We were lucky to catch up with Tristan Young recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tristan, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
So many artists experience this but recognizing your achievements, focusing on your strengths, and understanding that everyone experiences self-doubt are key. I try to set realistic goals for myself, seek feedback, and remind myself that it’s okay not to know everything.
Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and remember that you have unique skills and perspectives to offer.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Tristan. I am a visual artist based out of Chicago, Illinois.. I’ve always loved drawing, painting, sculpting, photography, graphic design. I’ve had a strong appreciation for many forms of art making from a very young age. The moment I knew I could pursue art making as a career, that’s what I set out to achieve.
I received my BFA from Columbia College Chicago and studied under, Chris Arnold, Ivan Brunette and Chris Eliopoulos. There I gained a strong influence from illustration and comic art. With my fine art background this has contributed to my unique and diverse style of art making.
Since I graduated from Columbia I’ve been working on murals, working on installations for events around Chicago and building up several concentrations of work.
My current project is called “Rubbr” and involves the transformation of the iconic image of a rubber duck. It’s an image that has become a symbol in popular culture, often associated with fun, playfulness and nostalgia. I am taking this image and transforming it with my own background and art style where I produce illustrations, comics, and sculptures that play into the humor of the rubber duck. The project can be found at www.rubbr.co.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Make the things you want to make. Create the things that inspire you and allow your uniqueness to come out in your work. This is what is going to separate you from others. You are going to grow and your art is probably going to change and don’t be afraid to jump into the next thing.
Say “yes” to new opportunities.
Whenever I have stepped into unfamiliar territory with my art, it has always opened up a new path for my work and allowed me to make new connection with artists that still influence my work to this day.
Learning how to monetize my work has been very important and has given me the freedom to make the work I want to make and spend a lot more of my time doing what I love. Look for local markets and conventions in your area. Opening an Etsy shop is also a great place to start if you’re looking into e-commerce. Stay involved with your community by attending art events and collaborating with other artists.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
If I’m feeling overwhelmed with work I need to remind myself that it’s important to take breaks for other things in my life. This also helps if I’m not feeling very inspired. I will step away for a little bit to maybe try something new. This helps my brain get moving and can often times solve any creative block.
Contact Info:
- Website: Rubbr.co
- Instagram: Rubbrco
- Facebook: Rubbrco
Image Credits
Rubbr
