Facing the Blank Page

Blind Boxes, Left Over Paint and Katie Vernon

Expensive Sketchbook, Fancy Pen

Picture this: You're sitting at your desk, expensive sketchbook open, fancy pen in hand. You've finally carved out ten whole minutes from your day to work on your illustration skills. This is it, the moment you've been waiting for, your grand transformation from corporate drone to the next _________ (fill in the blank)

And then... nothing. Your mind is as blank as the page in front of you.

The Blank Page

Obstacle: This is a test and I’m afraid to fail

Way: A blank page is a blind box of creative possibility

Blind boxes are an ever increasingly popular way to sell toys.

For 20 Dollars, you get a box and instead of telling you what’s inside, it tells you what could be inside. What if… we replaced the idea of a blank page being some kind of test on your artistic powers and instead frame it as a gift you give yourself.

Here’s what you might find on the other side of a blank page:

1. An idea for your next picture book or portfolio piece

2. The joy that comes from just creating

3. An image that you actually like

4. A clue on how to get better

5. A comic strip

And the only way to find out what’s inside is to take that fancy pen and just start.

Ps: You know it’s strange how as we grow older a blank page has become something we are so viscerally scared of. I remember being a kid, a blank page was pure joy, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the biggest blankest page I could find.

Sketchbook Prompt

In which I share another amazing prompt I’ve found on the interwebs. This one was created by an artist I love for her fresh colour pallet and joyfully surprising sketches and illustrations; Katie Vernon. Katie was in the first art class I took online. It felt like she was a seasoned pro and I was just fumbling around. (Sometimes it still feels that way.)

Here’s how she stays productive when feeling intimidated by blank pages.

Katie Says:

Step one: use leftover paint to draw a head-shaped blob. Or draw a wonky outline of a head.

Step two: Write a random prompt underneath.

Step three: forget that you did that for a few weeks until you say to yourself “I don’t know what to draw!!!”

Step four: open your sketchbook and face the page, have fun and follow your prompt.

katievernonart

A post shared by @katievernonart

So, as we continue to do the 3 Materials Drawing Challenge, Let’s use left over paint to draw heads and blobs, and create prompts as gifts to your future self!

Meet the Maker: Katie Vernon

Katie Vernon, an illustrator and author based in Flagstaff, Arizona, draws inspiration from her diverse experiences as a florist, alpaca caretaker, and bus dweller to create witty, vibrantly colored works.

Her unique perspective and artistic style have attracted an impressive roster of clients, including Simon & Schuster, Anthropologie, Chronicle Books, Hallmark, and IKEA.

Katie's creative space, shared with a melodious cricket, exemplifies her whimsical approach to life and art, making her a standout figure in the illustration world.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

---

Who, What, How?

You are reading: Ten Minute Artist with your guide Adam Ming the newsletter that helps you level up your creative career in as little as 10 minutes a day by

• Replacing creative roadblocks with reframes.

• Giving you prompts to implement these reframes instantly

• Introducing you to the global creative community (Meet the Maker)

  ---

I’m aiming to going back to writing posts like this daily, I think a quick daily checkin to clear roadblocks, connect with other artist, and work on our business not just in our business, is a great system to keep all our buckets full.

I’m not going to ramp up instantly, rather I’m going to build a buffer and publish accordingly, thank your subscription it helps me set aside the time to build up that buffer.

---

The last Art Gym was about using different materials to extend your art style. We’ve added a Gallery to the replay, so anyone can share the work you do live or in the replay. Get the Replay