We were lucky to catch up with Kenneth Lones recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kenneth, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
Self-discipline is a skill I’ve built out of necessity. I make illustrations on a commission basis, and my clients will often tell me I’m free to take my time and that there’s no rush to finish their illustrations. The problem is if I take them up on that, I’ll procrastinate for weeks (or longer!) with it hanging over me the entire time! To prevent that, I began giving myself strict deadlines. I can finish illustrations quickly, it’s just a matter of sitting myself down to do them. I’ve also found that focusing on the reward for completing a task (even if it’s just self-satisfaction) helps a lot more than focusing on having to do the task itself. Getting started is the hardest part for me, so once I get going I don’t have issues with stopping partway through. All of this being said, I’m by no means perfect with my self-discipline. While getting started on a task is the hardest part on its own, doing it consistently is even more difficult. Consistency is the part I’m working to improve now.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I do illustration work of all kinds: including children’s books, sticker designs, and family portraits. I’ve recently started writing and illustrating comics, and I plan to lean further into that in the future. I’ve also recently opened my commissions, so if you would like an illustration of your own, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at https://artistree.io/kilomatter!
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?
For becoming a better illustrator, my three biggest recommendations are to open yourself up to critique, find things that inspire you, and be consistent. It may be difficult to accept critique at first, but it’s crucial that you do! If you ignore criticisms of your work, its quality will stagnate. Finding things that inspire you can give you both motivation to draw and a goal to work towards. Finally, just like working out or learning an instrument, being consistent with drawing is the quickest way to improve and see results. If you can, I recommend joining a group of artists, as the environment facilitates all three of these actions! In the Graphic Design / Digital Media club at my college, we offered feedback to each other every week, and seeing everyone’s work inspired me to apply myself and improve at drawing.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Currently, I’m out of a job and I’m looking for full time work. My commissions are something I intend to do on the side. All of my previous work turned up almost out of nowhere, and I can really only attribute that to the grace of God. I’m very grateful for it. However, now I have to look for work and it’s quite a learning experience for me! I’d like to thank my illustration clients for offering advice and potential opportunities. My parents have also given me invaluable input on my resume and spurred me on to continue applying!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kilomatter.github.io/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kilomatter/
- Other: https://artistree.io/kilomatter
Image Credits
Credit to Jimmy Crocco for the personal photo.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
