Meet Nic Surgit

We were lucky to catch up with Nic Surgit recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nic, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My peers always ask me how I manage my time so well. I am always honest with them when I say…I’m not sure. I can never quite explain it. Is it my value of work-life balance? Is it my competitive nature? Is it the influence of professionals within my industry? I believe work ethic and time management are skills that are both hard to achieve and difficult to describe. It is something that may come naturally to one person, but be a massive struggle for the next.

If I had to confront the origins of my work ethic, I believe I would have to turn to my parents. Growing up in a home with high expectations, I thrived when taking on new projects and problems. From tackling homework to managing artistic endeavors, I always spared time for each and every project I pursued. I worked tirelessly for the best results possible, and still do to this day. I could thank my mother and father for always pushing me—both academically and artistically—so I could thrive in my present career.

However, my work ethic cannot simply be accredited to one or two people as—in truth—it is a result of outside support, self-discipline, and the influence of my environment. I value an even work-life balance and strive every day to achieve that. Health and happiness leads to bigger and better results, after all! Good rest and relaxation allows a necessary brain reset so we can start the next day with a reignited drive to keep moving forward. Those around me, both professionals and personal peers, inspire this ethic as well. It’s important, as a young professional, to examine and absorb your environment so you can understand what the future holds. Live in the present, but consider the future. Everything takes practice, and practice makes perfect. What may seem unachievable is absolutely within your reach, and it’s up to you to take the first step and make your move!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a young character designer and illustrator looking to create and collaborate. I am pursuing my degree in Illustration with an emphasis in Visual Development and a minor in Creative Writing at Ringling College of Art and Design. I have always had a focus on the future, and each and every day I work to build that future for myself with the decisions I make.

I began my artistic career when I was merely ten years old (though, at the time, I didn’t know it would be my career!). Through the years since, I practiced tirelessly to reach the point I’m at now in my journey. From doodles on school worksheets to full-fledged illustrations and paintings displayed across galleries and anthologies. I draw each and every day to fuel the dream that young girl dedicated herself too. Now, as I’ve begun to blossom into a young professional, I’ve found myself on a new path.

I want to work in animation. Specifically, I want to work in adult television animation. I hold the firm belief that animation is for everyone and I aim to contribute to that. Fantastic examples can be found in Netflix’s Arcane or Love, Death + Robots. There are opportunities everywhere for those who care to look. As I grow and learn both artistically and professionally, I strive to make those opportunities for myself.

My style is a museum of those who came before me: research, inspiration, fundamental skills, and more. I have built myself a style, a brand, a “look” brick by brick from the ground up since that ten year old girl followed her dream. I harbor versatility in my work, not only depicting adult content but marketing to children’s media as well. Finally, I promote efficiency and communication in my process. Each day, I work to be the best artist and the best professional I can be. I hope for my work to be something fresh and new for those hunting for it. I strive to make an impact. I believe my work can represent fresh opportunities and doors to be opened for studios and me, as an individual artist. Ultimately, I want to carve my own path that leads to new chances, new relationships, and a new life as a true professional.

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 most important thing about art that pushes me forward is fundamentals. The most important thing an artist can study is fundamentals and old master works. Understanding form, shape, composition, and everything in between is the key to improving yourself in your own journey. As Pablo Picasso said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

The ability to understand and apply critique from your peers and professors is another important element of art-making that must be mastered. Applying critique is the key to making your work appealing and professional. It is also a key element of the future all artists must face. When making final products for production, print, and animation, everything must go through a pipeline to be the best product possible. Art directors, printers, and your own peers will critique your work and it is up to you to apply it. We are all part of a production and must band together to complete the perfect finished project.

Finally, the ability to research. The life of an artist lies in research. “Learning to learn”, as I like to call it, is a fundamental piece of the artistic puzzle. All artists, and even those who aren’t artists, should learn to research properly. Fashion illustrators research clothing trends while visual development artists research history, architecture, or even the scales of a lizard. Everything an artist creates must be informed, or else believability shatters.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

After reading all this, I’m sure you may feel overwhelmed. The art world is in a very fragile state right now, so I feel my own share of uncertainty. There’s a lot to be considered when building yourself a successful art career. Marketing, creating a portfolio, networking, and more…it’s a lot of elements to take care of.

Something I recommend is to simply step away. Take a break. Whether it be from an art piece that you’re stuck on or a job application you need to fill out. If it’s all too much, step away and take a breath. Come back later with fresh eyes.

Maybe—with your new perspective—you’ll find the solutions you were searching for all along.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nicsurgit.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surgitart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/surgitart/