We were lucky to catch up with Jef Caine recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jef, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I’ve gained a great deal of confidence thanks to positive feedback on social media. I’ve always had self esteem issues, impostor syndrome, and social awkwardness, but I find the more vulnerable I am on social media the more kind, compassionate, and encouraging people tend to be. *Ignoring the trolls of course.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As a freelance Illustrator and Graphic Designer, I create work for all kinds of clients. Some of my most consistent work involves creating short form animated GIFs. While I’ve been freelance for several years now, the newest and most notable thing about me is I recently decided to get rid of most of my possessions and live out of a van. I do most of my work from libraries, coffee shops, and co-working spaces.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
What’s worked for me is leaning into my own quirks and following my obsessions. I’d advise young people to focus on what makes them unique. Pour all your energy into developing your own personal Authenticity, Eccentricity, and Aesthetic Style.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Like many digital artists I’m struggling to grapple with the implications of Artificial Intelligence and what it means for the future of our industry. Perhaps I haven’t lost work to AI yet but it’s hard not to despair about all the jobs AI is sure to eat up in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jefcaine.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JefCaine/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jef-caine-37b99445/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JefCaine
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jefcaine
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jefcaine https://www.threads.net/@jefcaine https://giphy.com/jefcaine https://jefcaine.threadless.com/ https://www.teepublic.com/user/jefcaine https://www.stickermule.com/u/jefcaine
Image Credits
All Self Portraits
