Why I Love Taking Part in The Global Talent Search

A lot of illustrators will already know about this competition run by Lilla Rogers from Make Art That Sells. Especially ones that are active online in social media. (Is Instagram your favourite too!?)

Mini prep assignment; sampling colours from one of my own photos

It's The Global Talent Search that she runs once a year to find a new illustrator to represent through her agency Lilla Rogers Studio. That's one big prize!

This is my second year taking part. In no way do I have any delusions of grandiose, (winning the comp... but one can dream!) but the main reason I'm taking part is because I just enjoyed it so thoroughly last year.

Mini prep assignment: Lettering practise. Illustrating the letter 'S'.

Every time you get an assignment (she has devised these mini tasks that are called GTS prep assignments) you get pushed out of your comfort zone. Like challenging yourself to use new colours, or to illustrate something that you may not initially be drawn to illustrate. I always find, even if I'm not totally keen on the subject, that I always learn something. Growth happens, and I find new respect or admiration for something that didn't interest me beforehand.

That once happened when I was commissioned to do a painting and my customer requested that there be some purple in the painting. I never really used purple before, and wasn't even sure how to mix the best hues. So, I had to learn. I researched and bought some new paints. For a colour that never sparked much interest before, I found that I actually enjoyed using it, and now purples and shades of pinks frequently appear in my artwork! I would never have started doing that if I hadn't have been pushed to try something out of what I was already comfortable with.

Mini prep assignment: Filling in the blanks within a paragraph that Lilla wrote about being a dessert. Who would expect anything less of a quirky assignment from someone that represents artists!?

Another reason is creating new folio pieces, practising my craft, and just plain fun. You get to connect with other illustrators & creatives through social media all over the world and spur each other on and that's a really nice bonus. You also get feedback from others which, let's face it, if you're an illustrator you need to be making art that other people enjoy so it's good to get that positive feedback.

Mini prep assignment: Illustrating my favourite drink.

So now the mini preps are done I'm ready for the first main assignment and am waiting with bated breath. Bring it on Lilla!

Jules :)