We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Charles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.
Emily , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I’ve learned that “playing” is a huge part of the creative process! Playing with concepts, techniques, styles, and materials also keep my creativity from getting stagnant and monotonous. Getting ideas out, no matter the method, is also key to keeping creative energy flowing. That could mean doodling quickly on a post-it note or sketching out something that inspired me on a cocktail napkin. Sometimes the pressure of a pristine piece of paper is too daunting so something that feels impermanent allows me to bypass the creative blockages and just create.
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?
Since graduating art school in the midst of the pandemic, my path was thrown off course. I intended to become an illustrator working in editorial or something similar. Of course, this did not happen because the world was in chaos and nobody knew what the working world was going to look like when we came out of it. I felt like I was robbed of so much potential, including networking with possible employers in my desired industry. But everything happens for a reason. My purpose on this Earth has always been to create, and always will! I’m currently living the best of both worlds with my career: I do the corporate thing during the day, but I have the mental freedom and capacity to make whatever I want in my free time. Professionally, my day job is contract graphic design work for a tech company, but my true passion is a combination of illustration, graphic design, typography, and collage. I used to beat myself up mentally over all of these passions, insisting to myself that you HAVE to choose one. This is not the case! Your passions are what make you unique and leaning into them, dropping all expectations and assumptions, is what will make you stand out amongst the crowd. It took me a while to learn this, so I hope this can help someone else can learn quicker than I did.
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?
My life experience this far has truly informed my journey, but specific skills I’ve accumulated along the way have definitely had an impact on my creative work. Of course, formal artistic training was very important in my journey, but it’s all about taking what you learn there and letting it soak in for a few years. This fast-paced world we live in demands us to rush through everything, but truly taking the time to absorb and appreciate the knowledge is more fulfilling and enriches the work more thoroughly. Another very important aspect is variety of knowledge. You never know what will inspire you, and if you close yourself off to things you may not think you want to see or experience, you could be missing out on something that inspires your next big project. Something I like to do to keep an open mind is look at art or information I necessarily don’t like or agree with to stay well-rounded. Being open to inspiration is the best way to find it! Refining your creative skills takes time and commitment, so as long as you’re practicing in some way, you’re doing great!
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client would be someone who’s looking for my specific feeling of work. I wouldn’t say I have a set style (anymore) so as long as the client like the feeling of my work, I’d be more than happy to create for them! I want someone who’s looking for something unique, maybe even off-beat, and interesting! I’m over the boring, cookie-cutter designs; give me a project that’s different and entertaining! I love conceptualizing, so even if a client doesn’t need my work specifically, I’d love to help consult on projects as well! Ideal projects to work on include: poster design, album cover design, editorial illustration, package design, and/or window displays.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lemonemily.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemon.emily.art/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-charles-15558a143/
