Meet Edon Terez

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Edon Terez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Edon, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

To be completely honest, I’m not that optimistic at all. I have major depression, so there are many days where I feel like I might not succeed. It makes it even harder when I’m stressed over bills – I have to feed, shelter, clean, and care for my service dog Anubis, my cat Jersey, and first and foremost for myself. It doesn’t sound like it, but when you’re disabled and can barely do most jobs, making ends meet in this kind of economy is a bit impossible.

That said, the truly optimistic ones on my journey are those in my support system. They tell me every day that they believe in me and that I’m going to make it. That I’m highly skilled and perfectly made for this profession. My friends and family make me recognize my drive, my knowledge, and how truly passionate I am about my craft, and that this is enough to ensure victory. I encourage everyone to find at least one person who makes you feel like you can move mountains. My partner and my mom especially seem to know just what to say, and I will be forever grateful for their presence and care.

I wouldn’t be where I am and I’d never get where I’m going if it weren’t for my loved ones and those who helped me along the way. They keep me optimistic.

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

I am primarily a character concept artist. I create designs and produce illustrations both on a private and corporate level, as well as to sell via conventions and other art showcases, such as my tentative appearances at Pancakes and Booze Art Show in Downtown Orlando at the Abbey, and Enchantment Con in December, among other plans for this year.

Currently, I am most excited about making comics and indie video games, as well as graduating in 2027 with my BS in Game Design. I plan to travel around the world promoting my art and contributing to different companies creatively. I also have some plans in the works for accessibility devices that I seek to patent as a way to help myself and others with physically debilitating conditions. If anyone is interested in working with me on any of these projects, don’t hesitate to reach out – I’d love to have a team beside me as well as some crucial beta-testers.

New things coming up for Terez Illustrations are more social media outlets – TikTok subscriptions, Ko-Fi digital calendar that I’ll update weekly, the relaunching of my Patreon with all new tiers and benefits, and a new website completely coded by yours truly. I’ll also be posting full length design and brainstorming tutorials on multiple platforms, including my YouTube. And, since I’ve been on testosterone for a year, I feel much more confident in skin, so you’ll be seeing my face and BTS a lot more in general. Like one of my stickers says: transition goal – be hot enough to lick to mirror.

In the meantime, check out my Ko-Fi to stay updated on these new endeavors and feel free to purchase products or donate to fund my con fees and essential buys. Everything counts! And whoever contributes is eligible for some awesome merch and discounts. I appreciate anyone who vibes with my work, so any interaction is noticed and will always make me smile.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

In my personal experience, what really helped me succeed and get a grasp on my journey and its impact, is style experimentation, portfolio development, and ultimately, going back to school in a new field.

I attempted to study computer animation at a school that thought it made sense to take my money for two years without letting me touch a keyboard. I had to teach myself photoshop and illustrator. It was a waste of student loans. After that, I was really afraid of making the same mistake. I figured school just wasn’t for me, and that it’d be simpler to manage my own education and networking. While that works for some people, it doesn’t for me. I’m a kinetic learner, so I need guided projects, lots of support, and, most importantly, instructors who not only know, but are experts in their fields. The first school didn’t have that. But, my current school does, and it was the best decision I made for my education!

Every class and every lesson teaches me something completely new and, even better, completely useful. Not only that, but switching from computer animation to game design, and finished products to concept art, was the perfect change for me, especially having autism and ADHD. I didn’t even realize how big of a nerd I could become over a coding class, or how freeing it is to give the audience a variety of choices in a narrative-based project. I feel so much more prepared for the future, and so much more capable, that I’m trying to enter the entertainment industry, like, yesterday.

In terms of style experimentation and portfolio development, I’ve learned the importance of asking for feedback, not only from peers, but from the public, my clients, and my competitors. Perhaps surprising for some, but this industry, being built on collaboration, is so supportive and caring, even when people are applying to the same jobs or vying for the same clientele. If you’ve ever seen or heard the scenario of a baker feeling discouraged that he has a “mediocre” cake sat next to someone else’s “better” cake, and then learned how the ones meant to consume the cakes were just excited that there were two of them: it’s exactly like that. Entertainment comes in endless formats, so if one door closes, another is bound to open, because all the audience wants is more cake.
Therefore, I’ve felt comfortable enough to trust the process and vary my artwork as it applies to different genres and reaches different people. Through this, I’ve found a truly unique style that I am absolutely in love with and makes me stand out with one-on-one clientele, and along the way developed a hearty portfolio full of the type of variety that companies want to see from professionals.

I still and will forever have room for improvement, but I’m effectively gaining knowledge and becoming familiar with industry standard quality work. My confidence is through the roof!

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am absolutely looking for collaborators! Musicians, voice actors, programmers, and of course, other visual artists. Environmental artists, architectural designers, co-writers, colorists, you name it! I’ve got lots of projects in the WIP stage because I’ve been doing it by myself. I plan to have a comic out by the end of this year and I’m about done with my first visual novel, so be on the look out for those to gauge if you’d like to work with me.

Additionally, I’m looking for a company to fund my research and development for an accessibility device that caters to people with physically limiting illnesses, especially gamers, digital artists, and anyone else who relies on computers (i.e. literally everyone). Reach out to me ASAP if you’re interested in putting your name on that – I believe it’s destined to be the next big push in the disability rights movement! Come be a part of history!

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