Monday, October 31, 2011

Is It Work When You're Having Fun?


Because I'm "working" late and often respond to things on Facebook my friends, family, and students know I "work" late. Sometimes I get accused of being a work-o-holic but is it really work if I'm having this much fun? I love drawing. I love illustrating ideas - but most of all I love the satisfaction I get when I see how children and parents respond to my work. The ability to communicate with pictures is basically a part of who I am. I can't imagine what life would be like without being able to create narrative images. I don't want to know what it would be like....I think you know it's not work when you're doing something you would do regardless of the monetary compensation.

So "working" on this monster app isn't work at all - it's therapy. I don't feel any stress or anguish over it and that in and of it's self is my payment. When I'm finished and it is formatted for Ipad / Iphone and perhaps the new kindle fire the money I make or don't make is a distant by-product of my passion. I'm not going to be a phony and tell you I don't want it to make money but the money is irrelevant to my joy and happiness in the creation process. I'm not going to worry about editing "this or that" in or out to please a certain demographic. All I'm going to do is make an app / ebook that I would want to buy and use with my kid - again, I'm going to be selfish.

6 comments:

  1. Hi WIll, this is exactly how I feel when I work. I am not a late night worker. I just like to get up at 3 or 4 am and start having fun (aka work ;-))
    Good to know there are other fun loving people out there. I can't wait to see what you are creating for the iPad.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Will,
    Well said. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Will love ya work..you should do a video lessons series on getting your ideas published digitally.
    From concept to paint, a video on Indesign CS5.5, basically an insight or guidance into the software. There a number of ways for designers to do that now it seems. And alot of confusion too. And of course vids about getting ebooks out there to the masses.
    keep on rocking;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks guys!

    I would love to do a video series on ebooks but for two problems: 1) the information is changing every few weeks so it would be out-dated as soon as I released it. 2) I'm making this stuff up as I go so I'm far from being an expert - expert enough to do a video series. I'm hoping that my ebook / app adventures posted here help others by seeing what NOT to do. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's so good to hear that you still feel that way about your work! I'm an aspiring illustrator and it's the only job I can imagine myself having fun in, so I'm glad to hear that it doesn't get old - now I'm even more determined!

    I love this drawing, especially the expression on the dog's face. Nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Totally know where your coming from on this. My wife has come to understand my best work usually comes around 2am for some strange reason. I would be surprised if not most artist are not nightowls. By the way, love the illo. Really dig your monsters hiding in your drawings. Great stuff!

    ReplyDelete

Feel free...