Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erica Leigh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Erica , 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.
My optimism comes from bright colors in nature that inspire me, and creating work that makes people of all ages laugh and smile. The road to an art career is tough, but when people reach out to me saying my work made them happy its worth all the blood, sweat and tears.
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’m a freelance cover book artist, comic artist and middle grade author. I write and illustrate kid comic books full of funny bright fantasy characters and uplifting mental health and queer stories! Kid comics are so exciting to me because I love making people laugh and smile through my colorful work. I’ve always been a story teller at heart, and love to write relatable stories that kids can feel comforted and inspired by.
You can read webtoon shorts of my comic characters on “Beansprout: Little Roots” on Webtoons!
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 three skills I’ve learned that have been the most impactful in my art journey are: confidence, humor and patience.
Confidence is something I’ve always struggled with, especially with my work. Comparing your work to other artists is the worst thing you can do! Everyone is on their own level and has their own unique skill. It took me a long time to understand this, but once I did, it felt like a breath of fresh air and I stopped being so hard on myself. I was able to find my own unique skills when it came to illustration. I felt my confidence and inner personality bloom!
I’ve learned that humor is everything. As someone whose struggled with anxiety and depression their entire life, finding the little moments in life where you can have a good laugh have kept me going!
Learning to be patient with myself was very tough. Having a career in art can be a long and hard journey. Unlearning toxic perfectionist habits was very difficult but in the end was so worth it. I blamed myself for not having the “perfect” portfolio and kept myself from the world for so long. I was drowning in self doubt and shame when it came to my work and I was very withdrawn. But I’m human, and we need to make mistakes in order to grow especially with art. You’re going to make bad pieces and thats OKAY. That’s how we grow and improve so be patient with yourself and give yourself a break! Failing is also learning.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I’m lucky to have an amazing support system! First is my co-writer and incredible partner, David Bouloubassis, who matches my goofy energy with even goofier energy thats has me laughing for hours. He’s always there for me if I need anything. If I’m stuck on writing a comic script, he always has a great idea in mind. David’s sense of humor and kindness is so inspiring to me, and he’s the most loving and kindhearted person I’ve ever been with!
The second most important person in my support system has been my best friend Jill Kaczak. She’s a fellow writer and children’s book illustrator, and her critiques have helped shape my work to where it is today. Jill is someone I can always depend on and will go the extra mile for a friend!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eostrowskee.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glamour_cryptid00/
- Other: https://ko-fi.com/bearmoon00
