Dani Jones is an artist, writer, children’s book illustrator, and comics creator. She is the author and illustrator of the picture books, Monsters VS. Kittens, and the sequel, Dinosaurs VS. Puppies. She also created the webcomic My Sister the Freak. For more than ten years, she’s worked as a freelance artist, drawing for books, magazines, apps, and games. She loves what she does and she’s here to tell us all about it!
Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams!
Dani has heard the question countless times, and you may have wondered the same thing: Can art actually make a living? When Dani graduated from college, she decided to jump right in and MAKE it happen for her. She knew that making a living from her art would take full effort, but it’s all she wanted to do. She shares how she stepped out of her comfort zone to chase her dreams.
TWEET: “Making #decisions is the most important thing, because they’re not going to be made for you.” @danidraws
Figuring out the next steps:
Have you felt the confusion of not knowing what the NEXT STEPS are? If you choose to be a doctor, lawyer, or teacher, then the path is set for you and you know what to expect. On the contrary, if you choose ART, like Dani, there is NO set structure to follow. You have to make your own decisions. Dani shares how she called an art director of a magazine, stepped out of her comfort zone, and landed her first job.
TWEET: “#Work on one thing at a time. Just keep working.” @danidraws
Find your corner:
How do you figure out exactly WHERE you belong? Being a successful artist isn’t about competing with other artists for work. It’s more about carving out a place for yourself. It’s about perseverance, pursuing your own things, and finding out what you like to do most. Dani’s advice is to find your corner, set your goals, step out of your comfort zone, and KEEP GOING!
TWEET: “You won’t get anywhere if you don’t do the things that scare you.” @danidraws
Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take: “Make a goal. Make the decision. Give it a try.”
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:
- [1:10] Dani’s strong female characters in her web series
- [2:50] Making a living from art: Is it possible?
- [5:10] Art: Where there is no clear path to take, but endless possibilities
- [8:05] Stepping out of your comfort zone
- [9:00] Networking and making contacts
- [10:03] Dani’s FAQ section on her website, a go-to for artists
- [11:03] The idea for My Sister the Freak
- [13:53] Staying out of a rut
- [15:48] A typical day for Dani
- [17:50] How long projects take to finish
- [20:20] How one job leads to another
- [21:45] Being comfortable where you are
- [23:15] Ups and downs for artists
- [25:10] Competing with yourself and carving your own place
- [26:40] Finding your niche
- [27:50] Steps for artists to take
- [32:50] Different avenues for artists to make a living
- [36:20] Dani’s ONE action for dream chasers to take
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
Dani’sWebsite (Aimee’s Note: Check out her FAQ section; it’s a great read!)
Dani’s How to Find an Illustrator Guide
Dani on Twitter
Dani on Instagram
Dani on Tumblr
Dani on Facebook
TWEETS YOU CAN USE:
TWEET: “You’ll have ups and downs through your entire #career, so you have to prepare for them.” @danidraws
TWEET: “The hardest part is to keep going when it seems like you’re going nowhere.” @danidraws
TWEET: “My ultimate goal is to make #art and make a #living at it.” @danidraws
