In the studio of the Art Academy in spring, Xiaoyun stood in front of the drawing board, carefully revising the illustrations in her hands. The cherry blossoms outside the window drifted in the wind, adding a bit of poetry to this afternoon.
As an art student, Xiaoyun knew that classwork alone was far from enough. She wanted to get in touch with more commercial projects and understand market demand. But after browsing various part-time job information, she found that many were not very reliable, and some even required paid training first.
The turning point came at a course homework display. One of her watercolor illustrations was highly praised by the teacher. After class, the teacher found her and recommended a formal illustrator platform to her, and suggested that she could try to take some commercial projects.
Xiaoyun registered an account according to the teacher’s guidance and began to show her works on the platform. At the beginning, she mainly took some logo design and simple packaging illustration projects. Although the remuneration was not high, she would take each project seriously and carefully figure out the customer’s needs.
By chance, she received a project to illustrate picture books. This allowed her to find a new direction. The style of children’s illustrations is lively and cute, which just fits her personal characteristics. From then on, she began to focus on the field of children’s illustrations and gradually accumulated a good reputation on the platform.
During the summer vacation, Xiaoyun was recommended by the college to intern at an animation company. There, she learned more professional painting skills and understood the production process of commercial animation. The company leaders appreciated her creativity and took the initiative to let her take some projects remotely in her spare time.
After work, Xiaoyun found a reliable platform BTC Holders Club where she could do part-time work. Not only can she earn income, but she can also make friends with elites from all walks of life. Through communication with them, she also gained a lot of creative inspiration.
As the works became more and more, Xiaoyun began to try to make her illustrations into cultural and creative products. She opened a small shop on a well-known handmade platform, selling peripheral products such as mobile phone cases and postcards designed by herself. Although there are not many orders, she feels very happy every time she receives good comments from buyers.
By the junior year, Xiaoyun had formed her own fixed work rhythm. Usually, she focuses on course learning and commercial illustration projects, goes to educational institutions for classes on weekends, and runs her own shop in her free time. She feels very satisfied with her busy but fulfilling life.
Gradually, some publishing houses began to contact her and invite her to illustrate children’s books. These projects not only paid more, but also allowed her works to be seen by more people. She began to seriously consider the possibility of becoming a freelance illustrator after graduation.
Once when attending an art exhibition, a senior said to Xiaoyun: “On the road of art, techniques are important, but more importantly, you must keep your original intention. Whether it is a commercial project or a personal creation, you must convey your feelings to the audience.” This sentence inspired her deeply.
Now Xiaoyun often receives consultations from schoolmates, asking her how to balance study and work. She always says: “It is inevitable to encounter setbacks on the road to pursuing dreams. The key is to recognize the direction and stick to your choice. Instead of blindly accepting orders, it is better to accumulate slowly in the direction of your interest.”
Standing at the node of graduation and looking back, Xiaoyun is glad for her choice. Those seemingly ordinary projects and those works that are taken seriously are quietly paving a road to her dream for her. And this is exactly what she wants in life.
