LA Artist looking to find better work -

December 15, 2021 10:43 AM

Where can I find online courses to help me diversify my skill set?

I'm an NJ native who moved out to LA a few years ago. Ever since then, I've been working as a graphic designer/print specialist at a mediocre print shop in Long Beach for low pay. It was a job that was supposed to help me stay afloat for a bit but it's been years and I found out that I'm being let go at the end of the year. It's a wake-up call, a late one - I know. I've been experiencing bouts of low motivation and I haven't really done anything to inspire me and find better work. I want to change that.

Ideally, I want to work at a startup or agency in LA, as a graphic designer or illustrator. I've been applying everywhere and managed to get a few interviews here and there - but I feel like I'm doing something wrong. I don't have a degree but I have a strong portfolio that showcases my illustration - a strength I have.

Sorry - to keep it short - my girlfriend recommended that I take online courses (for photography, web design) and I don't know where to start looking. I see a lot of options but I want to make sure they're worth it. Especially since I'm open to paying for them.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Sidenote: here's my website if you're curious - www.eric-escobar.com

Thank you

posted by morning_television to Work & Money (3 answers total)

I don't have any LA-based suggestions, unfortunately, but I did look at your site and it seems cool! If you have a Bachelor's degree and like kids, perhaps you could look into teaching? Subbing isn't easy but it does pay better than before and offers flexibility. Here's an official listing from the official LA Unified School District.
posted by smorgasbord at 2:45 PM on December 15, 2021

I love your style! If you are trying to find work with an agency, I would consider diversifying your skillset into motion work - Since you already have a great design sensibility that could be a huge asset you could bring into a motion design job if you build up that skillset. And from my perspective (not a motion designer, but an animator) it's more in demand than photography or web design. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/ looks like the place to start - I know people who have taken their courses and been happy with them although I haven't taken the plunge yet myself.
posted by matcha action at 4:36 PM on December 15, 2021

You're really good! You have a great sense of composition, color, texture and lots of visual wit.

The only thing I don't like about your portfolio is your first image of the skeleton playing pinball, which seems aimed at a juvenile audience, which is in conflict with the massive range you show elsewhere. If I were you, I would position that image lower down the page.

In a brief look-see, I'm seeing the Art Center College of Design, the California Institute of the Arts, the LA Art League, LA Academy of Art, the Artsy Backyard. Off-hand, it looks like you have an embarrassment of riches, locally.

As for future work, agencies or start-ups don't sound like the best use of your skills to me. I kind of hate to think of you designing endless web pages or branding sets, but they may be your best bet for a steady income and we all make compromises.

From looking at your portfolio though, my immediate thought is you might look into sending around illustrations for interior/cover art to magazines online/print.

I'm also wondering about graphic art books, children's book publishing, illustrating comics. You might want to seek out reference books on careers in art to get a better sense of the options open to you. I suspect there are quite a few!
posted by Violet Blue at 1:07 AM on December 16, 2021