We recently connected with Scotty Roberts and have shared our conversation below.

Scotty, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

Having been an illustrator and graphic designer for four decades, one of the greatest challenges I have encountered has come in more recent days.

With the advent of A.I., many established illustrators and designers are losing ground to anyone with a computer who can type prompts into an A.I. app that produces a finished piece of digital art in mere moments. Then they charge their clients a few dollars as opposed to a traditional artist who spends hours and days creating a piece of art for a substantially higher price.

What this technological marvel has created is a glut of non-artist-artists who utilize computer prompts rather than pencils and paintbrushes to severely undercharge the industry standard. In most cases, this leaves traditional illustrators unable to compete in a new market that has A.I. work selling for $10 compared to their traditional illustration selling for $450.

An extremely high percentage of these A.I. computer jockeys are based in smaller countries around the world, and when asked, said they charge the small amount because they “just want American dollars.”

The profitability is gravely affected for traditional illustrators and designers in a very real way. But it has helped the traditional artist bring his skillset into the new age. I use a lot more digital illustration and enhancement, now, more than any other time in my career. I never felt “left behind” by the tech advance, as I always made it a point to stay atop the trending wave, but dwindling revenues do have a way of motivating one to step forward faster.

Scotty, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I would quantify myself as a pan-creative – I engage in many facets of the creative field beneath a broad creative umbrella. I am an illustrator, a graphic designer, photographer, sculptor, writer, published author, and wordsmithy. I have traveled abroad, spent time in Egypt working with archaeologist friends, hiking the desert and climbing mountains in Honduras and the Sinai, exploring and adventuring.

I got my start waaaaay back in my high school days when a small local publisher saw some of my (very rudimentary) illustration work on display in the main corridor of the school. I was hired at age 17 to create some ink line drawings for a series of hardcover book dust jackets, and that led into a post-college career in advertising and graphics.

I spent the next 20+ years in advertising and publishing as an art director and creative director, eventually breaking off on my own as an independent in the Minneapolis area. I established my own studio mid-2001, where I have operated my business ever since,

I have worked as an illustrator and designer of products for such ad clients as General Mills, Kraft Foods, Pepperidge Farm, National Car Rental, DisneyWorld Travel, and many other phenomenal clients.

Children’s Book illustration and design has been a cornerstone of my career over the last decade, but that has begun to dwindle what with the advent of A.I. (as discussed in the previous question about profitability).

I have written several books of non-fiction revolving around World Mysteries, Folklore, and History, as well as fictional books for young adults, of which I am also the illustrator.

As for “problem solving,” per se, I would say that I do less of that, and more working to establish myself as someone who can run with a creative concept for authors, publishers, and clients seeking corporate identity, logos, illustration, photography, and ancillary design. I have the tendency to take over and own a project from a creative standpoint, because, frankly, many business people have an idea of what they want, but have little to no design or illustration capabilities.

What am I most proud of? My authored/published books. They have built a subjectively huge audience of stalwart followers, granting me some small modicum of notoriety in certain circles. That has made the process fun and exciting. When people say, “I saw you on TV!” (related to some of the weird books I write) or “I can tell that’s a Scotty Roberts piece of art,” I take great pride and satisfaction, feeling somewhat accomplished.

However, that does not always equate to garnering great financial success. That comes in much smaller waves.

I am driven by a quote of Mark Twain’s that has been my mantra for many years… “Twenty years from now, you’ll regret more the things you didn’t do than the things you did do; so, cast off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, set your sails to the tradewinds, explore, dream, discover.”

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Adventure and discovery. While these two things are not the staples of day-to-day, bread and butter revenue production, they ARE the driving force behind my personal expansion, growth and endeavor. But I will also add that as a Father/Dad/Parent, my exploits have been greatly curtailed, and my adventures have turned more to “small adventures” in the backyard, local woods, and community hiking paths.

Inside my head lives a series of novels and illustrated kids’ books (such as “The Rollicking Adventures of Tam O’Hare” [tamohare.com], and the occult detectives Danyo Badcock and Ellie Byrnes of “The Ten Breaths of Ra” [not yet released]) that focus on mystery, majick, exploration and adventure. I have only scraped the surface in a couple of books, but have my sights set on engaging much more. Should I live so long.

These things drive not only my goals, but my travel, my experiences and my imagination. The sum of who I am is geared in one way or another toward the physical product development that is birthed by my experiences.

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

Always elevate and give credit to the people who work for and/or with you. This is the very best thing you will ever do to build customer/client/collaborator loyalty. Nobody will remain long beside someone who needs to suck up all the credit and praise, especially in team efforts. I had to learn modesty and humility very early on, despite wanting to push my way through to the front while proclaiming that I was the most talented, best awesome sauce thing the world had ever encountered.

ALSO… I learned the very hard way that no one is going to come knocking on your door. I used to think that just because I set up shop, clients would form a long line at my door. This did not happen.

Thirty years ago – which doesn’t seem that long ago, trust me – I set up a small design studio in the Uptown area of south Minneapolis called, “The Uptown Marketing Group.” I had full confidence that in a very short time my business would be thriving and growing exponentially. The truth of the matter was that finding and establishing clients was like going on a expeditionary safari seeking the great lost chimera. The competition was overwhelming, and the clientele played a wild game of musical chairs.

Focusing tighter was always an issue for me, as my goal was a broad expanse of adventure and exploration, that, hopefully, would launch me onto a grandiose path of high achievement and success. This thinking led to me to some great disillusionment, and I found that I had to severely rethink my approach.

Sometimes, even now, with years of good reputation, I find I have to struggle with some of the very same things today. It is an amazing thing to stumble upon the realization that in a heartbeat you can become yesterday’s news.

The answer, I have found, is to never rest on your laurels or let the grass grow between your feet. Always find ways to innovate and move forward – though that is many times hampered by a multitude of factors, like people, finance, timing, and a hearty dose of reality vs. dreams.

I am still learning some of these lessons, and I still have huge goals with a finite amount of time to accomplish them.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://scottalanroberts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misterscottyroberts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mr.scotty.roberts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottyroberts
• Twitter: https://x.com/MisterScottyR
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScottyRoberts

Image Credits

All images and images within. i9mages are the sole property of Scott Alan Roberts, and he has all rights to distribute said images.