Nothing in The Imagemaker’s Handbook is theoretical. The offerings on these pages reflect my experience from forty years of working and teaching—shaped as much by my failures as by my successes. You will no doubt travel your own path by drawing from the internal inspiration of talent, purpose, ingenuity, and ambition—while also adapting to the external influences of culture, location, technology, and marketplace. How you integrate these forces and challenges into your career and life will determine your destiny.
When I began The Imagemaker’s Handbook I thought I would take a year to write a small book on my thoughts and experiences as a professional artist. Little did I know twenty-five years later I would have devoted thousands of hours to write over 700,000 words.
I now realize that it would take four decades of working hard and living fast—kicking ass and fucking up—to truly experience the emotions and endeavors that would be essential to offer an authentic exploration of a complete journey from failure to success, and burnout to rebirth.
The result of sharing my adventure through school, career, and life as a professional artist has only one purpose—to help you have the best chance to enjoy and excel on your own artistic adventure in fulfilling your dreams.
By the year 2000, after twenty years as an illustrator, photographer and filmmaker, I’d handled everything from a ninety-nine cent bristle brush to a hundred-thousand dollar movie camera, and like any creative soul, I was searching for that next artistic challenge.
After considering my creative options, I realized another painting, photograph, or film wasn’t enough.
This got me thinking.
Looking back on my education and career, I was fortunate to have dedicated and caring teachers who inspired me—as well as respected and successful professionals whose careers I could aspire to. Yet as I reflected on my early professional life as an ambitious yet inexperienced Imagemaker, I realized there had been no resource I could’ve referred to or reflected upon during my creative journey.
• What if there had been a resource that could not only have anticipated, but prepared me for the creative, intellectual, and moral challenges I would face on my path to professional success?
• What if that resource explored the practical techniques and philosophical concerns essential to navigating the day-to-day demands of a long and dynamic career?
• What if my next creative venture would not be an image—and my new creative tool would be the written word?
I was thrilled and a bit terrified at the prospect that such a challenging endeavor might offer the opportunity to reflect on my successes and failures from hungry student to seasoned pro through creating that very resource I could have benefited from back when I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Before I could type the first word, I had to ask myself what qualifies me to take on such a presumptuous project?
For some, after a long and fulfilling career, there comes the call to give back, and after spending decades painting and photographing thousands of images for magazines, book publishers, and websites; creating cover art and music videos for many of the greatest musical artists of my time; running my own film production company directing and writing feature-length films, short films, and documentaries; publishing several books on my photography, and giving countless lectures and workshops on the craft of imagemaking to schools and professional organizations—I concluded I was in a unique position to explore the purpose and process essential to prosper as a working artist.
I have learned so much from my teachers, classmates, students, clients, and professional peers through valuing their trust, relying on their wisdom, and most importantly, enjoying their friendships. It is the power and spirit of this creative and caring community that has motivated and guided me during the quarter-century of writing these words.
The high school student who makes the decision to make a living with their artistic talent. The choice to pursue an education and career as a creative professional can be a compelling yet confusing mix of hope and fear. For young creative souls facing this profound decision, The Imagemaker’s Handbook offers an inspiring, detailed, and realistic account of what can be experienced by—and expected of them—during a long and successful career; and helping to determine if they possess the desire, commitment, and understanding of all it will take to succeed as a professional Imagemaker.
The committed imagemaking student determined to make the most of their education. To harness, refine, and focus the aspiring Imagemaker’s true potential is the primary goal of the collaboration between student, teacher, and school. By addressing many of the concerns and questions that arise during this formative and demanding time, The Imagemaker’s Handbook offers the coping tools and practical techniques not only to survive, but flourish in the pursuit of a comprehensive and fulfilling creative learning experience.
The recent graduate preparing to face the working world as a professional. Making the transition from striving student to thriving pro is the fundamental challenge in building a long and successful career. The Imagemaker’s Handbook supplies a comprehensive checklist of the skills and strategies required to empower the intrepid yet inexperienced Imagemaker to step into the workforce as a prolific and prosperous contributor to the creative world.
The creative professional who has achieved success and must now sustain it. During any fulfilling creative life, it’s not enough to settle into the comfort zone of cliché clients and predictable projects. For those in the early throes of a promising career, The Imagemaker’s Handbook supplies the plans and philosophy to overcome those challenges that must be met in order to continue to explore as an Imagemaker, prosper as a businessperson, and most importantly, evolve as a human being.
The veteran Imagemaker who wants to summon the courage to let go and start fresh. To revive a fading ambition or discover a new vision can be daunting even for the most successful and experienced creative professional. For old pros facing the harsh reality of burnout, The Imagemaker’s Handbook offers the support to confront, contemplate, and finally, conquer those apathetic attitudes and alienating afflictions that can befall anyone who is in it for the long haul.
The teacher, department head, or professional educator charged with the responsibility of nurturing aspiring Imagemakers. For the dedicated instructor looking for a reflective and reliable resource, The Imagemaker’s Handbook serves as a constant companion to any creative curriculum by exploring the practical needs, philosophical quandaries, and real-life experiences of the ambitious or ambivalent student.
The creative person who chooses to forgo a traditional education. Be it the reality of affordability, opportunity, or personality, school is not for everyone. For those who are serious and passionate about becoming a creative professional, The Imagemaker’s Handbook is an encyclopedic resource of information and inspiration to support the self-taught painter, illustrator, photographer, and filmmaker in their independent quest to compete with the pros.
The Imagemaker’s Handbook is intended for everyone from the artistically-inclined teenager who finds themselves wandering aimlessly through their school’s career guidance center—to the veteran Imagemaker who finds themselves wandering aimlessly through their creative midlife crisis.
Every worthy journey gives rise to questions that must be answered in the successful pursuit of purpose and prosperity. The Imagemaker’s Handbook strives to offer the insight to help you discover the answers that will empower you to embark on a challenging and fulfilling adventure.
Empowering the Imagemaker within you. What will it take to face the truth that you must create to live fully—and that you’re willing to develop your talent and invest your time into all that’s demanded to make a living as a creative professional?
Planning your career as an Imagemaker. What educational opportunities and challenges are possible while studying in a creative atmosphere?
Entering the world as a professional Imagemaker. What skills and effort are required to survive in a competitive and creative world?
Developing a personal vision and valuable product. What will it take to discover all that is special within you—and how will that original creative voice become personally fulfilling and professionally profitable?
Giving yourself permission to become a success. What emotional strengths and strategic focus will empower you to confront and conquer the fear of failure on your path to prosperity?
Imagemaking Intangibles. What tools will you need to explore beneath the surface of style and technique to reveal the less tangible, yet most essential issues such as personal integrity and professional discipline? What insight will be required in making the commitment to discover, nurture, and protect your creative soul?
Recognizing, facing, and surviving the dreaded, yet inevitable Burnout. What will be expected from you when confronting the fear, anger, sadness, and confusion of a stalled career and fading desire—and replenishing it with a renewed energy and clear purpose?
The Unexpected. What will it take to develop the inspiration and ingenuity to transcend those challenges that cannot be anticipated—be it everything from distinguishing a good job from a bad job, asking for a lot of money, and standing up for your work—to working with crazy clients, famous people, or in a third-world country?
The Reward. What reflections and revelations must be explored in striving to achieve a balanced life and career?