Today we’d like to introduce you to Parker Simpson.
Hi Parker, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Over the past decade, I have chased after new ways to expand my artistic abilities and have found incredible joy in improving my illustration skills in particular. But before I began my pursuit to become a professional working artist, the foundation for this desire was being built in my adolescence.
Growing up as an awkward and pudgy child, I naturally gravitated to spending my free time watching cartoons, collecting trading cards, and exploring the newly expanding world of early 2000s video games. Consuming skillfully animated television shows and attempting to recreate those characters in the margins of my math tests gave me the first seeds of confidence in my drawing abilities. Artists like Genndy Tartakovsky and Butch Hartman became giant influences in my life through shows like Samurai Jack, Powerpuff Girls, and Fairly Oddparents. These pastimes helped me learn some of the basics of illustration, all while subconsciously creating style preferences that I would later discover as an adult.
After graduating high school, losing some acne and weight, and joining the workforce, my interest in illustrating never waned. Even while working my regular full-time jobs, I would still practice drawing in the fringe hours of the night when other folks my age would have been partying or doing whatever it is that college kids do. I had married my high school sweetheart, Ashley, who has a natural tenacious personality and is a consistent source of motivating influence. Her encouragement was, and always has been, a source of energy for me when I feel like giving up on sharpening my creative skills.
I’ve dabbled in quite a few different artistic pursuits, whether it was logo design, collage, t-shirt graphics, or even graffiti. But I have always come back to illustration, and in 2018 that skill found a new subject in the form of fan-made trading cards based on everybody’s favorite sci-fi fandom, Star Wars. While my artwork wasn’t officially licensed, I was creating fun custom items for folks who played the game casually. Any payments I received simply covered the physical printing costs, so there was no expectation of fame and fortune. However, this ongoing project paid fantastic dividends in terms of growing my abilities and confidence.
Over the three years that I created these illustrated cards, I saw a steady return on investment as my skills improved dramatically. I was beginning to see the rewards of the consistent, focused hours this project demanded. In his book “Atomic Habits,” James Clear explains his idea of becoming 1% better every day. His theory is that incremental improvements over time show much greater reward than waiting for a sudden, huge achievement. In retrospect, this concept proves true. While I wasn’t doing daily entries, I was still putting in consistent hours each week and reaping the benefits of this repeated work. Instead of viewing it as a huge project that I had to tackle all at once, I took each new character one at a time. Allowing myself to focus on smaller individual pieces gave me the ability to improve small amounts steadily over time. And now, I have a collection of over 200 character illustrations from this long term project! Having a binder full of these cards is a great physical reminder of the 1% concept.
After discontinuing the fan-made cards in early 2021, I took my newfound skills and applied them more heavily on commission projects. I had taken client work here and there during the previous years, but I never consistently sought it out. Seeing that there were people who were willing to pay for my artwork was still a relatively new concept for me.
In August 2021 I officially made the transition from illustration as a hobby to illustration as a jobby. Leaving my steady paycheck and friends at the Animal Hospital of North Charleston, I set out to explore the exciting and terrifying jungle of full-time freelancing. Luckily, I’ve had a guide with me who has helped me navigate this frontier. My wife Ashley has made a living as a freelance ghostwriter for many years (and she’s damn good at it). Having her wealth of experience to help give me insight has been an invaluable resource when I come across situations or ideas that are foreign to me.
Another incredibly rewarding aspect that has helped me in this transition is a rekindled friendship with another local artist, Octavian Johnson (www.octavianjohnson.com). Reconnecting with Octavian and building my friendship with a former coworker, Amanda Verhage (www.instagram.com/amanda_verhage_photo), led to the formation of a little creative club that we deemed the “Spaghetti Brain Collective.” Goofy name aside, this consistent monthly get-together has made a remarkable difference in my daily mindset. Having other creative folks to bounce ideas off of, get critique from, and brainstorm with has really opened my eyes to the fact that even though many creative pursuits are individually focused, there are many benefits to reap from community with others.
Since making this leap, I have been able to consistently find new and exciting clients to work with to bring their ideas to life through my art. While the journey so far has been confusing, thrilling, and terrifying, I am constantly reminded that it is where I’m supposed to be in this season. Understandably, my artwork has always had to take a back seat to more important things. I’m incredibly grateful that we are at a time in our life that I can pursue it full force and give it the overdue attention it deserves.
Ironically, since starting doing artwork full time, I have developed other interests in the fringe hours that previously housed my illustration time. Working as a Veterinary Technician for eight years, I developed a deep appreciation for the human-canine bond. Tapping into this appreciation, I recently launched Derby’s Dog Park, a website devoted to bringing attention to the benefits of pet ownership. If you’re a pet parent I highly recommend you check out the blog and online shop! (www.DerbysDogPark.com)
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My path as an artist has been a fairly benign journey without many perils to speak of. My wife and I have always been fairly sensible when it comes to finances and work life. That being said, I’ve always approached being an artist as something that is supplemental and not the main focus. Viewing it in these terms helped me to put less pressure on myself to become the ‘next big thing.’ This allowed me to focus on trying new techniques and following different paths to see how each art style fit me personally.
At this point in my art career, I am incredibly grateful that I gave myself the space to see what did and didn’t appeal to me. If I had pushed myself to make the first artistic pursuit of my adult life into a job, I would be screen printing poorly designed t-shirts in a storage unit! So, in retrospect, as frustrating as it was at times to focus on my day job, that viewpoint ultimately gave me the financial and emotional stability that allowed me to explore a wider range of artwork options.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While I am fairly fresh to the full-time artist gig, I have been exploring different artistic mediums for decades. Hands down, the most enjoyable skill I’ve been able to delve into is digital illustration, which I would consider to be my specialty.
I am under no illusions of grandeur, but my illustration is certainly my most mastered skill. Continuing to learn to further strengthen my illustration muscles brings me endless joy, as I know I will never have it perfected in my lifetime. I am fascinated with the fact that each new design brings new opportunities to learn and grow. When it comes to self-reflecting on my artistic growth, the quote from the great cellist Pablo Casals comes to mind – “I’m beginning to show some improvement.”
How do you define success?
I would define success as achieving balance between all of the things that you love, and I believe it looks different for each of us. Whether it’s being the best parent you can be or creating the business you’ve always dreamed of or giving your time and energy to a cause that matters deeply to you, success can be a radically different lifestyle from person to person.
Contact Info:
- Email: parkersimpsonartwork@gmail.com
- Website: www.parkersimpsonartwork.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/parker_simpson_artwork/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/parkersimpsonartwork
- Other: Pet Parent Side Project – derbysdogpark.com
