Welcome to Ten Minute Artist — your daily guide to indulging your creative nature.
What is Ten Minutes Artist?
Think of it as a page-a-day guide for building a daily art practice that results in one outcome…
Daily Creative Joy
And that means taking time out of your day to do something creative just for the fun of it.
Yes there are all kinds of tangible, healing, productive and social benefits that come from the creative act. But making any of those outcomes the point of the creative act turns it into a slog. A job.
Joy comes from the pure act of creating and that is what we are here to do together.
All you need to do is to…
Indulge Your Creative Nature
The way we approach this act of creating is one of indulgence.
One of the things that holds people back is this fear that all the effort and passion they put into their creative act will not amount to anything. I struggled with that fear for years, maybe decades. Until I decided, you know what, I’m just going to do it for the joy of it.
Specifically, I decided I would just illustrate daily, for a decade, regardless of outcome. And the outcome so far is illustrating more than a dozen books in less than a handful of year since I turend 40.
But it was the decision not to let the lack of outcome stop me from doing what I love.
So in this newsletter, the focus is the indulgent act of creating daily, and the only outcome we’ll be concerned about is the joy that comes from it. I will occasionally share some ideas about how to turn this joy into a job, but that is more of a bonus then the main thing.
I’ll lead us by sharing my indulgent creations, my process and a creative Action(prompt) each day, as an invitation to indulge your own creative nature. And in doing so you will all so discover…
Freedom From Mindless Conformity
When you start indulging your creative nature your whole life changes.
You start to see that there are more and different ways of doing things. You start to realise that you have more options than you ever thought possible. Your creative nature will start expressing itself at work, in conversation, in your choices.
Big choices and little choices.
You realize that life does not need to conform to limited ‘menu options’, and that you can make requests of the Chef! And the best part is that all you need to get started is…
Ten Minutes a Day
All I’m asking you to do is set aside ten minutes a day.
Each day I’ll send you a creative action, it might by writing, drawing, or scheduling a ten minute artist retreat with yourself.
You might want to indulge these creative actions for more than 10 minutes and you’re always welcome to do so. But I’ve designed them to be things you can do in 10 minutes. So you can always make time for them. And yes you will have to make time.
It’s easy to make time for things you enjoy doing, and the other thing these creative actions are designed to be, is fun.
Who is Ten Minute Artist for?
Ten Minute Artist is for anyone ready to indulge their creative nature and find joy in the act of making:
Aspiring artists who want to build confidence and momentum without pressure
Returning artists who want to reconnect with the joy they once felt
Working creatives who need space for personal projects outside deadlines and clients
No matter where you’re starting from, the invitation is the same: ten minutes a day to create for the joy of
Who is Adam Ming?
I’m Adam — an illustrator who found his way back to art at 40 and somehow ended up signing 11 book deals in my first two years. Before that, I co-founded a start-up and spent a long stretch away from the drawing table.
Now I make picture books, comics, and this newsletter — sharing what I’ve learned so you can skip the detours and enjoy the creative journey sooner.
Clients include Bloomsbury, Harper Collins, Wern & Rook, Anderson Press, Simon & Shuster, Quatro, Walker Books, and Hardie Grant & Substack.Inc.
This is how people describe what I do:
“If you are looking for daily prompts to keep drawing, you couldn’t ask for a kinder, funner host!“
Wendy MacNaughton, DrawTogether with WendyMac
“Adam gives thoughtful advice and support for every stage of your illustration journey!”
Beth Spencer, Introvert Drawing Club
“Adam is unrelenting in his quest for creative success! His tips and techniques for consistent growth are top notch. ”
Jacob Souva, Drawing a Blank
There was a 20-year gap between when I left art school and started illustrating my first picture book. That gap was the real education I needed to succeed in my dream of becoming a freelance illustrator.
I want to help you develop your creative practice in ten-minute increments, so you won’t have to spend two decades trying to learn those lessons the hard way.
Get prompts and reflections that will make you feel energised, empowered, and connected to the creativity inside and around you.
Here’s a free sample of my best posts. Enjoy!
How to fund an outstanding family life with incredibly fulfilling work
If you woke up at 2.30am feeling fresh, would you get up or go back to sleep?
🫰If you are a writer on Substack , please consider recommending Ten Minute Artist to help grow this amazing community of readers! Thank You!
