Today we’d like to introduce you to Erich Sayers.
Erich, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a small farm town in Kansas. I always had a gift for art, but didn’t see it as valuable and neglected my talent until a time when my life was going nowhere. I started drawing again and it then occurred to me that maybe I can somehow make a career out of it. My only thought was art and computers. I packed up my crappy car and moved to LA. Worked odd jobs and in dental laboratories for years then got an internship at an Ad agency and have been working in entertainment advertising ever since and creating my own art on the side.
Has it been a smooth road?
I suppose the biggest obstacle would be myself, lack of confidence and appreciation for what I do. I didn’t go to art school and grew up far from any kind of art scene
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Technological advances enter our industry at warp-speed, growing exponentially and evolving unpredictably. Mediums such 3D Printing, VR (virtual reality), cameras that can capture an entire scenery with unlimited depth-of-field and focus (the Lytro) – these are just some examples of the new technology we’re already learning and working with. Further growth and exploration are certain to follow.
At the moment I’m working on adding motion elements to some of my static imagery – it’s a nascent field and I’m pretty confident you will be seeing a lot more of this type of work (maybe too much of it!) over the coming months. I’m excited about VR and its component technologies – I imagine seeing a picture hanging on a wall, then being able to step INTO the magical world created by the artist, and explore!
What has been the primary challenge you’ve faced?
I started out at the bottom; a reject of a kid in a tiny town. I guess I’ve struggled through low expectations and low self-esteem, so when good things happen it’s truly a surprise.
Sometimes I feel that had I grown up in a large city, I would’ve valued my talent more. I would probably have considered turning my skill set into a viable career much earlier on, perhaps applied to an art school. A formal Arts education is really useful, I would’ve learned skills I may not find terribly interesting (like typography!), but are very important to know.
I’ve been really grateful to see my life getting better for some time now – I’m doing the best art of my life, living in L.A., making a living doing what I love. I’m freelancing these days, and enjoy the flexibility and cool projects that come my way!
Nowadays, the challenges come in the form of the incredibly long hours required in the [creative] advertising business.
What advice do you wish to give to those thinking about pursuing a path similar to yours?
Create what inspires you. Travel, see the world. There’s no right or wrong way to do this – if you can’t afford Art school, then it’s not a necessary step for you. Just keep on creating, [and learning from the greats.]
Contact Info:
- Website: erichsayers.com
- Phone: 6266766202
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eisayers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erichsayers/
- Other: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eisayers/albums/
