Fake it until you make it.

I've encountered this phrase a couple times in my life. There's a whole process to fully embrace this statement, tho. But first, I really should tell you a bit more about me.

I'm an illustrator: yup, that's right, I draw my time away, and I fully intent to make a life out of it (hopefully within next year). But in order to achieve this, I need to put my shit together this year, starting with my title project.

What's that, you'd ask. It's sort of a thesis, but less research and more tangibles. Mine is an illustrated book.

Which brings us to the title: fake it until you make it.

Even tho I can defend myself with artistic tools and skills, my personal style ain't what I want, I don't even know what I want, and this is a HUGE problem because time is against us all. So, put your "I know my shit" face and fake it.

My first thought when I'd read that, years ago, was "HOW?!" how the heck can you just fake it? I know shit about this wonderful, imaginative, wicked, artistic world, and YOU pretend that I just FAKE IT THROUGH?! Certainly, you talented artist think I should just go with it? One don't simply walk into Mordor. No! you don't have idea what it's like to be new to- ... wait... you do. Okay, Tell me more about... "faking it" *snorts*

As time passes you will learn little bits of information, you'll learn to copy what works for other people, adapt it for yourself, and throw away what doesn't work. You'll make a whole new combo, unique to you, that will power through and finally make it. But IT.WILL.TAKE.YEARS., years of daily work until you make it -and cue Frank Sinatra singing I did it maaAAAaaaai way-.

However, the path there is full of thing, sometimes others walking along, some pebbles, possibly lots of shit, and if you're lucky, maybe some money.

Me right now?

I can't fucking decide about my book's art style.