*First of all, if you don’t read anything else, at the bottom of this newsletter, there’s a form for you to sign up for a completely FREE BRAND DESIGN. At minimum, this will include a brand new logo, some imagery, some social media assets. And there’s potential for more depending on your business’s needs. So jump down to the bottom if you wanna sign up for one of my open spots. (Spots are limited, so I will prioritize projects that speak to me creatively and will be great for my portfolio!)
In 2019 I took my first step towards being a professional creative. I exhibited at my first comic convention in Denver, Denver Comic Con. This was the first time I had put my work for sale in a meaningful way. I created print and merch specifically for this occasion (pro tip: don’t apply to a convention and THEN figure out what to sell, it should be the other way around).
Since then, I have been going going going to get my art career to takeoff. I have done commissions, conventions, vendor markets, murals, graphic recording, logo design, online sales, merch design, storyboarding, event design and so much more. And through all those projects I have learned so much.
I learned how to work with clients. I learned how to work on a deadline. I learned how to work in different programs such as procreate and Photoshop and clip studio paint and many more. All those projects have gotten me to where I am as an artist today.
All that being said, if I’m being completely honest often times I feel disappointment in where I am at in my career currently. I’ve shared a lot of tears wondering if the path I’ve chosen is worth it. I’ve questioned my work ethic. I have questioned my ability. I’ve questioned my worth.
But what I always come back to is my desire to create. And not just create for myself, but create work to be shared and to be seen.
In 2020 my wife, Brandi, and I moved to Waco, Texas from Denver, Colorado. And surprisingly, that was a very positive move for my creative career. I made connections, I got freelance jobs, and the income I made from my art business was higher than it had ever been in Denver.
Throughout this entire period, I have had to work a full-time day job. 40 hours a week dedicated to a job that isn’t actually getting me closer to my career goals. And therefore I’ve had to do all of my creative work on the side. Often leading to 50 to 60 hour work weeks. Sometimes even more when big projects come up. It has been exhausting. Not to mention it doesn’t really leave time for me to experiment, practice my craft, and do things to truly get better. It’s either working at my day job, or working on a project.
What I will say is that my day jobs have offered stability. There’s a consistent paycheck, health insurance, retirement program, etc. So it is of course not all bad. But I am now at a point where I really need to get into the creative field full time (and get out of my current job for reasons I won’t go into here) because if I don’t I can see myself being stuck in this place.
So that leads me to what this newsletter is all about. It is time for me to make a big change and a big step towards having a creative career.
First of all, I’m going to be pausing on Ravana’s Relics for the time being. As I jump into job hunting and portfolio building mode, I will need to spend my time and attention on Adobe tutorials, portfolio work, networking, and applying to jobs. My hope is to come back to the comic once I have landed a job. Specifically, I am looking at graphic design, brand design, art director, creative director positions, and similar positions (if you have any leads, please send them over!).
Secondly, as I work to update my portfolio, I want to work on projects that are meaningful to me. Projects that speak to my style, values, and community.
If you are someone, or know someone that owns their own business, I am opening up a few spots to do brand/logo design work absolutely for free! My goal is to create a portfolio that really represents my style of work. I love bold type, I love bright colors. I love displaying joy and optimism. And those are the things that I want to show in my portfolio. I want to use these projects to also help grow my technical skills. Hopefully by the end of this, I will be even more proficient at Adobe, illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, and more.
And lastly, I want to use this to help my community. We are in a weird time where AI is everywhere. And artists and designers are all complaining when businesses choose to use an AI logo instead of hiring someone. But often times small businesses reach out to designers or ad agencies to have their logo designed or their brand identity worked on, and they are quoted $5000, $10,000, $15,000. This is inaccessible to a small business owner. So as much as I am not a fan of AI being used in place of real creators and designers, I can empathize with the people that can’t afford it. So my hope is to use this to help small businesses. If you own a small business, or you know someone who owns a small business that could use a refresh on their branding, I urge you to apply. Again, it’s completely free, and it’s my way of giving back to the community!
So as promised, here is the application for FREE BRANDING! If you don’t need brand design, share it with a friend you think would be interested. I’m really excited to work together on these projects with some of you!
Thank you all for being here and being so supportive! I am excited about this new journey and can’t wait to get started!
Until next time,
Raj
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