Whichever the way the wind blows ...
Actually not quite, but I have come to realize (just recently, after oh-I-won't-tell-you-how-many-years) that I am most productive when I am completely and utterly overloaded with paying work and deadlines!
It's true. When I am under the gun freelancing with a gatrillion-manillion design jobs, I look for ways to avoid sitting down and actually working on the projects, so I doodle. I start by trying to put something together for a client and I grab my sketchbook. I make a few squiggles with a pencil here and there and all of a sudden, I'm sketching an idea that's NOT related to absolutely anything I am working on — professional or personal.
Here's an example (see above):
This came out of me trying to work on a client's business card which I was also illustrating. It happened at about midnight last night. Tonight, at 10:30 pm, I finished it in color, but I'm not sharing that with you, it's a surprise for something coming up very soon. Hee Hee.
I guess I am like Frizz. I usually start by drawing an arc on a page and the rest happens naturally. If I stop to think about it or try to force the image, I fail and have to start over. (Which makes planned picture book dummies to match a manuscript extremely difficult — I have yet to find a successful process that clings to the organic process I so enjoy).
People always ask me how do I find the time, but my solution is being busy, otherwise I am just not productive. I think best when I have so many projects looming overhead and because I don't have time to stop and think about what I'm doing really, the results seem to always surprise me in a good way. I have newspapers to thank for this process. If you give me all the time in the world, I'd probably still leave it 'til the eleventh hour. All I need to do now is shake off the stress that comes attached to it and I'll be fine.
posted by LEEZY at
12:01 AM
3 Comments:
Leezy, I can SOOO relate to that, it's funny. I'm at the other end right now, waiting for pressure so that I finally start working on the pending projects that I have. It's not easy being creative when you're bored. But when you're under a deadline, it flows! At least I guess we share that :-)
Why do you think I wrote all that STUFF on my calendar? :D I think we can all see a common thread here...how much we all enjoy the process-no matter what motivates us to begin it. So lovely. :)
Can't wait to see what comes of this GREAT sketch!
Great sketch. It's a whole story in itself. I want to know more.
I feel ya'! I do that all the time. Like right now I need to be working on my foyer tile project but I spent Saturday glued to the tv unable to move (and I can do both at the same time). At least when you are trying to work on one project you are creating for another. All I do is become a couch potato. I'm totally having a bad case of the lazies! UGH!
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