Get organised
Each month, members of the Illo Guild are answering a question together, and this month we’re responding to: How do you make something great on a tight deadline?
As a new illustrator, this is still quite a challenge for me, but through completion of assignments from My Year of Art School and, most importantly, weekly reflection on what I have achieved; what I plan to do and what I have learnt - the following has had a direct impact on my ability to complete work on time (or not):-
A tidy workspace. I am a messy person. Have always been and always will be. But a messy desk makes a messy mind. Additionally if my ‘things’ are not in plain sight, I forget that I own them and often end up buying 2 or more of everything. So I bought clear acrylic drawers and organised all my arty materials into categories that meant something to me. I also put huge sticky notes on all of my closed wooden drawers in the shed for printmaking supplies, rulers and fabrics. It might sound simple but I have been hoarding my craft supplies for the best part of 30 years and it took me 2 full days.
Recognise your energy levels or biorhythms. I used to try and work late in the evening, after the small people had gone to bed, which meant working from 10-12am. I became very cranky, fell asleep to podcasts and developed low vitamin D levels from my day job. Evening time is much more productive for me to write lists and make plans, even sketch out ideas once the chores are completed. But getting an early night and starting a piece of work at 5am BEFORE the little people get up, is a much sweeter place for me. In the winter, I often switch to textile work or linocut which does not require such good light and helps me combat SAD.
Folders and sketchbooks. What fodder can you reuse and recycle, if you can remember where is it stored and saved, that is! Disclaimer: This is one of my my personal fails, since I use many sketchbooks and 3 electronic devices and none of them are synched. But if they were, and I had developed what Projects Managers call a ‘Configuration Management System’, with appropriate naming conventions for files, then all my images would be saved in a particular format alluding to date, style, medium and subject matter within the title. This way, if you have already sketched the client’s request in a number of different ways, you can draw on this knowledge. It is also a great idea to save those favourite hand made textures, digital brushes and mark making techniques which start to make your work recognisable. Spoiler alert - I used to be a Project Manager and shame on me, have not done this yet.
Favourite medium. As a perpetual student and collector of many paints and pens, I struggle to chose one type of medium to work with, but for a fast piece of good work this is not the time to experiment. During a recent portfolio review, I was shocked to discover that a favoured piece of work was one which I had completed under time pressure, but with absolutely no preconceived ideas on what was expected from the tutors and more importantly what my peer group would be providing for their assignment. It was simply me, picking a favourite pen and just getting to work. Since that first piece I had strayed far and wide into all sorts of unchartered territory. I described it recently to my fellow Illo Guilders as trying on a number of suits, when all along your bohemian skirt fitted just fine. I am now in the process of recreating my favourite MATS assignments in this style, which was a simple black or grey outline, with earthy washes of watercolour (the pan of colours dates back to my teenager years). Interestingly in the same review, my coloured pencil work was also celebrated, which was just as surprising (my pencils were bought in my teenage years and since discontinued!)
Research process. Yet another of my ‘development areas’ as we like to call it in the 360 personnel reviews within corporate life (this is a nice way of saying you suck at it). Do you have a tried and tested method for researching the task; making sketches; planning thumbnails; deciding composition; choosing a colour palette; refining the sketch before moving to final and manipulating digitally/saving? Me neither - yet. I have done all of the above in the wrong order many times, but I keep going because eventually I will carve that neural pathways that says ‘Hey, you wanna get this project done fast? Follow me!’
Props. Also known as A Nice Cup Of Tea and good lighting. Since it has transpired that I am a high maintenance artist, I also require a burning candle; some sweets; a brilliant podcast (my favourites include Margo Tantau Windowsill Chats and AndyJPizza Creative Pep Talk) and comfy knickers. Not. Even. Joking.
Do you understand the assignment? I mean, it’s a given. But really…do you? Tom Froese talks about doing Research, creating Studies and then developing your Concept. That is to say you need to take a journey from reading the assignment to reaching your result of interpretation. Recently I took a Skillshare class with Christine Nishiyama and she recommends that rather than draw the anatomy, draw the gesture; rather than draw the body, draw actions and rather than draw things, draw the action and the story. You can access 1 month free with Skillshare using this link. I think Skillshare give me points in return. You can be sure I will be using those points to get better at naming my files and interpreting assignments in interesting ways.
Next month Illoguild will consider another creative question. In the meantime, let me know what other props and processes might apply to a messy creative becoming more organised and ultimately, turning around work faster.