Today we’d like to introduce you to Sawyer Lee
Hi Sawyer , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I hail from a family of artists, who nurtured my budding interest in the craft as naturally as teaching me how to walk. As a kid, I was especially taken by Illustrated wildlife encyclopedias & old Dungeons & Dragons monster manuals, enchanted with the the idea of combining the natural with the fantastic (a principle called “Imaginative Realism). I still collect books, and have a small library of my own! A few years ago, I had actually pivoted from art briefly; a decision made of hesitation. I trained to be a physical therapist! I was pulled back, however, by the sweet song of my true love: illustration. That distance really confirmed to me that this is what I want to do with my gift of life.
There I got focused, creating social media platforms to document my journey, and to my surprise I had built something of a community! To have so many people interested in a world I created was nothing short of magical. And I was keen to share more. After building large platforms on Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube, I compiled my work into a book. A testament to my own dedication to creativity and passion. Many sleepless nights, stressful workdays, and lots of labor cumulated in a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. When I launched, my project was funded in under two hours. It went on to raise 93,200 dollars of a 14k goal! I am deeply touched by the response, and more motivated to create work evermore. Art is my entire life, I am never not thinking of my next step, and I hope you’ll join me!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has certainly been a long road. As a young professional, I am new to many things. I learn from my obstacles and then come out better for it. I find the enormity of it all to be the biggest obstacle- the fear of where you fit in in all this! Thankfully, the answer is clear: be genuine, authentic, and kind. As an artist, and even in life, those traits will take you very far!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have a tag on my social media bio: “Fantasy Artist Drawing Dragons”. I feel that sums me up quite well! I create work in a space combining fantasy, speculative evolution, and worldbuilding. It is not enough for me to draw fantastical things, I need to know how they live, what made them a certain way, and how they exist in the larger ecological context of their worlds.
Most people familiar with these genres would know me from my main project, the “Dragonslayer Codex: a survival guide to dangerous dragons”. It functions as a field guide to dragons, beasts, and the cultures adapted to living among them. I leave no stone unturned, and bring the reader on an expedition into a fresh new world, one where humanity is the underdog, and nature looms above, often baring fangs and spitting flames.
In terms of materials, I enjoy working both digitally and traditionally. I use photoshop and procreate to replicate a traditional style as closely as I can, which began from a need to save on materials. I take pride in it, as it is all too easy to make digital work look like it’s made of plastic. I’m trying to challenge that artistic trope!
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
To survive as an artist, and especially to stand out, you need to take a risk. I see myself as a cautious, planning sort of person. I want to make sure I know what I’m getting into, but I try not to let that stop me. I am equally ambitious and with that comes a helping of risk. I am fairly young to have published my first book, the fear of being a first-timer is enough to hold anyone back. But I wanted this to be real so badly, that I dove in and took that leap. I had to sacrifice lots of things that young adults usually do to make this dream a reality, but I regret none of it. I found amazing mentors and supportive friends, who only further emboldened me to plunge into new territory. So, yes! take a risk, but an educated one!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sawyerleeart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawyerleeart
- Twitter: www.x.com/sawyerleeart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sawyerleeart
- Other: https://www.artstation.com/sawyerleeart
