We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Steve Rampton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Steve below.
Hi Steve, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I don’t think any artist ever fully does. I have to remind myself that I’ve been making a living drawing my cartoons and caricatures full time and that people like the work enough to keep hiring me. It’s like a constant pep talk every morning.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’ve been mostly drawing caricatures in my home studio for the last 4 years, and I still plan to do that. However, this year I started drawing live caricaures. At the end of November, I drew live caricatures at the re:Invent AWS event in Las Vegas. I’m also going to focus more heavily on larger projects next year like children’s books and board games. If you’d like to hire me for either your large project or to draw live caricatures at your event, I’d love to hear from you! Contact me through my website at www.caricaturesbysteve.com.
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?
In any business, learn how to talk to people and learn how to sell. You can usually find something you have in common with someone else, regardless of how different you are and that’s a great starting point for a relationship, whether it’s personal or for business. Selling is just talking to people, and no one likes a pushy salesperson. They want to feel like they bought something from you, not that you sold them something.
If you’re an artist, create every day. Even if you don’t feel like it. Give yourself permission to have an “off day” – meaning the work isn’t great but you’re still creating. Persistence is more important than talent.
Constantly put yourself in positions where you’re learning new things, whether it’s a skill, fun facts, or really anything else. You’ll have a different outlook on life if you never stop learning, and it humbles you.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is someone who knows what they want, but at the same time is open to my artistic feedback. Wishy washy clients are often hard to deal with because they are indecisive. However, clients who are completely closed off to feedback will get inferior work because they’re neglecting the insights and knowledge I’ve accumulated over my 40 years of drawing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.caricaturesbysteve.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caricaturesbysteve/
