next Wednesday morning 8AM EST.
The Pencil Kings podcast is sponsored by Freshbooks – small business accounting software for artists and creatives.
Cheers,
Mitch
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