We were lucky to catch up with HM Newton recently and have shared our conversation below.

HM, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Both of my parents have always made a point of being supportive of whatever I want to pursue. When I was a young child they made sure to show me that someone can make a career for themselves in the arts. My dad is especially sympathetic to the struggles commonly faced by aspiring artists. He is a professional musician, and struggled with pursuing a career that his father initially disapproved of. I sometimes joke that he went through the ‘Dad, I want to be an artist,’ ‘But son, why can’t you be a dentist or lawyer?’ situation so I didn’t have to. When I expressed an interest in pursuing illustration professionally, my dad made a point to prepare me for a world that may not see art as a legitimate field to pursue. After graduating highschool, I told him that I was choosing to go to Art Center College of Design and he was super enthusiastic, cheering, ‘You’re gonna go to art school! Woo-hoo!’ He has taught me to dedicate myself to my craft in spite of the people that try to dissuade me. My dad often shares a piece of advice his mother gave him when he was questioning whether he should keep pursuing music; ask yourself–do you like your craft? And, are you good at it? If the answer is yes to both questions, then why not keep at it? There may be a day you can’t do it anymore.

HM, 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’ve always been interested in art since I was kid, which is what ultimately led me here. I didn’t start to seriously consider pursuing illustration professionally until I was in middle school. Since attending Art Center my perspective of what’s possible in illustration has expanded tenfold. As an illustrator, I work both digitally (with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Procreate, etc) and traditionally (mostly oil and acrylic paint). I’m open to any kind of work, whether that be posters, album art, apparel, books, editorial, packaging–you name it. I also work on my own personal projects, mostly paintings, which I am open to selling. As an artist I have a strong creative voice that is often dreamlike, anachronistic, and occasionally uncanny, yet I am simultaneously versatile in style and medium. If I had to choose one thing that I am most proud of, it is my ability to work through creative challenges and grow stronger as an artist.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I used to think that appealing to an audience came first before anything else–even enjoying the creation of the work you make. I assumed there was something almost selfish to not prioritize the people looking at your work above all else. The truth is, while you have to focus on visual communication, having fun is essential–the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Fun doesn’t just motivate you to keep pursuing your craft, but also makes you invested in your work. When you are invested, you make creative decisions more deliberately. Having as much fun as you can is one of the most important secrets to creating something you’re proud of, as fun equals engagement.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I have learned so much good entrepreneurial philosophy from my professors and the guest lecturers at school. One of the most important pieces of advice I’ve heard is to say yes to everything when you are just starting your career. You should take on as much as you can to put yourself out there, and it doesn’t matter if you have anxiety about it. Once you say yes you figure it out later. There’s a saying that comes from a cheesy poster I saw in a gym once, but it’s true; you miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t take.

Another good piece of advice is that not everyone will get along with you–and that’s okay. When conflict happens between you and someone else in your career, the answer is usually to move on and accept that you win some and lose some. You can’t have those losses weigh on your shoulders too hard, or they’ll scare you from taking more opportunities in the future, which of course stunts your growth.

It’s important to learn how to communicate well, whether that be verbal speech or the written word. Talent alone is not enough to attract clients–it is crucial to learn how to talk to them in order to determine how you can serve them best. Additionally, there’s a lot of skilled people in the world, and personality can make the difference in regards to who someone approaches for work.

I strongly recommend making a point to hear what successful people in your field have to say, whether that means going to places where they are speaking about their careers or reaching out to them directly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hmnewtonart.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: @sturgeoncola
• Other: [email protected]