Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sophia Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sophia, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Personally I don’t know if I’ll ever overcome imposter syndrome, and I’ve heard artists that I admire and look up to express similar sentiments. I’ve only been working in the industry for a couple of years now and only had great experiences with clients I’ve worked for which definitely helps. I think over time, however, you start to feel a little more confident in your ability to achieve what the client wants. One thing that has helped me is reframing my perception of the situation. For example, when I would get feedback from a client, I wondered if my work was good enough. Now, I tell myself it just doesn’t quite fit what they’re looking for, and that is usually the case.
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?
I’m a concept artist, with an emphasis on costume illustration. I’m fortunate enough to be working in film and television, which is my dream job. I also have dabbled in video games, which has been fun.
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?
The obvious skill necessary to become an artist would be developing artistic skills. Studying the fundamentals, such as anatomy, light, color, and composition, on top of drawing and painting technique are all necessary.
You’ll need patience to learn your craft and patience to get the job you want. It took me four years after graduating with an art degree to finally land an industry job, but it was worth every minute of it.
And lastly, work ethic. Before I broke into the industry, I took classes from artists I look up to and who’s work I’m a fan of. I wanted to show that I could produce professional quality work, and in the classes I took before landing my first gig, I often did double or triple the amount of homework.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents have done for me was support me! From the moment I decided I wanted to become an artist they’ve been by my side the whole time, even when things looked bleak. They helped pay for my classes after graduation, and supported my work, which I will be forever grateful for. If not for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: sophiajohnsonart.carbonmade.com
- Instagram: sophialee_johnson
Image Credits
Sophia Johnson
