Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mychel Sullivan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mychel, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
As an artist, being able to keep my creativity alive is a must. During periods of artist block, or “creativity droughts”, I do this by researching and learning about other various aspects of art. This includes learning about new mediums and methods to try, potential business endeavors to pursue, and even basic theory on graphic design, color, and the history of some of my own favorite artists. One of the best things about being an artist is the time I spend not actually making art, but just learning about creativity and how it impacts the world around us.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi, my name is Mychel and I’m a graphic artist & designer. 2024 makes 10 years for me on my artistic journey, and it seems like the older I get the more I realize I still have a lot left to learn. For the last couple years one thing I’ve been focused on specifically has been the business side of art, and my role as a creator in this market. Finding new ways to tie my vision and creativity to a tangible product or service for both monetary gain and personal pleasure has become my new favorite sport. Looking back, I would break my career into three different phases; Practicing, Planning, and ultimately Performing. I am truly excited to be closing in on that last phase and to be able to share my work with the world around me.
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?
The three most impactful skills I’ve used on my artistic journey have been my self motivation, consistency, and ability to step outside my comfort zone. Those three qualities are necessary to be successful at anything in life. As far as advice for anyone who is early on in their creative journey I would say to just enjoy finding your own path and moving at your own pace. Be patient.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I think it is better to become more well rounded by investing effort on improving all areas, rather than just going all in on our strengths. Following what comes naturally to me as an artist will always be fun and easy, but to truly excel in my craft I will inevitably have to step outside my comfort zone and develop areas I may be lacking in. Coasting on natural ability can only take a person so far; true excellence requires determination and growth. I’ve seen this countless times in the careers of some of my favorite athletes and musicians, and it’s something that translates to the art world as well.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Mychel Sullivan
