3 Steps to Finding Your Niche in Art
Written by Jarom Vogel
Hi, I’m Jarom. It’s nice to meet you, fellow creative human! I’m an illustrator, but I’m also a general computer nerd. I do some coding in my personal time, and one of the most exciting things to me is when I can find interesting ways to combine that with my illustration work. Something about being able to smoosh these different parts of my life together and end up with a new thing is so cool to me.
You might not be into coding or illustration, but chances are you’re into something. Let’s talk about how you can take that something and combine it with your art to make something new.
Step 1 — Explore
First, let’s figure out what your something is. So try new things! Experience life. Get a well-rounded education, whether it’s formal or not. Maybe you know what you’re interested in, maybe you don’t. The best way to find out is by trying what’s out there. Maybe you hate chemistry but love baking. Maybe you didn’t know you had a thing for dressage. Maybe you’re just secretly really good at whistling? Basically, try to live your life and just be a person. I know it’s hard, but you can do it!
Step 2 — Mash it up
Congratulations — now you have a lot of new and (hopefully) weird hobbies! That’s great all by itself, but what if you tried combining your newfound interest in exotic shellfish with your lifelong love of electronic music? I don’t know what that would look like, but that’s what makes it so interesting! You’re unique, and finding ways to mash up your interests is one of the best ways to show that off. If you’re passionate about what you’re making, people will notice.
Step 3 — Focus
The previous steps are exciting, but this one is about putting in the work. If you want to succeed as an artist, you need to balance exploration with the ability to focus and, you know, actually make art. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep trying new things, but success takes a concerted effort over time. Whether you’re an illustrator, musician, poet, or any other creative-type person, make sure you’re good at doing that thing. You might have the world’s most intriguing idea, but if you can’t execute it, it won’t resonate with people.
Also, keep in mind that while creating new things is good, not everything needs to be monetized or integrated or even shared! It’s ok to keep some of your hobbies to yourself. Sometimes you just need a non-art related break!
About Jarom Vogel:
Jarom Vogel received a BFA in illustration from Brigham Young University in 2015 and has since created artwork for clients including Apple, Disney, Facebook, Procreate, Spotify, Pepsi, Peugeot, Adobe, Nobrow, HarperCollins, Skillshare, and others. He has also illustrated 3 children’s books and enjoys dabbling in code on the side. When he’s not drawing, he enjoys beaches, fine iced creams, Peach Coke, and skiing. Jarom currently lives in Oregon with his wife Natalie.
