We were lucky to catch up with Erin James recently and have shared our conversation below.

Erin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Growing up, I never thought I’d go to an art school. In fact, when it came time for me to choose which college I’d go to, five out of the six options that I had on my list were in-state and only offered graphic design in terms of creative fields. I had a very narrow expectation of what I expected to be in life, and I’m so thankful that that future was completely derailed.

When looking at schools, I thought that my path was set in stone, but then the same (annoying) college kept sending reps to my high school. It felt like a fly was incessantly buzzing in my ear and I (for better or worse) had chosen to act like it wasn’t there. It wasn’t until a girl who’d graduated from my same high school (and went to what I know as SCAD) chatted with me that I snapped out of my trance.

I asked her questions about how she liked the school, what she was doing, and what her future looked like. It all sounded too good to be true. I went to visit the school and tour not once, not twice, but three times. I was in love.

It was then I realized that the future I’d been bleakly looking toward wasn’t my only option. I applied frantically to every scholarship I could find. It was expensive, but I had to figure out a way to make things work. After about two months of searching for scholarships (and almost giving up), I got an email from SCAD asking if I wanted to interview for a full-tuition scholarship. I, of course, said yes and then proceeded to chat with two reps for thirty minutes or so.

I was incredibly nervous during the whole interview, and the brief wait afterward nearly killed me. However, after a few days, I got another email saying that I’d gotten the scholarship. I remember being eerily nonchalant, but I think most of that was from me going into shock.

Four (almost five) years later, I have a job as a full-time illustrator and am having an absolute blast. I was worried that once I started working, I’d burn out and fall out of love with art, but every day has been so exciting and I don’t think I’ve ever felt this fulfilled in life. That said, I’m so excited for what the future holds and to see where my career leads me.

Erin, 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?

Growing up, I loved watching shows, reading books, and playing games. I was really inspired by the media I saw a teenager, and that inspired me to start looking at art as more than just a hobby. At the beginning of my career, I really just wanted to “be the best”, but I don’t think I even know what I meant by that

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Honestly, I wish art tablets and programs were as affordable and well-made back when I was younger. As a 12-year-old, I was kind of terrified of dipping my toes into the world of “digital” art. Part of that was because of the price of good quality tablets back then, but another part of that was the confusing (and expensive) programs that came along with it. I tried a bunch of cheaper alternatives, but could never really get into the same flow that I felt when using paint or markers. It was only after Procreate came out that I really hit my stride.

The interface was simple. Like REALLY REALLY simple. I definitely missed a lot of hidden functions, but the simple tools being the only thing obviously available allowed me to ease into it rather than becoming overwhelmed and going back to the safety net of traditional art. I think it was around this time that I saw the most improvement in my art. Suddenly techniques and tutorials that I’d seen from my favorite artists had become replicable. I was no longer limited by the paint and markers that I could afford. Instead, I was only limited by my Ipad’s battery life and however far the charging cord could reach.

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

Something that was kind of hard for me was coming to the conclusion that I don’t need to have a set style. As a kid, I was really torn about the way my art looked. On one hand, I loved trying new styles, replicating looks from my favorite artists, and depicting whatever content I wanted. On the other hand, part of me thought that creating cohesive pieces and having a “style” would make me more appealing to the average viewer. I was partially correct in that assumption, but I think a lot of the drive to find who I was artistically came from insecurity.

Now, as someone who’s matured more as an artist, I just kind of want to draw what makes me happy. It may sound selfish, but I think that it’s what’s healthiest for me and my relationship with art. That said, I absolutely love illustration from the deepest depths of my soul. I can find joy in the most mundane material, so I highly doubt I’ll be running out of inspiratrion any time soon.

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