We recently connected with Aylea Burkes and have shared our conversation below.

Aylea, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I mull this over in my head often, but each time I come to the conclusion that I truly am. I’ve been drawing since I could first hold a pen, and in front of a sketchbook is where i’ve always been my happiest. I really think I was put on this Earth to make art & share it with others. But it’s a hard road, at least in my experience. Since college i’ve worked primarily jobs that are non-creative, and I found myself losing the zeal to continue pursuing art outside of them. It’s always seemed like such a long journey ahead of me to get to where i’d like to be in my field, and my location I feel adds a couple of extra hurdles to it. During and after college I pondered whether it would have been better for me to just pursue a more linear career path, something that was more common to hire for in my hometown. I struggled (and still at times do!) very heavily with comparison. My peers at school and ones i’d see via social media were in my perspective leagues above my skill level, so i’d keep setting an imaginary goal post of what I had to be in order to get the career I wanted or be a “real” artist. And because deep down I thought I could never get there, with more and more time I thought of just giving up. Of course, that’s not fair to me! But it was where I was at, and sometimes even professors would reinforce it. I think what has helped me through all of this is a support system of friends and family, a better appreciation of myself, and a re-evaluation of what success actually means to me. My main goal has always been to make others happy with the work I have to share, and i’ve been blessed to have done that. To know there’s been even one person who’s supported my art, or said it made their day to see is enough for me to keep going. I still have my other goals of course, but now they are moreso motivators for me instead of a requirement for me to be validated. I recognize the growth I have made for me on my own personal journey, and i’m excited to go further at my own pace. I think one plus of social media is that you get to truly see that not everyone’s path nor timing is the same. That’s brought me a lot of reassurance. The story and pace that i’ve gone through could hopefully bring comfort and reassurance to another one day. And though it’s still a work in progress, I am slowly re-learning to make art simply for my own enjoyment, without always carrying the expectation of how it can benefit me or where it will get me. The realization of these things has truly brought back the happiness of being an artist that the past years lost. It’s not an easy journey, but at the end of the day there’s no other one i’d like to take.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes! Honestly, I wish that I would have started drawing from life and doing figure studies from the very beginning. I’d always draw straight from my favorite shows or those how to draw manga books-which are definitely helpful! I think they can really help you understand different styles and develop your own among other things. But I believe it’s really important to go out and draw from the world around you too. I’ve seen the most fluidity & improvement from my sketches when I keep a consistent pace of drawing live models. Sketching at a cafe or zoo, or checking out Line of Action, Quickposes, even live youtube videos can really help. Learning the foundations is a must.. There are also so many more different avenues to learning art outside of school now too, and I love that for everyone! Project City & Udemy are at least two sources I know of that have very helpful classes from industry professionals at an affordable price. Artists like Stephen Silver and Kat Tsai are teaching courses too, so even if you can’t afford school or even want to learn beforehand/afterwards there’s always ways to keep growing your skills!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think one of my biggest lessons i’ve had to learn as an artist is that it’s ok to take breaks from art. I used to be really hard on myself when I would stop drawing for a while, always carrying the fear that i’m stunting the progress I could be making. But I was burning myself out! And at that point, I forgot what I had started drawing for in the first place- to have fun and express myself. It’s good to stick to your goals, but it’s very important to leave time for life outside of them as well. In my experience, taking that break from art to live life has brought experiences from life back as inspiration for my art when I was ready! There’s no deadline to be who you want to be or make what you want to make, so just take it one day at a time. And take care of you! I’ve found that when i’m feeling good I can make some of the art I enjoy the most, too.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.ayleanburkes.format.com/
• Instagram: instagram.com/lele_bees