📕 Introductions
After 615 posts of Adam's Notes
I’ve been writing this newsletter for 2 Years
1450 of you get the Newsletter, a little more than half of you open each one.
Many of you have told me that you enjoy it and are inspired by it.
I’m going to use today’s letter for introductions. I’ll go first, then you can hit ‘Reply’, to introduce yourself personally, or leave a comment to introduce yourself to everybody. I suspect some of you already know each other too :)
Hi, I’m Adam
I make energetic and witty illustrations with a comic sensibility. Over the past 2 years I’ve been building an illustration portfolio for getting work in the children’s publishing market.
I write a letter twice a week as an algorithm-free place to connect with you and tell you about my approach and journey to becoming a ‘full-time’ illustrator. These day’s I hardly post on social media anymore. I’m writing it for the 20-year-old version of myself who graduated art school without a clue what to do with my ‘gifts’.
For the 20 years since being out of art school, I have spent a decade freelancing (most of it while holding a day job), and another decade as an entrepreneur. I also share in this newsletter the bits that are applicable and have shaped my illustration practice.
I’m currently working on a picture book and a middle-grade non-fiction book with a US and UK publisher respectively. I’m also contracted to supply illustrations to a Silicon Valley tech company. All of this is a collective dream coming true.
As a person of faith, I am thankful to God for his guidance in all of this and even in how He has, (in my view) engineer the circumstances and timing of events. My faith is also a source of strength amidst rejection and setbacks.
I am very early on this journey. And I never want to come across as anything else other than an eager journeyman sharing my experiences, and the things I notice along the way in hope that it may help you along your own exciting journey.
In a sense, this is a competitive industry, it is a dream job of many to be able to spend their days drawing. But it also feels like it’s not competitive at all because every artist offers something completely unique so in that sense there is no competition. It’s that second sense that allows me to share freely.
Thank you for sharing in this journey you are a great support and encouragement!
Okay enough about me, please tell me about you.
Hi Adam, I enjoy reading your posts!
I'm Maria, I took the plunge into full time illustration just about a year ago. I'm still very far from where I'd like my career to be, but making baby steps of progress every day!
I draw mostly portraits, I'm always drawn to drawing women and exploring the many layers that make us who we are and how society affects us as women. I won a creative industry award this month for some of my work and I hope this may open some more doors for me in the future 🙏
Thank you for sharing all that you do.
Thank you again for your honesty and generosity. Beautifully written by the way!
I'm Jean and I am building my skills, portfolio and the trickiest...confidence to reenter art and illustration. Many moons ago, I worked as a package designer/packaging illustration. Had children, freelanced, went back to graduate school, taught at community college and am now learning/building my way into illustration. It's challenging and sometimes tiring to be reentering after many years, but feel it's my spiritual path, and that holds me during times of self doubt. I find connecting with others as we move through the creative process and all that involves to be very fulfilling and inspiring.