Pumpkin Spice & 10 Things Nice
How I Avoid Creative Burnout...
In a creative profession, like illustration, you’re required to be creative on command. It can feel a bit like your taming a wild animal. The magic doesn’t always come when you tell it to. Additionally, when you work from home, boundaries can blur and projects begin to overlap. No one is around to tell you what to do first or when to stop. There is a lot to manage with a creative business. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or run yourself into the ground. It’s very common to experience something called “creative burn out”.
It can come in different forms. You might suffer from a creative block. Suddenly, making art can feel like an emotional drain or boring to you. Deadlines start to weigh heavy. It can look different for different people. Either way, it keeps you from being productive. For me, I tend to shut down creatively. It’s almost like a gears get stuck and I have trouble moving forward with projects. It’s like walking in quick sand, but in drawing form.
IlloGuild question #17:
This month, the IlloGuild question is meant to be customizable. “How do you do what you do?” - How do you illustrate a book? or How do you organize your website? Since it happens to be a month to focus on gratitude in the United States, I’d like to answer it with a little bit of reflection:
“How do you do what you do and avoid creative burnout?”
SHORT ANSWER: I focus on the good stuff - the “nice” things that make me happy. So, I thought I would share what KEEPS me sane, artistically healthy, and so very thankful!
10 things nice…
1. It’s nice to take a break and recharge.
This summer/fall, I took a “partial” break from my Newsletter and Social Media to focus on a few MAJOR creative projects and of course enjoy my little familia during summer vacations. It came with a little bit of guilt that I wasn’t posting regularly online. Then I remembered, how important it is to take a mental break! You can only focus on so much. Why go crazy trying to do it all!?
We had warm days full of family road trips, indulging in sweet treats, and enjoying our favorite spots. I even sneaked in a weekend getaway to the desert with my husband (which we never do). It was a complete recharge. I look forward to sharing all the ways my family adventures inspired me.
In my last Substack, I shared all about how to Bottle Inspiration, so trust me, I have a ton of it bottled and ready to go for the winter months!
2. It’s nice to reflect on life.
Planning for my newsletter has helped me process life and reflect on what it is I do. I’ve kept a journal and blog before with the same affect. For me, it’s very therapeutic.
For my On the Creative Road Newsletter – I picture myself at a coffee shop, sitting with you, sharing my art, and chatting all about the odds and ends of creativity. If you are reading or listening, I truly respect your time, creative spirit, and lovely support! Over the past few months I’ve been collecting ideas for my Substack and writing… a lot. I can’t wait to share more!
Moving forward, I’ll be sending two emails a month.
One at the beginning of the month that is short and sweet – with more eye candy!
And another one that is slightly longer, with a voice over so you can listen while you work. I might answer an Illoguild question of the month, share my own creative observations, or share some behind the scenes work.
For anyone that craves more, I’ll be offering separate, extra content soon. So, stay tuned!
3. It’s nice to do regular “brain dumps”!
I’m serious about this one. Whenever I start to feel kinda mentally itchy or overwhelmed. I brain dump. This is different than journaling or blogging. It’s random words, icons, rough sketches, incoherent scribbles, or ideas for a product. There is so much visual input all the time. I’m constantly thinking of new projects or designs. It gets crowded in my head. So for me “brain dumping”, is like taking a shower after running through the mud. It just feels good to let the ideas run out of my head and if I put it in a notebook I feel like I’m capturing it for later. Even if I NEVER come back to it, I trick my mind into feeling like I could go back to it if I wanted to! It really does clear some mental real estate and sometimes that’s all I need to get back to work.
4. It’s nice to finish a long project.
This summer I finished a book with a self publishing author, Karen Wellman. It was a joy to work on this book and I’m thrilled to FINALLY see it in print! There are moments in any project that the end seems far away and the to do list too long. It is such a huge relief to finalize it and check it off the list. Certainly worth celebrating and that joy gives me even more motivation to keep bringing new characters to life!
Get your copy of Proud Deaf Girl or give as a gift!
5. It’s nice to learn from others!
I’m constantly trying to learn from other creatives. So, I read, listen, and consume as much as I can. I might listen to a podcast while I work, squeeze in a class on the weekends, or analyze a book while I read to my kids at night. It keeps the creative juices flowing!
Books on my table:
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
Kid Books we’ve been reading:
Invisible Things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller
Smile YA Graphic Novel written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Podcasts I’m enjoying:
Windowsill Chats with Margo Tantau (Episode no.108 & no.109 )
Learn to Paint Podcast with Kelly Anne Powers (Episode no.22 )
Creative Pep Talk with Andy J. Pizza (Episode no. 421 )
Classes I recommend:
Time Management Techniques for Creators and Creatives - on Domestika
This class was very insightful to me and a reminder to respect my creative brain! If you struggle with managing your time or you need a scheduling reboot…try this class!
Make Art that Sells: Illustrating Children’s Books - with Lilla Rogers and Zoe Tucker
Let’s just say this class set me on my path to illustration 5 years ago! If you’re a newbie, it’s a must! It is loaded with industry information, a built in community that is incredible, and it really pushes you to grow. The best discounts for MATS classes are at the end of November….so keep your eye out! I usually buy a couple classes on sale for the next year.
6. It’s nice to work on personal art.
I could work all day long – every day on paid work, but it can start to feel monotonous. Even the projects that are super exciting and awesome can start to go stale for some reason. Especially with children’s book, you are often drawing the same character over and over. I keep things fresh by having side art projects. It might be an illustration response to a prompt or a personal painting, but having something separate from paid work keeps the creative juices flowing for me. REAL WORK is unavoidable, but I pivot just long enough to come back to my real work with fresh eyes. :)
Upcoming Prompts & Challenges I’m interested in:
Folktale Week - November 13 - 19
Friday Doodle Club - New prompt EVERY Friday!
7. It’s nice to share what I know.
It would be a shame to keep everything I’ve learned about art, design, illustration, and having a creative business the past 20 years to myself. I find ways to share what I know. I share here in my Substack, with friends individually, by teaching art classes locally, and in critique groups. It feels good to help someone else. It also requires you to dissect your process and learn how to explain what you do in smaller bite size pieces. For me, it’s a confidence boost and reminder that I do know a thing or two after all!
8. It’s nice to collaborate with other artists.
One of the most life changing and rewarding things I’ve done in the past 5 years is connect and collaborate with other illustrators. Not just say, “hey, I like your work!” and run off, but truly connect by collaborating, talking regularly, meeting via zoom, and growing together. The gals I host Friday Doodle Club with are fabulous and have encouraged me more than I could ever thank them for! Not only are the prompts great practice for me when I have time to participate, but chatting regularly with the FDC group has given me the creative community I really needed. They are almost like my work mates, which is fantastic because I work by myself all day. It helps me feel less lonely and also pushes me out of my comfort zone. All good things!
Join us for a new prompt EVERY FRIDAY!
Another group I get to collaborate with is Illoguild. We critique our work as needed, meet regularly, and answer community questions like this one.
And now…
Illoguild is Hosting LIVE Events too!
You are invited to join us Monday, December 4th, at 8 AM Boston time, 1 PM London (GMT), for another friendly chat. We’ll be covering various topics and you’ll hear from illustrators who have worked with variety of clients from self-published authors to top publishing houses. You can find our previous Lives - HERE.
9. It’s nice to enjoy seasonal treats.
Do you like Pumpkin Spice Season? Some people don’t. If that’s you… we can’t be friends. I’m just kidding! I just learned from a good friend that it’s not really a “thing” in the UK. So, it’s not for everyone and I TOTALLY respect that. BUT… it is for meeeeeeeeeeee! Yay! I love it in just about everything, not just pumpkin pie.
Pumpkin Spice flavored donuts, cookies, coffee, and even beer! I love it all.
Here is a really good pumpkin bread recipe I found on Instagram:
To everything there is a season. I enjoy decorating and indulging in every season with my family. It’s a constant reminder to enjoy the moment while you have it. And it’s in those treasure-ful moments, I find my inspiration.
What’s your current favorite seasonal treat? I’d love to hear in the comments.
10. Most of all, it’s so nice you’re here!
I am so thankful you are here reading my Substack or listening! If you’re a fellow artist, I hope you find it useful and relatable. I know many of you listen while you work and that makes me so happy! If you don’t consider yourself an artist, I hope you find it insightful and I hope it encourages you to explore your creative side. If you’re an art director, agent, or future client – then let me know if you see something you like! I’m open to illustration commissions and projects. Sharing what I do and what I’m up to, really motivates me. Knowing there are people following along and supporting me really helps keep me from the dreaded creative burnout and sometimes even pulls me out of it too.
Until next time, enjoy the journey!
***Each month, members of the IlloGuild answer a question together. We all live around the world, have unique styles, and approaches to creativity. Depending on how busy everyone is, different members answer each month. So, make sure to follow IlloGuild to hear a variety of illustrator perspectives!
I absolutely loved reading (also listening) to this. It certainly was refreshing. Thanks for sharing.