Pursuing a creative path will be challenging, but I’m doing it anyway! Here’s how I’m chasing my dream to be an animator

This guest post was written by Sonora Rose Ilse, known on YouTube as Cowgirl_Nanners! Note: The views of guest authors do not necessarily reflect the views of Wacom.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve been naturally drawn to art. I was constantly coming up with different worlds and stories, drawing every chance I got. I carried a sketchpad and pencil with me everywhere, and by high school, most people didn’t even know my real name; they just called me “Art Kid” or “Art Girl.” In class, I could never just sit quietly, I had to be drawing! I've always loved creating original, fun characters and adding strange, colorful motifs to my art. While pursuing a creative path can be challenging, I believe that with consistent effort and dedication, I can turn my passion into reality one day.

My background and inspirations

I grew up deeply immersed in cartoons. They were all I watched, drew, and thought about. When I got older and became more well-versed online, I discovered a whole world of independent animators. I always assumed the only way to produce a show or become an animator was to attend an expensive art school, work at a major studio for years, and maybe one day have the chance to pitch a concept. It was inspiring to see small creators cut out the middleman and produce projects independently with small teams, crowdfunding through enthusiastic audiences.

I think both paths are equally important and commendable, but recently the world has opened up so much for animators, leading to more opportunities in the future. My art takes a lot of inspiration from the online content I consumed as a child. I loved YouTube, because I could watch cartoons that mainstream television wouldn’t air. I was immersed early on in a community full of creativity and fresh ideas. I liked how unsanitized some of the animation was.

That introduction to online animation was an amazing part of my life and encouraged me to break out of conventional animation norms. That’s why I gravitate toward bright, saturated colors, bold patterns, varied textures, and chicken-scratch line art. One of my dreams has always been to find the right audience for my art. If other creators can do it, so can I! I just need work, effort, and creativity.

How I'm pursuing my creative dream

My first step was starting a YouTube channel. I celebrated when I reached 50 followers, and as of this writing I just reached over 9,000! On my YouTube channel I post animations, updates on school and classwork, fan art of my favorite characters, and peeks into my sketchbook. What surprised me most about starting YouTube is that people didn’t just connect with my artwork, but with me as a person. I constantly receive comments saying my art brings them comfort and that they enjoy talking with me during livestreams. It’s very flattering to be a small creator and have dozens of people say I’m their favorite artist and that they tune in to every video.

Building community on YouTube

YouTube has allowed me to connect with other artists online. This unique perspective into the online art world has taught me the importance of coexistence. There will always be an artist who’s better than you, especially when you’re still small and independent. I've learned not to let this discourage me; instead I'm trying to see it as a goal and a standard to work toward and working to improve yourself. I make art for my audience and to make people happy.

I once saw a wonderful analogy: if you bring a cake to a potluck, and somebody else does too, the guests won’t be upset. They'll think, “Awesome! There are two cakes at this party!” At the end of the day, there is room for everyone’s cake on the table.

Finding educational opportunties

My journey led me to a conference at my school showcasing Silicon Valley Career Technical Education, a trade school where one of the listed courses was animation. I immediately signed up for a shadow day, and soon after, the course was in my schedule for the following year. SVCTE offers one year of animation coursework, and I saw it as a valuable supplement before going to college to pursue my art career.

I still attend my regular high school every afternoon after SVCTE ends. Because I travel between two campuses, I wake up at 5 a.m., hop on a bus with my fellow animation students, and we arrive to start our day at 7 a.m.!

What I'm learning at SVCTE

At SVCTE, I am learning the fundamentals of animation through hands-on, flexible projects. When I joined the class, I had absolutely no knowledge of animation. The only animation I had done before was a three-frame loop of one of my characters the summer prior. Now I have a sizable portfolio of animations and character designs, and I am developing my own short film for the final project. My teacher, Eric Whitman, has been in the industry for decades and was the Animation Director at Flip Your Lid Studios in the 2000s.

Building community

I still remember an early lesson in class. Everyone was new and a little shy. I only knew one other person: my busmate from my home school. Our teacher was explaining what makes a good character, and told us that all great characters share relatability. A character must not only look interesting but also have feelings: a spark of life.

As I was heading back to my desk, I saw a boy who looked like he was struggling. We started talking, and he explained he was trying to design an alien superhero. I squeezed into his desk space, and we sat elbow to elbow sketching and brainstorming. Soon another student joined, then another, until about five of us were crowded into a tiny space, passing pencils, sketching, and talking over each other. It was one of the first times I truly felt like I belonged in a creative community. I truly believe I found my people at this school! There’s a saying: “It takes a village.” I found my village that day, and my purpose felt clearer than ever: I want to do this as a career. I want to be surrounded by like-minded people who share the same dream of making the world a little more colorful.

SVCTE has been an incredible opportunity, allowing me to meet young innovators and future professionals in the animation industry. The class has helped me hone my skills and grow as an artist.

Technology access

SVCTE’s animation course has used Wacom products for years, including pen tablets and Pro Pens. Because of Wacom technology’s versatility and intuitive design, I’ve been able to focus on learning animation without worrying about complicated setup. I enjoyed using Wacom’s pen tablets so much that I bought a smaller one for personal use outside of class. Wacom was recently kind enough to send me a Wacom One 14 display tablet to try, and I absolutely loved it. The tablet is lightweight, has a nice matte finish that reduces glare, and works great connected to my MacBook. I’ve used Wacom tools to create some of my favorite animations, including my first character lip-sync and a point-and-click flash game.

Advice for other young artists pursuing a creative career

If I could give advice to a young artist, it would be not to give up. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s true. When I started, I was a rookie. I struggled with drawing, had no social media following, and no animation experience. I knew I wanted an art career but had no idea where to start, and I doubted whether I had the talent. I felt silly telling people about my dream when I had nothing to show for it. So, I created something to show – I started a YouTube channel and posted every day for nine months straight!

There will always be people who doubt what you do, but their disbelief will never outweigh the effort you put into what you love. I researched programs like SVCTE. I carried a sketchbook everywhere and filled pages daily. I entered contests: even if I didn’t win, I could say I tried. I put in the effort, and I had the privilege of watching my progress grow over time. The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit, as the saying goes.

My dream for the future

In ten years' time, my dream is to be working for an independent animation studio that produces cartoons for the internet. Realistically, I would be happy working at any studio, independent or mainstream, as long as I get to create for a living and make people happy with my art. I am nowhere close to achieving my dreams; I’m just getting started. My next steps are college and further professional training. I didn’t give up, and my hard work has led me somewhere wonderful so far!

I believe that dreams come true through belief, hard work, and dedication. Wherever I end up in the future, I know I’ll still be creating, and that alone makes me excited for what’s ahead.