Today we’d like to introduce you to Sid Quade
Hi Sid, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been an artist. Ever since I was a little kid, I always liked to draw- with animals being my favorite subject. My parents got me a lot of “How-To-Draw” books as I was growing up and when I got older, my father, who was a professional graphic designer/illustrator, started to train me in honing my skills.
Eventually I went to the Kansas City Art Institute and ended up studying animation. After graduation, I started working part-time jobs while trying to build up a portfolio and get my name out there as a freelance illustrator/designer. After a while, I finally started to get work. Most of my first clients were from hobby game companies. Even while still maintaining the work established with game companies, I also tried expanding my potential client base out to local businesses, ad agencies, and other industries.
A few years back, I decided to take the risk and try to go into being a freelance artist full time. While still working for the clients I’ve gathered so far, I’m also working on extending my outreach/network, as well as creating some merch to start selling on the side.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s not always been a smooth road, but, honestly, that’s what to be expected from freelancing. The freelance business always has had its “feast and famine” cycles, where one month you are flooded with jobs and then next month, you’re sitting staring out the window- wondering where everyone went.
You learn to be grateful for the times where you have plenty and try to adapt when times get tough.
Another thing that is a struggle for me, personally, is trying to get my name out there. Despite being a millennial, I’m not good at social media. It’s not something that comes naturally to me, so I’ve been pushing myself to take a more active approach to using it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do primarily illustration work, although I have done some graphic design and logo design work, as well. I’m known for being flexible when it comes to being an artist. I can work in a variety of different visual styles that can adapt to different clients/audiences. With that being said, my favorite type of work to do tends to fall either in the categories of cartooning, Mid-century retro, and/or fantasy/horror.
One of the things I’m most proud of is my comic Gridley. It’s a fantasy/Western comic that combines all the elements of the above-mentioned style categories I had mentioned. I often describe it as “Dungeons and Dragons meets Johnny Cash.” I’ve only finished three issues so far, but I’m happy with how it’s been turning out and
I’ve been having a blast working on it.
As far as what I feel sets me apart from others, I would say part of it is my adaptability when it comes to working on different projects. In addition to that, though, I would also add my breadth of artistic influence.
I love learning about a variety of subjects and often look for ways to bring that into my artwork- whether it be through visual motifs, narrative, world-building or just an aesthetic approach.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Sometime luck can play a larger role than I’d like to think.
There’s only so much that is in your control and you find that it’s a matter of being at the right place at the right time. One day you might have the good luck of posting something on your social media feed that a certain someone happens to see and likes, which results in them reaching out to you for a potential job. Other days, you experience the bad luck of
being stuck in a downward economic turn, in which everyone is tightening their budget, and no one is looking to hire.
While luck does play a factor, though, there is also the element of optimizing your chances of finding opportunities by putting yourself out there. Sometimes the more chances you take, the more chances you receive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.srqartworks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidquade/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sidquade/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidquade/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/sidquade
