Along with stellar artists Steve Brodner and Yuko Shimizu, I was recently recognized for what could be called this country’s greatest lifetime achievement award for illustration. On September 26th my work was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. It’s an indescribable honor and a feeling that has yet to sink it roots into my world.

I thought I’d share the experience with you all as I think there’s experience here you can glean.

One of the highlights of the evening for me, besides having my sister, Pat, Irene Gallo, and close friends to share the event with, was a visit from several crews of astronauts that put together a special video to say congratulations. They all turned to show the audience they were wearing the individual patches that I designed for each of their missions. Then a photo appeared of my latest mission patch in the cupola window of the space station.

Gobsmacked!

Perhaps the most excitement I have over gaining this prestigious honor was the chance to sign the drum at the Society! It’s a special moment for all the inductees who manage to still be alive when inducted. That very same drum is signed by Norman Rockwell, Dean Cornwell, Mark English, Bernie Fuchs, Mort Drucker, Jack Davis, and friends like Mark Summers, Peter deSeve, David Grove, Gary Kelley, and many others.

Signing the drum…in front of friends and colleagues…felt like— home.

If you’re thinking you’d love to achieve this recognition for your own work, I understand. Early on, whenever I would look at the list of incredible artists on the Hall of Fame list, I thought it sounded like something I wanted, too. Not for me though—for the work. But one doesn’t set out to achieve a recognition like this. Similar to trying to win the lottery, it doesn’t do any good to strive for the honor and leave your work-focus behind. The devotion and attention to your own work is what’s necessary to put it in the spotlight, to gain acceptance and respect for your efforts. Your odds increase when you put that focus into your training.

Remember you are already original. It’s important to be authentic to that.

I’ve watched students and artists all my life waiting for their ‘big break’ so they can then begin to do incredible work. They wanted to wait until the Finger of Fate comes out of the sky and taps them as the ‘next big thing.’  That approach didn’t seem plausible to me, even in art school. Instead of diving into the varied and frustrating struggle to build their skill, artists would rather hope to get lucky.

Students have come to me and told me they wanted to ‘leap frog’ over all that technical learning and get right to the creative painting part. I get it. It makes me laugh—but I’m laughing with them. You see, I felt the exact same way. But every time I tried to avoid the training, it came rushing back to slap me upside the head. When I realized what was happening to me, I had to laugh again—I finally understood: the shortest way to ‘get to the creative part’ of painting well, is the training.

How do you build those skills? How do you carry forward in an environment that treasures gifts over learning? Here’s some ideas that may help you stay on track for your development.

I’ve spent my career laser-locked on the work itself, the day to day effort, the focus of getting better at drawing in order to make my ideas easier to express. Skillful drawing allows you to work your way out of any problem you might encounter when designing a piece. Since painting is honestly just drawing with a brush, it allows you to make better, finished images. Put your focus into being a kick-ass drawer first.

To gain a personal look to your work, certainly study the painters around you that are a part of your time, your generation, but also pay attention to the incredible quality and skill of artists who’ve worked and expressed their ideas decades before you were born, from across the country and around the world. The artists’ work you’re drawn to are a beacon pointing you towards your core interests.

I’ve certainly been influenced by award-winning artists I was lucky to meet and learn from, but I’ve also been inspired by hundreds of artists who lived and died long before I even picked up a brush. From illustrators to fine artists to animators, comic artists, sculptors, digital artists, cartoonists, filmmakers, photographers, and craftsmen. I noticed a consistency to the kind of images I was attracted to and I paid attention to that. It was a signal to me that I could grasp, instead of stumbling about trying to come up with what I thought was necessary.

Remember you are already original. It’s important to be authentic to that.

But what is most important is today. Live your time. Paint your ideas from your perspective and don’t worry about being “ahead of your time.” Stay true to who and what you are now, and embrace your influences no matter where they come from.

One day, I hope my work will influence young painters far into the future. But for now, I want to surround myself with the great painters of this world, in this time.