Failure Friday. Vol. 2. Before I went freelance I completed a string of jobs for a wine company. Nothing crazy, a few small jobs. Then they took a big step, they were thinking about rebranding an entire line, a few companies, and quite a few wines. A top-down umbrella rebranding with about a year’s worth of work to it. Having already completed several jobs successfully, doing a test for the job felt like a formality, more of a trial run on the new style than anything else. Nevertheless, I went at it with my normal rabid gorilla fervor. All the while starting to feel the release of the stress of not having to look for jobs for the entire year. It was a lengthy process, finding the right graphic mix, the right composition. They wanted to represent the area in which the wine was grown authentically, down to the bushes, wildlife, and landmasses. We combed through the details and made sure things were nailed down at every step. It was a big job, so I got it, every detail needed to be on point. We finally chose a final, there was a presentation, and then….nothing. Never a good sign. Then I got word from the director that the project was on hold. While I’m sure that was true, I think in this case it was a polite way of telling me that they were going a different way. While it’s never fun being passed over for a gig, it happens. Don’t EVER take it personally. If there is one lesson that I could relay to any illustrator/artist out there, it’s that. It’s not that you are a bad artist, it’s that they are looking for a different flavor. That’s it...and that’s all. It’s the same as you picking out ice cream. The other flavors don’t get mad at themselves because you chose something else...you just felt like Rocky Road. It’s a hard lesson to learn; separating your self-esteem from your work isn’t easy. Not learning that lesson is a long path of resentment, doubts, even anger...and that is the wrong road. If you are an artist or even just a normal human, you have enough of that in you already, don’t add to it. Despite the outcome, I drew the SHIT out of this...and I’m proud of it. It was a fun, challenging piece, a good experience, and I came away with some good lessons.
The Final.
