Today we’d like to introduce you to LaVata Oneal.
Hi LaVata, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started when I was ten years old, I think. I worked traditionally for about seven years before switching to digital art, it’s easier for me to maintain but I still have a vast love for traditional. From there, I started taking commissions right away as a freelance artist while working in an average job, you might say, the kind where anyone can replace you. Since I’m self-taught, I knew I wouldn’t be able to get into the industry right away. I’m not a fan of debt which is one reason why I didn’t go to college but I don’t recommend that for everyone. It’s hard work maintaining yourself as an artist and figuring out what you really want out of your career and your life goals. There was also the aspect of what I’d be spending that time and money on through the lens of received value and what I expect that value to be for me.
But what I did to maintain myself was continuing to seek information from others and build connections. The practice of self-discipline has taught me a lot. My years of experience working as a freelance artist has taught me the value of myself and what people expect. I’m an artist who has a perfectionist mindset, it was an asset because it always made me push for more but I also had to learn to let go in some cases because perfection is not realistic. It’s in the eye of the beholder as even imperfection can be perfect, as odd as that might sound.
I’ve moved several times over the span of thirteen years for family and got off focus with my career choice. Not fully recognizing that I needed to have goals and focus on what I truly wanted out of my life and career because I was still improving as an artist but I wasn’t advancing my career or life. Which is becoming an art director for a company that works in the entertainment business and attaining a lifestyle of my choosing. I also have personal projects I’m in the process of completing that I want to get out to the public. I’m moving to Riverview, Florida May 24th, to help build my career further.
I currently work as an artist on a webtoon comic called Beyond, freelance part-time, and as a contracted art director for Concept Moon Studios part-time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road is never smooth. Maintaining focus on goals is pivotal and it’s not easy but worth it.
Juggling my life and career goals has been a struggle. I needed to have them written down and to keep focusing on them with laser precision. I’m the type of person who will work all day and not have much of a social life so I have to balance that out for the betterment of my health. But then I’ve also sacrificed quite a bit of my focus for family members and others that didn’t really help me get closer to my goals. Everything in my life wasn’t stabilizing for a time.
Maintaining good mental and physical health is another one, you have to do it every single day in everything you do and chose to do. And it’s important because I need to be mentally and physically ready for the climb, even though the climb is a metaphor for getting to the goals that I have for my life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work as a freelance graphic illustrator and designer. I have done work in mobile apps, books, websites, and brand design. A large bulk of my work has been in 2D illustration, so doing covers and character designs.
My personal work is what I’m most proud of. I’ve worked hard to get to a point of understanding art and what makes it tick, in a sense, to me in order to convey my thoughts and feelings.
Not sure how I can describe what sets me apart from others in words since an artist’s style is what sets you apart from others; it’s your unique voice in how you express yourself visually.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t really believe I’ve had luck; I’ll explain why.
I believe hard work and putting yourself out there, choosing what’s scary, plays a big role in helping you get to places you have never been before. And if you don’t know something, you have to figure out what you’re missing to get to where you want to be on your chosen road. It’s like a video game where you want to find the secret room or level and in order to figure out that missing piece that unlocks it you have to do something you’ve never tried before.
Pricing:
- Brand/Logo Design – Starting at $100
- Covers – Starts at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lavataoneal.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/lvotreasures
- Facebook: facebook.com/lvotreasures
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lavata-oneal-601ba198/
- Twitter: twitter.com/lvotreasures
