I am an artist after all...
After being a service provider for nearly 2 decades, I had to quit client work to realise what I was really looking for...
Hello my friends,
I have stopped client work for around a year now. As you know it still happens I help former clients but I don’t take any new.
So 2023 was focused on producing my own work, with my own style and sell it. And that year has been really crazy on my style. It did evolve a lot. Maybe you did not see that change but for me that was a real liberation.
And the more I was creating and the more I was enjoying it.
I don’t know how it happened. Rick Rubin would probably says that this was just the right moment or the time I finally saw something that made me go this way, but I started painting again. And this is when I started thinking of my work as Art.
I don’t know what it is to be an artist. There are so many definition and in France we have such a vision of an artist that it would be impossible for me to be one. But I did read many English/US books about art, in English I am even a Lettering Artist, that I think I am one now. I draw, paint, print the work I like, I do for myself first and I give it to the world. It may like it or not, it is my voice and important for me to share it.
And I did not have it one year ago. I think moving from digital to analog helped the transition. Painting murals helped. Working with shapes helped a lot too. Painting definitely helps. And this is how I want to see 2024.
Of course, there is still type design involved in my daily work. But this separation appears more clearly to me. And if I love designing fonts or printing/inking, both activities find their own life now.
When I started painting in December, I did not want to show it to people. I kept it for me and shared my attempts to do something to friends and paid members. But now, I realise it is part of my work. It is not a hobby. I paint letters, and even if the style might continue to evolve, that is an evolution of my work, not something different.
So from now, I will share my new experiments in painting, but also in collage or different artistic ways to print. So let’s start today by showing some stuff I have been working on the last month or so. Let me know what you think :)
I have a lot of fun and energy doing this analog work, working with paint, scissors, colour paper, glue, etc. The only question I asked myself these days is how can I manage making more art, and still make enough money. Clearly, a painting or a unique collage is not the same price than a print. Of course, I will keep a mix of everything and I plan to focus my revenues more on fonts this year so I can make more art. But it is yet a bit stressful question I ask myself. You know when you start something you like and think maybe this is not so good, or not so useful? This is exactly what happens now.
But in 2023 the print work I enjoyed the most was doing screen printing, so in 2024 I plan to do more screen printing series and will keep my small prints and some other prints on the shop.
But as I said in a previous newsletter, I want to do more Art. And the more I go to exhibitions or watch videos on “real” artists on YouTube, the more I want to be one of them. So in my head the transition is already happening. I am not a graphic designer anymore. There is just that little voice in my head telling me I should care about money. But if I need to listen to it, I also know how to not focus my energy on it. Meditation helps me a lot with that situation.
I wanted to write that post today because I know a lot of people who became graphic designers because that looked more like a “normal” job than being an artist. I also know that some of them start to struggle doing work they don’t want to do anymore and would like to express themselves more. The society don’t go in that direction and asks us to do more money, be more productive, etc. I know this is changing but I am not really optimistic about the future when I see all these governments cutting into culture budgets and subventions. Culture and Arts are not trendy, and thought as useless by many politicians. So our situation is not easy, and by this post I also want to share a bit of light to the people who would like to do more Art.
I don’t have a specific recipe except maybe take more time for you, with you, to make some drawings, paintings, music, some time you don’t necessarily have to share on social medias or make money of. It is just time for you.
Let’s finish today’s newsletter with some inspiration I discovered recently and that are directly linked to the direction my work seems to take. They don’t all have lettering but the overall style is really near from where I want to go. Hope you like it :)
1. Marko Vuleta-Djukanov
2. Fanny Fleuraux - Steven Burke
3. Yuya Chokkin Kirie
4. Rachel Jaques
5. Wonky Jam
This is it for today. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you feel being like someone who sometimes struggles between Art and Design, or if you see these practices differently than me. It is always interesting to have different points of view :)
Enjoy the end of the week and talk to you next week :)
Take care,
Francis
Enjoyed this Francis! I think when you’ve not been working as a ‘traditional’ artist previously, imposter syndrome can creep in, but I’m glad you’re embracing the artist, ditching the stuff you don’t want to do, and running with it. Looking forward to seeing more work! 🙌
Hi Francis, what an engaging read, and the emotional state you described resonates with me so well. Your typographic work is absolutely stunning – keep up the fantastic work!
As for my own journey, I've been working as an illustrator for over 15 years, primarily focusing on infographics. I've been diving into the world of painting for about six years now, and with each passing year, my passion for it only deepens.
Choosing to specialize in infographics was a deliberate decision for me. I've always had a fondness for numbers and mathematics, so visualizing data naturally appealed to me. However, there's something about the tactile experience of "analog drawing" – the brushes, canvas, paints, and the feeling of getting your hands dirty – that I missed. Spending hours illustrating series of charts in front of a screen in Adobe Illustrator can make you feel anything but creative; it can be downright frustrating.
Around six years ago, I made the best decision ever by picking up painting and drawing en plein air. I started carrying my sketchbook everywhere, sketching during every journey, and even joined others in painting outdoors. It quickly became an addiction, reigniting my passion for the creative process. Buying an easel and experimenting with watercolors (a medium I wanted to master since my Art Academy days) added a new dimension to my artistic expression. Painting now occupies almost half of my time, presenting a new dilemma: indulge in art (yes!) OR focus on finding commissions (money!).
While I still create illustrated information for a living, maintaining this balance is surprisingly cool. The analytical and routine nature of my infographics work in Illustrator contrasts beautifully with the more free-spirited and personal approach to painting. It's quite a refreshing dichotomy!
Painting has become essential for me – a means to truly feel alive. Last year, I took another step by giving art courses. It's both exhausting and incredibly satisfying, and despite considering myself a beginner, the experience has been profound. Income from this endeavor isn't entirely reliable at this stage, but it's a journey worth taking.
This year, I ventured into opening an online shop. I took a bold step by offering original paintings alongside prints of my illustrated maps and travel illustrations. Initially unsure if it all aligned with a unique selling point, I thought, "Heck yeah! It's all a part of me!" It's been an exciting and personal exploration of my diverse creative expressions.
Keep rocking your creative journey, and here's to the beautiful chaos of balancing passion and practicality! 🎨✨