Creating Art Out of Fear: My Featured Art on AMC's Talking Dead

Nick Clark / Frank Dillane  - Interested in purchasing an art print? Visit my shop.

Back in September of 2015, I had the thought of creating some fan art for the new Fear The Walking Dead show on AMC. I had previously created some Walking Dead Fan Art, so I had a few ideas. 

I created the illustration digitally using a combination of an iPad app called Sketchclub and Adobe Photoshop on my Macbook Pro.  The show was relatively new, and it seemed to have a slow start, as far as a fan base. So my illustration sat in the background as I continued to create more art.

Months later, I saw Chris Hardwick announce that the show was looking for fan art to feature on the show. I copied down the email, ready to shoot off an inquiry, but then I heard that voice. No, not the voice of Chris Hardwick, or even a Walker, but the voice that rises up and says "Really? What makes your art so special that you think they would choose it? Or worse, what Frank Dillane sees it and hates it? Stop your dreaming. Protect yourself and don't even bother. You know what the odds are?..." and on and on it went, until I told it to shut up. Fearing the Walking Dead is one thing. Fearing failure? You won't know unless you try.

So I took a shot and emailed them. They sent back a legal form to fill out and I return it with my art. And then I waited. And waited. The first part of season 2 of Fear The Walking Dead came & went along with it's corresponding Talking Dead. Nothing.

"Oh well", I thought. "I guess they have a lot of submissions". And, honestly, I kind of forgot about it. I just kept moving forward with other projects.

Then the midseason premiere aired and the entire episode was all about Nick Clark. Following Fear The Walking Dead, I started watching Talking Dead as usual, but....

then this happened... 

Now understand, I created this art from a place of authenticity. I'm a fan. I was not creating this art in an attempt to get my art on TV. Did I take steps to send it out there? Yes, absolutely. It's the formula I have been working every day - create and release. Each day, I forget about yesterday and create more art TODAY. I don't put all my eggs in one basket. That's where I think a lot of artists get stuck. They spend so much time, effort and energy on one piece, that either finishing it becomes paralyzing, or the thought of sending it out into the world just seems unbearable, because the fear of what people might think or say. But I'm of the opinion that people need to see your art. When you don't share it, you can miss out on the opportunity for your art to impact another person, even if it's just a fellow fan of a TV show.

Send your art out into the world and see where it lands. You'll never know unless you take action. 

What has been preventing you from taking action today? Leave the FEAR to the Walking Dead!

Stand on a Ledge

Previously, I posted about my first two of "3 rules of creating" - #1 Show Up and Work, #2 Dare to be Stupid, And now for my 3rd and final rule...

#3 Stand on a Ledge

Last year, while on a missions trip to Nicaragua, I faced a fear of mine. Everyone wanted to go zip-lining. I'm really afraid of heights. But instead of letting my fear dictate what set of memories this trip would hold, I decided to push past and literally stand on the ledge. The experience was terrifying (height + speed + uncertain safety regulations in a foreign country = gulp). I don't remember the last time my body was that physically wracked with terror. But on this side of it, I can say I did it. And I have a few photos even. I will NEVER forget the experience. And it's highly unlikely that I will repeat this. But I faced my fear.

zipline

As artists, we all have those looming fears too. The ones that stop us, divert us, cause us to choose another route, or just plain procrastinate or give up. That's why I've listed standing on a ledge as my number three rule. It's only on the edge looking over to what may seem like certain death do we gain a new perspective, even if it's an uncomfortable one. And some of our most interesting art can come from uncomfortable places. Because it's real. And relatable. Or it's in pushing into those places where we cross a barrier that's been holding us back. We take new ground. And in the process prove to ourselves we can actually do it.

"Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it." ~ Judy Blume

I've got a few things even right now that I need to crawl out on the ledge with. I feel the paralyzing presence of fear. Want to know one of them? I am doing a 4 foot by 4 foot live painting during my church's worship service. It was one of those things that when i was asked I immediately had several excuses: My comfort zone in painting is 11 x 14 inches usually. I've never painted like that in public. What if it looks crappy when I'm done and I have 200 plus people stating at me & my art scratching their heads. But that's why I knew this was a "ledge" moment. So I said yes. And then I'd just figure it out as I go. (I'll let you know how it goes..)

What's that thing you need to bring out on the ledge? If you keep it in it's safe confines, the only certainty is more of the same of what you've already experienced. Go on. Crawl out there. And watch that first step. It may be a doozy, but it's also the first step into something larger.

The Fear of Art

Sportaldislexicartaphobia is the fear of paintings and other forms of visual art. While most of us will never suffer from this particular phobia, we do in fact suffer from another kind of fear of art. The fear that blocks the creation of art.

I have had conversations with other artists at times and realize that we're all battling some kind of fear. Sometimes that fear gets the best of us and squashes our art (and our desire to create) all together.

Here are just a few that I have seen and/or experienced myself:

Fear of a Blank Canvas

(What if they not only hate me, but hate what I create?)

Fear of Change / Risk

(Doing something new or different seems just too difficult)

Fear of a Blank Canvas

(What if I have nothing to say? What if I'm not inspired by anything and can't find my Muse?)

Fear of Failure

(What if I can't hack it? And crash and burn publicly? What if what I create sucks? What if it sucks and I don't realize it? )

Fear of Success

(What if I succeed and am trapped in having to keep producing the same kind of art that made me successful in the first place?)

Fear of Authenticity

(I can't really show who I am in my work. It's easier to copy others. Hey, I might not even know who I really am, let alone be able to express that in my Art. I'm too lazy to do the work inside to figure out who I am, what I have to say, and what my style and voice as an artist is.)

Just like in other areas of our lives, we might never know exactly what hangs in the balance if we don't push past our fears. Notice most of the questions around our fear start with "What if...". That means it could be true, but also could not be true. And yet we invest so much emotional energy in the worst case scenario.

There's no one time fix all, rather a battle we have to keep showing up for. But when we do engage the fight, we can take ground and find new freedoms and reap the rewards of battle. Our ART can get a new breath and depth.

The thing is, it takes courage. And consistency. And a community of people around you. It's HARD work. Only you can do it. And no one will make you. Not even this blog post.

So, what fear do you need to face that has been holding back your art?

Not wanting to take that art class for fear of looking silly? Afraid to put your art up for sale because you think no one (except maybe family and friends) might buy and value it? Avoiding sharing your work with others because it's not good enough (you're playing the comparison game) or you feel like it's not your "best work" (perfectionism, anyone?)? Think you're too old to get back to your art, like that ship sailed a long time ago (If you ain't dead, you ain't too old!)?

Maybe today is the day you show up for the fight. You know what it feels like on the loosing side. Don't you think it's worth a shot to see what victory tastes like?

Go get 'em.

 {Photo Credit}