We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sawyer Cloud. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sawyer below.
Sawyer, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Before becoming a full-time illustrator, I’ve done many different jobs. I was a librarian, first grade teaching assistant, drawing teacher and a video maker. All my former jobs revolved around education and children , somehow shaping my current job as a kid lit artist. Even though drawing and writing for kids have always been my dream job, it was never a clear path for me and it took me many years to get to know my career.
Since there’s no art school or any relevant reference for me in my country (I live in Madagascar), I relied on internet and books to learn about art and editorial business. Thanks to all these years of learning, I built enough tools to start my journey and contacted many agencies and art directors during a year. After months of rejection, I finally was detected by a scout talent who introduced me to my actual agency. Since we signed three years ago, I got to work on so many book projects and even earned few rewards.
When I look back at my journey, I think that the key points were when I realized I want that dream to happen and was ready to put enough work for it. Either it’s art schools, books or even just internet, when you really want it, you make it happen.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My pen name is Sawyer Cloud and I’m an illustrator specializing in children’s books but I also want to become a character designer in the animation industry later. I’ve worked on more than 30 books with the major publishers in the children editorial industry. And in some rare occasions, I also write my own stories but this part is still in progress.
I’m mostly known for drawing BIPOC characters and I’m fiercely passionate about Black history.
I’m 31 this year and I live in Madagascar island, my home country.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist to me is the fact that you never really get old, you’re an eternal child. When you create, you’re allowed to explore infinite possibilities and bring suggestions to make the world a little more beautiful.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
When I realized I really wanted to become a full-time artist, I had to delete all the informations in my head from the society I grew up in about art and how it’s near to impossible to live from it. In my country, artists are seen in a bad way and can barely make it financially, so I had to really close my eyes and tried to make my own way. Internet really saved my life, I owe it my whole career because that’s how I’ve found a supportive community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sawyer.cloud
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawyercloud01/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SawyerCloud
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/🌻sawyer-cloud🌻-13a396131/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@sawyercloud4429
Image Credits
Tanteliniaina Ramarozatovo