I’ll go first! Hi I’m Adam Ming (this is my substack) , if I had 30 - 60 minutes to recharge my batteries, my favourite way to do it is to visit my favourite bookshop Kinokunia in KL, there’s something about being in a room with readers, classical music playing in the background, and books on every topic in every direction that just fills me with a sense of excitement and possibility, I could go home empty handed and still feel refreshed. - The other way I recharge my creative batteries is to go for a long walk while listening to an audio book, I did that earlier this year, listening to “A walk in the woods”. Your Turn!
A. Wander aimlessly through our local library and strain myself carrying all the random books I'd borrowed out of there; or
B. I'd start watching something I've meant to watch for years and everyone else in the family groans about when I mention it. In my house, 5 minutes of Downton (which is new to me) is enough to tip the others over the edge and give me my sense of humour back. Good humour is crucial for me to be able to work fast and well. But if I had more than 5 minutes I'd go for a Terry Gilliam, a David Lean, something black and white, actually who am I kidding, I'm not picky. 5 minutes of even something terrible is enough to push the re-set button.
Hi! I'm Sophie Benmouyal. An illustrator from Montreal, Canada. (www.instagram.com/sophiebenmouyal). When I have 30-60 to recharge, I go to this independent library at a 20 minutes walk from my house which specialized in Children's book. They have a really great selection. I listen to audio book or podcasts while walking or just breathe. My other way is just to lay in bed and let me day dream. It is usually this way I find solutions when I get stuck with an illustration. Solutions just pop out. (Apologies in advance for my spelling mistakes or strange wording. I'm French. Getting each day better in English thanks to social media but I know I'm not there yet!)
Hi~ I’m Carrie, to recharge I like to go for a walk ~ especially in the woods, near water and maybe a mountain. I also like to listen to music and doodle mindlessly. If I have an entire weekend I like to escape to the ocean or a city. I live in a rural community in Oregon US and am an illustrator, painter, especially a dreamer. Instagram.com/carriesdoodleyday
Hi! I'm Marcela Chermont (instagram.com/marcelachermont.illustration). I'm starting my path as a Children's book illustrator. My favorite way to recharge is to take a walk with my dogs (I have two, Bel and Nala) and pay attention to the environment around me, plants, people, buildings, animals. It really helps me to get out of my own mind.
I miss walking the dog (we only have a cat now, who doesn't like going for walks with me). It's really helpful to have a reason to *have* to go for a walk!
Hi I’m Jane Taheri you can find me at https//Www.instagram.com/janetaheri
Like a lot of you mentioned already I like to go to museums to recharge. My favorites are exhibits of an illustrators work, I love love love if they have their sketchbook on display!
Another thing I do to recharge is anything new, a new recipe, new walking route, new music, a movie I have never seen. New things seem to work best if I do a bunch of new things over a few days time. That way it adds up and my brain starts to churn 🤗
Hi, I'm Carolyn, an illustrator and writer living in Brooklyn NY! I'm over on IG at https://instagram.com/caromakes and also have a creativity newsletter of my own via Substack :)
I love popping over to a used bookstore or thrift store and looking for vintage children's books. Another activity I've been enjoying recently is playing a jazz album and doing some doodling based on the rhythms of the music.
I agree, there’s not much better than a trip to the library with a pastry. But I also recharge in a long, super-hot bath with a book and a glass of wine. Ahhhhh. Going the complete other direction, a trip to a museum gets my creativity recharged! Just being around all those new-to-me ideas and objects really helps me feel reinvigorated and gets my brain going again.
i love a scalding hot one - got a mega-deep one years ago when I had one of the kids, it was boiling AND up to my ears AND the midwife handed me a cup of tea with 2 sugars in - it was tremendous ... best bath memory ...
Hi! I'm Tina an illustrator from Toronto, Canada (www.instagram.com/whatsuuptina). 2 ways I like to recharge - going on walks with my dog and like many have said, taking a trip to the bookstore/ library! I find myself feeling motivated and inspired after every library adventure! I also treat myself to a pastry and I think this helps too haha :)
Hi my name is Sandy 👋🏻 Check out my little corner of Instagram @sandyillustrates To answer this question… I would reorganise my creative space, sort art materials & peruse old sketch books and picture books. I always find this therapeutic and inspiring to get me out of a creative rut! I just wanted to Thank you Adam for your fantastic bite sized creative tips which inspire me every time I open your email. You don’t waffle you get straight to the point with a truly golden nugget of arty goodness 👏🏻👏🏻
If I had 30-60 minutes to recharge my batteries (and assuming I wasn't in the middle of a big city, where I could quickly get to a museum, gallery, bookshop, etc.) I would:
1. Go for a walk in the countryside, but try to take a different route to my default routes, so I would go under trees and/or alongside water, and listen just to the sounds of the countryside and looking at the colours of the plants and sky and water, as well as the shapes and shadows, and any birds, animals and insects.
2. Pull a random book from three of my inspiration shelves (art history books, books about illustration and pattern design, books about flowers, trees, birds, animals...) and flick through them at my leisure.
Which, to be honest, is what I do far too often! I have in my head that I need a whole day to pull books down from those inspiration shelves, when really, I should go to them instead of any of the many infinite scrolls!
Hi everyone! Brilliant newsletter and thread Adam, really enjoying reading everyone's responses :)
I'm Hykie Breeze, a designer and illustrator from Hong Kong and Sydney. You can find me here and would be great to connect: https://www.instagram.com/heyhykes/
With my 30-60 minutes, I would spend it catching up on my reading: I gifted myself two books by Martin Salisbury: his newest on M. Sasek and also The Illustrated Dust Jacket. Both book covers are beautiful to look at for inspiration too.
I’ll go first! Hi I’m Adam Ming (this is my substack) , if I had 30 - 60 minutes to recharge my batteries, my favourite way to do it is to visit my favourite bookshop Kinokunia in KL, there’s something about being in a room with readers, classical music playing in the background, and books on every topic in every direction that just fills me with a sense of excitement and possibility, I could go home empty handed and still feel refreshed. - The other way I recharge my creative batteries is to go for a long walk while listening to an audio book, I did that earlier this year, listening to “A walk in the woods”. Your Turn!
Hi, I'm Jo, (https://www.instagram.com/jocockwell/ or www.jocockwell.com) aspiring illustrator, writer and ex-lawyer.
With my 30-60 minutes I'd either:
A. Wander aimlessly through our local library and strain myself carrying all the random books I'd borrowed out of there; or
B. I'd start watching something I've meant to watch for years and everyone else in the family groans about when I mention it. In my house, 5 minutes of Downton (which is new to me) is enough to tip the others over the edge and give me my sense of humour back. Good humour is crucial for me to be able to work fast and well. But if I had more than 5 minutes I'd go for a Terry Gilliam, a David Lean, something black and white, actually who am I kidding, I'm not picky. 5 minutes of even something terrible is enough to push the re-set button.
Wandering round bookshops and libraries is amazing! I can spend a lot of time (and money, if it's a bookshop) there.
Hi, Jo! I love wandering through libraries or bookshops too and just loose sense of time :)
Hi! I'm Sophie Benmouyal. An illustrator from Montreal, Canada. (www.instagram.com/sophiebenmouyal). When I have 30-60 to recharge, I go to this independent library at a 20 minutes walk from my house which specialized in Children's book. They have a really great selection. I listen to audio book or podcasts while walking or just breathe. My other way is just to lay in bed and let me day dream. It is usually this way I find solutions when I get stuck with an illustration. Solutions just pop out. (Apologies in advance for my spelling mistakes or strange wording. I'm French. Getting each day better in English thanks to social media but I know I'm not there yet!)
Walking + podcasts = my favourite way to recharge too :)
Oh, sounds wonderful!
Hi~ I’m Carrie, to recharge I like to go for a walk ~ especially in the woods, near water and maybe a mountain. I also like to listen to music and doodle mindlessly. If I have an entire weekend I like to escape to the ocean or a city. I live in a rural community in Oregon US and am an illustrator, painter, especially a dreamer. Instagram.com/carriesdoodleyday
Getting away on the weekend is always a refreshing fun way to recharge! 👍
Hi! I'm Marcela Chermont (instagram.com/marcelachermont.illustration). I'm starting my path as a Children's book illustrator. My favorite way to recharge is to take a walk with my dogs (I have two, Bel and Nala) and pay attention to the environment around me, plants, people, buildings, animals. It really helps me to get out of my own mind.
Oooo don't make me jealous Marcela - my kids and I so keen to get a dog but we live by a busy rural road which precludes it - boooo! 😢
Oh, kids love dogs! My niece had to ask my brother for 9 years but now she has the greatest time.
I've been working on my partner for about 20 years ... wish me luck! 😂
I miss walking the dog (we only have a cat now, who doesn't like going for walks with me). It's really helpful to have a reason to *have* to go for a walk!
Yep! Even when you don't feel like going you know they need you. I'm an introvert and definitely wouldn’t go out as much if I did not have dogs.
so true - although, if it helps, my partners step-sister's kids (sorry so convulted), take their cat for a walk on a lead ... 😂
Hi I’m Jane Taheri you can find me at https//Www.instagram.com/janetaheri
Like a lot of you mentioned already I like to go to museums to recharge. My favorites are exhibits of an illustrators work, I love love love if they have their sketchbook on display!
Another thing I do to recharge is anything new, a new recipe, new walking route, new music, a movie I have never seen. New things seem to work best if I do a bunch of new things over a few days time. That way it adds up and my brain starts to churn 🤗
I totally agree Jane! I love cooking it really relaxs me!
Hi, I'm Carolyn, an illustrator and writer living in Brooklyn NY! I'm over on IG at https://instagram.com/caromakes and also have a creativity newsletter of my own via Substack :)
I love popping over to a used bookstore or thrift store and looking for vintage children's books. Another activity I've been enjoying recently is playing a jazz album and doing some doodling based on the rhythms of the music.
I'm subscribed! - Jazz album doodling sounds like a ton of fun!
that's my dad's life - jazz doodling ...
Hello! I’m Jess, an aspiring illustrator living near Seattle, and you can find me at www.Instagram.com/JessBurbankStudios
I agree, there’s not much better than a trip to the library with a pastry. But I also recharge in a long, super-hot bath with a book and a glass of wine. Ahhhhh. Going the complete other direction, a trip to a museum gets my creativity recharged! Just being around all those new-to-me ideas and objects really helps me feel reinvigorated and gets my brain going again.
That bath sounds so nice right now! The more scalding hot the better 🤣
Yessss….exactly! My husband is horrified by how hot I want the bath water. 😂
Same here. I don't want hot water. I want boiling water. Haha.
i love a scalding hot one - got a mega-deep one years ago when I had one of the kids, it was boiling AND up to my ears AND the midwife handed me a cup of tea with 2 sugars in - it was tremendous ... best bath memory ...
Hi! I'm Tina an illustrator from Toronto, Canada (www.instagram.com/whatsuuptina). 2 ways I like to recharge - going on walks with my dog and like many have said, taking a trip to the bookstore/ library! I find myself feeling motivated and inspired after every library adventure! I also treat myself to a pastry and I think this helps too haha :)
the bookshop is just the excuse to get the pastry, I fee l called out! haha. Nice to meet you Tina!
Hi my name is Sandy 👋🏻 Check out my little corner of Instagram @sandyillustrates To answer this question… I would reorganise my creative space, sort art materials & peruse old sketch books and picture books. I always find this therapeutic and inspiring to get me out of a creative rut! I just wanted to Thank you Adam for your fantastic bite sized creative tips which inspire me every time I open your email. You don’t waffle you get straight to the point with a truly golden nugget of arty goodness 👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you Sandy, that’s what I try to do :)
I'm Tasha Goddard (https://www.tashagoddard.com or https://www.instagram.com/tashagoddard.illustration/), an illustrator (and project manager) in the UK.
If I had 30-60 minutes to recharge my batteries (and assuming I wasn't in the middle of a big city, where I could quickly get to a museum, gallery, bookshop, etc.) I would:
1. Go for a walk in the countryside, but try to take a different route to my default routes, so I would go under trees and/or alongside water, and listen just to the sounds of the countryside and looking at the colours of the plants and sky and water, as well as the shapes and shadows, and any birds, animals and insects.
2. Pull a random book from three of my inspiration shelves (art history books, books about illustration and pattern design, books about flowers, trees, birds, animals...) and flick through them at my leisure.
[Fun idea, Adam, and I love reading these notes!]
These walks in the UK countryside sound so appealing, the UK sounds like one big garden! And 3 inspiration shelves sound like a great Idea too!
Inspiration shelves is a great idea! Better then scrolling with no real intention on the internet.
Which, to be honest, is what I do far too often! I have in my head that I need a whole day to pull books down from those inspiration shelves, when really, I should go to them instead of any of the many infinite scrolls!
Hey Tasha, love the idea of inspiration shelves! ❤️
Hi everyone! Brilliant newsletter and thread Adam, really enjoying reading everyone's responses :)
I'm Hykie Breeze, a designer and illustrator from Hong Kong and Sydney. You can find me here and would be great to connect: https://www.instagram.com/heyhykes/
With my 30-60 minutes, I would spend it catching up on my reading: I gifted myself two books by Martin Salisbury: his newest on M. Sasek and also The Illustrated Dust Jacket. Both book covers are beautiful to look at for inspiration too.
my wife got me the Sasek book as well, it’s at home 300km away from the island retreat I’m now in, I look forward to reading it! - 👋 hello