Research

I'm not gonna lie, I didn't think I did a whole lot of research. In my mind research is what you do for a paper or something. You generally think of doing a research in library, like in all the movies. Yet when I truly think about it, I do a lot of research. It's not like I plan a day around doing research for my art, it's more of: I get inspired by something and go straight to the internet. Like the other day I was watching Adventure Time on Nickelodeon and was discussing with my roommate how much I enjoy the art for it even though it's childrens show. I was wondering who came up with the idea for the show and after much searching, not only did I find who made it but I found one of the key animators blog. Natasha Allegri's blog is just a prime example of some of the artists I research. Usually after I find an artists blog like this, I vehemently follow them...along with all the other ones I follow.

The only other research I do, is to find out how to better do what I do. Thankfully, the internet has a plethora of how-to's and guides from anywhere as traditional mediums like markers, how to draw a face, and even how color digitally. 

Even though I do this fairly often, I feel as though I should start to do more research outside of the internet. I feel as an artist I need to start familiarizing myself with other artists and techniques that isn't just all over the internet. Perhaps there are workshops and more shows i can go to, and who knows? You may just see me at the library doing research.

Fuel For The Fire

Just like everyone else, artists need money. As lofty as fine art can be, no one artist can deny the need for to pay for a place to live, food to eat, and of course supplies to make our art. Let me tell ya, I really worry about money, especially when it comes to bills and my taxes.

Taxes and bills for anyone is a stressful situation. I myself, am going to school full time, living on my own, and only really odd jobs here and there  to try and help make ends meet so I only have to work in the summer. So needless to say I worry about money a lot and am always looking for ways to help myself stretch my money just a little more. Through an info-share that one of my classes has hosted, I may have found a helpful tool.

Fox Tax main motto is "Life isn't a business; it' an art." The whole business is dedicated to dealing with the financial needs of artists, mainly taxes. I've only really been filling my taxes for a few years now, and honestly don't know much so any help dealing with my financial needs is valuable.

Just browsing the site there's information for year round planning and advice, information about self-employment tax and estimated payment, even help you plan for retirement. I haven't even thought about retirement let alone if I will be able to! It's nice to know that there is a company out there there that is not only thinking about how I can be paying bills and saving money now but how I can doing it in the future. That's something that is invaluable to me.