Know what I like about the Internet?
Access.
Having access to a ton of information may seem like such an obvious answer, but, as an artist, there’s one thing in particular that I very much enjoy: Access to other artists.
And I’m not talking, necessarily, about Twitter and Facebook. Of course, those platforms are nice, too. Twitter and Facebook can be fun ways to waste time. And, yes, they’re a means interact with others, but they’re both platforms that encourage fleeting activity – you log on, you check your feed, you tweet a few users, you retweet some tweets, you tweet your own tweets, and tweet tweet tweet you’re done. Twitter and Facebook are meant to be platforms of quick, short interactions and activity.
Email, on the other hand… ah, good old-fashioned-not-so-old-fashioned email. A good email takes time. Email takes effort. Not as much as a handwritten letter, but enough effort to require more of your attention than Twitter. Email, for me, is where real online communication gets done. Email is less personal than a snail mail letter or postcard, but way more personal than Twitter or Facebook.
Access to other artists isn’t just about fan tweets, fanmail, mouthing off your opinions, or networking. It’s also a chance to learn. While messages via Twitter and Facebook can get lost in a popular artist’s feed, email is a different beast. Sure, a busy person gets a lot of email. But because email carries with it a connotation of both personal contact and work (when we’re not talking about fanmail, newsletters, and spam), the need to address personal and work-oriented emails is much greater than addressing incoming tweets.
At least, that’s my theory. Because, on more than one occasion, I’ve emailed professional artists I thought could answer some questions… and they’ve replied. At least once. I mean, these are busy people (who isn’t?), but I a nice, well-written email with a good question from an artist (me) that wants to learn seems to yield a response from an artist (them) that wants to share what they know.
(I won’t list who they are; they don’t need to be bombarded with more email)
And I like that. There is a lot of information about illustration on the Interwebz: articles, videos, tutorial blogs, lists of tools… but there is something to be said for asking a specific person with a specific experience a specific question and getting a specific answer. Sure, I could ask the same question on a forum and get a lot of different answers, but, again, I say: “specific person”. Sometimes I want knowledge from a specific person. If I read a blog by an artist that uses certain watercolor paper and is able to use a particular pen nib with that paper, I’m going want to tell that person what my problem is and ask them about their experience and how it might be able to help solve my problem.
And when they answer, not only am I armed with some new knowledge to try out, but I’ve also “met” someone who is nice enough to take some time out of their busy schedule to share what they know. These artists are willing to share what they know. They’re happy to help. I’m not saying every artist is this way; I have heard a few stories about guarded artists, artists who won’t share their “secrets” lest someone try to emulate that they’re doing, thus potentially cutting into their niche. Thankfully, I’ve not experienced this myself.
Plus, it’s nice to be able to make personal contact with another artist. First, sometimes it’s easier to ask certain questions in “private”, something you’d be more comfortable asking one-on-one rather than publicly or in a group. Second, they just might share something they may not have shared on a forum or a blog post. Some tiny detail or personal experience they kept to themselves. Something that just might be extra helpful because they’re relating their experience to the experience you’ve shared with them.
I’m not saying you should try to become pen pals with these artists. I mean, if they keep up correspondence, great. You’ve made a new connection. Just don’t bug the crap out of them. So, don’t be afraid to make personal contact with another artist if you’re looking for someone to ask for help. Especially if you’re mostly educating yourself. The one thing books, articles, video tutorials, blogs, and infographics can’t do for you: answer questions and give you feedback.
Artists with websites have contact info and contact forms for a reason: they want to be contacted. So, go ahead and ask them a question. Be polite. Be professional. If an email string gets going, know when to stop emailing them. The worst that can happen is they don’t respond at all.