Ask Alicia: Digitisations and drawings

There are few things I consider an extension of me, and if you asked me about a decade ago, Photoshop definitely wouldn’t have been one of them. I adore Photoshop and use it on a daily basis and (a few over-users of photoshop will understand me) I sometimes think in Photoshop. Like masking parts of my work or apple+e (merge) all weekdays into one day...you get the drift 😬.
Anyway, starting out on software was harder back then than it is now. I started transitioning because I needed to get my illustrations digital, be it for a college project or just to put on my blog I had then. So that’s where my first, and only, scanner came in. From there it just graduated from to using Photoshop to make scans look better, then to colour, then to use in projects and print, then for work and now for everything.

I truly think the amount of digitisation one wants for their drawings is purely personal but ultimately, it almost always HAS to end up as a soft copy if a drawing needs to be ‘used’ commercially. If not, then it’s your call! That’s the beauty. I never completely transitioned to digital because I adore hearing the sound a pencil makes on paper. That scratching sound is one of my living pleasures.

There are certain things I do only digitally. This happened only recently when I started using the iPad Pro and the Apple pencil. I love it and it's one of the few instances where I am completely digitally drawing.




That’s about it!
Thank you! and I hope I answered your question. This would be a very trail-y note with no purpose if not 😛

Alicia

Ask Alicia: 3 way street

Email from A:

…So basically I was working at a company which I recently quit and now sitting at home doing freelance isnt as great as it was to do it on the side along with my steady job. 

And I realised i like being around people while working...need activity and some noise around me. 

But right now I am in a confused state of mind whether to start something of my own or still apply and look for jobs because I want more exposure( i have worked only for a year after graduating).

Because starting up requires a plan and money to run it which I thought i would do along side a steady job where I can save a little every month to put into my business.

Another thought from parents is that I do post graduation and then get a good job outside.

I am basically now stuck in a situation where i have 3 doors to open and I don't know which one to choose.

Cheers

A

Dear A,

So there are many many routes to reach one destination and that’s what so great about..I guess, life! It’s great that you realised what works for you and what doesn’t as that’s really important. There are ways to be a freelancer and have the niceness of white noise with co-working spaces. Many have popped up around the city and have great reviews. Though I personally love the ultra quietness or loud country music (that is pretty much unacceptable in any workspace haha), a co-working space  could be a solution if you love every other aspect of freelancing. 

Starting something of your own does needs a bit of an investment, and a plan. Initially, unless you have a partner, you’ll still be working at alone. I’m a little unsure when you say start something of your own, do you mean a service-based company or product? Because for service-based, time will pretty much be your biggest investment. 

A steady job would help if you want to start a company that requires an investment but making time to work on the side on the ‘bigger picture’ is hard when one has a full-time job. It can work but this is a matter of what kind of job and where. If you can make it happen, then this is your best bet! It’s less risky because you get to meet more people (given that your job allows that), earn for an investment, and build up what you want slowly and steadily until it takes over completely and you can seamlessly shift into your own space. 

I’m always weary of suggesting post graduation as unless it’s something you really ‘need’ to study, it’s just a framed print and time away from getting real experience in the work space that is worth, usually, a lot more. Having said that, it’s a personal call because sometimes that break is something you need for yourself and that community of students is what you crave. 

Anyway, I hope this helps. I know I didn’t give you one solid answer because I think only you can pick the path that calls you the strongest. But, pick one not based on what’s the least scary but the one that could bring about the best outcome and happiness. 

All the best!

Love, 

Alicia

Ask Alicia: Blocks and all

Email from 'Said':

:-)

Hi Alicia,

Thanks for the mail. I would like to know your opinion/suggestion on two more things (Won't take more time of yours .. promise)

1) Do you get something like a writer's block? How do you overcome?

2) As a kid, I had a huge desire to 'live' out of drawing. Now when I see, I feel maybe that was the reason why I stopped .. as I found it difficult to monetise on the skill. Did you have a similar phase/doubts? Or the 'living' part 'just' happened? How do you keep the 'need for money' separate from your art?

Thanks

--

Hellooo

So let me get straight to it!

1) Do you get something like a writer's block? How do you overcome?

I used to before I drew for a living. I remember when I was at university, there were sometimes 4-5 weeks that would pass by where I just didn’t feel like picking up a pencil and then suddenly I couldn’t stop drawing the week after. But I think now I can’t even imagine not drawing daily. I believe it comes from making it habitual. Habit to draw but also sometimes practical when it comes to what to draw. There are days when I can sit infant of a blank paper and stare without a thought and that’s when I refer to notes I make about ‘what I need to draw’. I make these notes at random times when I am in the middle of other activities and don't have access to a pencil. I feel like it’s almost like cooking sometimes. You can sometimes whip up something just by looking at the ingredients but sometimes you need to flip through your recipe book. 

2) As a kid, I had a huge desire to 'live' out of drawing. Now when I see, I feel maybe that was the reason why I stopped .. as I found it difficult to monetise on the skill. Did you have a similar phase/doubts? Or the 'living' part 'just' happened? How do you keep the 'need for money' separate from your art?

That’s a great question! That’s one of the reasons I said I WOULDN'T be an artist as a kid too! And well, life has a funny way of making your wouldn’ts come true :)

I kind of fell into freelancing and that meant I had to come out of my comfort zone and talk about money to clients and put a figure to my work. When it comes to client work, it’s a job and not a piece of art because art is about feelings and messages whereas client work is about fulfilling a brief, even though you have to/want to put in feelings and a message. That’s something I make clear to students as well. Realise that when you illustrate commercially, you’re never given a blank canvas. Having said that, it’s sooo much more fun that it sounds. It’s challenging in a nice way where you work within the constraints but in the most creative way. It's also personally challenging because you have to do things that you don't always prefer, like talking about money (which is a big worry when starting out) but you get used to it over time. Be open in thought and accept challenges. 

But at the end of the day, you should also always draw for you! And that’s when you can call it ‘art’. And that's when you can have a blank canvas and the separation that one may desire. 

Hope this helps!

Love, 

Alicia

Ask Alicia: Making stuff

Email from Jaai V:

Good morning Alicia

Thank you so much for the reply. I went through your blog and all the questions. Yet I have a few more questions and I think only you can answer them. 
1. How did you get your first order for designer merchandise? I am very much interested in starting my own online store business and selling designer merchandise and accessories but I don't know how to start and whom to approach. I make Illustrations but I don't know how to earn a living out of it.
2. How do you collaborate with big brands like Lenovo, Tinder, etc. I have no idea about how to approach well known companies. Do they get in touch with you or you contact them?
3. Do you manufacture the cute illustrated products or do you get them printed? Whom to contact and how to collaborate with manufacturers of products? 
4. Where do you store all your products before shipping? What is the process when you get an order? For example, you get an order for a designer bag then is it ready to be shipped before hand or you get your artwork printed on the bag later? Can you please guide on how to approach manufacturers and collaborate with them?

Your inputs will be of great help as I am very much interested in designer merchandise.

Thank you so much for your guidance and help. You are an inspiration.
Regards,
Jaai Vernekar. 


Hello Jaai
Thank you soooo much for your mail!
So let me reply in order of your questions, so I don't miss anything out:)

1) I think I was a bit lucky on that front. I had a few people ask for merchandise before I even considered it. But I took a risk, thanks to the help of a friend, of making a few products for a flea market event (the Sunday Soul Sante) and we ended up selling out and having people mail with queries for months after. That was when I realised there was a need; though it was a long time later that I started the online store, stopped and started again!
When it comes to merchandise, I think the thing to realise is that it’s an entire different ballgame. Handling the manufacturing, stocking, logistics and then sales is a full time job (depending on how profitable you want it to be). But getting your products manufactured is as simple as going to the nearest/ biggest print shop around and getting your work printed on the merchandise that’s easily available to be customised. This could include t-shirts, mugs, badges, prints etc. Basically things you can make small quantities without worrying that you’ll be stuck with a whole lot of stock. I would say look at it as a testing project first and then go guns banging after doing the math of the business. It’s a little less risky and grey-hair-starting.

2) I think I’ve been lucky enough to be contacted by every client who I’ve ever worked with. It’s also because I’m rather public with my work (though I rarely actually showcase client work). I would recommend getting a portfolio of your work online first, because when you approach a potential client, you want to show them your capabilities. Then, go ahead and approach them! We live in such a beautiful age wherein most people are just an email away! And that too, an email address that can be scouted with just a bit of research! Mail and mail some more. Showcase your work. Also pitch some ideas! The sky is the limit!

3) Yes, we manufacture each product. We work with manufacturers (sometimes two and even three on a single product). I started off, as I mentioned, at the local print shop. That worked for a while, and then I took a break because running a product business meant that I had to be doing it full time. Which also meant that if I was single-handedly doing the packaging and shipping, I had to be in town almost all the time, which is not possible with my schedule. It wasn’t until I met Saurabh, my current partner, that we started the online store on full swing.
Finding manufacturers is a task in itself, and to be honest, I don’t have a knack for it, nor do I enjoy it. Figuring out cost prices along with follow ups for timelines and MOQs (minimum order quantities) is something that can take more time than I have to offer. So my partner handles that side of the business while I do what I love, i.e., the drawing bit!
Back to my beginnings, I think the local print shop should do just fine initially and if it’s something you want to pursue after the first few lots, then I would suggest getting someone to help with the business side of things, including finding manufacturers (this is sometimes asking current manufacturers and just plain ol’ google searches!).

4) When I started, I only stocked smaller products under my bed in boxes. Also under my housemates bed. It was a mess. Every time there was an order, I’d had to pull them out, pack them and call the courier guy who would send it across. It took a LOT of time in my day even if the number of orders weren’t too many. At this point, we have a little office with a store room for all our products. I still recommend going through the hassle of the home storage before investing in a storage room because the number of orders will dictate if the business is worth growing and investing your time and money. Almost every order is pre-manufactured, which means we have stock of products. But we do have a few products (like our custom stamps) that we manufacture on demand. That’s only something we’ve been able to do with a team and process in place, because it takes longer and also involves working with a manufacturer every time an order comes in. Custom orders tend to be a lot more expensive (depending on the product) because you manufacture single units, which means it’s a lot more effort from the manufacturers side and a lot of time from yours too! So unless it’s a high value product, like say a bag as opposed to a badge, I wouldn’t think it would be worth getting into.

A shirt I mocked when I was in university. I used to draw more skulls back then haha!

Lastly, you should also start mocking your illustrations onto products. I did this from my university days, which was when I knew I would love to see my work on merchandise. Mocking is still something we do because I cannot get everything I envision manufactured, so I mock it instead!

Hope this helps! All the best and don’t be afraid to take a risk!
Love,
Alicia

PS: Take everything I say with a pinch of salt! I took one direction and got to where I was, but walking in a completely different path may get you ahead of me! So don’t be afraid to do what you think works. I don’t take the most riskiest paths but maybe you would like to! Go ahead! Your life, your path :)

Ask Alicia: A happy state of affairs

Email from ‘Awedowl’

‘warning : The following content is not from a cheese factory, so if you feel inclined to dismiss it as unreal, you can not. because you have to believe every word that I say :p

I have ordered from a lot of places, and always I have purchased objects. But from your beautiful store I ordered smiles and happiness, and Whoa! I got so much more than I ever wanted. You are an inspiration Alicia, and I admire you so much. 

Can I ask you something? I am stretching my limits as you have been so gregarious and warm. How do you deal with sadness? I really want to know. I am sure that there must have been moments when you just want to shut the World out and scream maybe. How do you come out of that zone? 

If I could I would've borrowed all the blessings the Planet has to offer and showered them on you :D'

Your email is the cutest ever! 

I loved your question because it’s so real. Like any human, I have a wealth of emotions. I don’t feel sadness as much as I get angry. I sometimes think my brain wires are a bit mixed up. Something bad happens in the world, someone passes away, horror stricken event, whatever the calamity, I tend to feel rage rather than melancholy. 

Having said that, I do have sad streaks. And unlike some artists and writers who can create beautiful works from those emotions, I don’t even remotely feel like drawing then. 

There are a few things I do when I get in this state: 

1) Do whatever I feel like doing- I would rarely feel like drawing but I truly enjoy just inking pencil sketches and would scout out drawings that are yet to be inked. This is my sort of ‘peace’ and ‘meditation’ that gets my brain almost still without thought. 

2) Play my favourite music- I ADORE country music and I sometimes listen to (wait for it…) old sappy country music when I feel crappy. I do admit that I also listen to country music when I’m happy but I think I don’t listen to upbeat ones when I’m sad because I just get annoyed. (I heard, or hope, this is normal. Almost like misery loves company, of sad songs) 

3) Confront the sadness- I don’t like leaving things in the air. If I had a tiff with the man, I would go back in there (in about five minutes) and clear it up. I also force-hug and force-kiss because that just makes things awkward and better. With people it’s easy to just take a deep breathe and confront the source of the sadness.

4) Time- And then there are things you don’t have control over that just need time to get better. Understand that things DO get better with time. (I have to throw in here that one of the most devastating moments in my life was when Cookie-brown, my dog, passed away suddenly. I thought I would never be able to get over her heart-wrenching loss, but time really did help. Nothing else, besides her being back here, would. Not even Richard Gere and I like to think he would make everything better.) 

5) A box of you- Another thing is knowing what you like and makes you happy. One of my dear friends watches horrid reality tv shows to make herself feel better. I sometimes like cleaning or baking. Maybe a box of fun photographs or mailing an old friend. Sometimes ‘Love Actually’ or just getting away for a while. Go for a pedicure.

5) Let yourself be- I think it’s ok to be sad sometimes. It’s even normal. Whether you need to shed a tear or two. Also, some situations call for it. It would be odd to NOT be sad at a funeral or when your friend moves away. Be nice to yourself and I think the worst thing would be to beat yourself up about being a little down. When you know it’s ok to be sad, you can let yourself be happy. 

PS: please note that sadness is very different from depression. I’m talking about general sadness that sneaks in every now and then. And that sometimes dutifully creeps in a few days before our periods. Thanks menstruation!

I forgot to mention, sometimes happiness is a sleep away. Literally, some days can just be a drag and understand that when you go to bed at night; so when you wake up the next day, the sun is shining brighter just for you! 

Ask Alicia: To draw and where to draw, that is the question.

Email from 'Feline Friend'

…

 I too am an artist who uses fabric as canvas...and I am writing to you in the same capacity. I want to talk and know about how you managed to do what you really like and create a niche workplace and business for yourself. I am not writing in hope to collaborate or find a job with you. I just want to resolve a conflict I am facing, where I feel I do not belong to a certain commercial industry because I want to work with various things, want to do non-conformative work that utilizes my skill as an illustrator. I have a job presently, but its just a job and not that something drives me. Its something that pays and keeps me out of home for major part of the day. That's all. I fill sketchbooks after sketchbooks with explorations..themes and patterns but cant decide an outlet for them. I just want some guidance and want to talk to someone who comes from a similar place as I do. Thanks!

…

-A Feline Friend

Hello hello Ms. Feline Friend, 

The best kind of job in the world is when you’re getting paid doing something you absolutely adore doing. I consider myself stunningly lucky in this regard, though part of every job includes bits that is not too fun to do. In my case, a lot of my job is NOT drawing. It involves talking to clients, accounts, working on briefs that are not always amazingly exciting, and sometimes even drawing when I truly just don’t feel like it. 

I think one of the things I realised early on is that I’m working as a commercial illustrator and not an artist. Though I use my heart, I have to also use my head when it comes to working with clients and making a brief work. I realised that it’s also a business and I need to make money for me to make this work as a job. Not only a job, but a career. 

Starting out is always a bit hard. I created a niche by just doing and doing a lot of it. I can almost compare it to digging a hole. When you start digging, it's too small to notice but if you keep at it, you have a hole that only you're standing it and more people can see it. I had to keep doing a lot of things that I wasn't too keen on doing, like talking about money or drawing things that arn't exactly my cup of tea. Same with the business/online store. I think I got lucky with the online store because I have a partner who keeps me on my toes. But it took a lottt of self-convincing because I really wasn't sure I could handle another responsibility. But I could! So sometimes taking risks also pay off. 

Lastly, is probably thinking about how your work can see the light of day. Some art is purely art and may not work commercially, but then perhaps you can work towards an exhibition. I’ve not seen your work so I can’t suggest but I truly think you’d be the best critic. Would your paintings look great on walls? Where can it extend beyond fabric? What’s next? Can you make money out of it? Is it a hobby or do you want it to earn an income? Will it be able to support you? (a little bit more in this AA response)

Just glazing through these in your mind and just taking the first step towards an outcome that you see fit, is the start. No one, or atleast I, don’t have big plans but have vague three year plans. That’s good so there’s something to aim towards. They change, almost always but having a goal in mind, always helps. 

I hope this did too and all the best!

Kisses, 

Alicia

This is me.

Since the ringing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, I’ve not had the chance to write anything besides additional things to do in my diary. This makes me work on weekends and yet, can still say it’s a ride. Not bumpy but definitely a little worrisome.
Anyway, new products out on the store, and I’m on the fifth cup of coffee on this truly beautifully-weathered weekend. I’ve been meaning to do a #meettheartist for ages and well, here goes!
You can also add icecream, country music, Christmas, cartoons, beards, my mom's food, gross jokes and dull weather to my love list 😀

Ask Alicia: Analysis Paralysis

Email from Pooja: 

Dearest Alicia,

I am really struggling hard here to introduce myself to you! But here it goes...

I am a doctoral student who loves drawing doodles more than counting electrons. It has always been the same way, I have been married to chemistry at an awefully young age but have been in an extra marital affair with doodling and sketching all this while. But with PhD, its like my mind is supposed to be pregnant with all this molecular crap and I am not ready for it!

I forever imagined being an artist and at the same time have been continuously scared to embark upon a career known for being mischieviously unsteady. But from where I am standing with my PhD right now, I have whole new definitions for what can be called risky. 

If I decide quitting my PhD right now, how could I explore this field of my love. What qualities would you say stuck by your side while your career shaped up?

Thanks a lot for listening!

 

Convey my kisses to Henry oats!

 

With lots of love,

One of you million fans,

Pooja

Hello Pooja, 

Lovely to meet you:) 

I’m so impressed with your journey already! 

Getting right to your question, when I think back about when I started, I think the quality that really proved useful and is probably the only one I can pat myself on the back for, is being diligent. Regardless of how awful I felt, how low my bank balance was, how overwhelming starting out can be, just sticking through and putting as much effort as one would in doing what you love, can shower miracles. 

I read ages ago about this illustrator who specialised in scientific illustrations and her story was super interesting. I can’t recall the artist’s name but I remember reading about how she was a scientist but really just loved drawing so she ended up being an illustrator for science journals and books because it needed that sort of knowledge as well. I thought it was a great match of knowledge and skill and maybe something that you could do as well, if it interests you!

I wrote recently to another lovely person about starting out here, that I hope may be useful too. 

All the best Pooja! I’m sure you’ll be fantastic, no matter what direction you go:)

Love, 

Alicia

Ask Alicia: Where do I go from here?

Email from Preeti:

Hello Alicia,

I am writing to you after gathering a lot of courage and explaining myself that it-is-alright-to-seek-help-from-unknown-people-who-are-best-in-their-field.

I have been following your work for almost a year now. Its because of you I have got back to my hobby of "giving-faces-to-wordss-and-thoughts". Like every other commoner I lost touch with my hobby just to fit into the mainstream. Today I work with a reputed mnc and tagged as an IT professional. After spending four years in the industry, I am not happy with my work. Going to office doesn't excite me anymore.  My enthusiasm to learn new technical skills seems to be dying everyday.
I had come across one of your interviews where you mentioned that you left a well paying job with a very prestigious bank to pursue your heart. I know it takes a lot of courage to do something as brave as this.
Somehow I am not able to find the courage to do so. I am unable to find my start point. Please please please help me and guide me. All I want to do is sit with my colors and my doodle book and that is what I want to call my "job".

I am guessing that you would be getting such mails everyday. I would feel really lucky if you could share a piece of your mind with me and help me with my dilemma.

Waiting for your response.


Thanks,
Preeti


Hello Preeti,
Thank you so much for having the courage to explain yourself, though, just so you know, you can mail me anytime without much thought. I may take a bit to respond, but I’ll always get back:)
I understand where you’re coming from and yes, I left the bank to start illustrating (though it was a part time job, and I was by then trained as a graphic designer) but I’ll explain the truth of the matter rather than romanticising it.

Yes, I have to be honest, I got lucky too. I never in my wildest dreams, thought I’d have anything but a nine to five and something that I liked doing rather than loved. Life walked kind of in the opposite direction and I’m doing a 24 hour job (well only because it’s almost a lifestyle in a way!) and I cannot think of doing anything I’d rather do with my time! Having said that, yes, the plunge is the hardest but I remember at that time the main reason I took it was because I realised it was an opportunity I couldn’t see myself taking any other time in life. I remember thinking, if all goes horribly wrong, I can always get a job. But I can never try THIS!

Fast forward to when I started freelancing. I knew only a handful of people and not a single freelancer. I really didn’t think I was going to make it and there were horrid days when I questioned if I was making the right choice. This is normal in the beginning especially when there are financial responsibilities and income is tight.

But I realised one thing, no matter how it felt, I always thought of my work as a ‘job’ and that’s what, I believe, made the difference between me being an artist and me being a commercial illustrator. A job is something that you HAVE to see to the end, and do the best you can do. A job is something that someone pays you for, so it has to be useful to THEM. Ofcourse, the joy is in enjoying the process but if you don’t make your client happy, you’ve done a bad ‘job’ and that’s also the difference between drawing for a hobby and drawing for a job.

I think realising that it’s not going to be doodling all day is also definitely worth a thought. Infact, i don’t draw as much as I mail, research, talk to clients, do my accounts, schedule and plan. But that’s because I’m a freelancing illustrator. If you want to just draw (and ofcourse research etc.), you can join an agency/ design studio/ publishing house as an illustrator and that’s fine too. It all depends on what you feel suits you and your working style. I LOVE working independently, I’m really organised and don’t really get distracted when I get down to work, so freelancing works for me entirely.

Lastly, is knowing what you’re offering. When you have a portfolio, you need to show your client or where ever you’re applying to, what you can offer. How can your drawings be useful in a project? Are you knowledgable in at least the basics of print and editing? It will be hard for an agency or a client to hire you based on drawings done on a notepad while you were talking on the phone, no matter how enjoyable it was to you. I like to think of a brief as a collaboration between many minds for one objective. It’s an illustration, working with copy for a brand. Or an illustration working with a story for a book. There’s always a purpose.

Anyway, lastly, if you feel like this field you’re in isn’t for you, then just quit. You have too many beautiful years ahead to be unhappy in something you’ve spent only a few years doing. But never regret it and use the experience. If you want to get into illustration and have no idea where to begin, maybe take a course just to learn the basics of design and print. If you already know the basics and want a less risky route, perhaps start taking jobs on the side. Maybe your friend’s friend wants a wedding invitation done or someone needs something for their website. Start there and see how it feels working for a ‘client’.
And lastly, regardless of where life takes you, just draw. Never stop and it will be your happy place!

All the best Preeti and a special hug for you for the courage to go forth!
Love,
Alicia

Ask Alicia: Beginning and learning

Email from a friend of Apeksha asked....

- She said she is very good at copying things and improvising. She faces it hard to imagine something from scratch and give it a shape. Can this be learnt? If yes, how? If no, how can it be bypassed to still produce meaningful work and add value to customers? 

- How to identify customers and build network? Is it very necessary to get a formal apprenticeship experience on her resume? It is a chicken and egg problem - she needs some project to start building a portfolio and she needs a portfolio to get good projects. 

- She understands the potential of digitalization and animation of art work would be a good chunk of customer requirements. She wants to pursue a masters degree which has the perfect blend of technology and fine arts curriculum. She is at a loss on this account, as she doesn't know anyone who has done something similar. 

- What are the best learning resources till the time she joins an institute? Learning by doing is one. She needs to find people who would give her some projects to experiment with. But more than that, I feel she will need to benchmark herself, draw inspiration and learn from the best existing practises. 

Hello Apeksha, 

Thank you so much for mailing:) 

I’ll reply to your queries in points, as you’ve asked them like that so it’s easy to reference. 

1) There is a fine line between copying and inspiration. I think this is where the line ‘Good artists steal’ comes from but it’s always a responsibility of an artist to take inspiration one step further or use it in a different sort of way so as to make it unique. (I can go on about this topic for a while, on copyright infringement etc but I think everyone knows when they are stealing and when it’s inspiration, so I’ll refrain) 

I like to think of imagining as a habit. It gets better over time and after a while, it’s not much of an effort to imagine new scenes or things to draw. I think a good exercise to try is to just take a paper without really a reference at hand and start drawing. It may be hard at first but slowly and steadily, imagining new ideas and things to draw will come more easily. This may take a few days, or weeks or maybe even a month but trust me, you’ll notice your imagination skyrocket over time. 

2) You’re right. This is a rather questionable debate and to be honest, there is no right answer. I usually suggest people try getting an internship just to know what the industry is like and if they even like working in the field. A lot of times, it seems like drawing is one’s biggest love but the minute that there’s a brief at hand, it becomes a chore. An internship will settle that matter and will basically make you understand a lot about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses and also a lot about clients, projects and briefs, without having to worry about actually getting them. Having said that, I started in the deep end, without knowing a lot of people in the field, and of course, it was hard work and a lot of persistence, but I knew my strengths was in delivering on time, and my knowledge in print was substantial. I think this is another thing to consider. If you’re absolutely new to the field, you would need to know a bit about how to deliver print-ready files and though that’s something you can even learn online, it’s a little easier when you have other knowledgeable people at hand. 

3) I think it all depends on you, really. Fine arts is different from animation is different from illustration is different from communication design. Though they have a thread running through them of being in the same area, deliveries for clients from each field is very different. I’m purely an illustrator but sometimes take up illustrative design work. I would definitely suggest looking into each of these, reading up and seeing which one pulls your heartstring and going from there. 

4) There a thousands of learning resources online. I think going step by step rather than an overall learning makes more sense. For instance, learning ONE tool on photoshop is easier to master than just generally ‘learning photoshop’. That way you can target what you are learning and move slowly from there. This is how I try and learn new subjects.

If you know any acquaintances who need work done, that’s a great place to start. Or just doing some personal projects, like a Diwali card for the family or your sister’s wedding etc is a lot of fun without a lot of restrictions that a client may have. 

I hope this helps! 

All the best and much love, 

Alicia

Ask Alicia: A copying conundrum

So I get a LOT of questions from lovely people who are either young illustrators or aspiring freelancers or are just curious. I tend to reply every one individually but realised after years (gosh, i have late realisations!) that many of the questions tend to be similar. So what I’m going to do is reply to queries, that I’ve heard before, out loud (with the mailers permission, of course!) so that anyone with the same doubt could be answered:) I’ll try to do this atleast once every other week and tag them under a section ‘Ask Alicia’ so it’s easily accessible:) 

Suru C. asked: 

…initially were you sharing your work openly in social media and among friends ? I also aspire to become an illustrator some day but i get scared when lot of my friends copy my style. I am not into any design school yet but just doodling what comes to my mind. Being scared of copycats also hinders me from sharing my work & eventually leads to discouragement to draw. Sharing on social media is an encouragement when people like my work but negative when i see exact replicas. I think i have no style or its too easy to be copied. Can you please give me some tips (if u get some time from ur busy busy schedule) on how to handle this & overcome this fear to continue my doodles ? Thank you so much. You are inspiring!

Thank you so much Suru:) 

Starting out is fearful in so many ways, no matter what you’re doing but it’s a sign that you’re doing 

something new and that’s always a good thing. (I’d like to add that it’s always good to have some fear in your week so you know you’re doing you’re uncomfortable with. So be it, trying a new food or perhaps drawing something you really haven’t drawn before…anything!) 

The first time I was aware that I had a copy of my illustration in production, I was just starting out in my career. I was more worried than annoyed and realised that there was no way to really get around the situation. Since then, I’ve had people and companies that made my drawings into copy products, copy prints and a whole bunch. Please note, this is very different from fan art, which is adorable:) 

Now the first thing I get told is to run after the company and/or the person but almost always, it’s not worth the effort. Firstly, lawyers cost a bit too much and my time is better spent creating more than chasing down old work. Having said that, there are times I have mailed a few companies and people when I’ve gotten too many notices from other people telling me that it’s out of hand. Sometimes (and this happened recently) the copy wasn’t a copy at all and our styles were just similar and sometimes the company just removes the product or ignores you. 

Now, Suru, I hate that it is the case, but it’s kind of part of being in the field at this point. There is always a change that there will be some copies of your work and that will only push you to do more, to better your art. I realise that almost all copies will never be as good as the original and if they are better, then it’s sad that the artist with that kind of skill does a copy instead of an original.

We’re in a world where sharing is part of our lives. It’s enriching and can also be frustrating. Instead of thinking of it in the light where the more you do, the more chance there is for you to get copied, think of it in the way that the more you do, the more people get to appreciate. And the better you get. And the happier you’ll be. 

Don’t worry, and at the end of the day, you can also go by the old saying of Imitation is the best form of flattery. It actually takes effort to copy so someone out there thought you were good enough to copy. That’s a plus! 

Keep drawing and be guided by your love (of drawing), not your fear (of being imitated).

But if it truly truly bothers you, then you never have to stop drawing. You can always just draw and put it up online, like the good ol’ days. 

Love, Alicia

Tools of the trade.

I got started as an illustrator out of the pure joy of drawing. I had no formal training in illustrating so the tools I use are super cheap because I always just used what was at hand.

Because I get asked so often about the tools I use, here is the run down:




Pencil: The pencil I use is whatever is at my desk. It's either asked-stolen or given as a freebie. The one I'm using at the moment is a flat-tipped penpencil (gosh, I love it!) that my fellow got for me from China.

Pentel pocket brush pen: This is the pen I use the MOST. I used a plain 00 brush for the longest time and then found this was pretty much the same except that it speeded up my process because I never had to dip my brush any longer. No more brush cleaning and ink drying. I bought it on Amazon.com and a friend who came down from the US carried it for me. Makes sense. The shipping is ridiculous. I think it's about 2 years old now.

(You can tell how much I use an instrument by how much the end is bitten. It's terrible but an unconcious habit. My old wacom pen end was split. Why am I telling you this? )

Artline pen liners: These are just for detailing. Usually I have at hand a 0.05mm and a 0.1mm. I used a Rotring for a while (they were given to me by my brother's wife who is an architect) but taking care of it is a bit more work because I had to clean it ever so often.

Paintbrush: I use a student grade paintbrush from a local stationery store and this Pentel watercolour brush (the Sakura Koi is lovely too) that is my new favourite because, again, it saves time.

Camlin Watercolours: I did a number of online classes to learn watercolours. It was a bit intimidating so I bought the cheapest set that I still use. I did buy some tubes later too but I still love this terrible palette. The only hiccup is that it's rather grainy and sandy after it dries. It's Rs.22/- that I got from the local store, so I can live with that haha.

Camel Ink: Again, student grade ink that I fill my Pentel pocket brush cartridge with a pipette. The original cartridge is rather expensive because I go through ink rather quickly and this works just fine. It's a lighter black but I can always adjust that when I scan the illustration. This bottle literally lasts forever. It's been a year and I'm only halfway through. The ink I used before was Parker Quink but they didn't have it at the store so I bought this.

Staedtlar watercolour pencils & Derwent Inktense: I remember it was in university when I tried my friends Staedtler pencils and fell in love. I used to only use colour pencils then and didn't even use the 'watercolour' part of them. The lead was so soft compared to the unbranded nonsense I was using at the time. I bought a pack then and it's the same one that's still beside me. My friend then gifted me the Inktense and oh my gosh! the colours are so vibrant! But I feel I still like using the Staedtlers for colouring though if I have to use them as 'watercolours', then Inktense wins hands down.

Apsara Eraser: Seriously. Cheap and Best. (that's my favourite Indian-y shopping line ever!)

Paper: I guess because of my job, I tend to get a lot of notebooks for free. I have samples as well. I use them all. There is always the initial worry and sometimes hiccup with the paper as my ink can blot on some but most of the time it's alright. I guess I'm just not too picky. The paper I use the most is regular copy paper and sometimes the heavier stock version of it. (The regular copy paper is at 75gsm and the one I prefer is at 90gsm) I do have some fancy notebooks and use those too but I use them for detailed drawings or projects but daily illustrations are on copy paper.

Pentel brush pen: The ink comes out rather wonky for this, which is lovely for texture or fine lines.

Nib pen: Over time, I picked up random nibs and holders because I used to use these before I used a paintbrush.

White gel pen: For highlights.

Cartridge pen: Buy this at a local store, it's cheaper. I use this a lot for outlining.


Noodlers Ink: This ink is seriously delicious. It's the blackest black and doesn't blot on most papers. It's just yummy. I use it sparingly because I got my friend to get it (again!) from the US when she was coming down.


L'occitane hand cream: Edible.

Coffee: My quick choice of drug.

That's about it! Phewp!
Oh yes, and the rest of the process is here.
Thank you! Let me know if you have any other questions and I'd be happy to help!