Today's Job of the Week comes courtesy of illustrator Holly Wales, who juggles illustration (for clients such as The New York Times) with teaching jobs...
Full name/age/job title:
Holly Wales, 27, Illustrator/Educator.
Please give us an overview of your average day…
If I’m not in the studio drawing, making collages or writing, I’m usually cycling on a multitude of errands to meet potential collaborators, collecting new things to work with or sneaking into libraries to learn new things and archiving photocopies of the best discoveries. On Tuesdays I am a Visiting Lecturer at Winchester School of Art, which I feel like is a really healthy, engaging part of my practice.
What is the most common misconception about your job?
Some people think I draw household objects with a felt tip pen seven days a week. I only do this on Mondays, for The New York Times column, Lives, which I have been illustrating since 2008.
What is the hardest thing about your role?
There are so many elements to it. I’ve tried editing it down in the past, simplifying (I think they call it streamlining out there) and doing less, but something always goes wrong. The way I work seems to require me feeding myself with the right things just as much as making them. It’s a 50/50 split.
When did you decide what you wanted to do with your life and how did you set out to achieve it?
I always got a good feeling when I was drawing or making pictures; allowing things to come together in a certain way seemed to bring with it a positive sort of energy that sweeps my life along with it. I’ve been really lucky that people have responded so positively to what I’ve made so far, but I’m still really at the beginning.
What can you do to get a head start?
Believe in yourself and keep doing what interests you; try not to think yourself out of doing things by looking at what’s already been made. You can always surprise yourself (and everyone else!) on the way to making something. Don’t just stick to what you know; head starts involve risks.
Could you describe the creative element to your job?
All of it!
What’s the one thing you wish you had known at the start of your career that you know now?
Don’t worry – everything always works out OK in the end.
Which organisations/websites/resources do you think would be useful for people entering your industry?
There are lots of excellent things happening in the illustration industry right now in terms of self promotion, but no emphasis whatsoever on how to feed it. We are at a point where the industry runs the risk of becoming incestuous; illustration students need to make sure they are absorbing a much bigger world view than just blogs about commercial art.
Check out Holly’s work at her website.
Would you like to be featured in Job of the Week? If you work in the creative industries and would love to share your advice, expertise and experience with IdeasTap members, get in touch with our deputy editor at Luiza@ideastap.com.