Meet Dawson Schafer | Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dawson Schafer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dawson, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I, like most people, have had a great deal of suffering throughout my life. One way to deal with the suffering was to just sit down, relax, and draw. I did it all throughout my childhood when I “should’ve” been paying attention in class or doing homework. My grades didn’t do so well and I’m sure I disappointed a lot of my elders. But in the end it turned out alright because when I disappointed some I made others extremely proud including myself; despite what some may think of the direction I took. Illustrating and painting has always been my bed rock foundation to a healthy mind. When there was complete darkness and it felt like my world was collapsing the one thing I had control over was my ability to illustrate something that day. To create worlds and things other people could resonate with brought immense joy into my life. How could I ever let that go? Now, many moons later, I can confidently say I took the path meant for me. I would be so unbelievably miserable doing anything else, that whether or not I meet the western philosophical idea of “success” with a million dollar home or shiny new car, it really doesn’t matter because I’ve already succeeded in my mind.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m primarily a vector artist working in the digital space. I guess that kind of makes me unique as I don’t know many others who use that medium for the style of art I create. I’m proud of everything I do, but as of recent I’ve been on a 6 month journey creating a custom playing card deck with unique illustrations as well as stickers, prints and a published book for a Kickstarter campaign. It’s been a wild ride for sure and it feels good nearing the finish line. If you wanna check it out it will hopefully be available to back by February 2022 if all goes according to plan!

As for whether or not the Designer road is easy, short answer is definitely not. For a bit more depth, let me elaborate on what the day to day looks like. First was learning illustration, which is insanely difficult on its own. You have to know the fundamentals of design and invention, physics, light, shadow casting, anatomy, biology, some computer science if you want to be a digital artist, color theory, dimension and proportions, etc. Next is how to market yourself and sales which is also very difficult. All of this in conjunction with working a full time job to keep your head above water until you can make enough to support yourself on art alone. These are things that come with time, patience, practice, and a serious amount of motivation. So the creative route is probably one of the hardest but most rewarding roads you can follow.

For me, I’m on a decade travelling this road and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love what I do, and the fact I can share my love and have people enjoy it is the greatest gift ever given.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Going to explore nature.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The entirety of my family deserves this slot for sure. My close friends as well count as family. I’d also like to thank the early backers of my work, Advocates of Change being one of them. I’d also like to thank my college professors for helping guide my youthful mind into the right direction. There are many more and the list goes on and on but for the sake of time I’ll stop there.

Website: www.oficado.squarespace.com

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Image Credits
Oficado