Frequently Asked Questions- The Art of Dealing with Rejection

 

Hello!

Today, I thought of writing on this 'not-so-charming' topic- How to deal with rejection? Rejection in freelance jobs.

I often get asked about this feeling by my 'new friends' (who are starting off in freelancing and are afraid of hitting the 'send' button of their emails to their dream clients and companies).

'New friends' are those strangers who contacted me with their queries and ended up becoming my friends! Amazing, isn't it? Yes!

Okay, first of all, I must say that there is no harm in getting rejected by a company or client. Yes I know that this 'no' in emails can be heart-breaking, but you must know how to deal with it with ease.

I have to deal with this 'no' even now- after almost 9 years of my freelancing career, and I am completely okay with it! (or so I think)

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So, the scenario is- 

You are a freelance designer (just like me) and have sent your first email to your potential client or company to get a commissioned work through them or to get your designs purchased by them, or to work for them as a freelance designer. And then you wait... for their reply.

Okay, now don't wait! You have done your part and let them take their time. That's it. As you never know how much time they will take to reply to your email, there is no point in waiting.

Instead, keep on creating more artworks/patterns/designs and keep on growing your personal portfolio.

But sometimes, perhaps, you are afraid of sending an email to your dream client that you wrote to months ago! Don't be afraid. Just send it. You will never be able to get to know their views on your work unless you hit the 'send' button. Isn't it? So, just send it.

Now the questions are- What will be their reply? What kinds of responses will you get with that design submission enquiry? What will they think of you working as a freelancer for them? or even more dramatic- what will they think of you sending a job enquiry email, eeep? etc.

Yeah, I know these feelings too. These are the types of questions that surrounded my mind too, in ancient times! 

So now, I am sharing the types of real responses that I get from these design submission enquiries-

1) I don't get heard from my dream client ever! Yes that's true. Sometimes I don't get any reply or response to my emails and I wonder if it ever reached them! So, should I wait for their reply? Yes sure, wait for at least a month and send your second PDF portfolio. If they don't reply this time then may be you should stop sending emails. It is a sad ending. But maybe companies are really busy and they cannot reply to each and every query that comes their way or maybe it ends up in their Spam folders! Yes, this too happens sometimes.

2) Auto-response. Sometimes companies have an auto-response reply to let you know that they have received your email! And that's so relieving. Then, you may get a reply from someone from customer-care that 'they have forwarded your inquiry to the concerned department and they will respond to you'. Now, at this point you may or may not get any further response. It also depends on their requirements- either they work with freelancers or they already have their in-house designers that do the work.

3) A sweet and polite 'no' saying that they are not searching any new designers for this or upcoming years. But you can keep them updated with your new design collections from time to time! And that is good too! If you really want be a part of this company then you should (and you must, actually) keep them updated with your newest design collections/projects. Who knows, that might be something they were looking for at the moment!

4) A simple expressionless 'NO'. With these types of email responses I really don't know what to do next, but I always reply very politely to the sender with a sweet thank you. And that is the end of our conversation.

5) A polite 'no' saying that you don't have the kind of style/look that they are looking for to add in their list of designers. And this is a very honest review of your work and a very honest reply. Don't be disheartened. Every company or art agency has a specific type of look and feel, and so they want to take designers who have the same consistent look in their portfolio. For example, if a company has a Vintage style or rustic and farm-house look, they definitely won't like to take any modern and abstract artworks submissions! Or vice versa.

6) The companies have their own in-house designers and they don't work with freelancers. or They only want in-house designers. So, to work with them you have to be in that city to work with their in-house team. That can be your full-time dream job! Wow!

7) Some companies like to purchase directly from trade shows or art agents/design houses. This way, they are sure of purchasing good quality production files. In that case, you can apply to some design houses or art agencies that have the same feel/hand like your own work, to be represented by them in trade shows, etc. 

I work with a few design houses too to sell my work directly to companies.

8) They don't take self-taught designers/artist. They employ full-time or freelance designers who have graduated from a design school. 

Yeah, this can be a bit sad sometimes when you know that you are a good artist or designer. But, it is what it is, and sometimes you can't do anything in this kind of situation. So, the best way to end this conversation is to politely say a 'thank you'! The end.

9) They have a family business or are a small-scale company with one or two staffers and do all the work themselves. In this case there is absolutely no point in taking the conversation any further. So, always end the email with a sweet 'thank you' and, maybe, you can add that you really would like to be a part of that company sometime (if you really, really want to). Who knows...!

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So, don't be shy in sending your work to your dream clients. And, if, by chance you get a 'no', then you already know all the possible reasons behind it! 

Go on, be brave.

All the Best!

Frequently Asked Questions- Inspiration (hunt and gather) - 1

 

Hello!

I hope you all are having a wonderful time in this lovely post Spring season- the early Summer days! Enjoying the sunshine, a little bit of showers here and there, the greenery all around us and also a variety of sweet-scented Summery flowers that this season offers! Inspirations everywhere.

Today, I thought of talking about one of the main 'ingredients' of designing- Inspiration- where to hunt for it and what to do when you have gathered it!

You must've read that inspirations can be found almost anywhere and everywhere. In my last blogpost, I had talked about our humble abode, which have so many inspiring things that we have gathered or have been gifted to us! I think you might like to take a quick look at your home once again before going outside in search of some new ones... 

I believe every thing has a story to tell. So let each piece of your home décor tell its story. Why you bought them, what inspired you when you first saw it in a shop- the colour, print, shape, textures, some old childhood memory, your friend, some place or food- something, anything. Then start from there. 

Today we will see all the offline things that inspire us in our daily lives - things that are in or around our homes.

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Finding inspiration inside our own homes--  

-Textiles and home décor items-The colourful kitchen linens and kitchen wares or utensils. Look for the colours and motifs that inspired you when you brought them home! 

The beautiful doormat, bathmat, shower curtains, table runners, area rugs or durries, etc. Even the dustbins come in such lovely shapes and colours! These objects can help you see the colour palettes used in them, the scales of motif design (big motifs or small motifs/icons), the prints and patterns on them (floral, geometrical, plaids and stripes, etc.) and how some of those prints connect with each other. This knowledge will be very useful if you are interested in creating artworks for home furnishing and home décor market.

- Books and magazines- For colour and print trends, architectural details, food/travel and nature photography, fashion images and illustrations. Read articles about what inspires other people and how they use that inspiration in their work and daily life. 

If you have small children at your home, you can see how children's story books have simple stories with cute and pretty illustrations. That might help you in creating your own range of kids' art.

- Your own sketch books, maybe from school or college days! It is always a good idea to go back to your old sketchbooks and draw inspiration from them. Those were the days when we really did some great work without waiting for inspiring ideas to come to us, whether it was in the form of school assignments or random sketches between lectures.

You can also set a still life on a table with a few objects from around your house to practice drawing. 

- Movies and drama- There are many movies that revolve around a certain time period or theme. The settings (the room decor-wallpapers, furniture, curtains, the colour of the walls, detailed carvings and paintings), the characters, the clothes (prints and embroidery and other details), the decor pieces (candle stands, cutlery pieces, fruit baskets, coat stands, etc.), reflect that particular age/theme. Even the colour palette used in these movies are beautiful. Some movies that inspire me (no matter how many times I re-watch them) are The Chronicles of Narnia (war and fantasy), Alice in Wonderland (fantasy), Prince of Persia (Persian charm), Little Women (period drama), Saving Mr. Banks (biography),  1917 (war), Hidden Figures (biographical drama) and the Harry Potter series (fantasy)! Watching movies like these (or even science fictions) might help you get some amazing ideas to create some new designs.

- Kitchen garden/backyard garden or potted plants- If you are interested in kitchen or food related artworks, you might want to take a walk in your own backyard as fruits, vegetables, plants (and planters) come in many different shapes, sizes and colours.

- The colours and textures of the walls of your home- if you live in an old house, you can gather some amazing textures and details that you can use in your designs. The flooring, the designs on the tiles, etc. If you just start noticing these small details, you will realize that there are many natural and manmade patterns which can be found scattered everywhere in our homes.

The materials (fabric pieces, paper or wood), the textures, the prints and patterns, the embroidery/printed designs on them are your greatest source of inspiration. Collect them, arrange them flat on your table and make a mood board. Take a picture of it, print it out, add some extra notes if you are flooding with ideas, and stick it somewhere you can see it everyday!

 Now it's time to start with your first sketches...

Trust yourself and enjoy the process.

Have a creative day!

Frequently Asked Questions- Drawing materials and tools I use

 

Hello!

I hope you all are absolutely fine and taking a good care of yourself... 

Before I start with my personal journey as a surface pattern designer, I would like to let you know that I am a self-taught designer. I don't have any design degree from any Design Institution. I did some online classes (I will share all that in my upcoming blog posts), hunted and gathered information from GOOGLE, asked for help from my designer friends, and practiced, practiced and practiced a lot. 

Almost anything is possible if you put your heart and soul in it... I did. And I am totally loving what I am doing. 

Today I am sharing all the materials and tools that I use for drawing and designing. 

These are some of the drawing materials that I have been using since my school days. I am quite used to of them and I like them a lot. You can use whatever stationery goods you find good for your own work style and also what is easily available in your area or country. I am in India and I can get these things from my local stationery stores-

1) Pencil- I use Faber-Castell, Camlin, Apsara, Nataraj, Classmate - HB, 2B

I started with (and still use) the pencils my daughters used in their school days. The grip is good, soft and smooth lines and easily erasable. I used to draw with Nataraj, Apsara and Camlin Flora pencils (with cute tiny pink flowers) in my school days! 

2) Eraser- Choose an eraser that gives you a non-smudgy paper. I use Camlin erasers, Apsara non-dust regular erasers.

3) Sharpeners- for your pencils.

4) Ruler

5) Paper- I love to draw on Bond papers, 85gsm/100gsm, A4 size. 

Bond papers are good for drawing, writing, etc. The pen lines run smoothly on them. I like the clean white smooth surface that is so good when I am scanning my drawings. These Bond papers are also very good for printing. I print my patterns on it too to check the colours and scale.

There are variety of papers available in markets for drawing and sketching. Smooth, light textured, heavy textured or rough surface, canvas papers, handmade papers, etc. You must try different types of papers before choosing the one (or many) for your own drawing style. 

I mostly work on Adobe Illustrator so I need to have a paper that gives me neat, clear and crisp pen lines. If I am using Photoshop for any project then I play with a variety of papers- with or without textures.

It is absolutely not necessary to stick to one drawing style, so experimenting with different papers and art materials is always good!

6) Pen- I use Uni-ball 'Fine' for most of my drawings. I also use Uni-ball 'Micro' when I have to do some fine fillings inside my main motifs. Uni-ball 'IMPACT' is good for thicker outlines. 

Other pens that I use are Pilot V7 and V5, Baoke Gel pens, etc.

Try to test as many pencils and pens during your research time for good stationery supplies. This will help you find the one that you feel is good for your own work and drawing techniques. Other popular pens for drawing and sketching are- SAKURA, TOMBOW, ART LINE, STAEDTLER, etc. 

If you are working with mixed media then it is fun to use different pens and markers or brushes that gives the desired effects to the artwork.

7) Scanner- I use HP (A4 size, home printer + scanner) to scan, print and copy. You can also scan your artworks with a Scanner App on your mobile phone. 

8) Printer- You will need a printer if you want to see the colours and size of your artworks. Although it is not necessary, but having one at home gives you the freedom of testing your own designs and patterns without having any doubt.

9) Computer/Laptop- You will need a computer or a laptop if you work digitally. 

10) Designing Software- I have Adobe software- Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Photoshop is best for all types of mixed media and hand-drawn-hand painted artworks. 

Some other useful things-

I also have an External Hardware to store all my files (from 2009-till now). Can't always rely on computer hardware, so some extra storage is a good choice.

Dropbox/We Transfer- to send/share your large files with other people and clients.

Other supplies that you need are the ones you like working with- Coloured pencils, watercolour pencils, crayons and oil pastel colours, watercolours/acrylics/gouache, markers and Sharpies, glitter pens/brush pens/gel pens, block print/lino print, various types of papers, canvas, fabrics, etc. The list is endless.

These are some of the materials that I use in my personal works and client works. 

Sometimes I just like to play with my daughters' art supplies- glitter pens, crayons, coloured markers, paper-cut, anything that we can engage ourselves on some fun and relaxing crafternoons. It is a good way to break monotony in your own work and daily routine and also to get rid of creative block!

Play with different mediums and give wings to your creativity!

Have a lovely week!

Frequently Asked Questions- Where to start?

 

Hey everyone!

Here I am, beginning this new series with this one and big question--- Where to start/ How to start designing? 

Now, before we get into all the details, I would first request you to ask yourself (loud and clear) ---  Am I ready to start a new thing in my life? - Am I ready to change my profession completely?  - Is this change just a hobby or a full time job?  - Am I ready to devote my 24/7 thinking and practicing drawing and designing without feeling bored?  - Will I be okay if someone gives me my first assignment (client brief)? 

If most of the answers are in 'okay, yes!' / 'of course yes!', then you are ready... 

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You would have noticed that one of my questions was- 'Is this change just a hobby or a full time job?' This is because I started this blog just to share my love for sewing and drawing. That's all. I never thought of this as a job until I got my first client email asking for creating a scarf design... And the rest is history.

How and where to start---

1) Drawing-  Whether it is traditional, with pencil on a paper or digital, on your computer or iPad, you should have a love for drawing.

At this point I would not suggest you to invest in any kind of fancy drawing tools or software or online/offline courses. I would rather request you to let yourself give some time to explore with your drawing skills and techniques. And to notice how much you are enjoying doing this.

Start with some simple dots and then try filling the entire page (or a small area) with small circles, ovals, dashes, stars, any shape. Doodle. Play with all types of mark makings. Use different pens, pencils, markers, felt tip pens/sketch pens, water colour, crayons--- anything that you have. 

Enjoy the process of making something that you had not done in years... It is truly therapeutic and meditational.

When you are a bit familiar with your drawing tools you can go a little further and take a look around your home to see what else you can draw. Believe it or not but our, even tiniest, home has so much inspirations to offer. You can start with your own room- doors, windows, the curtains- hanging loosely or tied up neatly at one side, table lamp, pen holders, doormats, whatever object you can notice worth drawing. Don't bother about the shapes of your initial sketches and drawings. We can practice and improve it later on...

Draw anything and everything that you can find in your home! This will help you decide your own drawing style too--- realistic/artistic.

 

Find some more objects around your house-- seasonal flowers and fruits, leaves and grass in your potted plants, motifs on your table runner or bed sheets, winter caps and socks, footwear, kitchenware... Make notes in between. I have a habit of writing notes while I do my rough sketches-- about the colours and details that I would later on add in it. 

It's a good practice to write down the ideas that are flowing while you are sketching/doodling. You may forget it later on...

When you are comfortable enough to draw simple objects you may like to try some intricate ones too by adding some details into your motifs. Try drawing from your own imagination or the things you have seen somewhere, while going for a walk or shopping. Imagination fuels creativity. 

Don't rush at drawing all the things all at once. You need to make out time to practice on your drawing, everyday for at least 15-30 minutes. 

All these drawings and rough sketches are my own old and new works from 2011-2020! So, be patient. Things take time to develop. Give yourself time to grow at your own pace...

Take your own time. Develop your own style and see what YOU want to draw. What things or motifs you are attracted to. 

As, for example, I am drawn towards intricate designs-- Persian motifs and paisleys, the detailed carvings of old Indian temples, palaces and Mughal Monuments. 

Play with all types of art materials that you have. As a child we were happy to experiment with art and craft, to express ourselves. Now, as grown ups, we feel a bit scared of spoiling the paper, fabric or any surface. Let go of your fear and explore as much as possible. 

Surface designing is not about drawings alone. It is about the feelings that you have while creating an artwork (abstract or realistic). Your feelings and emotions matter. Express as much as possible with the art materials you love.

Keep practicing. The more you practice drawing and doodling, the more you will find a consistency in your work. 

All you need is a consistency in your work. To grow as an artist/doodler/designer/anything, you need to be completely committed to what you are doing.

In my next post I will share the materials and tools that I use while designing-- traditional and digital.

Take good care.

Frequently Asked Questions- about my work, life and career

 

Hello Everyone!

Okay okay, I know this is something very new and surprising... But I had to. In my almost '10 years' of running this design blog I have been getting a lot of questions from my family and relatives, friends (and strangers), about my work and career (and my life in between these two words/worlds).

So, I thought this new series of blog post will be good to answer all the queries. 

If you want to ask me anything about my life as a surface pattern designer, you can mail me your questions here: nanditark17@gmail.com  

I will try my best to give very honest and informative answers...

A bit about myself--- I am a self-taught designer. Started late (at 36 ), a housewife, a be-at-home-mom of two little kids, no knowledge about designing... Yes. This is true. Before jumping into this amazing and exciting design career I knew nothing about this term- SURFACE PATTERN DESIGN! I had never even heard about this term before. 

But here I am. Surviving and thriving.

I have completed my 10 full years (oh my GOD! I can't believe it) writing this blog. I have made mistakes and learnt through them.  I still think of myself as a struggler trying to make my way in this vast world of surface designing. 

You can read my previous blog post here   My journey as a  'self- taught' artist.

The one big and common question that comes to me often is how you started / why you chose to become a designer. 

In my next post I will give you all the details --- how to start, where to start, how to search for inspiration, etc. 

If you have any questions you want to ask me, just send me a mail... 

See you all soon.