Hello Steemers!
I have been around the boards for a little over 2 months now.
It has been quite an incredible experience overall, the support and positivity I receive from all of you on my work is refreshing. I have mentioned it many times before, but I don’t find that on any other social media platforms. I think that is what makes Steemit more unique than all the other ones…
Instead of just giving a thumbs up, people here actually make an effort and tell you they like it, or what they like about it.
So to all of you.. Please keep doing that, it makes such a difference to be engaged with you all. :D
2 Months ago I started on Steem with an introduction post, like all of us I guess. It didn’t really got picked up and was seen like 25 times.
Mostly due to the fact that I didn’t really know what was expected in such a post and where to put it.
But since then I’ve started to take a better look at the platform, how things are done and what is expected from a post.
So let me retry.. since I had some requests/questions in comment sections etc.
I’ll gladly explain who I am and how come I ended up drawing and painting.
I’ll call this the introduction post 2.0 !
--
So where to start!
I started drawing when I was 22/23 years old. (I’m 31 now)
I went to school to get a degree in IT as a network specialist and in 2008 I was working at Cisco Systems in Amsterdam. Things were going pretty good! The job was quite exciting, I got to travel a lot and the pay was for 21/22 year old very very good!
Then in 2008 the financial crisis was at its best and everything came to a standstill. Projects were cancelled and where I normally had stuff to do during the day changed to sitting behind a desk playing videogames and watch south park.. Nothing was happening anymore!
I realize that for some people.. that sounds like a dream job! For me not so much.. I’m much rather doing something than just sitting somewhere doing nothing. I like to work!
One day I was playing World of Warcraft at work and when a loading screen popped up I stared at it for a bit longer than normal (the game crashed). Even though I had seen this screen a million times, for the first time I really wondered who the people are that made these. I closed the game and started to google search hoping I would find some info on this.
I found a small forum that was about digital art. (pixelbrush.com) I think the forum doesn’t exist anymore but back then it had a small and lively community. On the forum I found a sketchbook thread (what I’ve been trying to create on the Steemit boards too! #sketchbook ) and 1 of the sketchbook said ‘blabla’s name: I want to work at Blizzard!’.
The sketchbook showed the process of someone starting out with stick figure drawings.. but then due to practice, studies and more practice.. ends up with amazingly cool drawings and designs.. To the very end where he posted ‘Hey everyone! I got hired by Blizzard! Thank you all for the support!’
That blew my mind!
I then too started drawing like a crazy person.. I wanted to become someone who draws for games.
So I bought a sketchbook, started watching youtube videos, reading forums and bought a bunch of books!
I too opened up a sketchbook thread on a forum (pixelbrush & conceptart.org .. both died off completely I think :( ) and started posting daily. Since I didn’t had anything to do on my dayjob, I just draw and study.. 8 hours a day during work and another 4 at home.. For the first year I combined the two.
But after a year I could already see how much I had progressed. I found out that I could easily do this for hours and hours without getting bored or frustrated or whatever.. I really loved drawing.. Something I didn’t really know until I was 23!
So after a year of going at it I decided it was time to quit my job and fully focus on drawing and painting. I wanted to become a concept artist! I saved up quite some money and was still living at home so I could live of my savings for quite a while.
I tried to get into an artschool but I was rejected for not being ‘creative’ enough.
Which was fine with me really.. I was having a great time working for myself and figured I didn’t really need to go to artschool. Having worked in IT before I had a clear understanding of what I didn’t want to do as a job.. So the motivation and discipline I had to make it as an artist was always there!
I had no problem kicking myself out of bed every morning at 8 to start working.
In 2011 I registered myself as a freelancer and tried to get some work. My savings were almost drained and I had to get some money in! :)
My first job was to design a company mascot, I got the job because someone I knew referred me when he overheard the marketing department talking about it.
I went in with a portfolio wrapped under my arm (full of crap!) and was scared as hell.. It was the first time I had to go and talk to people about something I didn’t really go to school for.. I had no idea what was normal, how to behave and what to ask in compen$ation!
I learned so much from that job that the next one already went a lot smoother!
For example:
- Always make a very clear agreement on the work that needs to be done.
- Make clear what it is going to cost
- Be absolute certain on when the deadline is.
- Agree on the amount of revisions they can have before you start charging extra! ;)
In the first year of my freelance career I made a whopping $1500,00 ! .. I know..
One of the weird things in my freelance career is that I never actually looked for work. I always had work coming to me. In 2012 I was creating some fan-arts for my World of Warcraft characters and all of a sudden I landed a job doing World of Warcraft trading cards!?..
Stuff like that always happened and I know I have been super lucky that things worked out the way they did.
If I look at my current live I can be nothing but grateful about everything that happened..
I learned a lot during these years and I am super happy that I made that switch from IT to ART..
It hasn’t always been easy and for me to get here took a lot of hard work and mental strength ;)
But like it is with everything.. if it is worth having it doesn’t come easy?!
To skip to present day.. I am currently working on a variety of project.
Archmage Rises – Which is a game I’m making with a couple of people set to release next year!
Rise of Champions – An online MMORPG (browser game) that has been running for 4 years.
Pathfinder – Do character designs every now and then.
HEX TCG – Do some card art for them
Gladi8tor – Doing creative direction for the platform and the events they organize.
And whatever comes in the mailbox!
Hope this was a better introduction post than my first one!
Better late than never! ;)
Cheers!
-Rogier
@janine-ariane - We have to talk further here.. I cant see the messages anymore :D
Steemit.chat can be found using that URL www.steemit.chat - My username there is also @beekart you can just drop me a message and I'll reply back when i can! :)
Reply where? I do not see replys on my phone either.
This is fine! :) Now i can see the messages again :D
Anyway! You can chat with me on steemit.chat ( www.steemit.chat) my username is@beekart
we can discuss shipping etc there. if that is okay
Hi @beekart! @doctorcrypto is sending you 0.1 SBD tip and @tipU upvote
!
@tipU - send tips by writing tip! in the comment, get share of the service profit :)
Well, my upvote at least, is one more that you didn't get the first time. Mainly, of course, because I only joined a month back.
Anyway, all the best with this intro. Hoping you get a lot more votes.
its not so much about the votes really :) It is more to properly introduce myself to the people who decided to follow me up to now :D And I know some have been asking who i am , what i do etc etc so this is an easy way to clarify! :)
Cheers!
Woah dude, hope you get your super break! Wish you could draw for the Magic: The Gathering cards too! Used to play that when I was younger.
Haha thanks.. getting to paint some magic cards is on the personal goal lists for sure! :D
Intro posts are so hard to do, when you're first joining the community, and don't really know what to say/what to include... love the idea of doing a 2.0!
You've grown so much and so quickly, as an artist! It's really incredible to see that laid out! And seriously, kudos for realizing your passion for art, and taking the leap to pursue it full time! That's not an easy thing to do. It definitely seems to have worked out!
Great
thanks for your post ...
very good and inspiring ......
please upvote to my blog too ... :)
thanks for your post ...
very good and inspiring ......
please upvote to my blog too ... :)
as a lover of diablo, i love your art, it is not to hang agaiinst my wall, but i do admire the artwork. I also love the creatures on my sons ( 26) pokemon, yughiyoh and magical cards. It is like deaftalk ! you understand what is ment with the pictures. You are doing fantastic ! thx for introducing.
Thank you :D I know what you mean,, alot of people have that.. they like looking at it.. but not on their wall! :D
it would be total different when i still would be a youngster. My son who is light mental handicapt, does all kind of card games, even in real competitions. And is very focused to all of this. He would love it :-) I always search for something special against his wall. Most of the times it is just posters i coome cross with diablo images.
I see! Well keep an eye out on my RAFFLE's i sometimes giveaway diablo / wow prints etc! I also have them for sale on comiccons and a webshop thing if you'd be interested! ;)
that sounds interesting do you send to Belgium? i would like to have a look, i am just changing his room. It is going to be shades of grey and a bit of black. Please give me adres of your website ?
I send to everywhere! The raffle prints so far went to Minneanapolis, Amsterdam, Whales etc :D
My website doesn't have prints listed on it though. I'm in the process of setting up an online shop. But as for Diablo / Blizzard prints i have a few like them.
Here is a few of em.
we can order them like a poster ? I like the top one ! You are the artist, will you sign it ? :-)
Awesomeness! So happy that your hard work and enthusiasm got you to the point you are now. I also quit the IT and am trying to make way through art. We will see what will come out of it ^^
Thanks! I wish you the best, I know it won't be easy! But if you really want something it can happen.. just a matter of sticking with it.. even when things turn to shit.. just hang in there and work hard! :D
Will do! Thank you :)
Thats a freaking amazing story!
that first year improvement though that's something to be proud of!!
I too want to go through experiences like this someday!
Does art jobs sometimes make you stressed though? or is it just the deadlines and thats about it I'm curious ahah :'D
Thanks lunatic! :)
Yeah, improving in the beginning goes fastest for sure! :) the hill to get better gets steeper and steeper ;)
Art jobs only stress out when it is a daunting task or for some really big project/name.. Though nowadays I don't get easily impressed anymore I think :D I'm more like YEAH! Let's do this! :D
It's good to see the 2.0 post. I love seeing your daily sketches. You've got some awesome stuff and an awesome story.
I have a feeling this is just the tip! of the iceberg for you. :)
Thanks mate! :D
Who knows?! I do my best and like i mentioned.. i really like the steemit community people here are nice and engaged.. So ill be sticking around for sure! :)
Welcome to Steemit. Thanks for sharing.
So nice to see a passion turn into a career for you!
I studied Cisco Networking and work in IT, but its not my passion at all.
Good on you! = D
Thank you ! ^^
I had that problem back in 2008.. but it is superhard to get out when you are comfy.. my advice.. find what you love doing and look into how you can make that a career :P
Yeah, problem is im good at lots of things and excel at nothing!
Bloody hate IT- Concrete Jungle of just wasted time. Only good side get to sit on Steemit I suppose!
haha :D but you can excel at something .. i know it can be hard to find that 1 thing you can actually do all the time and never really get bored with:D that can even be steemit ;)
Very interesting career path and also very brave! This proves again what you can achieve if you have the determination a lot of people would have stopped trying once they didn't get into art school! Followed and upvoted!
Thank you @geenaizzy :) I know what you mean I hear that a lot 'brave' ..to me it only makes sense! Do what you love doing :D
That's truly inspiring man!! I am glad you shared your journey with the community. :D Keep rocking the Steemit with your awesome artworks bro.
Thanks mate! I hope it was ^^ and yes! I'll do my best to keep it rocking hehehe
if I find courage to quit my job and do only my art, your post will be one of reasons I made myself to do that..
what I am saying, thank you for sharing your story..sometimes when we see someone is killing work like you are we think that everything went easy for that person :)
haha i wouldnt wanna anyone to lose or quit there job because i made a post! :D
But yes, everyone was once at a point where they are struggling to find a way to do what they want to do.. Getting to where i am today took alot of work and a lot of time.. Almost 10 year now.. insane! :D
You are an amazing artist. Love Your works. keep them coming. :D
Thank you so much Sergio! :)
I plan to .. for sure! :)
9im glad to hear that
img credz: pixabay.com
Nice, you got a 47.0% @trafalgar upgoat, thanks to @beekart
It consists of $16.17 vote and $5.39 curation
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The @OriginalWorks bot has determined this post by @beekart to be original material and upvoted(1.5%) it!
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Is profanity ok to type in your posts, beek? Because I can't FUCKING believe what I just read! 22 to 31? That's just 9 years! You're like a freaking da Vinci or something! To top all of that, you managed to get jobs from AAA companies that fast! Damn... o_o
haha ;D Yeah man thats totally okay :o
Thanks man! I don't know how it happened either.. like i said i was just really lucky i guess :o
Welcome to steemit @beekart. :)
Cool post,
Nice to meet you
@Missbitcoin
Hello @beekart, I hope you are enjoying Steemit!
This is a great place with a great community -- glad to have you around!
follow @gauravgpt60 for future steemit instructions to get much better results.
Welcome to steemit. You have very interesting journey :)
Very interesting doing this for living very creative!
congrats!
Wooow this is an awesome story :) glad to hear your hard work paid off... I know what the struggles are like being an artist... Coming from one artist to another its super tough.
Im a 3D artist in South Africa and the industry here is terrible... Too many artists, not enough jobs and they always want a team of 30 people in one person with the pay of an intern. Hopefully I too can get the support of a community to keep me going in my field.
Anywho stay awesome and goodluck with the future gaemz!!!!... Steemit gamers UNITE!!!!!
Hey! Your journey is amazing and its great to hear your storie. Im really happy for you! I liked an other post so I will follow and up wote you and looking forward for some amazing you art and thought. Bless /s
I just want to say I play World of Warcraft and the digital art of this game makes you cringe to try art.
always people must exploit our attributes to give the best of us