You can’t edit a blank page

Notes on beating a blank page.

“You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”

– Jodi Picoult

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!”

Here are some strategies to help you over come that.

Have a Plan

You don’t have to face the blank page without a plan.

Here are some options instead.

1. Have a list of things you like to draw and pick something from the list.

2. Stain the page, use anything to mark the page and un blank it, a coffee spill, a big black scribble, a scrap of paper, or a simple line. Just make a mark, then follow it with another.

3. Draw whatever is in front of you.

Serialize

Build a series, continue from the work of the day before. This could be moving the story along like in a sequence, or building a collection using existing work as a starting point.

1. Draw a bird a day.

2. Create an illustration for each letter of the alphabet.

3. Create a story, once you have one illustration, draw whatever happens next.

Have a go to prompt.

This could be a question like ‘what did I eat for lunch’?

My go to prompt is to draw 4 boxes in a sketchbook then in each box I answer one of these 4 question as a visual.

1. What did I do yesterday

2. What am I working on

3. What’s coming up

4. What am I grateful for

On the last page of your sketch book list your plan of how you will defeat the blank page.

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What tricks do you have to overcome the blank page?

Do you have a castle in the air, some dream you are pursuing? Did you take a step today in that direction?

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TenMinuteArtist Prompt:

List your go to plan in your sketchbook

In your sketchbook create repetitions, pick a line, circle or star, fill a sketchbook pick some from the list above or create your own.

Share this with the person in your life who is facing a blank page

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⚠️ If you want to get prompts in your inbox box Daily make sure Page-A-Day Edition is toggled on (And vice versa)

You’re reading, the Page-A-Day Edition of Ten Minute Artists, a guide that offers fun prompts, encouragement, and thoughtful perspective for every stage of the creative journey to help new and experienced creators alike advance their quest in 10 minute increments.

Award winning illustrator Adam Ming draws lessons from creative legends, industry experts, and his own experience of rapidly breaking into international publishing from a third world country.

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