Much of my work is either small or digital, so my workspace has largely consisted of a single desk. Easels (both bench and standing styles) are not part of my usual working process anymore, but I have used them when working with oil, acrylics or charcoal. I have previously not had a larger personal space I could call a “studio”, but I recently moved to a new location with a little more space than before. The room itself is very comfortable as a bedroom, but I have not made much effort to make it look like a studio beyond setting up the computer/digital tablet and shelving the art supplies. I cannot say that I’ve ever put more effort into my working space than that.

I like to have a clear desk. Clutter still happens but I find it annoying. Both the computer screen and the digital tablet are large and occupy most of the space on said desk, but they are easy enough to push away when I need space to draw traditionally. The traditional pieces are never larger than an A3 format, but if I do find myself working on something big I pull up a board and tape my work to it. The board can be propped up on the desk or moved around as needed.

The spaces I’ve lived and worked in have been practical and pleasant, but I have never really made them inspirational or even “personalized”. Perhaps it’s odd for an artist to say so, but I’ve never felt the impulse to decorate with art strongly enough to actually do it. I like the idea of being surrounded with things that inspire me, but when it comes down to it those things have a tendency to change on a weekly if not daily basis. I’ve mostly sated inspiration hoarding impulses via Pinterest. My account is a real repository of visual chaos, but I find it more convenient for gathering inspiration for projects, researching new styles, and narrowing down my own style preferences than the traditional way of cutting out magazines or decorating with paintings and posters. I used to gather images for inspiration in my actual computer files as well, but I have since moved everything to Pinterest in the interest of keeping my computer clutter free as well.

Some day I may take on the challenge of making and gathering art for my own space, but I don’t think that’s a project I want to start thinking about right now.

● What do you need to be creative?

Being creative is an active thing for me. I generally do not wait to “be inspired”, but prefer to brainstorm through bad ideas until I get to the good ones. So generally, all I need is a piece of paper and a pen.

● Are there certain factors that are important for you to develop your work?

Research and references are two important factors. My work always looks markedly better after I research into the subject/topic and apply the details of the thing I’m representing to my project.

● When, where, and how do you work? How might you develop this approach further?

I do not have a set time for when I work. Though I do like to work in the mornings most. As for where, I always work at my desk. Sometimes I venture outside to take reference photos. My approach is not complex: first I analyze the brief/create a brief for myself, then I build on the key words and make a plan for the rest of the project depending on what approach is best for that particular brief. Depending on the project, I research books, images and artists relevant to the brief and apply whatever I have learned from them to the process. Usually, I start out with traditional sketches then branch out into digital mediums, usually Photoshop. I ask for feedback throughout the process from the person I am commissioning from and from people around me. For further development, I would like to become better at experimentation and branch out when brainstorming initial ideas. I have a tendency to dismiss more experimental ideas early in my creative process in favor of speed. This has led to fairly safe projects. Using more experimentation early in the project might help with developing original projects that might suit the brief even better than my first idea would have.

● Given your creative process, how do you best document your work?

I usually just take photographs and videos, then I write about the project on this blog. I think it works pretty well.

● What kinds of questions do you use to reflect on your work?

What is the project about? What is it for? Who is it for? How much time do I have to make it? Has anyone made something similar? What can I apply to my own project?  What can I add to the story visually?

● How important is reflection to your process?

Probably not important enough. I tend to enter a rhythm/zone when I start actually working on a project. Reflection tends to only really happen after I finish. At that point I usually do not feel the need to start all over again to correct any mistakes that I may have made. I try to take breaks or sleep on certain projects, but it oftentimes leads to just scrapping the whole thing and then doing something new. I am trying to work on being more reflective during my working process and not just at the end.

● Can you develop new questions or prompts?

I can, but I can’t say that I’ve been inclined to.

● How does this reflection help feed back into your making?

I try to apply the things I learn from previous projects into future ones.

● How would you describe your creative process?

Depends on what I am making. It can range from basically exactly the process I described above, to a chaotic mess. If I am making something simple, like a single illustration with few characters then the process is straightforward, but if I make something more complex, like a zine or a short comic, things become much more chaotic.

● What sort of stages do you go through to initiate and develop your ideas and work?

I usually select key words, then use mind maps to expand on the key words, then I sketch any that first come to mind. Lastly I research and gather images for inspiration.

● How important are restrictions to the process?

Restrictions are vital. Without restrictions, the project has no direction. Whenever possible, I place even more restrictions on myself than strictly necessary because it makes the process flow easier.

● Do you start with an idea or proposal, start making and see where it takes you, or work in a different way?

I don’t necessarily work by “seeing where it takes me”. I tend to have a more rigid process. (Though, again, it depends on the project.) I start with the proposal and then follow the steps outlined above to make a new thing.

● Do you have any strategies to deal with creative blocks or obstacles?

Not beyond the brainstorming strategies I have already written about above. I don’t really believe in creative block. Creativity sometimes takes more effort, and that’s ok.

● What does experimentation look like to you?

Experimentation is taking an old idea and making it new by adding unexpected elements to it. Sometimes that means switching up the genera, medium, style or just playing around with color pallets until the project fulfills the initial brief even better than it did initially.

● Where do you work, what kind of physical spaces do you need?

My desk with art supplies (usually watercolors, inks, and gouache) and my drawing tablet/computer setup.

● When do you work, and how best can you structure your time?

I work best in the mornings, but I do my best to manage myself well in the afternoons as well. I try to work in 2 hour blocks and take brakes that do not involve sitting down. The project is planned out at the very beginning, after brainstorming and settling on a shape for the project. If the project is very long, I space out tasks over the course of several days. If I also have to record the process, I try to add time for that each day.

● How do you draw on inspiration to feed your creativity?

Inspiration usually comes from books and films for me. Music also inspires me, especially any music that has stories attached to it like balles, musicals and operas.