Takeover Tuesday with Jessica Herrera
This week for our Takeover Tuesday, we sat down with Jessica Herrera; a freelance 3D character artist based in Australia who swears that a Herrerasaurus is a real dinosaur.
Q&A with Jessica Herrera
Read time: 5 min
Illustration by Jessica Herrera
Why did you choose your profession? How did you go about starting out?
Well, to be honest, when I was younger I planned on being in the science field. I hated computers as I never understood them well, but I always loved drawing and the arts. With support from my family and teachers, I decided to try out digital technology. It was only in my second year at university that a friend recommended I enroll in a 3D class. I hated it. Barely scraped a passing grade. It was the first time I had done so badly in a course. That led me to learn on my own time using tutorials I could find online. This was great for me as I could do it all at my own pace. Though my 3D career started with passion projects, I slowly got recognized for my work professionally!
What do you love most about what you do? What would you change?
I love freelancing! I have had a lot more exciting challenges that I usually never would have gotten the chance to do when I was full-time. It’s empowering to be able to pick and choose what I work on. Basically, I’m doing my hobby as a career.
“I’m doing my hobby as a career.”
Tell me about a woman you look up to and why.
Is it corny to say, my mum? There are so many amazing women in the creative industry, but she’s the most influential woman to me. Though she may not have a creative career, my mum definitely has an eye for design. When they say your mum knows best, she really does! I can’t say she has directly influenced my creativity, but she has guided me to be a strong, independent woman who has worked hard to get where I am now!
Illustration by Jessica Herrera
What’s the best career (or life) advice you have ever received?
Don't compare yourself to everyone else. It's bad for your mental health and can sometimes hinder you from finding your own path in life. I know social media can make you feel as if you have to consistently post or make art a certain way, as it seems everyone prefers that. The algorithms definitely favor those who post more often, so just make what you like to make and not what you think everyone else likes to see. Not to discredit the amazing work people with large followings have made on socials. Just pointing out the algorithms nowadays are very cutthroat.
Do you have any advice for young women first starting out in this industry?
When I first started, I found it uncomfortable to voice my ideas or concerns in a project. I still can get a little shy, but over the years I have had more confidence. I think that can go for anyone who is inexperienced. With time, things get less daunting. It’s only human to sometimes be afraid to voice opinions to other people, but don't let anyone walk over you if you can't find the words in a workplace.
Do you currently prioritize your work-life balance? If so, how?
I do tend to spend a little TOO much time on my PC. On some jobs, when I am having fun, I can work overtime because time fly's by so fast. Despite that, I have a lot of hobbies outside of my PC, so they do a good job of keeping me away from the screen. Being freelance, I can have some time between jobs to do whatever it is I like.
“don't compare yourself to everyone else. It's bad for your mental health and can sometimes hinder you from finding your own path in life.”
What barriers are women still facing in the industry? How do you think they can go about breaking them down?
These barriers can vary from person to person. I know some that have had no troubles in their motion graphics career. On the other hand, I know others that get underpaid or walked over in the workplace. I myself have had some ups and downs. Some instances I fought against, some I didn't have the energy to do so. Some of these people don't realize what they have said or done as being sexist until you tell them. It’s a hard thing to bring up in the workplace. It also sucks that as a woman, we’re usually the ones who have to bring it up. If you are a man and see a woman feeling uncomfortable, please help them. Sometimes when being the victim, it can be hard to speak out.
The biggest barrier I personally have faced has been not getting paid the same as other men in the workplace. Knowing a male counterpart was being paid 20% more than I when doing the exact same job was heartbreaking. In this case, I was very vocal to my HR manager in the performance review process. It felt petty fighting to have the same pay as others, trying to prove my worth when they had given no negative feedback about my performance. Only then to be knocked back and punished for knowing what my coworker was being paid. My choice was to leave after failing to prove my worth, funnily enough, when I went to leave they gave me the raise I had asked for. Since going freelance, I have not had any problems. I state my rate and most studios and clients understand.
“knowing a male counterpart was being paid 20% more than I when doing the exact same job was heartbreaking.”
Illustration by Jessica Herrera
Where do you go for inspiration?
Everything can spark inspiration; whether it is an animation I watch, to the way my fish swims in the tank. Also, I am very active on social media platforms so I see a lot of the amazing art and designs my friends in the industry are posting. I like to have a good chat with people online, I am sure people can relate to that working from home these days.
Do you have any closing advice, points, or statements you would like to make?
Have fun in what you do, if your day job isn't what you love, make what you love in your own time and maybe someone will see that and hire you for it. It seemed to work for me! But, everyone's story is different.