The Artistic Grind

Upping My Game and Getting Serious

I think it happened during John Clapp’s class when he was showing works from artists like Paul Madonna and Shinji Kimura when I had my epiphany: I Really Want To become a student of my craft. To clarify, when I honestly step back and reflect on what it is i’m trying to obtain or accomplish currently and whether or not i am trying the absolute hardest i can, to the best of my ability i unfortunately have not been pushing it the full Geoff’s 200% effort. Sure I can honestly say that im giving a solid 70% devotion into my craft, however where is that 30% going. That thirty percent is huge and significant, and the lack of that extra discipline and devotion is preventing me from truly growing and reaching my full potential as an artist. I have been listening to my professors lecture and give insight on where i am, and where i need to go as a student to a professional, and i have come to the conclusion that anything less than 100 percent devotion to my major and craft will not make it. I look at my best friends in my field who are really dedicated and serious and look at what they have sacrificed, but gained as well in the process. I look at on of my best Friends Jonny Ashley who has been a personal inspiration ever since we first met in high school; Jonny’s desire for knowledge and utter devotion to his craft has given him a respectable knowledge of animation, film, and art; but the bottom line is that he lives and breathes Art. I look to my SHM and A/I friends and look at their commitment to the program: Daniel Dusek Wilkes is creating mind blowing worlds from his imagination with the knowledge he gains from class, Ross Carlisle is constantly looking at professional/masters and constantly learning, growing and applying that to his craft, Jeremy Cummings has developed a work ethic and devotion that has had amazing results, Michael Wu is a Motherfucking beast!, Jeff Liu and his enthusiasm and dedication, and Jon Apilado, who is the definition of what it means to be a student well on his way to becoming a master if not great master of his craft. and these are but a small handful of my friends that i can name off the top of my head that show their commitment to their craft. I think though one of the more driving forces in my change in thinking/reflection is my Grandparents who faced countless and unimaginable hardships to give me the opportunities that i feel that i have been taking for granted. however, could I be really too hard on myself? possibly, however i think that something as important as my major/craft/dream should never be taken lightly. Now time to address the pink elephant in the room. Comics…I’m done, either tomorrow or next week i will go home and close and end my subscriptions. comics have been the driving force in regards to inspiration since the beginning of high school-today, however my harmless hobby has become an obsession. Among the reasons as to why I am choosing to move on is that perhaps the past year my interest in the subject has limited my vision and distracted me greatly from my work/craft. I also believe that if i don’t stop now…i’ll never stop and i’ll never grow to my full potential. the past eight or so years that i have spent becoming knowledgeable on the medium has given me a history and knowledge that will last me for a while. My original goal was to become a comic artist, yet  after spending almost half a yr at SJSU A/I i feel I can ask more of myself. So. I. AM. DONE. i’m moving on to other things.