How to go from blank page to idea to final illustration in record time!

avoiding 3 beginner mistakes! (And what to do instead)

There are 3 big mistakes people make when trying to create a new illustration from scratch. These mistakes cause work to go unfinished and more often never get started at all.

Mistake #1: Overthinking instead of just starting.

Starting is literally the hardest part.

Most illustrations are abandoned before a single mark has been made. That’s why every aspiring illustrator has one or more empty sketchbook waiting for that perfect idea. Here’s a trick, tell yourself, “This is just the warm up!”

Just get some marks, a noodle doodle, some shapes or lines, anything just mark the page, and you’ve done the hardest part!

Mistake #2: Getting straight to the point

Your first idea is rarely the best one.

Instead try drawing around your idea, beat around the bush. Imagine you have a topic, let’s say, “the future”. Draw all the things you might associate with the subject, utopia, dystopia, aliens, robots, babies, calendars, a Time Machine… whatever YOU associate with the subject.

Circle the most interesting ideas.

Make your illustration about the most interesting ideas not your first idea!

Mistake #3: Working with no time limit.

Without constraint perfectionism may cause a work to never be finished.

“A painting is never complete, it is only abandoned” -Unknown

Instead compress work into focused bursts! Reduce the time spent on the work and increase the focus. Set a timer and try to finish within that time. If you need an extension, set a timer for the extension.

Use the timer to tell you when something is done!

So how do you get from blank page to final idea in record time?

1. Start with a warm up

2. Illustrate your most interesting ideas

3. Work in short bursts

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If you’ve missed Monday’s Creative Career Chat, this week we’re doing intros, and the thread is bustling!

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More early career mistakes

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P.S: Art is never finished only settled.