Highlights of This Episode:
- What two things made James realize that he needed to embrace his own style of art
- Why he says the design field either “attracts low self-esteem” or creates it
- Why “we’re all sitting around waiting for permission to be great”
- What he means when he says “your work is a gift”
- How creatives can handle the tension between making art that makes them happy and doing the work that’s expected of them in order to pay the bills
- Where the “sexy” label for his work comes from
- Why it’s important not to do work that doesn’t fit his mission – and why making that choice doesn’t get easier
- What the weirdest thing is that James has said in a long time
- Why he believes we’re all reluctant heroes
- Why letting our light shine is both too easy and too hard
“You can’t have creativity if you don’t have confidence and courage.” –James Victore (Click to share – thanks!)
About James Victore:
James Victore is a graphic artist, author, and activist who teaches creatives how to illuminate their individual gifts in order to achieve personal greatness. Described as “part Darth Vader, part Yoda,” James is widely known for his timely wisdom and impassioned views about design and its place in the world. He reaches thousands online with his weekly Burning Questions video series, delivers life-changing talks around the world, and leads avant-garde workshops and seminars to help creative types in all spheres live and work successfully. At the helm of his independently run design studio, James continually strives to make work that is sexy, strong and memorable, work that tows the line between the sacred and the profane.
James’s work has been exhibited twice at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is represented in the permanent collections of museums worldwide, including the Louvre and the Library of Congress. He has an Emmy, gold and silver medals from the Art Directors Club, and a Grand Prix from the Brno Biennale. His clients include Adobe, MailChimp, Starbucks, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Time and Esquire magazines, Moet & Chandon, Yohji Yamamoto, and the City of New York. Abrams published a monograph of Victore’s work, titled Victore or, Who Died and Made You Boss? Victore taught at the School of Visual Arts in NYC for over 20 years.
James works with his wife and partner, Laura Victore. He lives, loves, and works in Brooklyn.
Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Burning Questions
- Victore or, Who Died and Made You Boss?
- Jeffrey Davis
- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
- Julian Schnabel
- Joseph Campbell
- Star Wars
- Dead Poets Society
- Your Work Is a Gift
- Victory Lab
Thanks for Listening!
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