hello, my name is Yuko Shimizunice meeting you

first thing first....

my long journey to becaming an illustrator.

let me thank those

who were mean to me.

I am standing here today, because of you.

we never get younger than we are today.

so, let’s stop thinking “I am too old to _____________”

and start today.

so, what exactly do we (illustrators) do????

“what do you do for living?”

“ I am an illustrator”

“what do you do again??”

a bit of a process. how an illustrator work....

But when a project doesn’t move smoothly....

case study: bad case scenario

life of an illustrator is not always easy

(But we can at least laugh about it)

12 years of making tons of mistakes,15 things I’ve learned that keeps me going

1. no life experience is ever a waste of time.

2. take (at least) one small risk every single day.

2. take (at least) one small risk every single day.

2. take (at least) one small risk every single day.

... and when I look back at old work

and think I used to suck,

I AM on the right track!

3. let’s face it.

clients love photography

WAY more than illustration.

So, let me, at least, try to make picturesthat photos cannot easily create.

So, let me, at least, try to make pictures

that photos cannot easily create.

4. bad ideas eventually leads to good ideas.

Keep working on those thumbnails.

(no, There IS no light bulb in my head!)

5. be loyal to those who have helped me along the way,

especially in the beginning,

and give back to them the best i can.

6. don’t take A project

if it takes good night sleep away from me.

6. don’t take A project

if it takes good night sleep away from me.

7. it’s OK to turn down a job,

because there are always others

who want to take it.

8. help others. especially the new-comers.

it’s a good karma.

9. a project is not a success unless the client thinks so,

no matter what i think.

10. once I say ‘yes’

put 120% effort into it,

whether it pays

$300 or $30,000.

11. never work for free.

don’t undercut others.

it will come back and haunt you.

this is a dark slide of shame.

12. and don’t make people work for free either.

wisdom of Gary Taxali

(the illustration star of Canada)

13. trying to ‘find my style’

is a waste of time.

Each of our ‘personal voice’ within ourselves.

14. sometimes,

there are things more rewarding

than money.

15. my ultimate masterpiece

will be created in THE future.

(though that day MAY never come,

it’s totally OK.)

thank you for your time.

and good bye, for now.

yukoart.com

twitter/instagram: @yukoart