Growing Roots in the New Year, by Tatiana – In The Mix #3

January 1, 2009 Tatiana EL-Khouri 21 Comments

Happy New Year! 2008 truly flew by and was a blur to me.  While wrapping up 2008 and reflecting on the highlights and lowlights- I realized that it was one of my best years as an emerging artist. It reminded me of how much I’ve grown since I started my personal art blog over 4 years ago, which contained regular updates of my milestones, setbacks, and lessons learned while I was establishing my style and finding my artistic voice.

I’m a pretty headstrong individual and have enough perseverance to power a small army. The last three years I’ve made conscious choices to be involved in professional activities, seminars, conferences, conventions, and organizations that helped me build a solid foundation and network of colleagues that I can now call upon for advice and collaboration. In doing so, I sacrificed a lot of my time, energy, and money. Initially it was a struggle to convince the people closest to me that Art was a viable field and my efforts and time would not be in vain.

What parent really wants to see their talented first born daughter become a starving artist?

As a first generation American citizen, convincing my fairly traditional Caribbean-Latina mother and Middle Eastern father that an Art career can garner success after they scrimped and saved to give me the American Dream was difficult to say the least. Don’t get me wrong they have supported me every step of the way. But if I would have gone after a Management career or Computer job, introductions to my father’s friends would not have gone like this:

Father: Tatiana, my friend wants to know what you do for a living. What should I tell them???

Tatiana: Tell them I’m an artist.

Father: (Look of confusion) Huh? When did that happen? I told them you work on computers.

Tatiana: No, Daddy. I studied Art.

Father: Why am I just finding this out?

Tatiana: Daddy, I’ve been an Art major since the day you drove me to the University and I declared myself an Art major.??

Father: Well, I’m telling them you are a Computer Animator. It sounds better.

That was the conversation verbatim, every year, for the last 4 years, until now. I was commissioned by U.S. Air Force Art Program, currently my artwork is on display at the Pentagon. When I got my promotional flyers printed, my father asked me if he could take a stack to give to his friends and coworkers. This was the first outward sign of his acceptance, because my Art career finally became tangible- something that he could understand and explain. That evening we sat together for an hour while he asked me to tell him exactly what I do do for a living and wrote it down as a reminder note. My father no longer introduces me to his friends as a Computer Animator. His new introduction is:

My daughter, Tatiana, is an Artist and Designer who works in the publishing and entertainment industry. She is the Vice President of the Society of Illustrators and even has a painting in the Pentagon.

After giving my all to my career, the foundation I’ve worked slow and steady on is beginning to flourish. Last year I was a guest speaker at several elementary schools, universities and Comic Con International; speaking about my experience as an Artist and building my foundation. Most recently artwork I created for Michael Davis’ Straight No Chaser column was featured in the set design of James Gunn’s Sparky and Mikaela for Xbox Live’s Horror Meets Comedy series. The video debuted on December 31st and is available for free download now on Xbox and will available on Xbox Live’s site January 7th.

I don’t do New Years Resolutions- I’d rather set, create and revamp goals throughout the year as I grow. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow roots in my foundation, reaping the fruits that it will bare and sharing the journey with you here In The Mix.