How to get back to work after a break
Each month Illoguild answer a question together and this time we are discussing how we get back into the groove for creating after a seasonal break.
It can be tough to get started. Where to begin? It has been over 3 weeks of Christmas holidays, the light is low and January feels like it might last for 46 years. Every year I experience Seasonal Affective Disorder to a greater or lesser extent and don’t feel truly energised until March. So for me, January and February are very much about accepting, reflecting and planning with a view to bursting into life with the new Spring bulbs and cold blue skies in March. This is my tried and tested method.
Analyse - what went well and what could have been improved last period?
It could seem counterintuitive but often I start with a list of unfinished business. Just writing it out feels like owning up to the missed opportunities and helps me decide whether to roll those items forward or drop them. But then alongside this, I also list out all the accomplishments - the learnings, successes, even purchases that have been made to push my business along. For the past 3 years I have used The Makers Yearbook and it has a user-friendly format for list-making creatives.
Plan for success - Grab a fresh calendar and mark in the next period of school year commitments, holidays and work schedule.
My brain works left to right like a project plan. Last year my calendar was printed vertically and I disliked it for 12 whole months. I use 3 types of calendar - annual wall planner, weekly tear-off planner and daily to do list on a large white board. It is pretty old school - I have tried using my phone alerts but digital reminders and I do not get along. For 2023 I bought this wall calendar and it already makes me feel positive about my ambitions.
Currently I am working full time but I do take off several weeks per year with my children. This year I am aiming to work 37 weeks, with a view to decreasing this in 2024. We love to visit cousins in Scotland and maybe take one family break each year, depending on pandemic status! Of those 37 weeks I now work out how much I need to earn for our lifestyle. It might be necessary for me to work freelance 5 days a week for all of that time, illustrating in the evenings and weekends. But I might be able to carve out a few days per month for unpaid creative development or for studying. In April I will be learning with Make Art That Sells for the new course by Lilla Rogers - Illustrating a Non-Fiction book.
Set goals/outcomes for the season.
This year I have chosen the word FOCUS.
Mainly because I gave myself permission to experiment and play in different media and genre for 2022 but in 2023 it would be helpful to consider an area of specialism and who the client would be for this product. Last year I kept an electronic list every week of progress, planned work and ah-ha moments. An activity which took me 10 minutes every Monday provided me with an impressive list of learnings and from this I have been able to analyse what went well and what I could do more of in the next season.
List outputs I want to create to achieve outcomes - make a rollardex
Use a rollardex or study cards in a box to split outputs into sections such as
5 min activities
sketch topics
mini projects and
research subjects.
This way, when I have a period of free time or I am feeling uninspired/overwhelmed about the task at hand (creating a portfolio for pitching), ideas are just one card away. They can be shuffled in any order or given a deadline.
Prioritise marketing opportunities such as #Kidlitartpostcard and #PortfolioDay and plan in a portfolio review for later in the year.
There are also several weeks of Instagram challenges which are great for networking. Too many times last year I had social media days in my calendar but had not worked backwards to allow for creating the work and none of the pieces were linked in any way. This year I would like to have 12 pieces ready in advance that all sing the same tune of my capabilities. My Instagram and Twitter presence could be improved but I need to show up in some consistent places.
If I could be a chocolate it needs to be less of a pack of Revels (you never know what you’re gonna get) and more of a beautifully presented box of soft-centred creams: a consistent bite sized treat.
Consider learning topics for the year and download bitesize classes
This year I have purchased 10 self paced classes from Domestika (sale is on for another 20 hrs!), which have a firm output at the end and each output contributes to my learning objectives. For example light and shadow, printing stationary, making an educational book, contents of a great portfolio.
It has also proven a golden lifeline to meet regularly with Illoguild and so I have been planning virtual peer group meet ups and an exciting field trip to Bologna Book Fair for 4 days in March, for some of us to meet face to face! If family time permits, I will also try to attend some SCBWI social nights since I found the November conference so motivating and energising.
Prepare - Make a new sketchbook and tidy supplies.
Last month I made 6 new sketchbooks using this tutorial and all the paper I have purchased over the past few years. Did you know that watercolour paper can go off? The sizing doesn’t last more than 10 years, maybe less depending on the weather conditions so that is even more reason not to save your best paper. I have made 3 concertina sketchbooks in Arches and Fabriano, a mixed sketchbook of layout papers, mixed media and Saunders watercolour and finally an altered sketchbook - which consists of gelliprinted papers stitched together. Previously I have been quite precious about purchased sketchbooks but the same doesn’t seem to be true of mixed papers which I have combined or collaged myself.
Warm up
Download an audio book and add podcast episodes to Spotify playlists. My book this month is Quiet - the ultimate validation for operating as an Introvert. My 10 year old and I argue over the Audible credit each month! I also bought a new physical book on a topic I find difficult - drawing human figures in proportion. I have started working through it using different media - mainly coloured pencils and ink, which are quick to pick up and scribble with. The altered sketchbook is a brilliant place to make marks and get the hand muscles to remember their role. The edges of my pages are purposefully left uneven and a little ragged. It feels like leafing through a personal diary of Beatrix Potter or Jane Austen and there are sections for notes and research, colour swatches, typography, line drawings and final water colour.
Get to work
My 6 sketchbooks are an attempt to keep thought processes in one place but each one will be filled up ready for scanning and manipulating. 6 books for 6 projects in 2023. Check back in later this December to see what was accomplished!
Happy New Year
