7 Daily Rituals to Boost Creativity | Lessons from The Artists Way by Julia Cameron
In 2021 I was inspired by Alice Kristiansen, an American singer-songwriter and fellow Piscean, to read The Artists Way. The book, authored by Julia Cameron, has since been on my ‘to read’ list and this year I finally dedicated myself to following the course in its entirety. The book has not only opened me up to understanding how I can nurture my inner artist, but its been a guiding light in developing my practise and understanding how we as humans can tap into our creative potential. This form of self-help for artists, or ‘creative hygiene’ as Kristiansen calls it, has influenced my daily routine as an illustrator, and I’ve come to really appreciate how mindfulness is fundamental to a long and sustainable career in the arts. Today, I wanted to share some of my daily habits that I’ve cultivated since reading The Artists Way, and perspectives I have shifted since following Cameron’s advice. I hope you can take something from it, and that you are inspired to read the book for yourself. Let’s dive in shall we?
The Art of Doing Nothing
Most of us, more often than not, grow up with the idea that success comes from hard work, and that an artist in particular must struggle to succeed. First of all - this is a lie! Cameron diffuses this notion by explaining that we cannot discipline our inner artist into military precision and expect to make outstanding work all of the time. An aspect of creativity that I’m just beginning to understand, is the importance of stillness. Cultivating quiet moments in our day where we’re not filling our heads with noise, whether that’s from podcasts, the news, social media, or even music. Cameron emphasises that we can’t force creativity, and to truly understand that, opens us up to the idea of play. Instead of approaching your craft in a disciplined way, try directing that discipline towards habits which act as supportive systems towards getting you into that state of flow. For me, this looks like focusing on one activity at a time. Another could be dedicating time each week to practice a skill. By doing this you will open yourself up to being a vessel capable enough to channel inspiration as and when it hits.
Creativity is Infinite
It’s not uncommon to think all of your creative ideas originate with you. You came up with the idea, so it’s uniquely yours, right? Well, try looking at it this way: Cameron explains that creative inspiration is actually universal and free flowing, found in anything and everything around you. She talks about ‘God’ in the book, but I change this to ‘universe’ or ‘source’ - the wording is really up to you. But when you realise that creative ideas are not something for you to construct but rather to capture, then effort is taken out of the process. Just by looking around us we can see the flow of creativity surrounding us daily, from the sturdy trees on your morning commute, to the bees that hover by the window box. The children playing imaginary worlds in the schoolyard, to the local barista who makes your coffee exactly the way you like it each morning. Just by being alive we have access to a creative force that is infinite, and when we truly realise this, it can be something we can tap into every day, rather it being something to strive for. Your perspective on the world is really what makes your creations unique, and as you process any information that comes your way and turn it into art, you begin to channel that creative source directly, and over time you’ll find you never really run out of ideas.
Follow what lights you up
In all honesty, this phrase used to frustrate me. I used to think that it meant I should be taking huge leaps into the unknown all the time in order to feel satisfied and trusting of the path ahead of me. Since reading The Artists Way however, I have become more conscious of listening to the subtlest of messages that come up from my inner artist, and in the end, this is what I think the phrase truly means. By exerting most of your attention on what others are doing, whether you’re prone to comparing yourself, your work, or how far along you are in your career, you actually begin to sabotage your own unique voice and perspective. I used to force myself to create, especially in those early months after graduating from Art School, and felt defeated when nothing ‘good’ seemed to come from that persistence. The problem was that I wasn’t following what lit me up, instead I was doing what I thought was ‘good’ or ‘right’. Being productive doesn’t always mean being disciplined and hard. To be creative we must be be willing to listen to those subtle ideas and urges that bubble up inside of us, and attempt to honour them as and when they arrive.
Listening to our inner guidance can be difficult if you’re not attune to it. A daily practise of following your light may look something like this:
You plan 2-3 non-negotiable tasks for the day and set two hours aside for each. The morning task is to develop sketches for a commission with a looming deadline, but you are yet to have any exciting ideas. Over breakfast, you suddenly get an inspiring idea for an oil painting that seemed to come out of nowhere. You’re excited by this idea, so you choose to act on it. A whole morning goes by and you feel energized and in the flow whilst smearing paint over the canvas, and the painting is finished in one sitting. You go for lunch and go for a walk. You’re in such a good mood that by the afternoon rolls around, you’re ready to tackle the sketches and find that you even have ideas that you hadn’t thought of before. Your perspective has shifted, and you feel good because you’ve been productive. All because you followed what lit you up.
Small acts of kindness
One of the biggest learning curves for me last year, was that in order to progress in my career, I had to trust my creative process in its entirety. Our inner artist is like our child-self, says Cameron. They need to be nurtured enough to be coaxed into the light. By fostering healthy habits that support your inner artist, you are more likely to have creative ideas and urges that hit you at the most surprising moments. For such a long time, I thought my work wasn’t good enough. I’d compare myself to other illustrators (especially during university when criticism was the fuel to make me work even harder), and this led to me not wanting to make work. I didn’t trust that my ideas were any good. I’ve had to learn to be my biggest fan, and whilst I appreciate it’s not always that easy, there really isn’t another way to get past that part of your insecurity. Self-criticism really doesn’t serve you. You have to love your own work first before you can expect others to reciprocate that enthusiasm, which can be difficult if you’re just starting out or have low self-esteem. Sometimes all you need is persistence, and a little sprinkle of self-trust. Over time, you’ll not only nourish your inner artist, but you’ll be able to grow your craft to new heights you could never have imagined.
Get into it and then get out
A primed brain is a creative brain. I tend to spend my mornings away from technology, which allows me to begin my arty days in a present and focused state. I keep my desk tidy and go for walks, to allow my artist brain to breathe. These are simple tasks, and sometimes the simplest ones are the hardest to follow, but they really wonders for our inner artist to get into the ‘zone’. Then, once in that flow state, the most important thing you can do is to follow an idea through to the end. You can always edit and amend in the future. Another book I have valued is Share Your Work by Austin Kleon, who introduced me to a vital stage of the creative process, which involves putting away work as soon as you’ve finished it, and then stay away, at least for a few days. This allows us to stop over-analysing our work (we are all our own worst critic!) and creates healthy detachment from our ideas. Since putting this into practice I’ve noticed a huge shift in my critical voice, and have learnt to become more centred when reflecting on my work.
Find a Hobby
Lastly, for those of us who are lucky enough to turn a hobby into a career, we can often end up having no hobbies left for us to fall back on when we really need a break. To keep up your creative hygiene, it’s important to clear away the cobwebs every now and again and do something different. My hobbies include yoga and meditation, tending to my vegetables, cooking hearty recipes, exploring museums, improving my bread making skills, our just hanging out with friends. None of these improve my illustration skills, but they do stimulate my creativity in an all-doing, no-thinking strategy. Cameron names these as artist-brain activities. They allow us to clear our minds while also listening to our inner artist. Having something to do each week that gets you into your body and out of your head will help move ideas from stagnation back into the flow of life.
The Morning Pages
If you’ve read The Artists Way, you’ll know I couldn’t leave out such a crucial step! In addition to artist-brain activities, The Artists Way revolves heavily around the idea of journaling, or the Morning Pages. It is a task I’ve been following consistently since Autumn of 2022, and it is essentially a form of free-hand, stream of consciousness that allows all the gunk from our over-thinking minds to be let loose onto the page before beginning the day. It doesn’t matter what you write, and most days it probably won’t make much sense. But I can honestly say it has truly helped me to nurture my inner artist, as well as bringing to light other blocks that I would not have noticed otherwise. Give it a try - it may just help your creativity shine just that little bit more.
Other happenings?…
*I watched Studio Ghibli’s The Red Turtle this April and couldn’t let it pass by without a mention. The film is minimal but captivating, and almost felt similar to Spirited Away in atmosphere and palette. Definitely had a melancholy feel to it, but well worth a watch if you haven’t already.
*I attended a fab talk by Orange Beak Studio this month, with one of my illustration IDOLS Felicita Sala. Felicita is such a joy to listen to and she even answered one of my questions! I’m extremely lucky to be able to learn from so many amazing creatives around the world and I’m always inspired by how other illustrators navigate their creativty.
*It’s taken me a while but I finally listened to Taylor Swift’s Midnights album, and it’s been my go to playlist for most of April. This one took a while to grow on me but it’s actually become one of my favourites!
*I was also lucky enough to work on a postcard commission this month which resulted in this sweet little design that I’ve added to my portfolio. Prints coming soon!!
CHILD’S PLAY ~ An Exhibition of Imaginary Tales at GK Gallery
May 5th - June 25th 2023
In other news, I’m so proud to announce my first solo exhibition Child’s Play at GK gallery! The exhibition is running through May and June, and includes a collection of printed and original illustrations based around my love of storytelling and childhood memories. My favourite part of the exhibition is a collaborative wall, where I invite you to make a drawing, tell a tale or share a doodle inspired by childhood. The exhibition opens on May 5th at GK Gallery in Salford. If you’re in the Manchester area, I’d love to see you there!
So on and on and on we go. I have something VERY exciting in the works right now, and we’re just in the pre-planning stage before the real work begins. Gah! Guess it’s onwards and upwards from here - I’ll be sure to bring you along :)
xoxo
Bologna Children’s Book Fair : Travel Blog
Happy happy Spring you lovely pumpkins. How has this new season been treating you? I’ve been so ready to update you all on my whirlwind trip to Bologna Book Fair, so I’m finally doing just that!
I was wildly lucky to be able to pitch my portfolio to Italian and English publishers while I was there, as well as exploring the city with my friend from university. The marathon two days included portfolio reviews, a bookshop party, live music, a late night gallery visit and of course, pasta. I can’t tell you how much fun it was to meet fellow illustrators from around the world, as well as writers, art directors and editors, all passionate about children’s illustration. It was just a dream. Now I’m back home I realise what I miss most is the feeling of community, an excitement that everyone seemed to share. I’m still holding on to those fleeting emotions weeks later, and I hope to go back one day in the future, even better with my own published book!
For now though, I thought I’d share some memories from the trip…
Day One
We stayed near the centre of the city, in the sweetest boutique hotel painted a custard-yellow colour. After breakfast we took a 40 minute bus ride to the Piazza della Costituzione. If you’ve experienced the book fair you’ll know what I mean when I say my initial reaction was overwhelm! There was so much goodness to see and explore and to take in that it almost felt surreal. I spent most of the morning looking at the illustrator’s wall (which was already full by the time we arrived!) and exhibition spaces. The work on display was incredible and so varied - I particularly loved the expressive and vibrant exhibition from Suzy Lee. Later I scoured the bookshop in the adjacent hall for foreign titles I could bring home with me, and I had my first portfolio review with Nosy Crow! I was also invited to a book event that evening at Giannino Stoppani by my friend and writer Giulia, aftwer which we stumbled across a tiny restaurant off the main square for a bowl of delicious pasta (so good that I forgot to get the name of the restaurant!) Originally we planned to visit the fair on the Monday, and explore Bologna on the Tuesday, but my friend and I both knew as soon as we left on the first day that we’d have to come back again the next day, no matter how tired we were!
Day Two
The second day began with a morning crit with Edizioni Primavera, who afterwards gifted me this beautiful picture book from their collection by David Merveille. We also explored the incredible Hong Kong and Korean section, which had some of the most beautiful and interesting designs I wish I could have brought home. We also binged on gelato; my selection from the trip included Sicilian lemon (So. Good.) tiramisu and egg custard flavour!! Later, we headed into Bologna’s centre and walked through the mosaicked porticoes and cobbled streets until dusk. It really is a beautiful city; a perfect balance of historic architecture and artsy culture spots. Some areas in a way reminded me of Manchester’s Northern Quarter which I never would have expected. Perhaps this is the case with most Northern cities, or perhaps it was just the graffiti. For the evening’s food of choice, we discovered Bottega Portici which was like fast-food, but for pasta!
There was much to love about my time in Bologna, from the people to the food to the atmosphere of the city. A highlight of my year for sure. If you ever get the chance to go to the book fair - do it!
Since returning home…
*While visiting the fair I was fortunate enough to meet to Roberto Innocenti, an illustrator who creates beautifully detailed artwork for Italian children’s books. His illustrations for The Nutcracker are absolutely stunning. All of them created in oils too!
*I began reading The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa on the plane and so far have really enjoyed it. A review on Good Reads describes it as hypnotic and gentle, which I think is the perfect description.
*Two of the picture books I came home with include this one by Beatrice Cerocchi and another by Ericavale Morello, which was very kindly gifted to me by my friend Giulia. Both are divine.
*Superhuman has also been my go-to app for meditation this year. There are so many meditation styles on there whether you’re working, cleaning or just want to vibe to the music. It’s a really accessible form of meditation and I highly recommend!
As always, thank you for being here. I’ll be sharing more projects over the coming months which I’m very excited about, so stay tuned!
C x
Finding your Ikigai + Meaningful Creativity
Ikigai (ee-key-guy)
A life’s purpose. A reason for being.
Last year I attended a freelance workshop where a well-spoken, well-suited woman spoke of a Japanese concept that shifted my perspective forever. The concept is Ikigai, a term that you have no doubt come across in articles, or on the shelves of a bookshop. In a nutshell, to find your Ikigai is to cultivate a harmonious and deeper meaning to your life’s work. Throughout my illustration journey I have met and spoken to many artists who feel as though they lack a purpose or direction when it comes to their art, some doubting that they are good enough to pursue a creative career, others unsure about how they can sustain themselves financially. I’ve definitely been there too! But the act of creating for me has always been an innate response, and in that sense I guess I am lucky. So to find a balance between doing what I love and being able to make money from it is something that I constantly strive to achieve and learn more about. Today’s blog is an introduction to Ikigai, and I hope it encourages you to start shifting your own perspective towards a more fulfilling and meaningful art practise. So grab a notebook and pen, and enjoy!
The idea of Ikigai relates to the concept of flow - an experience that seems crucial yet hard to grasp in our pursuit for long lasting creativity. I can never force flow, it only happens when I let go and trust the process, and when I follow my deeper reasons for wanting to make art. The concept of Ikigai is split into four aspects: Doing what you love, what you are good at, what you can be paid for, and serving the world and greater good. Now that last one can be more philosophical in meaning, but if you master the first three, you’ll probably find that you already have been of service to others, and this can be where your true satisfaction lies.
Something to love.
This first sphere encompasses everything that you love. When we love something it becomes important to us, and will usually take the form of a hobby or special interest. This is not something we do for financial gain, but rather simply for the fun of it. Take a look at your hobbies and how you spend your leisure time. Most of the time, we don’t need to be asked to do what we love. Make a list of five things you love to do. Now list five more things that you have never done but would love to try. Now compare those lists. What synchronicities can you find? What are your passions?
Something to be good at.
This is not the time to be humble and say, I’m no good at anything! Be honest with yourself and list the things you’re genuinely good at. This could be a skill like playing the piano, a qualification you’ve achieved, a job you excel in or just knowing that you are a reliable friend. Regardless of whether you enjoy them or not, you have skills that can be shared with the world. If you’re really struggling, think of compliments you have received in the past. Write five of them down. How do they make you feel?
BONUS STEP: Write one of these compliments out and stick it to your desk, laptop, or mirror!
Something to be paid for.
It is true that you can be paid for your passions and if you don’t believe this, then it may be time for you to look at some of your limiting beliefs. Try listing ten careers or volunteering roles that you can do (or would love to do!) that would allow you to fill your well and your purse. Perhaps consider what you are willing to work for, as well as your long term financial goals. The trick here is to dream big!
What the world needs.
This one I personally found the hardest. Does the world really NEED my art? I shifted this question to ‘how can I share my art with my community?’ which may be easier to answer if like me, you’re starting small. If you managed to answer the first three points however, there’ll be something that you have developed knowledge, skills or experience in whilst working on your craft, and there’s almost certainly someone out there who will benefit from what you have to share (and possibly pay you for that service too).
TRY THIS NOW
Hidden within these four quadrants lies your Ikigai. Consider how each of your answers overlap. Was there anything that surprised you? Repetition may be the first step in pointing you towards your truest passions. Some may be evident straight away, others may require a little more reflection. Be gentle in the process, and have fun!
The true essence of Ikigai however, and the part that most intrigued me, is it’s emphasis on time and patience whilst learning your craft. In today’s world there is so much noise around achievement and striving for goal after goal that often the process of learning and building skills offers little in the way of relief or satisfaction. We rarely feel fulfilled in the process, and what’s more the achievement of a goal is often short lived and underwhelming. The art of striving for excellence rather than recognition can be a lifelong goal - one without an expiry date. Just remember, your Ikigai is not a destination, it’s something you can enjoy every single day.
What do you think of the concept of Ikigai? Have you found your reason for being?