Hi there. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted on my blog, and like with all new years, I’m starting this year armed with a list of optimistic goals for the year and one of them includes updating my blog more regularly. I plan for it to be a place where I can share more in-depth looks on work I’ve done, special announcement details, answer FAQs, and more!

I’m kicking it off today with a new FAQ column. And if you have a question you’d like me to answer in this column, feel free to leave it in the comments underneath the post. You know how a blog post works.

Q: What are some tips for beginner artists?

The main advice I always give to people starting out is: Do good work and be good to work with. This should take you far in your career, even far beyond being a beginner. Work on your skills so much that you are making work you’re proud of, and then be easy to work with. That doesn’t mean be a pushover or taking less money (or even worse, “exposure”) as payment – it means being a good communicator, respectful, bringing your ideas to the table, and making the designer/art director/hiring contractor’s job easier. You’re on the same team, so come as a team player to solve the design problems at hand together. We’re all better together!

Two: Be on time. Respect a deadline. Always turn work in on time and you’re already far and above the rest.

And a third piece of advice for the road: Draw as much as you can. Get that 10,000 hours of mileage underneath you so that execution and skill is not a hurdle for you. Draw from life, draw from reference, draw from the masters, draw from your favorite artists. Study line, gesture, color, design. You’ll need it for everything you’re about to create down the road.

And that’s it! If you have any more specific questions, again, please leave them in the comments below!