We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caroline Gendron a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Caroline, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
I learned that risks resulted in growth, so I gradually became less afraid knowing that I would be a stronger person on the other side. Growing up as the “shy kid” always came with its risks, as it was tough to make friends, speak up in class, and step outside my comfort zone. Navigating the pandemic, introduced more risks because I had to make life-changing decisions as a high school graduate during uncertainty. However, I ultimately decided on my dream college, the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. Despite struggling with homesickness, I found a welcoming community within my campus by taking small risks. Attending events alone and pretending to be an extrovert became my strategy. As an anxious planner, I told myself that no matter what circumstances or minor inconveniences occurred, I would not let it ruin my day. Whether the bus was late or I knew no one, I practiced showing up. Each time, I realized I had a positive experience despite my initial fears. This process built up my courage to take more risks, such as applying for jobs even if I didn’t perfectly match their “unicorn-like” candidate descriptions. I said yes to more opportunities, discovering a chain reaction where one opportunity led to the next. Above all, I learned to become open-minded to new experiences, knowing that even if things didn’t go perfectly, I would be proud of myself for trying rather than regret not trying at all.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a digital illustrator and concept artist specializing in character and environment art with fantasy and sci-fi themes. I strive to develop a sense of stylized realism through vibrant colors and dynamic lighting. Drawing inspiration from the video games I played growing up, I enjoy bringing characters to life and exploring new worlds with my art.
Being an artist is exciting because it’s a journey characterized by lifelong learning. I’m always seeking ways to pick up new skills, such as pushing myself to learn 3D modeling. Despite the initial challenges, 3D modeling has transformed my portfolio by introducing new art forms and techniques. Recently, I’ve been exploring ways to merge 3D elements with 2D illustration by designing custom models as a base for my digital paintings. This new workflow fuels my enthusiasm, and I look forward to further refining this creative process.
Professionally, I have found that my versatility as an illustrator has allowed me to work on a variety of projects that I’m very proud of. I’ve freelanced concept art for live-action short films and collaborated with brands like David Yurman, Coastal Habitat for Humanity, and Airbnb. These projects have pushed my creative skills, and I enjoy opportunities where I can work with other creatives.
Ultimately, my goal is to transport viewers to an imaginative world with my work and inspire other artists with my story.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three essential skills include resilience when things do not go as expected, open-mindedness towards new experiences, and learning the art of networking. Throughout my journey, I’ve found that these skills are the most impactful, leading to growth and opportunity. My advice for developing these skills is to practice consistently and maintain a curious mindset. Although I still struggle with networking and coping with failure, I try to remember to forgive myself when faced with setbacks. Failure is a large part of success, and while we are allowed to be upset, practicing how to move forward will propel your journey. Great things take time, but these three skills have been integral to where I am today.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I have heard advice from both sides and believe it depends on your aspirations and industry. Personally, I prefer to be more well-rounded because I enjoy the challenge of improving areas where I am weaker. However, this path may not be suitable for everyone if they lack passion for the skills they are acquiring. I believe individuals should study what they enjoy and are curious about, as this passion often leads to great work. During college, I struggled with understanding what I truly wanted to pursue in my field because many industries involve illustration. To address this uncertainty, I pursued subjects that I was curious about to help pinpoint what I was enthusiastic about. This method also helped with creative burnout and feelings of doubt regarding my path because I could notice a trend of which projects I enjoyed and didn’t favor over time. All in all, I still found value in learning other skills, which opened more opportunities for my career that I am very thankful for. Ultimately, your strengths will set you apart from others, but there is no harm in learning supplementary skills if you have the opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carolinegendronart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinegendronart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinergendron/
Image Credits
©Caroline Gendron
