Okay but really I just need to gush about tonight’s critique bc holy shit. 

Like it wasn’t stupid kid’s gloves “oh it’s so perfect there is nothing wrong!!!1″ bullshit but it also wasn’t a cursory ten minute glance from people who don’t know me and don’t care what I’m passionate about and are only looking at my work through an editorial/traditional illustrative lens. 

Dan looked at my work, pointed out a few pieces and was like, “You look like you had a lot of fun doing these, is that right?” and then talked to me and told me to try and do more to find out why I enjoyed it so much. And then he talked about different options and when I showed him my concept art book he was really into it and was like, This. THIS is what you need to do. 

And I told him how I was frustrated bc there’s such a huge emphasis on editorial illustration and the like here, and if I try to do concept art nobody really gets it and it’s so irritating. And he reassured me as did Dave and gods it was so nice to have an actual critique that pointed out places of improvement and issues, while also supporting me and looking at the real me. 

Ten minute critiques from strangers don’t work well. Especially not if they specialize in something I don’t want to pursue. Gods I’m so pleased right now.