We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tannie Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tannie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
It seems like artists are supposed to answer this question by saying they were born with a pencil in their hand and spent the majority of their youth sketching and drawing. But that isn’t always true, at least not for me. I was a very creative child and enjoyed studying different artists. I liked noticing the way light moves or interesting features on a person, but I rarely drew myself. I was more of an observer, thinker and a freestyle doodler. I also absolutely hated math, it has always been a lifelong struggle. I remember in middle school being told that you don’t have to take math in college if you major in art. I felt a lightbulb go off in my head and for better or worse, an artist was born! Fortunately, as I aggressively pursued my goal of never taking math again, my skills and passion began to align with my purpose.
So as much as I would love to say that I was born with a pencil in my hand and drew pictures for all my buddies in kindergarten, the truth is I was mostly motivated by math.
Tannie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Sure! I am an independent Illustrator living just outside of Austin TX, in a town called Lago Vista. I have one husband, two sons, a bizarre border collie mix and two disinterested cats. I love living out near the lake and hills where I can hike and paddle board till my heart’s content. I also love to read. Like REALLY love to read. But ironically, I don’t like book clubs.
As far as my artist life/journey goes, when I finally got to college (and yes, I still had to take one math class) it was with the intention of going into fine art or illustration. However, I was lucky enough to attend a university that had one of the top design programs in the Southwest. As some of the courses overlapped I became more and more drawn to the design program. I loved the simplicity of it as well as the communication behind it. So for quite a few years after graduation I worked as a graphic designer, branding companies and other media projects.
Over the years the client work began to take a toll. I missed having full creative control over my process. I had gained a family and the long hours were a constant battle. So I hung up my hat and left the design biz with the intent to just focus on my home and family. I was so burnt out I wasn’t sure if I would ever draw again. After a few months of just “being” I began to feel that creative itch again. I may have been burnt out on design, but there was still a lot of creative energy zooming around in my head. There was a particular day where I was reminded of my initial intent of becoming an illustrator. I now had the opportunity to pursue that original dream. I took a year to build my skill back up, take some online courses and knock the rust off, so to speak. It was a lot of work but it paid off. I have been working as an illustrator even since!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Something a lot of artists struggle with is feeling like their work will never be “good enough.” This is common for most people, but especially within the creative community. We are constantly seeing other amazing works of art and can’t help but to compare ourselves to them. Often we feel we’ve come up short. This feeling can grow out of hand and is referred to as imposter syndrome. It chases us regardless of what achievements we might attain.
I wish someone would have told me that the feeling actually never goes away, AND THAT IT IS OK! It’s that feeling that actually helps drive artists to try better and be better. You have to experience the lows in order to get to the heights. That feeling drives you to explore a new direction, and fail. Then try again until you get it right. I would love to go back to my younger self and tell her that the feeling of coming up short can actually be used as a superpower.
Something that I love about being an independent illustrator is having full control over the creative process. I no longer answer to client demands, or try to solve someone else’s problems or visions. There is a great peace in knowing that whatever I create either succeeds or fails on my own merits. The downside of working alone all the time is that you can get in your head a bit. This is why I love relying on my local critique group. Each month I meet with a small but very talented group of women, all professional illustrators. We share what we are working on and help give feedback and ideas as needed. Without a client driving you to push yourself, it can be a challenge to take your art to that next level. This group really helps fill that role for me.
So to all creatives out there, first of all, you are good enough. Second, it’s ok to feel like you aren’t, but don’t let it defeat you. Instead, use it to keep going and get better. And third, get involved in a critique group.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I love creating moments of connection. Small scenes with emotional impact. With my design background, I tend to keep a fairly simple and clean canvas. That way the focus is right on the character, scene or moment I’m trying to portray. It can be just a small happy moment, like building a fort, the heartbreak of seeing your crush like someone else, or the frustration/patience of a parent dealing with a toddler tantrum. Either way I want my viewer to feel something, even if it is just for a moment.
The reward is watching people make a connection with something I made. I once spent two hours talking to a woman that was moved by a Joan of Arc piece I created. She told me about a personal experience she went through and why Joan of Arc was such an example to her during that time in her life. When she saw my piece she got very emotional and we had a wonderful conversation. I felt so privileged that something I made became so personal to her. I had never met her before that day and I didn’t create that piece for her, yet she felt it on a personal level. Moments like that are so special to me and make all the struggles of creating something worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.tanniesmith.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createdbytannie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createdbytannie
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreatedByTannie