We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erich Sayers a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Erich thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I grew up rural Kansas and never imagined creative work was useful or a possible career path. In my early 20’s I did very little artistically by my late 20’s I found myself lost, depressed with no idea of direction. Out of sheer boredom I started drawing again. Among those drawings one was of a very old smiling buddhist monk an inspirational photo I saw in Outside magazine. It was good enough that I thought to myself this has value and just maybe I should do something with my talents.
With almost nothing to lose I put what little I owned in my car and moved from Kansas to LA. I had no plan other than doing something with my talents and computers. When in LA I worked jobs I really loathed for years, meanwhile learning photoshop basics at Glendale Community College. During this time found an ad on Craigslist for a basically a start up company that was doing gaming advertising. I walked in with some of my art and said I would work harder and cheaper than anyone else. The owner Alan Hunter recognized my talents and brought me on as an intern at Petrol Ad. I worked about 10-14 hours a week for free but was thrilled at the opportunity. I had entered into the career of entertainment advertising that I continue to this day.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
( I covered some of this on the last entry)
Since I was a kid I enjoyed and had a talent for drawing and photography. Ive heard it said that an artist doesn’t really need to believe in themselves or their talents they just have to work hard. I feel that’s true for me, Ive never had a plan Ive just worked hard and kept going.
Unlike most in my field I never went to an art school. I’m more illustrator than designer and my work has a painterly feel, very detailed with close attention to light and shadow. I have a natural ability to create beautiful composition.
My work is to create key art a singular image, key art that represents the movie, video game or show. To communicate through an image that will catch the publics eye. I think about all the work, creativity and expense that is put into the project. Its an honor to create an image that represents it.
I think I get most attention for having created box art for Call of Duty and Mortal Kombat even having work on billboard in Time Square a few times.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I think as artist we are compulsively driven to create and don’t think we are satisfied unless we have an outlet for our creative energy. I find it rewarding to solve a creative problem and get paid to do what I enjoy doing. Perhaps to inspire other to create in their own unique way. I really enjoy creating my own personal art where I get to create whatever I can imagine.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I believe I’m in a time of transition currently. It time for me to learn new software and expand my skillset. I might be shifting back to gaming I’m learning about AI and 3D tools like Blender. I really love creating key art and think it will always be the best way to instantly convey a story or concept. Entertainment advertising has always been centralized to Hollywood but I imagine a future where more and more people creating their own independent movies or personal immersive experiential virtual realty trips. I’m excited about the potential for creating therapies to heal traumas or experience our own imaginations in new ways. Future technology is expanding exponentially we can only try imagine whats next.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.erichsayers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eisayers/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erich-sayers-8678541b/
Image Credits
All commercial art I shared here can be found online