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 You can do it.
I am slowly learning how to juggle jobs more effectively (affectively? I can never remember which is which). I am feeling stressed out with so much to do, but I have discovered a few things that make me get though it more smoothly. (You all probably already do these things... I'm a late bloomer, I suppose.)
1. Turn off the sound on your email. That way you aren't tempted to get up from painting every time you hear that chime. Then check email only at designated times during the day. This helps me not disrupt the flow... you know...those times when the painting is just swimming right along and then "ding!", your concentration has been duped.
2. Check blogs for updates once a day. I have a bad habit of checking blogs almost constantly, waiting for updates. That doesn't make it update any faster. And it's just time consuming. For instance, when I need to scan something, it takes my scanner a minute or two to warm up. In that time, I usually go read a blog or two, click though links, etc. And before I know it, I've just spent 15 minutes online, rather than just the one minute it took for my scanner warmup. So now, at the end of each day, I do a run through of all the blogs I check daily...one fell swoop.
3. While waiting for paint to dry, sketch for another job. Or do the color comp of an approved sketch.
4. Another email thought: When you receive an email, immediately file it into an appropriate folder. I have each job I work on in its own folder and this helps me locate things easily. I also have a folder named "Need to Follow Up" where I put messages I don't have time to answer or need time to think about.
5. Organize jobs. In each job folder on my computer I have four subfolders:
(1) "Job information", which contains the work order (with blanks filled in with specs, client contact info, client name, usage rights and whether it's 4color or b/w) and the comp, if the art director sent me one;
(2) "Sketches_working", for the sketches I'm working on before they go to client;
(3) "Sketches_sent", these are sketches that I've emailed to the client;
(4) "Final", the final illustration, scanned and ready for print.
This helps me find archived jobs easier for comps or reprints. All my folders look the same, so I know where the finals are and don't have to dig.
6. Write all jobs, regardless of size, on a big dry erase board that you can see from your desk. That way everything there is to do is right in front of you and nothing accidently slips through the cracks. No missed deadlines!
Boy, this is sounding really anal, huh? I don't mean to. I guess I just need a way to organize physically so my mind has less to chomp on. Helps me work more peaceably. Maybe these ideas will help you too. Or maybe you have even better suggestions. In that case, I'm all ears! :)
Sketch to final
I thought it may be nifty to show the what I send my clients for sketches and then how the final painting evolves from there. The image below is for the Baltimore Sun, who's hired me to illustrate a weekly column in their Sunday supplement. This story was about a mom who wrote in talking about the benefits of a pacifier... how her baby is a mess without it.
I sent along two sketches for the art director to choose from. This is the one they chose:
After a client chooses a sketch, I always do a rough color comp on the computer, so the painting is easier and I'm not guessing what I want it to look like. It's easy to switch out colors and try different palettes in photoshop. The client never sees this, it's just for my own use. I figure, the client is working with me because they like my style and they know that they will get a finished illustration that will look like the rest of my work. So here is what the color comp stage looks like:
And this is how the final turned out:
You can see that I stick pretty closely to the color comp, although, there may be some shifts. In the painting I switched the background on the left from orange to red (it made the upset baby's head stand out more) and I added little details like stripes to his jammies. The right side ended up being a little heavier as far as color... in the painting stage it felt too light compared to the "warm" side.
They were happy with it. I liked it too.
Skirt Magazine recently commissioned me to do the cover of their next magazine. They wanted to use an older piece of mine, but I'd sold the original and didn't have a high resolution scan of it to offer. So they asked me to repaint it, which I was happy to do because I liked that piece.
I think it was an interesting exercise to see how one's style kind of moves around and evolves over time... still the same look and ideas, just slightly shifted maybe. Style with wiggle room. My drawing hasn't changed at all...and it probably won't. It just feels comfortable. :)
I've noticed that my colors are a little richer and thicker than they used to be. And backgrounds are bolder and have more texture... Feels a little more settled, maybe. Grounded.
Here's the previous piece I did last year:
and here's the new one coming out next month:
Progress Report
Yesterday I spoke on the phone with my friend Kate. It had been a while since we caught up and she asked about my progress in trying to become more balanced. I felt a little sheepish telling her that I was trying to meditate and do yoga every day. (These are big steps for me whereas she's been practicing for many years already.) But she applauded me and I felt good about it. (Thanks, Kate!)
I looked up the list of goals I made in January and they included: physical health, dress, spiritual health, mental health, and facing fear. I just thought I'd give a little progress report here, too...
Physical health: I stopped eating sugar and bad carbs, replacing with artificial sweeteners, fruits and veggies and whole grains. I also started going on walks every day and practicing yoga (I'm still stinky at it though...not very flexible). I've lost 20 pounds and don't feel nauseous from hypoglycemia anymore. (A big plus!)
Dress: I now change out of my pajamas or work out clothes and put on clothes that make me feel good every day. I've narrowed down my clothes to only those I really like and it's not a problem finding something to wear. This makes me feel like my work is important (and I'm not caught off-guard if a client pops in).
Spiritual health: I meditate most days. My attention is not very good, but I'm working at it. Keep returning to the breath. I also found a church that I feel comfortable at, and look forward to it on Sundays. I have yet to make a friend there, but we'll see.
Also, I've started finding music that makes me happy. I've never been good at seeking out music, usually leaving it to my husband or musical friends to show me new things. But I've downloaded a playlist of music that makes me bob my head (good painting music!).
Mental health: This kind of goes along with spiritual health for me... but I've started reading more books on compassion and centering. Now when I feel myself start to get impatient or angry, I have mental notes to fall back on. Things that are tried and true... I have noticed that I'm less angry overall, but I feel like I'm on the tip of the iceberg as far as conquering it. But still, progress is progress, right?
Also, I take mini-vacations... almost every afternoon I sit back with a glass of iced chai and a chocolate granola bar (south beach, of course!) and I really enjoy it. No distraction because of doing other things. No email. Just enjoying the moment. I also feel less guilty if I get out of the studio to read outside for an hour. Refueling is so necessary.
My mental health is also helped by the fact that it's now spring and the sun is out more often...but of course, I can't take credit for that.
Facing fear: I was afraid of public speaking, and I did it anyway. I spoke to a group of 100+ college students and their professors and actually enjoyed it.
I was afraid of talking on the phone (I'm not kidding), but I did a podcast over the phone and didn't fail. I've also learned that I do better if I sit in a chair with nothing in front of me when I talked on the phone...that way nothing distracts me, and I visualize the other person sitting there. Makes for better conversation. I am now much more comfortable talking to clients on the phone (a good thing when you're doing it all the time!). Also, my rep calls me daily and I've gotten more comfortable with chatting on the phone because of just practicing. :)
So yes, I am a little more balanced these days. I feel like I am a work in progress, maintaining and growing these seeds I've planted. There is still a lot more to address, but it feels good to take care of myself in the small ways that I am now. I feel calmer in my handling of things. Trusting myself just a little more...
Right now, the windows are open, ocean incense is filling the air, a handful of jobs are in the works, and I just came in from a walk. I'm not stressed. I'm happy.
 I just added a bunch of the stuff I've been working on to my work page. Check it out when you have a minute. The image above is one of the new pieces: the cover for the LA Times Book Review. The book review is about a barrage of new mommy books coming out this summer. So I drew a stork carrying a bunch of books, instead of the typical baby. hee. It was really fun to work on. I'm loving the color red at the moment. :)
Easter weekend (aka downtime!)
Saturday we went up north and hung out with my family... Kayaking, bon fires, walks, basketball and coffee breaks. I really needed it because I've been pretty stressed lately...
It was also my brother, Mason's, birthday. So we took him to pick out a present. He chose this model car and Colin helped him with it. (Apparently Mason is a patient person, unlike me.)
We watched my sister's softball game. She's the catcher and she's really good. (Go Britt!) I went a little hoarse from cheering...
Vince loves walking. I caught him midsmile. Love that. :)
Hello friends!
Still in project wonderland here. Above is a recent illustration I did for Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine. The story was about how sleep affects weight loss. A fun topic to think up some good conceptual illustrations. This is where I landed. The scale reads the phases of the moon (growing skinny to plump) instead of numbers.
Oh, and happy Easter weekend! I hope the Easter bunny brings you some chocolatey goodness. Yum!
Working on a lot of projects at the moment (hence the lack of posts). Above is a recent piece I did for the Dallas Observer. It was for a story about an upcoming easter egg hunt in the big kitty shelter. Rawr. This kitty has stolen all the eggs for himself...
In lieu of an actual post, I give you things I'm liking lately:
My favorite skirt. (It's finally skirt weather!)
This bag.
This illustrator.
This design group.
These wallpapers.
African drum artist, jomo ronnie zama (no site, but look him up in itunes).
These posters.
This book.
Enjoy!
I have a group show opening at the Munce Art Center this Friday. If you're in the Indianapolis area, stop by and say hello!
The paintings above are the ones I'm contributing to the show. If you're interested in buying, email me and I'll put you in touch with the gallery owner. Thank you!
Hmm... this weeks seems to have slipped by in a blink. Is it already Friday? I know it is because I have a moment of panic every Friday morning when I realize it's time to post the new topic to Illustration Friday and for a split second I think I'd missed it.
I've been way too darned busy this week, but in a good way. I've got a lot of assignments right now that are challenging me and inspiring me. I'll tell you about them as soon as I am in the clear...
But a bit of good news*. I received a phone call earlier this week from CA asking me if I'd like to be featured in the Fresh section of the Illustration Annual in July. WOW! I'm still reeling from that... That was one of the goals on my list: to be in CA and it felt so unattainable. And now it's here (or will be in July). It feels so good...
Another thing that feels so good is this morning: it's beautiful outside for the moment (supposed to storm later) so I took advantage and went to the park with Vince. We walked all around with smiles on our faces...soaking in the sun, the smell of leftover rain... We saved a worm who was bound to dry up had we left him to his path. We chased a squirrel or two. And we stopped on a park bench to meditate and feel the sun for a few minutes. Ah...bliss.
You know that goal about finding balance and feeling centered? I am on my way. I really had no idea that taking time for yourself is so important. I feel more creative, get better ideas and feel downright healthy. Who knew... (well, everyone but me apparently.)
What have you done to take care of yourself lately?
p.s. I think I just thought of a new collaboration idea... I'll see if it holds up after scrutiny and get back to you on that. Have a perfect weekend. :)
*understatement of the year
Last weekend Colin and I went to the Edible Book festival to cover it for Nuvo Newsweekly. It was quite a site. There were book puns like "Gourd of the Rings" with a big yellow gourd in the middle of a pile of onion rings. There were literal interpretations of the titles like "Ham on Rye" and they had a toy pig sitting in the middle of a sandwich made with rye. There was also a kid's section where little beans got to bake cakes resembling Harry Potter or Stuart Little. It was really interesting and fun. I would like to participate next year... The illustration above is what I did for the article, and you can read Colin's contribution here..
Books you can eat! I'm totally down with that! Speaking of which... I'm hungry.
Mmmm....literature...
So...I got one of those wacom tablets and um... what? It's like coloring on ice. I cannot do it. The piece above was one of my attempts. (I cheated and used the mouse, too). I usually just paint my illustrations traditionally, but have been enjoying doing some work with the computer. This illo I did for Scott Hull's Creative Playground promotion... designers can vote on the image they like the best and win stuff. (I think the winning illustration gets to be printed on a tshirt or something. Not sure yet.) Anyway, I like how this piece turned out, icy or mousy. :)
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© Penelope Illustration. Stealing
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