We were lucky to catch up with Lauren Airriess recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I have been very lucky to have worked full time most of my career. I think it’s equal parts hard work, strategy, and timing. I was given the tools to acquire a very strong work ethic from early on, which benefited me as a was working up to applying for college, through my education, and then at the beginning of my career. You can be very talented but if you don’t have the skills for applying that skill every day and consistently, you are going to struggle. Having a plan of action for yourself and your career is also going to make a big difference. Deciding how you are going to focus your skill set and your work so that you have the greatest opportunity for employment will determine how much work you will get in the future. If you want to be very employable, you have to show that you are adaptable and have a good enough range. I was also lucky to have entered the workforce before a lot of guideposts in our industry shifted. I feel like I was lucky to have entered at a time when technology and information was beginning to become accessible but wasn’t saturating the creative space. I think I benefited from a small amount of these things, without them becoming overwhelming. If the studio system and internet was the way it was today, when I was starting out, I think I would have been more intimidated and confused about what path I was going to take.

Lauren, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I actually got my start it musical theater, and not in animation. I started doing stage productions at the age of six. There is actually a lot of crossover from the theater world and the animation one, and there used to be even more. It gives you a good sense of staging, being in character, world building and design. For me in particular it really helped me understand the full scope of costume design, from the materials and the layering, to the movement and the way it can visually communicate a character’s personality or development. I think one of the things that sets me apart from other people in my field is that opportunity to be creative in a field outside of animation. I think one of the best things people can do is to educated themselves in a creative discipline that is outside of the one that they are currently in. It gives an amazing perspective and appreciation that can’t be duplicated.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think that there needs to be a safe space for people to learn to be creative and to become storytellers outside of economic necessity. Right now we are facing a reality where only creatives from a certain background can afford to tell their stories, because they feel safe enough financially to be creative without a monetary benefit. This is going to limit the kind of storytelling we will be receiving for years to come. If we can find a way to support these artists so that they have the opportunity, without them risking their longterm financial health and safety, we will all benefit from the outcome.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn to make space for myself creatively outside of work. I was so focused on getting a job and being productive, I didn’t realize that I would run creatively dry if I didn’t refill my pool of inspiration. Now no matter how hard I am working, I have to set aside some time in my day to read a book, look at some art, go for a walk in a beautiful place, or watch an inspiring film. Otherwise what I am doing in my studio work will become stale and lifeless. The more you begin to stress about being unproductive, the less time you will spend on yourself, and the cycle with become more vicious. As difficult as it is to step back and give yourself that time, in the long run you will become more productive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurenairriess.com
• Instagram: @laurenairriess
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-airriess-31650811/