Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
@HELO messaged me. They'd been told their work was not very original and that they had to find their own style. It's an old story, made different in this case because @HELO doesn't want to draw better but wants to make great music.
They saw my video, How To Get Your Mojo Back - youtube.com/watch?v=3mgPhcDqREU - and contacted me. This is the message:
I am an artist/Dj/Producer. I studied music production at Icon Collective at the age of 19 years old now I'm 22, I felt so creative before Icon and when I just got in Icon, I used to throw sounds in to ableton (music software) and get a huge song with 100 and more tracks from just throwing ideas and I believed those songs could get me in to spinning records or any label I wanted. I had mentors at Icon and showed them all my projects so exited to know what they think about, guess what my 4 mentors I had rejected my music, they said it was good but it wasn't really me, it was not my style, they said I had to find my own sound. Since then my tracks haven't been the same, I over think every decision I make, I never finish my tracks and I always doubt if this is original idea or if I will get acceptance from any of my mentors this time. I feel really sad cause I know I have the knowledge to produce anything but still don't know what I'm creating, what I should create.
HELO is, literally, throwing everything into the mix! Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Simplicity is at the root of all great art. If it looks simple or sounds simple, it probably is, but there is a lifetime of learning and experience that allows the artist to create that which appears simple.
There always comes a time when you have to face criticism that hurts. What do you do about it?
Cry and give up? Carry on believing you are right and the rest of the world is wrong? Or do you listen and adapt and keep working, learning, developing, seeking that style that tells the world that you have a unique view that is worth taking note of.
Listen. Ask questions. Do the Work! As Prince said: "You gotta be willing to do the Work"
Subscribe to this channel on YouTube for lots more drawing videos from award-winning illustrator, Shoo Rayner ➡️ bit.ly/Sub2Shoo
Twitter twitter.com/shoorayner
instagram.com/shoorayner
Website shoorayner.com
music by youtube.com/cleffernotes
Everyone asks about the tools I use when I'm out using my sketchbook. here's a video to show you what and how I use them. youtu.be/QJwjV1FKdyg
Rotring Tikky Graphic Pen
amzn.to/2hLNgQo in the UK
amzn.to/2zRyH4y in the USA
amzn.to/2E3qL08 in Canada
The Pentel Aquash Brush
amzn.to/2hL5MZe in the UK
amzn.to/2zQFD1H in the USA
amzn.to/2BpMRHg In Canada
Huion A4 Tracing Light Pad
amzn.to/2G8VglQ in the UK
amzn.to/2E4CStW in the USA
amzn.to/2DEDt7P in Canada
The Seawhite of Brighton a5 travel journal
amzn.to/2hLANfw in the UK
amzn.to/2zU9dkU in the USA
Seawhite 350gsm Watercolour paper
amzn.to/2PEdMf7 in the UK
(Try Canson in the US amzn.to/3qrZYBk )
Seawhite layout Pad
amzn.to/2Oyyw7u in the UK
(Try Strathmnore Layout Bond in the US
amzn.to/2Oyyw7u )
The Cotman sketching watercolour set
amzn.to/2hPgKgl in the UK
amzn.to/2yWquIV in the USA
amzn.to/2BpN0KO in Canada
Neutral Tint Half Pan Watercolour Paint
amzn.to/2ymFRJI in the UK
amzn.to/2Cbk5f5 in the USA
amzn.to/2E5E3t4 in Canada
Naples Yellow Half Pan Watercolour Paint
amzn.to/2z9o9gt in the UK
amzn.to/2z9nKdX in the USA
amzn.to/2E3HQHj in Canada
Sharpie White China Marker
amzn.to/2jEkSAg in the UK
amzn.to/2zU9UL2 in the USA
amzn.to/2E3EqnS in Canada
Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils
amzn.to/2GR7oIp in the UK
amzn.to/2qoExnP in the USA
amzn.to/2JA6XE4 in Canada
Sailor Fude Fountain Pen amzn.to/2DAbWTF in the UK
amzn.to/2IUPcS0 in the USA
amzn.to/2PCI2TTin the UK
Carbon Black ink amzn.to/2ZyO1gT in the UK
amzn.to/2GGWiYQ in the USA
amzn.to/2GGWmYA in Canada
Twitter twitter.com/shoorayner
instagram.com/shoorayner
Website shooraynerdrawing.com
music by youtube.com/cleffernotes
Shoo Rayner is an award-winning illustrator and author of over 200 books for children.
The Shoo Rayner Drawing Channel won the 2011 YouTube NextUp award.
Make sure you are subscribed for new videos every week delivered to your inbox. ➡️ bit.ly/Sub2Shoo
@HELO messaged me. They'd been told their work was not very original and that they had to find their own style. It's an old story, made different in this case because @HELO doesn't want to draw better but wants to make great music.
They saw my video, How To Get Your Mojo Back - youtube.com/watch?v=3mgPhcDqREU - and contacted me. This is the message:
I am an artist/Dj/Producer. I studied music production at Icon Collective at the age of 19 years old now I'm 22, I felt so creative before Icon and when I just got in Icon, I used to throw sounds in to ableton (music software) and get a huge song with 100 and more tracks from just throwing ideas and I believed those songs could get me in to spinning records or any label I wanted. I had mentors at Icon and showed them all my projects so exited to know what they think about, guess what my 4 mentors I had rejected my music, they said it was good but it wasn't really me, it was not my style, they said I had to find my own sound. Since then my tracks haven't been the same, I over think every decision I make, I never finish my tracks and I always doubt if this is original idea or if I will get acceptance from any of my mentors this time. I feel really sad cause I know I have the knowledge to produce anything but still don't know what I'm creating, what I should create.
HELO is, literally, throwing everything into the mix! Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Simplicity is at the root of all great art. If it looks simple or sounds simple, it probably is, but there is a lifetime of learning and experience that allows the artist to create that which appears simple.
There always comes a time when you have to face criticism that hurts. What do you do about it?
Cry and give up? Carry on believing you are right and the rest of the world is wrong? Or do you listen and adapt and keep working, learning, developing, seeking that style that tells the world that you have a unique view that is worth taking note of.
Listen. Ask questions. Do the Work! As Prince said: "You gotta be willing to do the Work"
Subscribe to this channel on YouTube for lots more drawing videos from award-winning illustrator, Shoo Rayner ➡️ bit.ly/Sub2Shoo
Twitter twitter.com/shoorayner
instagram.com/shoorayner
Website shoorayner.com
music by youtube.com/cleffernotes
Everyone asks about the tools I use when I'm out using my sketchbook. here's a video to show you what and how I use them. youtu.be/QJwjV1FKdyg
Rotring Tikky Graphic Pen
amzn.to/2hLNgQo in the UK
amzn.to/2zRyH4y in the USA
amzn.to/2E3qL08 in Canada
The Pentel Aquash Brush
amzn.to/2hL5MZe in the UK
amzn.to/2zQFD1H in the USA
amzn.to/2BpMRHg In Canada
Huion A4 Tracing Light Pad
amzn.to/2G8VglQ in the UK
amzn.to/2E4CStW in the USA
amzn.to/2DEDt7P in Canada
The Seawhite of Brighton a5 travel journal
amzn.to/2hLANfw in the UK
amzn.to/2zU9dkU in the USA
Seawhite 350gsm Watercolour paper
amzn.to/2PEdMf7 in the UK
(Try Canson in the US amzn.to/3qrZYBk )
Seawhite layout Pad
amzn.to/2Oyyw7u in the UK
(Try Strathmnore Layout Bond in the US
amzn.to/2Oyyw7u )
The Cotman sketching watercolour set
amzn.to/2hPgKgl in the UK
amzn.to/2yWquIV in the USA
amzn.to/2BpN0KO in Canada
Neutral Tint Half Pan Watercolour Paint
amzn.to/2ymFRJI in the UK
amzn.to/2Cbk5f5 in the USA
amzn.to/2E5E3t4 in Canada
Naples Yellow Half Pan Watercolour Paint
amzn.to/2z9o9gt in the UK
amzn.to/2z9nKdX in the USA
amzn.to/2E3HQHj in Canada
Sharpie White China Marker
amzn.to/2jEkSAg in the UK
amzn.to/2zU9UL2 in the USA
amzn.to/2E3EqnS in Canada
Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils
amzn.to/2GR7oIp in the UK
amzn.to/2qoExnP in the USA
amzn.to/2JA6XE4 in Canada
Sailor Fude Fountain Pen amzn.to/2DAbWTF in the UK
amzn.to/2IUPcS0 in the USA
amzn.to/2PCI2TTin the UK
Carbon Black ink amzn.to/2ZyO1gT in the UK
amzn.to/2GGWiYQ in the USA
amzn.to/2GGWmYA in Canada
Twitter twitter.com/shoorayner
instagram.com/shoorayner
Website shooraynerdrawing.com
music by youtube.com/cleffernotes
Shoo Rayner is an award-winning illustrator and author of over 200 books for children.
The Shoo Rayner Drawing Channel won the 2011 YouTube NextUp award.
Make sure you are subscribed for new videos every week delivered to your inbox. ➡️ bit.ly/Sub2Shoo
