I originally drew this piece from a place of self doubt, a fear that at the end of the day, I don’t *actually* have anything interesting to say (make, contribute, etc).
This belief is crippling.
I imagine every aspiring artist (or maybe just everyone?) can relate…
A Journey of 1000 Miles.. (repost and new musings)
千里之行，始于(於)足下
(Qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zúxià)
This saying is ascribed to Laozi, but is perhaps more recognizable for it’s popular English translation: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
It’s been five years (五年?!) since I left a stable university job to go back to school and, more importantly, give this aspiring artist life a go. In the five + years (thus far) of freelancing to make rent, I’ve found myself coming back to this proverb for motivation:
Now, as I’m working on Panda’s Print Shop Kickstarter, and taking the tiny steps toward building my own business, this proverb is as necessary a reminder as ever. I’m very, very grateful to have started on this path (choosing to leave my comfort zone was perhaps my ‘single step’). I also know 🐼🦔 and me have a long ways to go yet!
I don’t believe in overnight success stories (even though I still secretly wish for it!). There are still lots of times I can’t see the forest for the trees, let alone the path through it. But I know I can take a ‘single step’ every day (reading/studying up on comic artists I love, putting pen to paper, sending an email to ask for business advice etc). And I know I’m not alone - my boyfriend, family (even disapproving dad), 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 who’ve chosen to visit Panda’s world - are with me as I journey. So thank you!
Welcome to the journey. Lets see where the next “1 0 0 0 里” takes us!
GLOSSARY
千里之行，始于(於)足下 (Qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zúxià) Journeys of great distances begin at/under one’s feet.
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一步 (Yībù) One step
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但是 (dànshì) However
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加油! (jiāyóu) Keep it on! (Literally ‘add gasoline’, but used to offer enthusiastic encouragement!)
Taking a Break (...to prepare!)
..it’s been a bit over 一年 since I moved to nyc to be an artist/illustrator.
I made the picture in this post at the end September 2019. I still remember sitting in Battery Park, during a drawing meet-up, making one of the very first @pandacubstories comics.
So much has happened since then!