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By: Holly DeWolf,
on 4/7/2015
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| ©Holly DeWolf |
"Let's stop the glorification of busy." - Guy Kawasaki
They say it's bad to stretch yourself too thin. They say it's bad to be busy all the time. But what if you are just constantly doing things that you love? All this busyness is not bad if you find yourself enjoying it so much that it does not feel like work.
I'm not a big fan of saying "I'm busy" all the time. It's one of those overused words we hear all to often. Instead, I pair words like 'being productive' and 'getting stuff done.'
Procrastination on the other hand, feels like your busy getting nothing done. So when the sock drawer gets organized after you've caught up on your favourite shows, that deadline is still there waiting for you. That work beacon will not stop until you give in and get it done.
Then there are the crazy days when the busyness diverts us away from what we like to do. When it starts to affect my sleep or downtime that's when I call a time out. Nothing derails me from being productive then not getting enough sleep. And yes, I believe in naps. I use them as a tool to recharge my busy brain. Mixing my day with kids, work, household duties and rest breaks means I do not get as much done as I'd like. On the other hand, I cannot compare myself to other illustrators or writers either. I wont. I have a different life. I have a different lifestyle that comes with my own needs.
At some point as adults we need to make peace with being busy. It’s part of being in this world. Some see it as an excuse. Others see it as comfortable avoidance. Then there are the rest of us that see it as something we have to constantly manage and accept.
It's so easy to get sucked into things that we do not enjoy. We all have to make a living. It's important to be busy having fun too. We are so hardwired to think we need to hustle and work our asses off so we can get everything we want. I agree with working hard but I also believe there will be a price to pay on the road to that kind of success. Hustling is good if you're enjoying life while enjoying what you do at the same time. It comes down to balance because it's never going to be 100%.
Lately, I have been eating, sleeping, and breathing ideas. But I am my ideas. It is all that I do outside of being Mum to my kids along with the daily household duties that come with that. Things are what they are.
One of the most powerful things I've ever read while in University was from the Tao Of Pooh on the theory of 'busy, be back soon' thinking:
"Our Busy Backson religions, sciences, and business ethics have tried their hardest to convince us that there is a Great Reward waiting for us somewhere, and that what we have to do is spend our lives working like lunatics to catch up with it. Whether its up in the sky, behind the next molecule, or in the executive suite, it's somehow always farther along than we are--just down the road, on the other side of the world, past the moon, beyond the stars..."
The idea is, the Bisy Backsons never reach their destination.
That's why I think the expression, "Get busy living, or get busy dying" is so powerful. We have to live a little to make this adult life work. Without a personal reward or having something to look forward to means we are just punching in and punching out. We are then just busy being busy!
I think happiness is a destination. I believe having a career and loving what you make is a destination. I also know that in order to get to those destinations we must take care of ourselves. We do not know how long we have. So, what is this destination? It's whatever you see and plan for yourself in the future. To me, it's not a palatial estate or a house full of stuff. It's balance, happiness, raising happy kids, contribution, education and of course a good body of work that I am proud of. Knowing I worked hard while enjoying the ride is definitely the right kind of busy for me!
Here are some great articles that you may like:
“Say, Pooh, why aren’t you busy?” I said.
“Because it’s a nice day,” said Pooh.
Recently I came across a photo online depicting a typical work day in bed with the kids. The photo had beautiful lighting. The hotel styled bedding looked hardly ruffled or messed. The bedroom was and tidy immaculate. They kids were dolled up and working quietly away on their side of the King side bed.
It was a fantastic photo. It could have been used in a magazine.
But as I sat in my bed looking at that photo, I couldn’t help but laugh a little. This photo was so unrealistic to me. Let’s face it, when freelancers work at home with the kids, our houses are anything but immaculate!
Lifestyle blogs and Pinterest spotlight photos like this showcasing how to live beautifully & organized. Supposedly they work at home with kids but everything is just too strangely perfect.
Meanwhile, in my little corner of the world, my house is busy. I have two kids and I have worked at home for many years. When I say busy, I mean things get done & things get made. Games are played. The WiiU gets loud from Mario Cart. The TV has a cartoon on and another and so on. Drawings get made. There are sometimes dishes in the sink. And my bed might still have books and papers on it.
I don’t do perfect. I prefer a house with toys, books, pictures on the wall, a fridge gallery, mismatched things, antiques with a history and a story to tell. I like colour, collections and stripes. I keep it interesting because I don’t do boring either.
I should mention that when I went to art school I did in fact, take photography too. I could create these stunning welcoming photos depicting a life of wondrous work at home splendour. But I don’t nor do I have the time. Although it is true illustrators live in a world of ideas and a type of visual make believe, I do not need my house to look that way. Simply put, my house is lived in. I do love galleries. I don’t wish to live in one.
Living where you work has a unique give and take dynamic. Working at home goes against the typical career structure. Our commutes are quick. Our breaks include throwing the laundry on and taking out the garbage. We set our own schedules. We sleep sometimes. Eating lunch during our work day is often scheduled or forgotten. Tea and coffee are a warm comforting friend on the frustrating days and helps us to keep going on the others. Our wardrobe is comfort casual from jeans to pj's. We live with distractions here, there and everywhere. We send out promotions and emails as we look for new projects while working on the ones we have. We promote online that should take 20 minutes but leads to a 2 hour mind melt! We start the morning with intentions of getting it all done. We get half of it done. We go to bed eventually and do it all over again the next day.
Bissell has a great slogan that says it like it is-"Life is messy. Clean it up!” I tell my kids this often to encourage them to clean as they go. If I didn’t there would be trails of paper, pencils, toys and clothes everywhere. Living where you work is a progression and an exercise in patience. Perhaps our illustrator work at home slogan could be-"Working at home is messy. Embrace the imperfection and get back to work!”
"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." - Arthur Ashe
• Dr. PH Martins Bleed proof white-This is the best paint to use along with gouache. It is a true white. Don't let the small jar size size fool you. This jar lasts a long time and if it dries out, you can re-work with some water.
• Loose leaf-I keep a heaping pile on my desk not only for myself but for the kids too. It's one of those basic things I use that is helpful for quick notes, doodles that is inexpensive to use.
• Black Gold brushes-I cannot express how good these brushes are when it comes to getting a clean line and the longevity of brush life.
• Windsor & Newton Gouache-This is my favourite paint. The pigment and quality can't be beat. They're a little pricey but they last awhile.
• Sennheiser headphones- Long days at my desk are best accompanied with good music or a really great podcast. For the moments I need to drift off because the kids are noisy or the cartoons, WiiU, or the minecraft music is making me sleepy, these bad boys really help!
• Obus forme back support-This back roll for my chair has been the best thing ever. Last year I threw my back out twice and recovery was challenging. Now I've incorporated better seating, yoga, exercise plus having this back support. It's worked wonders!
• A great view with natural light- Living in a valley that faces the Kennebecasis River has its advantages.
• Staedtler mechanical pencil-I love this pencil. It's slim and has the right weight. It's my pencil of choice for sketching out ideas and it's great on tracing paper.
• Tracing paper-I use this as much as loose leaf. It's the best for sketching and layering ideas. Invest in a good brand such as Canson that will stand up to erasing.
• Desk toys- Distraction, misdirection and fiddling is good for the stressful days and to give your eyes a break.
• Having a cat- I don't know how I got by without my little boy Toby. He is a great distraction, foot warmer and office buddy.
What are yours?
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| ©Holly DeWolf- warm up sketch |
"Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." - Lin YutangI leave things undone.
I never used to.
I was once one of those freelancers that had a long list of to-do's and did everything I could to finish everything that was jotted down. When I didn't, I felt disappointed.
"When you let go of what trying to get more of what you don't really need – which is what most of us spend our lives trying to get more of – an enormous amount of energy is freed up to make a difference with what you have. When you make a difference with what you have – it expands." - Lynne Twist
As we become seasoned illustrators we want more than our projects- we want moments of creative freedom, we want to work on what matters to us and have a life! We also want to sleep every once and a while and wear big people clothes. We want to leave the creative bubble to go outside with people and breathe in fresh air and see the sun too.
I stopped apologizing for being a busy parent long ago. I do not want to take on everything nor do I want to work 14 hours a day. I cannot always take on quick turn around projects. For some illustrators that schedule works and for the rest of us, we balance it all the best we can. No apologies required.
"Art is never finished, only abandoned." -Leonard da Vinci
I'm a firm believer that if you're finished then you're all done! I don't ever want that infinite imagination loop to ever stop. Because of that, I shelve projects and ideas often. I think its my way of storing ideas while constantly having something in the creative bank to look forward too. I never throw away a hint, a nudge or a notion. They're way too valuable to ignore!
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things… I am tempted to think that perhaps there are no little things."- Bruce Barton
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| ©Holly DeWolf |
New Years is a good time to clear the slate. If there's no change then it's business as usual and for many of us that does not sound like we are progressing. But we are often resistant. We trudge along hoping the usual things will suddenly get better and change on their on.
"Suffering usually relates to wanting things to be different from the way they are.” -Allan Lokos
I think there is something very fitting in blowing up the new year. Fireworks and champagne corks aside (even though both are great), I'm talking about blowing up routines. To be more specific, destroying and redesigning our comfort zones.
January is moving along at a fast pace as it usually does. I've already accomplished at exploding many things. In true human fashion, I almost chickened out a couple of times, I wavered, I swerved, I questioned my ideas and I felt nervous about the outcome. I talked myself out of it and then back into again then finally set out to do what had to be done.
Talk about a long process! Ahhh, but I was reminded this is a 40 something response. And supposedly this is what your supposed to do at this point in life. But I think there is a big difference. It's not a freak out, a bug out, or a melt down per se. It's what they call that 40's style confidence, instead.
It goes something like this: We now know how to make our own decisions. Our gut knows more than we do so we listen better. Our flaws and mistakes are actually assets. We know the power behind asking for what we want. We take no shit but we cannot hide from our feelings either. We know what's right. We know who we are so we've done this and done that and we will do more. Being in the middle means we can stay the course or change the creative program. We do not owe anyone any explanations about who we are.
There's safety in sandwiches. I love that expression because I always get a "huh" and "what does that mean" type response. Being in the middle is not so bad. It's neither hot nor cold. It's warm. It's neither old or young. It's the middle stage. To make it visual, it's the creamy peanut butter and jam filling!
This year I'd like to shake up my schedule, my routines, habits, and not be too comfortable while doing this and that and doing more.
I really never imagined as kid that it would take so long to get things done as an adult. I never saw the whole picture back then-just the end results from very busy big people. Clearly, as an adult life and work is still a mysterious process that has no end. It helps to have reminders to help along the ride.
1. Opposites are so attractive. I'm starting to be believe Seinfeld was onto something during the episode when George discovers doing the opposite gets him what he wants. What a surprise! Conclusion: our fears can be jerks!
2. You're gut is your guide! It's good to say no but do you notice we talk ourselves out of yes's and agree to annoying things because we feel politely obligated? Conclusion: Saying yes lets you try new things. Saying no saves your brain and saves you so much time. 3. No more excuses! Excuses are so habit forming that often we forget we're doing it. Conclusion: Making excuses is not a virus but they often spread like one. Pay attention to what your avoiding.
4. Keep your bull-shit filter on at all times.As we grow and learn we can spot nonsense a mile away and that is a good thing and a bad thing. Conclusion: know the difference but filter it because there no end to the madness.
5. Expectations can fool us. Life throws many curve balls and veers us off track daily, monthly and yearly. Conclusion: have a plan but allow room for the random stuff too.
6. We are all winging it! Let's call all this this mess making experiments. Conclusion: we're all amateurs but the good news is, we can do it confidently!
7. Negotiation is learned. As a freelancer this is a regular challenge that comes with time. It's not about winning all the time, it's not a fight and it's never perfect. Conclusion: eventually it becomes mutual meeting of the minds where both parties need to get something out of the deal. Freelancing after all is about building relationships and not about taking the money and running back to the studio.
8. Evaluate the rules.We impose rules on ourselves that we've learned growing up and from day to day living. Conclusion: Deviating from the rules opens up the hand of thought.
9. Time moves REALLy fast! Really really pay attention to how you use time and how much time your wasting each day. Conclusion: decide what is work time and what is downtime. Resting and relaxing is not wasteful but playing Mario cart for 4 hours could be.
10. Daydreams and distractions are good! Really pay attention to where your mind goes when you daydream. Conclusion: focus on what your brain is telling you. It says more than you think!
11. People are not really paying attention as much as you thought. People do not notice mistakes, downsides, or if you haven't posted on twitter for 5 days. Conclusion: MUM was right. We blow up our mistakes larger than they are, not everyone else!
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| © Holly DeWolf |
Making something from nothing REALLY is an unrecognized skill!
I've had many conversations with folks who are not in my industry describing the hidden world that happens between creative point A and creative point B. I like these conversations because it's a reminder to think about the process. These secret concentrated steps involve long hours, lots of coffee and so much experimentation. It's the magic that makes us illustrators and it really is an uncelebrated skill.
Think about everything a creative mind can make in a run of a day, a week, a month and year. Out of all of this effort produces a few projects that actually pay. The rest is a learning experience. All that extra stuff is set aside or used for other things. Making things daily is never a waste.
Typically, the final project gets the all the fame and recognition. We are so hardwired to focus on the end result that we forget to thrive and exist in the moment. When we do, we know we are progressing and contributing to this world however small it may feel sometimes. This commitment to making something from nothing is a do-it-yourself lifestyle that many misunderstand and sometimes envy. In the end, we follow our ideas because it's a path we really enjoy getting lost on every single day!
Like many, I've always thought that having a list of plans was the best way to jump start the New Year. My intention list I methodically created many times got lost on a very busy desk only to be rediscovered later on during that year. It always resulted in a disappointed feeling that time passed without successfully completed anything in January, February and so on and so on...
Lately I've celebrated New Year's with a big pile of shiny new books for 3 years now. This was an accidental tradition that has now become a habit. You have to admit, learning stuff is not a bad way to ring in 2015!
So many books so little time... and money! I discovered that ordering them early and setting them aside was a good hoarding technique. I research some, randomly pick others and find some on sale.
It's never my intention to read all these books at once, but to savour ideas, jot notes and take snippets from parts of books. Believe me, I'd love to just stop and read for more than 20 minutes at a time but life, kids and the pursuit of continual work always takes the focus.
Sometimes that 20 minutes is all I need. The benefits come with a break, a fresh brain, a good word or an idea to focus on, a mood shift, or a great new perspective I learn about myself. There's always something good that comes out of reading.
What's on the list so far:
• 2015 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market
• 2015 Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market
• Media Writing: a practical introduction- by Craig Batty & Sandra Cain
• The True Secret of Writing- by Natalie Goldberg
• The Art Of Non-Conformity- by Chris Guillebreau
• The Design Entrepreneur- by Steven Heller & Lita Talarico
• Punk Marketing- by Richard Laermer
• Packaging Your Crafts- by Viola E. Sutanto
• And for fun and inspiration, Vintage Patterns from the 1950's- by Marnie Fogg
Where do I find my books?
• Chapters/Indigo
• Book Depot
• My local library
I wish you a very successful, happy and healthy New Year! Happy creating!
~ Holly
This past October, I decided to participate the drawing event called Inktober for the first time. Normally, I sketch my own ideas but on a smaller and often a slower scale. The last time I participated in a group was during Illustration Friday's early days. Then life got busy, kids came along and that included many schedule changes.
As illustrators, we want to sketch randomly and produce self-directed work every day. Between client work and self promotion we can't always fit it into our already busy lives.
So, what's great about cutting loose and sketching for a whole month?
• It created momentum to keep sketching more and more. I'm addicted!
• I received great feedback and many new followers mainly on my blog, twitter and Instagram.
• Speaking of blogs, it's a great thing to post about each day.
• It feels like progress because its designed to be done on a regular basis.
• It gave me something to look foreword to.
• It broke up my schedule but in a good way.
• I got to sketch things I've put off for years or ideas I've always wanted to pursue.
• I got to stretch my noggin' while working on improving my concepts.
• It let me tackle problem areas in my drawing.
• I enjoyed planning out each drawing.
• I found it relaxing.
• It lightened my mood because I added humour to my ideas and the occasional play on words.
• I got to just enjoy getting back to basics- the freedom to just mess around with good ol' paper, pencils, pens, and erasers. Drawing with no pressure or deadlines felt great. It felt like childhood and that was the best part of all!
Happy creating!
"Sometimes being pushed to the wall gives you the momentum necessary to get over it!" -Peter de Jager
Isn't it amazing how momentum can feel like a momentous occasion?
We all have huge hopes for each new day. We wake up with a fresh head. We gather ourselves together in the morning and eventually make our way to our desk. Upon sitting down, our ideas should just come naturally, shouldn't they? You'd think so! We have all the equipment, tools and our creative brains on alert. So what's missing?
Momentum isn't about a kick ass studio space with stuff or the romantic notions we have about what our careers should look like. It's a process. It's a schedule mixed with ideas, doodles, messes, piles of paper, sticky notes and many good and not so good habits.
It's the secret spice to getting it all done. When we get momentum, we don't want it to stop. We want to bottle it and a do a dance around it. It feels that rare!
When we lose it, well... I don't need to remind you how bad that feels.
I've lost my momentum numerous times in the past 5 years. Being an adult comes with hiccups and earth shaking changes. I took some of it in stride and other times I just felt like being quiet. Those frustrating times were the moments that counted. These times forced me to make decisions and evaluate everything. Now I know momentum comes at certain times and in spurts.
"If you have the guts to keep making mistakes, your wisdom and intelligence leap forward with huge momentum." -Holly Near
One of the many concerns illustrators have is the worry of not being able to keep it all going. Freelancing is slippery state. Burnout, boredom and mistakes can be motivation killers. We dislike being derailed and we dislike the uncertainty it causes even more. People might notice that we are not a 100%! We could be found out ...because of course, we all need to appear that we are working 14 hours a day as illustrators. We worry so much about so many freelancing things.
"One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals."
-Michael Korda
Often we need to trick ourselves into momentum. It needs a reason and a purpose...and some cases, a theme! For me, I start small. I start with one thing. I start by creating a series of ideas. I sit down and do something...anything! By going against the grain, it often starts a new habit.
To me, this habit is defiance. On the bad days, I twist the mood a bit. I do the opposite or I just deliberately make a mess. That's fine with me as long as it's something.
I've learned momentum requires movement. Momentum needs to be coffee fueled, nudged and given a purpose. Momentum cannot be put off. It needs to be given the attention it deserves when it comes to visit. When life changes your plans (and it will) your brain will still force some ideas to come out. It's best to take advantage of that time even when excuses are easier to make than actually working.
Momentum requires belief and commitment. You need to believe it's all worth it and that you can produce great things. Commitment is the glue of momentum. I may have ups and downs as an adult, but the commitment remains as a reminder that I'm on a good path however skewed and rough it may be feel sometimes.
Happy making! And as a reminder: it's nablopomo or as many like to call it, national blog posting month. Happy blogging!
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| © Holly DeWolf- A body of work! |
"New ideas pass through three periods: 1. It can’t be done. 2. It probably can be done, but it’s not worth doing. 3. I knew it was a good idea all along!"
- Arthur C. Clarke
Isn't it amazing how our styles can change over the years?
Redesigning a website was a huge reminder to get tough on my work and select certain pieces that work better than others. This can be quite a process depending on how big that pile is. Quite frankly, it made my head hurt to narrow it down to one grouping.
Sitting in a Sentry safe is my body of work. As I reminisced over old projects, some of the work made me cringe and some of it made me what was I thinking. The good work makes me smile and the older work makes me feel wiser. The best part- it's all mine made with my two hands over the past 20 years.
When critiquing my body of work, I always remind myself to try and stay kind. As you know, we are ALWAYS our worst critics.
Quite simply, a body of work is a process:
1. It takes time and patience- I remember the days when I felt I wasn't getting anywhere and my concepts were still weak. Little by little, challenges were met and troublesome problems were figured out. I remember certain things like noses, hands and certain objects like bikes were hard to get my pencil around. Over time, I learned methods and techniques to make it easier. I still hit hard spots every once and a while but now I can maneuver the work a lot faster than before.
"Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience." - Hyman Rickover
2. It can take a lifetime- A portfolio is a constant process of eliminating and adding work. Style is everything in our industry and keeping our work out there and current is a full time job. I say keep the bad work. Look at it often and let it be a reminder of how far you're come. If it's really terrible, see it as a challenge by re-doing it so you can say you mastered that idea!
"Believe in something larger than yourself. . . Get involved in the big ideas of your time." - Barbara Bush
3. Reinvention- We must grow and change as illustrators. We need feedback even if it feels harsh at times. Rejection is part of the process and reinvention is no different. Reinvention means to grab something new, to make major changes or improvements to your work, remake or redo it completely or make it useful in a new way.
"Ideas can be life-changing. Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea." - Jim Rohn
4. Education- Learning daily is more than just a motto that I live by. It also prevents boredom and the general routine working at home creates. Education is important to me because I am a sponge and I like collecting knowledge even if I do not use it right away- a plethora of useful/useless knowledge is good for you I say! Education is important because I'd like to teach in the future. I've made a lifetime out of sharing ideas and I have no plans to stop anytime soon.
"A mind that is stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimension."
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
5. Practice makes better-A continual process of building a body of work is to practice everyday. I make doodles, sketches and concepts daily. Some of these doodles wont make it to the illustration stage. The ones that do are made into client work or self directed work. It's all part of the building process.
"Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced." - Swami Vivekananda
6. Creative confidenceDeveloping a sense of creative self can take a lifetime depending on your personality and the types of work you get. The feedback, community and support you have makes a huge difference too. Sharing ideas has always helped me grow and that kind of education is priceless all by itself!
"Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it’s done right."- Walt Disney
7. Dry spells- There are many things that can prevent the work from happening from burnout to the challenges life throws at us. Early on, these set back were not welcomed at all. Now I see the downtime as a mini vacation to put my efforts elsewhere. Yes, I'm a recovered workaholic and I believe in stepping away more and more as I get older. I used to be on 24/7 and I can tell you it leads to burnout and creative restlessness. Dry spells are your brains way of telling you something. It typically means, you need a break, a new routine or a vacation!
"My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living."
- Anais Nin
8. Certain themes and trends-As illustrators, we are going to nurture what interests us at any given moment. We are going to be constantly looking at what the market is doing, what other illustrators are doing, what's trending and what the public is drawn to. I love working with themes because it challenges me. Trends also challenge me, but I try add my own spin on it or create the opposite to what is popular!
"Good ideas are common – what’s uncommon are people who’ll work hard enough to bring them about." - Ashleigh Brilliant
9. Experimentation- Constant mess making is really important even if it does not lead to anything other than a full garbage can. I take my daily creative hour pretty seriously. It's a nice time to just make something without a plan, without a client, free of judgment while creating something without a purpose. It's liberating!
"An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all."- Oscar Wilde
10. So many mistakes-Let's face it, we are all amateurs at some point. We blow things up and some projects go bad and that's okay. Illustration is not about being perfect because it's not a race or something that just suddenly ends. If we were perfect at it, we would get bored of it. There would be no progression, learning curves, forks in the road or challenges to it. Perfect means done. To stay creative is to actively act on ideas and to never be finished.
"Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one’s ideas, to take a calculated risk – and to act." - Andre Malraux
One more: "An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied." - Arnold H. Glasgow
Thanks for reading. Let's keep the conversation going!
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| © Holly DeWolf- Coffee Mug Doodles |
This week I've come across a a mix of that includes exercise, good advice, a new photo gadget, reasons to be self employed, the love of fonts, classic animators, a grammar lesson and a call for submissions for an upcoming book.
Great quote of the week: “Don't give up! It's not over. The universe is balanced. Every set-back bears with it the seeds of a come-back.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience.
• Maira Kalman on Curiosity, Courage, Happiness, and the Two Keys to a Full Life“What protects you in this world from sadness and from the loss of an ability to do something? … Work and love.”
• I'm an elitist (You might be as well)-From Seth Godin. "Elites aren't defined by birth or wealth, they are people with a project, individuals who want to do work they believe in, folks seeking to make an impact. Averaging down everything we do so that it becomes cheap and ubiquitous and palatable to all is a hollow goal."
• How exercising can make us happy! -From Elephant Journal. “Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.”- Plato
• It’s Amazing How Much of the World You Can See In Just One Minute. • 42 Successful People Share The Best Advice They Ever Received
• The narrative clip automatic camera & app- could this be the nest best way to show your process?
• 55 reasons to be self employed! • The science behind fonts (and how they make you feel)
• 10 Thoughts for illustrators.
• For those moments when you feel frustrated or just wanting to give up. If this little piggy can surf then we can do anything! • The gorgeous reality of not being liked by everyone!•
The CALARTS class that created a renaissance in animation. •
Video- Fix your grammar!
• Book submission: Design Funny-A Graphic Designer's Guide to Humour. Deadline in March 25th. • Webinar: A Webinar: Researching the Right Agent, Editor, and/or Publishing House.• A bit a creative Karma to pass along: I was asked by Stéphane Lauzon to post his submission to the Aribus image contest being held in Montreal. The Expo+ concept is a contest, in collaboration with the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), to mark the deployment of its new bus shelters. Please vote!
Thanks for reading my blog. Here on Diary Of An Illustrator, I love to share advice, tips, and great information. If you have articles you'd like me to include in an upcoming Coffee & Links, drop me a line at holly[at]hollydewolf[dot]com. You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or on Illustration Notes.
By: Holly DeWolf,
on 2/24/2014
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Can dried up old gouache be saved?
Try this easy process! |
To start off the week, I've decided to do a little studio house keeping. I guess that pre-Spring cleaning phase is setting in. I found a lot of dried up gouache that needed some attention The easiest way to bring gouache back to life is with items from the kitchen:
• a butter knife• a small spoon• a pestle and mortar• warm water• scissors or utility knife• bowls to place the old gouache into
Gouache is a chalky paint and dries up over time for many reasons: paint gets into the grooves of the cap which prevent it from a tight seal, the paint caps and tubes crack plus constant temperature changes in your studio space can alter your paint over time.
Gouache from a container: The first step is to scrape the dried gouache out of the container with a butter knife. After you remove all the paint, wash the jar completely so the cap and jar rim is free of from paint residue. Set your paint aside in a bowl.
Gouache from a tube: It's good to have an extra paint container for the gouache you'll remove from a tube. You'll have to cut down the side to get at the dried gouache. From here, scrape the paint out with a knife an put it aside in a bowl.
Now comes the fun part! Once you have all the dried paint scraped out, now you get to make a fine gouache powder with the pestle and mortar. This will get messy when you add the warm water and begin to mix it all together. Only add small amounts to make the desired thickness. From here, put the new paint back into a container with a small spoon. Seal it with a cap. Clean your pestle and mortar and start reworking another dried up colour. Now you have new paint that is ready to use!
This is no guarantee it wont dry up again, but it does save you money. Gouache is expensive so it's totally worth saving your favourite paint colours.
By: Holly DeWolf,
on 2/7/2014
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By: Holly DeWolf,
on 2/5/2014
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It just occurred to me that I have not introduced to you my new studio buddy. Meet Toby. He is our rescue kitten. When we got he was not at all well so we were not sure if we were going to be able to keep him. But, he has proven to be a tough and resilient cat so he will definitely fit in fine here. He does not meow. He is good at catching red laser lights. He came equipped with cloaking abilities-he disappears for hours! We just stop looking for him sometimes and wait til he reappears. He is a bed hog. And we have currently taught him to sit. Best part: it's nice to have another heartbeat around when the kids are in school plus he's cuddly too!
By: Holly DeWolf,
on 2/5/2014
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| © Holly DeWolf- A month of making! |
January had a slow start for me. Besides making coffee and making my driveway visible again and again, I did manage to get some work done. The month of January I concentrated on:
- a new book. I'm currently working on the concept and the table of contents. - creating a podcast with designer/ illustrator Brian Bowes. We are continuing with our Creative Coffee concept. I'm looking forward to chatting about illustration once again. - getting back in to blogging. - taking online classes to refresh my skills and to gain new skills. Best part: I can do them at my own pace on my own time when it's quieter. - messing rough with ideas for a couple of children's books. - some self directed work to keep fresh. - a total reorganization of my studio. I like to de-clutter after New Year's. It's a great way to start fresh. - and adopting a new exercise routine. I have now added yoga to my day. - and getting my new website underway. Great part: it will be assessable on all platforms- computer, phone and tablet.
We've also gone loom crazy in the house as well. My two daughters have been loving their new hobby especially on the storm days. Speaking of storms, we are currently having another winter blast today. Looks a good excuse to stay in and make things!
By: Holly DeWolf,
on 1/30/2014
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| © Holly DeWolf- Coffee Mug Doodles |
How's everyone's 2014 going so far? Keep in mind Chinese New Year is tomorrow so you can ring in some fresh new year well wishes. The year is still fresh and there's much to do and create. Throw some learning in there and you have lots to keep you busy. This week's links include a how to video, a sound bite, art tips, productivity hacks, and some really interesting articles on how to deal with challenging conversation and how things go viral. As a nice bonus I've added a free class that is being offered. Happy reading. Happy making and have a great week!
Great quote:"There is no great genius without a mixture of madness." -Aristotle
• How to not get discouraged by the success of others.
By: Holly DeWolf,
on 10/10/2013
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| © Holly DeWolf- Coffee Mug Doodles |
Creative coffee talk with Brian & Holly: • Creative Coffee-this is a new ongoing podchat to check out from illustrator/designer Brian Bowes and myself called Creative Coffee. Here we discuss actively developing creativity and finding inspiration, to help support you in your creative endeavours. Our first tip, enjoy a nice cup of coffee.
For you iphone users:Best cases from Mashable:http://mashable.com/2013/10/04/grip-cases-iphone/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link
Storytelling tips:•Print Magazine: Storytellinghttp://www.printmag.com/editors-picks/graphic-design-inspiration-storytelling/
•Pixar's Rules Of Story telling:http://aerogrammestudio.com/2013/03/22/the-story-spine-pixars-4th-rule-of-storytelling/
Good advice: • 5 Ways to be a Happier Creative by Andy J. Millerhttp://www.creativepeptalk.com/post/45194261744/5-ways-to-be-a-happier-creative-we-all-know-the And for something fun and Halloweenie to get the ideas going:• Guillermo del Toros opening for The Simpsons Halloween episode for 2013: http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/guillermo-del-toros-opening-for-the-simpsons-halloween-episo
• The 2013 Annual AGM Pumpkin carving contest:http://agoodson.com/pumpkin/
• Instructables Halloween:http://www.instructables.com/halloween/And something silly:• Is it Ikea or metal? http://ikeaordeath.com/
There is this thing that exists behind your projects: it's called your life.
Life has a funny way of rejecting scheduled things in order to press that random button. We have the best intentions with our clients and our projects but things happen anyway.
Simply put, life spins madly on despite what you have planned!
Cautionary Time
Many illustrators such has myself work we live. It's a delicate balance of living, work, laundry, sleep, cooking and downtime. If you've got kids or pets then that changes up the dynamic in a huge way. Art school does not prepare us for this kind of thinking and life juggling. Sadly, we have to learn it by trial and error.
Whenever I get a project, I factor in 2 to 3 more days beyond the estimated due date. This is my own safety time-call it a blue print for disaster. If you do not give yourself extra time, things could pop up such as:
• getting sick or a loved one getting sick.
• mistakes or alterations.
• your client may need changes as you progress along.
• you could run out of materials or hard drive space.
• the power could go out.
• your internet go could go down.
• you could have unexpected guests.
• you could have car troubles, computer issues and the list could go on...
It goes without saying that you should prepare for the worst but always hope the creative best when it comes to your projects.
By giving yourself this time it saves you stress, frustration, sleepless nights while not having to explain yourself to a client. It's freelance peace of mind you are going for here. If all goes well, you might be able to turn in the project early before the due date and still have time to make revisions. Or you could take that time to rest for the next project.
Rememeber: "Chance favours the prepared mind." -Louis Pasteur
Instead of under promising and over delivering try planning then committing so you can deliver your work in a timely manner.
"What is down will go up. At the same time, you have to be prepared for what is up to go down." -William Shatner
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart.” ― Erma Bombeck
I cannot think of anyone who enjoys waiting. It's one of the downsides to being an adult. We wait in line, we wait for meals, we wait for red lights and so on. When it comes to your career and your happiness while in it, we shouldn't wait. It's extremely liberating when we stop waiting for others to help us, notice our work or promote us.
Too often I receive emails from illustrators telling me they are waiting for this to happen or for their portfolio to be just right or an agent to take them on. This waiting tends to put them in a holding pattern. If they become stuck for too long, nothing happens, no income comes in and they begin questioning their work.
The internet is a fickle place and the illustration industry is not exempt. We could stay up all night worrying about it while feeling like we do not measure up to the worlds idea of what is viral worthy imagery. Or we could just keep making work and start taking charge of our own careers despite what others think.
Being in the illustration industry is one continual experiment. We experiment with our work, style, work hours, types of clients, our tolerance level, our energy and our persistent nature to keep creating.
It's in us to make things. It's how we're made. It's not complicated!
We've all heard this expression: If you want it done right sometimes you have to bite the bullet and do it yourself.
I think what makes a really great illustrator is one who sees themselves as a business, an idea generator and a creative entrepreneur. This also means going out on a limb by going in the other direction. The reality is, not all illustrators will get an agent. Some illustrators choose not to have one and some do not offer what some big agents need.
I was once told that it was more likely to get hit by lighting then to get an agent. I personally have no idea if that is true or not. What I can say is this: do not judge your style, your experience or your success with that kind measuring stick. You'll drive yourself crazy!
Being independent does have it's upsides! When you get a moment, make a list.
So in the meantime while you feel you are waiting, just keep making. Time does not stop when you're in limbo so you might as well use that time for good.
Go make something. Sketch an idea. Make notes. Create a great playlist to work to. Go for a walk. Connect with other illustrators. Join a group. Do something for someone without expecting anything in return. Be weird again. Make some mistakes. Experiment with your ideas. Enjoy the process.
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| © Holly DeWolf- Drifting |
Being lazy is important. You read it right- laziness is good.
What kind of laziness am I talking about? The kind that allows you to shut off, be quiet with your ideas that takes your creative brain off the clock.
So here I am on my deck reading articles. The hummingbird keeps coming over to eat his sugar water right beside me. Three dog walkers just went by. Crickets are buzzing. The water across from the house is like glass. I hear a boat going by. There is a Deer to my left, by the step looking at me cautiously.
It's nothing but it's also something.
Perhaps doing nothing is stopping and looking around once and awhile. These observations are your little piece of get away time. You know, the stuff we are often to busy to notice. I once wrote that being quiet lets the good stuff in. My best out of thin air thoughts occur during this time.
I also wrote that sometimes we need to step outside of ourselves in order to see. Come to think of it, I think the reverse is true as well.
Is it introversion I'm talking about? No. I think being quiet is good for all creative walks of life types. We don't always do it. I think it because many of us suffer from FOMO... fear of missing out. It's an affliction that set up shop in some of our lives from all this social networking stuff. When we stop for awhile it's lets us realize we are missing ourselves and our whimsical creativeness that gets lost in our scheduled lives.
Confession: I have over two weeks a year to be in this world by myself without my kids. It's an odd time. It throws me off my schedule. In fact, I had Cheezies for supper the other night. I watched crap on TV and I took a walk at 5 am. Why? Because I could! I also organized my house. I do this during the summer time-call it a late Spring cleaning.
Confession #2, my house is so organized that if the power went out, I could find whatever you needed in the dark. Yup, I'm THAT girl!
Odd you say? Sure, why not. But maybe it's a little bit of weirdness working it's way back in because its needs to be there. So yay for weirdness-glad it's back. I'm am illustrator not a 9 to 5 girl. I didn't want just any job- I wanted something different so I made it up. Freelance is like that... sort of made up in a way because we all have different creative needs, households, lives to live and best peak times to create. Freelance isn't about working for free as some non illustrators believe. It's about being free to just do what we do best but on your time without the constraints of an actual boss over our shoulder. It also means allowing some much needed laziness to restore the balance so we can get back to what we do best.
It may sound boring but I'm certainly not bored. Enjoy your Sunday. There is a storm heading our way. Another great distraction to relax to.
By: Holly DeWolf,
on 7/10/2013
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It's true, I'm too school for cool during the summer. For me, summers are for learning. While most people are vacationing and taking trips, I take time to try to update my skills. It's a very short opportunity of time so I do as much as I can before school starts again.
Don't get me wrong, vacations are good to take and I do take mini ones from time to time. For me, summer is my time to work on things. The kids get to play and relax and then it's my turn to go back to creative school!
This summer I'm learning about the basics of Adobe Illustrator, updating my illustration skills, working on doing some pod-chats, updating my website and improving my creative writing skills. If I have enough time, I'll try to get my driving learners permit. Better late than never!
Another thing that I am doing is combining this love for learning with my kids. It never occurred to me until recently that my kids are my closest art community and my biggest fans. We started a regular theme that we illustrate and research called What We Learned Today. Everyday (unless something summer-ish comes up like the beach or a road trip) we pick a theme they want to learn about. From there we research it and illustrate it. The benefits of this combined creativity:
• They get to do learn something new.
• It gives me a chance to illustrate something new and different.
• It keeps the creativity machine going.
• It's great family time.
• The girls get to make a fun decision everyday on what to learn next!
Illustrators never stop learning and so I'm definitely in the right career. What new things you are learning and working on this summer?
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| © Coffee Mug Doodle July 8th |
It's been a really hot summer! Finally today we got some cloudy rainy relief so it's good day to post on the blogs. When it's hot, what things do you do to keep productive in all this heat? Reading great articles is a good start! The following links focus on resumes, marketing mojo, rethinking failure, storytelling and your audience. As a bonus, I've attached an mp3 illustration conversation with illustrator Brian Bowes where we chat about creativity, Seth Godin, motivation and other things. • Reframe how you think about failure by changing its definition from LifeHacker
• Morning Gorgeous- the designer Charlotte Hancock about this positive creative banner project.
• 100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design From Brain Pickings.
• The latest How Conference- This 52-page download is packed with HOW magazine articles from 11 of the most popular HOW Design Conference speakers.
• 30 Creative Resume Designs.• Remember to respect your audience!
*And as a BIG bonus- I've attached a illustration conversation with Brian Bowes and myself. Have a listen to some Creative Coffee!
"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." -Dr. Seuss
Inspiration. I find this concept immensely interesting. I think true inspiration happens when we step back and really notice what is happening around us. Tuning out the noise, the daily mishaps and busyness is something I am focusing on lately. When we step outside of ourselves to really see-that's when we let the good stuff in.
Finding the humour in things and looking for the positives is a good practice even though it's often hard to do. This thought shift has really been helpful for me. I guess it comes down to the little things like this:
• We had a Deer in our yard last night that just stood there in the poring rain chewing on grass. He didn't care it was raining. He just stood there for over 30 entertaining minutes and my kids found this hilarious.
• During the day I can hear our neighbours horse neighing When he does this it sounds like he telling us he still there, "Hey, I'm in this field and I could use a juicy apple right now."
• Waking up to paper, crayons and markers all over the living room floor is inspiring. This tells me good ideas are happening here. It just says productive free learning all over it.
• Cartoons remind me that life isn't as serious as we adults feel it is or in the habit of feeling like it is. Gravity is defied, time is no object, no one gets old, and animals talk. It's all about being in the now, the ridiculous and escapism in a good way.
• Creative underdogs are really inspiring. They just do, make and keep it going despite lack of notoriety or social networking fame. Not caring what others think is liberating. We worry too much.
• Sometimes true wisdom can be found on t-shirts. Short, sweet and to the witty point really amuses me sometimes.
• I love when one idea leads to 20 more. That's a great feeling.
• I love when my kids cannot wait to show me what they made. Their happiness and enthusiasm is so contagious. Sadly we lose that fearlessness as adults an we end up questioning every idea and the things we make.
• Stepping away from the computer, reading books, sketching and doing something old school is really good for my brain. It's a short period of time where I feel like I am sticking it to the man!
• I love the busy sound of pencil crayons on paper. It's fast and determined. If free creativity had a sound, that would be it for me.
• I love stumbling upon a new song that makes me wonder how I never heard it before now. I love that surprising feeling.
• The mist moving over the mountains in the morning has a very relaxing mesmerizing effect. Almost like a lava lamp.
• The first cup of coffee in the morning when the house is quiet is the best. It's just about me and my relationship with a fine homemade cup of caffeinated love!
• Great conversations, although rare for some of us, can motivate and level out creativity on the days when I've been in the creative house bubble too long. A real meeting of the minds is important. This positive energy can help you feel you are part of something bigger than what goes on in your studio.
What inspires you?
"Imagination and fiction make up more than three-quarters of our real life." -Simone Weil
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Holly,
I love this post. You are so right! Thanks for your wise words and encouragement.
Thanks Dana. All the best. Cheers!
Excellent words of wisdom. Thank you for sharing.
Great post. I just finished my first novel and I related to what you had to say, too.