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Doodle Archives - The Jar of Salt

Sep 11 2018
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Talk About The Hard Things | Suicide Prevention Week

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In a span of three years, three of my neighbours reportedly chose to leap to their deaths. It’s a jarring fact, that people I don’t personally know but are at such close proximity, human beings I may have shared a lift with or bumped into coming and going, tragically ran out of reasons to wake up to another morning.

It’s International Suicide Prevention Week. It’s time to open this dialogue, talk about the hard things and keep the conversation going. With social media, it’s so very easy to think that everyone’s lives and relationships are all rainbows, sparkly things and IG-worthy. We all know that’s not true, but it’s always easy to forget.

Please, stay connected to another living soul. Meet up or call a friend, knock on your neighbor’s door, talk to a stranger on the train, and/or seek professional help. And if you feel someone is in a dark place or going through tough times, surprise them with a call or a chat just to see how their day is going. It could mean the world to someone and can literally save a life.

Contact the following for professional support:
www.afsp.org
www.sos.org.sg

Aug 06 2018
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Michelangelo Did Not Starve For his Art

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That’s why he was, at that time, worth what would be $47 MILLION today?

Just read that eye-popping tale in a book by Jeff Goins recently, a revelation discovered by Professor Hatfield in 1995 when he stumbled upon the artist’s bank records while researching something else.

Suddenly, the way I always envisioned him was wrong! It’s a nice, happy thought that kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? ??

THINK ABOUT THAT! Let’s start the week with that empowering thought, why don’t we?

Have a fruitful and easy week up ahead!

Jan 23 2018
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How My Art Helps Me Cope With Anxiety Attacks (Especially While Flying)

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I’m not an easy flyer. The smaller the plane, the more agitated I become. Let me clarify though that I do not fear flying. It’s the helplessness over a constricted space for a duration of time that triggers my anxiety.  That’s why I never attend concerts or go to packed noisy bars. I would take the stairs instead of the elevator all the time if I could.

I’m not sure if anxiety and panic attacks are the same for all but in my case, it usually starts with a physical and inexplicable sensation of dread combined with a feeling of being underwater then it’s just downhill from there.  What compounds the situation, more often than not, is my anticipation that comes with the feeling of dread because I feel I know what’s gonna happen next. Suddenly, everything seems way too loud and I feel like throwing up, and I just want people to shut up and stop talking. It feels cramped and crowded suddenly and I feel suffocated that I need air, a fresh breeze and open space. The sensation oddly seems to start at my knees. That the invisible fear manifests itself so tangibly in such a physical and consistently specific manner is one I still have to wrap my head around.

When I panic, I become hyper-sensitive to the world around me. Inside a plane, everything becomes more than it really is and there are  things that suddenly I obsess about: my seat feels too small. the chair in front of me and the passenger across the aisle are too close (though I’m certain they truly are at this day and age), there’s not enough ventilation, the plane feels stuffy and hot and the flight feels excruciatingly long (they truly are if you’re flying without sleep for almost 24 hours from SG to NYC) and on top of that I feel the plane’s every single movement, bump and shudder and it always feels magnified a thousand times stronger and louder in my head.

Eventually, the panic affects my breathing to the point of dizziness that I feel I’m perpetually falling even if I was sitting down. In the past, I’ve passed out and fainted to the ground several times, thankfully with a friend present (one of those times was triggered by an empty stomach and lightheadedness so that doesn’t really count).  Over the years, it has thankfully fizzled out due to a lot of self-awareness and the ability to mitigate circumstances but it has not been eradicated completely and I could only wish it did.

This is something I need to manage because I do need to get to different points that require flying, whether for personal reasons or work.  In the past, I always drank in the plane. They say you shouldn’t due to dehydration but it’s what helps knock me out to sleep. I don’t take sleeping medication so I’m even more apprehensive to take that 30,000 feet in the air especially when traveling alone.

Last Christmas, I asked myself if there was a way I could divert my attention during the flight to curb my sensitivity to my surrounding. To be honest, the idea came to me during the height of the fidget-spinner craze. I decided to try something different and I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner.

I decided to draw.

It was my first time to shift my entire concentration elsewhere and with deliberate razor-sharp focus during a flight. In the past, the only thought running through my head the entire trip was “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”. So  I gave myself a tangible goal, which was to complete one sketchbook spread per flight, no excuses. It was a 3.5 hour ride, so it can be definitely be done.

And guess what, it worked like a charm! I managed to finish both spreads 30 minutes before landing.

Some people tell me to just watch the in-flight entertainment. I am terribly far-sighted that a screen in front of me in a moving plane at such close proximity is just counter-intuitive. And watching a movie to me is still tantamount to doing nothing.  Why not sleep, they ask. Because I can’t and it’s just one of those things.

I usually have at least three full glasses of wine per flight. This time, I had only one on the first flight, and none on the second.  I was so obsessive about my task and achieving a goal that instead of fearing turbulence, I became angry at it because it gave me crooked lines.  Considering it was a bumpy ride, I didn’t notice it at all until the flight attendant said we were flying through a storm.


It was, without a doubt, definitely a super achievement-unlocked moment that I felt like banging my head against the wall asking myself why I didn’t think of doing this sooner. I typically keep a sketchbook inside my check-in baggage as a back-up activity in case I get bored when I get to my destination but it never occurred to me to do it mid-flight  instead.

This great inconvenience is one of the things about myself I wish I can undo but for now all I can do is manage how I think and mitigate my surroundings. Otherwise, it was definitely a first for me to be almost relaxed end to end. And if you are someone familiar with my situation, you would sincerely understand that this was no mean feat.

Okay then. Onto the next goal: what to draw for a 20-hour flight.

 

Sep 19 2016
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31 Things To Draw for INKtober

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I’m joining artists around the world in  a 31-day creative adventure all throughout October. It’s called INKtober, an inky illustration challenge started by Jake Parker in 2009.  It originally started as a month-long exercise just for his own practice. Last year, I chose to draw something I hated because it’s something I find hard.  So for INKtober 2015, I completed 31 faces.  I still have not decided what to draw for this year’s 31-day challenge, though.

 

My personal goal for INKtober is to repeat for 31 times one thing I typically won’t draw as a form of practice.  Here are 31 days of:

  1. trees
  2. flowers
  3. things around your house
  4. things in your office
  5. things in your kitchen
  6. dogs
  7. animals
  8. buildings
  9. faces
  10. book covers
  11. food
  12. stripes
  13. triangles
  14. circles
  15. illuminated numbers
  16. chairs
  17. shoes
  18. shapes
  19. kids
  20. toys
  21. costumes
  22. bottles
  23. glasses
  24. patterns
  25. windows
  26. dance
  27. sports
  28. robots
  29. aliens
  30. fish
  31. birds

*****

Sep 07 2016
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Why I Created The ‘Big Blank Page’

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Why The ‘Big Blank Page’ is not for kids.

Kids, by default, get so much support for creativity.  Whether it’s in school, weekend or community activities or even art lessons on TV programs,  kids have a slew of options to explore,  get happy and experiment with all things artful and creative.

Adults, however, have fewer choices that offer the same spirit.  Which is why I think grown-ups need me more than kids. For now.

The class is also a forum where we discuss the ghosts of our creative past: from teachers who may have made careless comments about our work, to a family who does not believe in art, topics that young kids may not have experienced or  be fully aware of, and can prevent them from participating in the discussion.

sketchbook-class-copy

Grown-ups need a break from adulting.

Many of the classes for adults I see are either structured lessons or art “jams” with hobbyists and/or professional artists — both of which can be intimidating for those who feel too shy about their own work.

Sometimes, adults want to make art without the pressure of perfection, judgment, or being instructed to draw “the right way”.

Sometimes, we just want to make a lot of nothing, enjoy the freedom of the beautiful mess,  and draw for its own sake.

Because every line, shape and color is valid.

You will draw.

I will not argue with you if your convictions dictate that you cannot draw.

But I am of unwavering belief and faith that everyone can draw. And I mean EVERYONE.

It’s just a matter of to what degree you can draw.

It’s crucial to remember  two things: 1. that what is considered beautiful is highly subjective, and 2. there is so much beauty in imperfection.

There’s more to art than being a Michelangelo or a Rembrandt. There’s also Rothko, Pollock and Matisse.  And if you can draw like you, then I believe that’s the best kind of artist to be.

Regardless of what you say or do, hemming and hawing, you will and can draw something.

If the shoe fits.

Some people like to draw flowers, others like swirly things, some like smiley faces, others like to make dots.  The ‘Big Blank Page’ acts as a springboard for your own exploration as you discover the smoothest groove for your artistic movement, what feels most natural and empowering for you to do artfully.

The creative journey is not meant to be travelled alone.

This is perhaps the paramount reason why I created the ‘Big Blank Page’.  I got tired of creating art by myself. Then I thought to myself, “Maybe there are others out there who are just like me, looking for a safe and supportive circle where we can make art freely.”

Making art, I learned, is all about community.  And this creative spirit is the very sanctuary on which the ‘Big Blank Page’ is built.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sep 01 2016
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How Does One Become A Professional Artist?

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People have asked me this: “How does one become a professional artist?”

Now that I look back, I realise that being a professional and working artist, with emphasis on “professional”,  goes beyond talent, imagination and skill.

sketchbook class

“My word is my bond.”

I picked up this principle when I worked in a bank. It is a phrase used by stock brokers on the trading floor, wherein agreements and financial transactions are made and delivered without signing any documents.  This is a value that was deeply ingrained in me ever since, and one that, I believe, makes me a valuable artist to work with.  As a working artist, it is important to be regarded as someone reliable and trustworthy, whether it comes to being punctual at meetings, responding to email messages quickly, following through on a commitment, and completing a project on or before the agreed date.

Language is of the essence.

When writing professional correspondence with clients, be mindful of your tone, choice of words and grammar. Emojis, smiley faces and LOLs are reserved for chat messages with friends.  I would also recommend to keep cute language and emojis at a minimum when responding on social media because nowadays, our chosen platform serves as a window to our work. This applies especially to the name or handle we assign to our social media accounts. So please think carefully and choose a name that can easily be spelled and remembered, and one that you feel reflects your brand best.  Finally, for as long as the purpose of the written transaction is about work, keep the language polished.  It will remind clients that they are working with someone who takes their work seriously.

Let your “office” reflect who you are.

Let’s face it. Not many of us will have workspace that clients will be able to visit.  With the internet, however, we are able to set up a virtual office, a room of our own, where people all over the world can visit at any time of the day.  Whatever platform we choose,  whether it’s Tumblr, Instagram or Facebook pages, it would be best to be mindful of the quality of our photos and the visual content that we post.  Keep the selfies, duckface and OOTDs to a bare minimum if it’s not relevant to what you do. Save the passive-aggressive quotes for your personal FB account.

Putting our best foot forward works to anyone’s advantage, which means going the extra mile with good composition, cleaning, adjusting the tilt or brightening of our pictures.

Uphold industry standards when stating your fees.

As a working artist, you get paid. And frankly, discussing money is perhaps my least favorite part about transacting art.  Good news though: it gets easier over time, I promise.  You eventually gain confidence in the discussing money as you learn to pick up financial language that is neither demanding or imposing.

But the most important thing for artists is to never undervalue yourself.  Please. To begin with, stop working for free.  Unless it’s a charity, an NGO or a cause that is close to your heart, you must get paid that is commensurate to your efforts.  Back in the day, we were at the mercy of industry movers for exposure in getting our name out there — simply because there wasn’t any social media available for us to do the work ourselves.

The promise of exposure as payment  does not work anymore in this era. Unless it’s some really high-profile client of massive proportions, or one that you think will be a fruitful springboard for your goals, exposure simply does not pay.

Be humble and grateful.

This is one practice I’ve done for as long as I can remember.  After meeting a potential client in person or over the phone, or when a project has been concluded, always send a message of thanks. This goes such a long way.

Thank them for their time and their effort to come meet with you.  Thank them for their ideas. Thank them for the experience.  To this day, I still thank the key people who gave me a break when I was just starting in 2004.  It makes such a huge difference simply saying ‘thank you’ for the opportunity to work together and for their support, big and small.

The world is small and things have a way of finding its way back to you. When you plant the seeds of kindness and exercise sincerity and goodwill, people will sense it and will be more than happy to pass your name to someone else.

Of course people will remember you for your talent, but being remembered for your character is simply priceless.

Aug 15 2016
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5 Thoughts On “Art Inc.” And Why You Should Read It

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It took me a while to finish reading “Art, Inc.” by Lisa Congdon.  I bought this when it was released but put it down as I got distracted with other things.  Last week, I finally picked it up again and devoured its last pages by this morning.

art inc by lisa congdon

It’s for the working artist.

Simply put, all the ideas, options and possibilities for all forms of art are spelled out for any artist who wants to make a living off their work.  From licensing, illustrating children’s books to fine art selling, it’s all up to the artist to test them out and see what works best with your art.

It’s concise and comprehensive.

The flow of content is very easy to follow. The tone is friendly and language of writing is pretty straightforward. It makes it easy to digest all the information one page after the other. The book is rich with the author’s personal experiences and thoughts as a flourishing artist, so it makes the written ideas very, very real for the reader.

The testimonials are a source of encouragement.

The book features 20 interviews with artists of different fields.  I absolutely love hearing and reading about other people’s lives and how they carved their creative path, what worked and what didn’t.

The layout.

The aesthetics of the book affect my way of reading.  The main reason I put the book down was my vision had a hard time adjusting through the lengthy content on portions of red-orange pages and orange-on-white pages. I managed avoiding the strain by reading only in natural daylight, and not under a lamp. It changed everything and I sped through the book effortlessly thereafter.

The list of resources.

Lisa Congdon makes building a career out of art a concrete experience ,  as she  thoroughly  lists down specific resources: from conferences, galleries, printers, residencies, etc.  I think this is the part about the book I love best because it gets the ball rolling and gives you a specific starting point and orientation.  

I am so glad I got a copy for myself because it filled in a lot of gaps and opened my mind to the vast ways of doing things across the multitude of  art fields and personalities there are in the world. I honestly believe both the established and neophyte artists have so much to gain from reading this book!   “Art Inc.” is a great source of inspiration, a bubbling well of ideas and a fantastic instrument to get the wheels of your mind turning and makes you want to get off your seat and do something right now.

***

 

Aug 03 2016
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Artists And Instagram

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I initially got into Instagram because of my calligraphy phase.  After almost a year of aimless fun posting my artwork, my dog Jones, the cake I baked and random sunsets, I saw that I had 700 followers.

I said, “Ok, cool.”

instagram tips for artists

But when I started taking Instagram a little bit more seriously, it changed my life.

I don’t make sweeping statements so I’m not even kidding. It changed the way I perceived my work, conducted myself online and it actually gave me a professional direction in my art.

Ultimately, I found a way to make Instagram work for me. I recently passed the 20k mark and have to admit, the numbers have pushed me globally in directions I could not have foreseen. I’ve begun conducting a sketchbook class and creative forum and started an art community on IG called Sketchbook People.   I don’t dish out gospel truth, but the thoughts I share below are a few of the things that have  worked for me.

What’s in a name?

“So why the Jar Of Salt?” is a question I get asked almost all the time.

Easy.

I used to be a food writer who eventually started a food blog named after something I used to collect: salt. Hence, www.jarofsalt.com and @thejarofsalt (only because the name without a ‘the’ is already taken) 🙁

When I got over my 5-year creative block and decided to go full-steam ahead into my professional art career, I needed to re-brand myself.  I’ve met people randomly and upon exchanging cards exclaim, “Oh you’re the Jar Of Salt!”.

It seems by then, the name has stuck so I decided to keep it.  Why?

It’s not too long.

It’s easy to recall.

And it’s a word that’s easy to comprehend across different cultures.

I wanted a name people could remember even if it’s said in passing or in a rush. So I kept it even if the name has nothing really to do with art because it’s a word that has already been identified with me.

Choose  and create your OWN photos well.

Ah. Where to even begin on this topic?

For starters, “nice” photos are the ones that get a lot of support.  In social media terms, that’s called “engagement”.  Keep the shot clean, well-composed and well-lit.If you’re posting a painting or a drawing, try to refrain from using filters so as not to distort the details or colors of your work.  You don’t have to be a professional photographer to get the job done. A steady hand, a good eye and proper timing is all you need.  Take it easy on the filters and focus on crisp lighting. There are so many apps out there to help you get the job done without tinkering in Photoshop or Lightroom so give Snapseed a try.

My thoughts on selfies?

I’m not a fan especially of accounts that contain almost only just your face for its own sake, unless you’re documenting your journey to health and fitness. Then that’s a different topic altogether. Why? Because I’d rather follow something or someone else whose content adds value to my life and interests.  Many celebrities actually don’t post much of their physical selves online, and I appreciate that. To me,  their photos actually tell me a story of a life, and somewhat shows me their vision of their own world. And that they are actually interested in things out there other than overly indulging in their self.

In my case, I’m a painter. What I choose to wear really has no bearing on my work and  I have no plans of celebritifying myself with posed photos.  I do, however, try to insert myself casually in slivers as minimally as possible so as not to distract, and just to let people know there really is a human being lurking in there somewhere.

Seek professional help.

By seeking help from the pros, I don’t mean buying your followers, god forbid.  To me it’s like paying “people” to pretend to be your friends.  Stay far away from that unfortunate scam.

What I’m talking about is taking professional coaching and classes that teach you how to make the most of your life and time online to make it work for you.  I took an Instagram class from Melissa almost exactly a year ago. It was to be the one of the best decisions I have made for myself.  All the insights, ideas and options she presented helped to social media an extension of my work and the curated life I choose to share. It was this class that helped put a very efficient system in my online life. For anyone who wants to make Instagram work for them, and not the other way around, I highly recommend her class.

Update: She has a class coming up and you can still sign up until Oct. 31, 2017.  Use the code IGHOLIDAY to get a $100 discount for this year’s class 🙂

Keep it real.

As an artist, I post my work-related mess. My cluttered workspace. The errors on my sketchpad. My words thinking out loud. I refuse to look “Instagrammy” (if you’re on IG you know what I’m talking about).  It was only recently that I realised that showing this side of me is something that my IG community seems to look forward seeing.

My account is a personal documentation of a person’s creative journey and body of work.  And I try my best to let it reflect exactly that in the most relaxed way possible.

It doesn’t really bode well with me, calling myself an artist and not being able to muster enough creativity to come up with original content. This is the reason I do not re-post stock photos of beaches I’ve never been to, or coffee shots that don’t belong to me just to prettify my account.  It makes me feel weird.

This is also another topic  altogether I’d like to talk about later on regarding copyrights.

And no, tagging and giving credit does not absolve you of infringement.

Be very careful when it comes to borrowing and sharing photos. The last thing you want is to receive a cease-and-desist letter form the lawyer of the person who took that photo.

Good manners.

More than the aesthetics, I try to treat people online as I do in real life.  I never followed people asking them to follow me back, nor do I spam people’s accounts with smiley faces and words like “cool”  with hopes that they will click my name and follow me.  I also try to respond to all the comments as soon as I can.

Unlike Facebook, IG only allows for 80 of the latests notifications to show on my phone, and there is no way to scroll back to that once the new alerts come in.   If I don’t respond to you, it means  one of two things:

  1. I either didn’t see  because it  has been buried by the newer notifications,
  2. You really didn’t say anything that merits a response, or
  3. You happened to ask a question that’s been asked many times over.  If that’s the case, the answers might already be on the blog.

Posting a pink flower, a thumbs-up or heart on the comment field is not something I would actually regard as a comment, unfortunately.

Finally, if there is one behaviour on IG that still surprises me it’s this::  people who will follow you but will immediately unfollow you when you decide to follow them.

Yikes.

It’s like a person sweet-talking you to purchasing something who will suddenly turn cold as soon as you’re done with your purchase.

*****

I had a very looooong dinner last night with a friend and social media was the one thing we spent a great deal of time bantering about. We realised that we come from that generation of kids that crossed from analogue living to digital lifestyle.

As we sipped the last drop of wine from our stained glasses, we concluded this: social media is no longer just any other tool external to us. It has now become an integral part of our existence and a secondary voice to interact with the world today. And no matter how we choose to sculpt our image and curate our lives online, it always helps to remember old school values when using Instagram and social media:

Be kind.

Show respect.

Stay real.

Jul 27 2016
1

So You Didn’t Go To Art School

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Well, neither did I.

And that’s okay.

Because it never stopped me from doing professional work as an artist.

Gosh, my head is bursting  with thoughts and ideas that it’s actually paralyzing so I’m gonna clear some cobwebs and all the clutter in my head by writing this out.

Or maybe… I’ll just bake bread?

Okay, fine!  I’ll write.

I’ll write.

So I finished with a degree in BA Psychology and if I had to live my life all over again, I would still choose to spend my four years researching, experimenting and reading all things Psychology. The one thing I would change, however, is that I would take non-academic art classes outside of university and start the actual doing of art immediately, and not procrastinate for 7 years (12 years, if you include the creative block).

Throughout my life, inside and outside of school, I’ve always been regarded as an artist, probably even before I could write.

But to be a working artist?

That was never an option back in the day. In fact, it wasn’t even considered a profession professional enough.   I was told that I would finish my degree and I was, in a way, pretty much expected to work in a “good” company where I would also retire.

Thinking about it, the idea just leaves a funny taste in my mouth.

However, I happily finished my Psychology degree, one which I enjoyed thoroughly and continue to be passionate about. But I’ve worn many hats since I finished school. Eight hats, if I’m not mistaken.  I have worked full time in a high school, a modeling agency, an international bank, a boarding school, a PR agency and  eventually juggled freelance art  with part-time hours in a modeling school and even a culinary school.  I also did food writing for some time which led me to start a food blog (hence, jarofsalt.com), and even had a radio stint for month as a news announcer. Heck, I even got certified to teach Stott pilates  two years ago.

Yet in all those years, I never really stopped making art. Whether it was made for myself or commissioned by a client, art was always my natural groove.

To eventually do what I really wanted to do (a late start at 27) and do art professionally was met with labels, resistance, that I was rebelling and that I was lost.

On the contrary, committing to make art as a profession was when I truly found myself.

colorful jars of paint

So, now what? You want to do art but there are probably a million and one reasons to not make art. But should the lack of art degree hold you back?

I think not.

In the era of the internet, there are so many ways to invent and reinvent yourself.

How does one become an artist in this day and age, then?

1. Be and Make.

It’s hard to be an artist if you’re not making anything at all. This makes sense, doesn’t it? Don’t pressure yourself, though.  No one expects you to make the next Sotheby-worthy masterpiece tomorrow (but feel free to do so if you can!). Start with doodling on the margins of your books. Make circles on your notebook. Draw a flower. ANY flower. So really, the first step to calling yourself an artist is to be one.

And that starts with making.

2. Commune.

I’ve spoken of my creative block many times over but what was the first step to break the ice?

I joined WordPress in 2011 and started blogging.  When I first joined WP five years ago, I lamented about the lack of art in my life.  Then one post led to the next, one comment after another.  And it got the ball rolling.  I managed to produce my first sketch after five years.  And things started rolling ever since.

There are also so many creativity, sketching, drawing and art groups on Facebook. I suggest you type in those words and see what shows up and resonates with you and your preferred medium. Discussions can be amazing, so much to learn, and sometimes all you need is a regular art challenge to get the juices flowing.

With social media, you can also follow artists who inspire you.  Many of them are active in real time.  Comment or write them an email.  Many of them will happily respond, you’ll be surprised 🙂

3. Learn.

The very first art class I took was for pottery, in 2006. And one of the things I did to break the ice after my creative block later on was to take another live class as well. This time it was for  printmaking. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel motivated or challenged enough in class 🙁 So I hope to revisit this someday as I still have a lot of printing ink in my work room 😮

I also tried my hand (literally) in calligraphy .  It’s a skill I thought I can never learn (or even enjoy!) because of my messy penmanship. But with proper instruction and like-minded people, it can be done.  My calligraphy obsession was short-lived but it lead me to Instagram to share my work.

And my social media life has never been the same ever since 🙂

Also, thanks to the internet you can learn all sorts of creative things from the comforts of your own home.  Check out online art classes from Creative Bug, Skillshare and even Lynda if you’re doing digital.  Also, find other artists to follow because many of them give online instruction.

There are a lot of free classes out there so maximize them, especially on YouTube.  However, I highly recommend saving and spending on some of the paid classes because quality education is truly worth having, no matter how small.

4. Read. A lot.

I haven’t read fiction and novels in years but I constantly buy art and design books. And magazines! Even though some of them are more expensive than a book.  And that’s because fine quality art and design magazines are produced with the content direction of a book.  Frankly, I don’t like reading highly visual material through a screen because  I’m a tactile reader and I like making notes and marks as I use them for reference as I work. Look for inspiring publications like Flow, Uppercase, Frankie and Anorak.

I remember a successful artist who told me to invest in art books. The more, the better. I whined, “It’s so expensive!”.

His reply was simple, “Why, how much do you think  would you have spent if you went to art school?”

That moment changed my perspective forever.

5. Promote yourself.

Before  online everything and social media, I found  art circles to be very cliquish. I still do, to be honest.  When I started in 2002, everyone was at the mercy of print editors to get your name and work out there. It was so hard to reach out to editors and it usually helped to have someone refer you first.  Yes, I’ve done cold calls to media heads back in the day and they proved to be very fruitful.  It was only when my art started to circulate among publications that my career kicked off.  Eventually, editors and producers were the ones requesting  to work together.

Nowadays, it’s so different. If you post your work on Facebook or Pinterest, friends can easily share your work. Before you know it, one thing leads to another and then you blink: your art is already out there.  Know this however: promoting myself makes me feel icky. But it has to be done and you will find a voice that you will eventually be comfortable with without being in-your-face salespitchy. 🙂

Not all platforms work for everyone, though. Some find their voice in Twitter, others on Pinterest. Many on Facebook.   In my case, Instagram is the one that catapulted my work and helped instil a structure in the way I do things creatively.    If you’re trying to build a system to strengthen your social media presence, check out this course by Melissa Camillieri.    I highly recommend it, seriously.

Sit on this and think about what you want to do with your art, whether you want to be paid for your services or simply want to do it for your own pleasure. Heck, you don’t even have to share it if you don’t want to.

But whatever you do, start small.  Be it a nicely-written grocery list, drawing random stick people on the corner of the newspaper, adding color to a homemade cookie, a hand-written postcard for a friend, a practice stitch on a sample cloth, or even just splattering paint on a piece of  paper for no reason at all.

What matters most, I believe, is to just make.

Jul 06 2016
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What Happens When You Commit To Your Creative Process

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In one of her talks, Lisa Congdon mentioned a “painting curve” which looks like the letter “U”.  My process EVERY SINGLE TIME: start with giddy excitement as I begin with the first strokes and slather the first layers of color then midway I just want to hurl it against a wall or rip it to shreds because it starts to look nothing like what I see in my head.

 

But only recently I learned to soldier on through that uncomfy, awkward and antsy phase instead of chucking it in the bin. In the end, there is that sense of accomplishment in concluding a piece, even if I’m not always 100% happy with it ?

 

And this is what a sketchbook looks like when you commit to that process: every single page covered with complete illustrations, no ripped pages whatsoever.

An entire sketchbook that I finished intact end to end.

I learned the full meaning of one word when I used to go wall-climbing: commit.

Whenever I would hit a snag and hesitate and shout “I can’t! Bring me down!” to the one belaying from below, he would shout back “You kidding? Just commit!”.  Even other climbers nearby would chorus the same thing and shout “Commit! Just commit!”.  I quickly learned  that what they were telling me was simply this: Do not hesitate. Let go and release the grip of one hand so you can reach up with the other and move along, flailing and all.

So today, I apply the same principles in soldiering through my creative process.

Simply commit and allow yourself to be pushed in the direction your work is taking you.  Yes, there will be a lot of discomfort  but it’s an artist’s form of growing pains.