“If you’re painting the things that you are interested in, you’re probably going to have a better result than if you’re trying to satisfy what you think somebody else is expecting to see.” ~ David Palumbo.

Are you itching to learn how to make the art you want to make?

If you’re pursuing a creative career, putting together a portfolio which best represents your work can sometimes be tricky.

Should you add the personal projects where you felt like you were truly expressing yourself as an artist...or should you include the pieces you think potential clients want to see?

It’s a lesson that professional artist and illustrator, David Palumbo, learned early on in his career.

At the time, the trend in fantasy illustration was for highly-rendered detailed pieces, but there was just one problem…because that’s not the style David felt most comfortable working in.

And, after a prospective client gave David’s painting of a dragon some negative feedback, he had an important realization which would influence his entire career.

He decided to use his personal projects to explore the style of painting he enjoyed most...and he’s never looked back.

So, if you’re stuck in that awkward dilemma between making the art you really enjoy...or forcing yourself to produce something you think will be commercially successful, you’ll find lots of useful insights in this week’s interview to help you move forwards.

It’s a fascinating journey into the creative process, and a reminder that artists invariably produce their best work when they’re truly enjoying making it.

Highlights From This Interview:

How to develop your own unique style through personal projects
How to get back into making art after a hiatus
Why using your spare time to prepare for the next project is so important
Why working as a freelance artist isn’t for everyone
Why networking with other artists is crucial to building a career as an artist
Why you should never lose track of what really motivates you as an artist
How not to let the market or clients dictate the kind of art you really want to make