Thoughts on Illustration
Stressed out? 8 Ways to Alleviate Stress as a Professional Illustrator
Episode Summary
In this episode, we'll go through 8 ways to alleviate stress as a working illustrator. Making art for a living, often under tight deadlines and high expectations, can be very stressful. But if we're stressed out all the time, we'll end up burning out. So how do we avoid stress in our work, even as we perform on a deadline? How can we manage multiple projects and give each one of them our best? And how can we do all this without burning out? Join me as I share the surprisingly simple ways that I've been able to take the edge off stress in my own work. Along the way, I hope to encourage you to keep going and not to let the little (and sometimes big) setbacks hold you back.
Episode Notes
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In this episode, we'll go through 8 ways to alleviate stress as a working illustrator. Making art for a living, often under tight deadlines and high expectations, can be very stressful. But if we're stressed out all the time, we'll end up burning out. So how do we avoid stress in our work, even as we perform on a deadline? How can we manage multiple projects and give each one of them our best? And how can we do all this without burning out? Join me as I share the surprisingly simple ways that I've been able to take the edge off stress in my own work. Along the way, I hope to encourage you to keep going and not to let the little (and sometimes big) setbacks hold you back.
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IN THIS EPISODE
0:00 - Intro
0:00:39 - Opener
- Creative work can be stressful
- Trying to come up with creative ideas on a deadline
- Things don't always line up as we expect, even with experience
- How to keep going, manage stress and not burn out?
0:02:53 - How to Support
0:03:51 - Story: Bad Photography
- My first ever paid creative gig
- Event photographer at boss's family event
- Had no idea what I was doing
- Picture were pretty bad
- Stressed out about it for a long time
- Now I know I was being too hard on myself
- First time is always a learning process
- Failure/bad work is inevitable
- Things turned out fine anyway
0:11:25 - Tip 1
Accept Stress as a Given
- Stress is inevitable
- Expecting it takes the edge off a bit
- We can also plan for it
0:12:55 - Tip 2
Give Yourself Permission to Fail
- Failing is inevitable
- Sometimes our fault, sometimes not
- Hotel Hell example - Gordon Ramsey making me feel convicted
- Important thing is to turn things around as soon as you notice
- Accept that failure will happen
- Give permission to fail and be bad sometimes
- Just keep getting up and getting better
0:20:23 - Tip 3
Set Realistic Timelines with Enough Time to Get Lost
- Know what it takes to get your job done
- Sometimes we need a period of getting lost/experimentation
- Build time into your schedule for that
0:24:41 - Tip 4
Don't Try to Read the Client's Mind
- Start all projects off with a brief
- Clients won't always know what info you need to do your job
- Sometimes you have to ask them
- Ask up front in the brief
- Or ask later in process when you realize it
- Your job is to turn their idea or message into an illustration
- Your job is NOT to come up with their reason/purpose/message
- If you try to just guess what they want, you might end up wasting a lot of time
- Don't be afraid to push for missing information
0:31:21 - Tip 5
Lay the Groundwork Early
- The creative process is a sequence of steps that start simple and get progressively more involved
- Skipping steps or leaving early steps to the last minute will put strain on the creative part
- Start early with the simple, non-creative stuff
- Give yourself time to sink into a job
0:35:05 - Tip 6
Ask for More Time When You Need it
- There's almost always more time in a schedule
- You just have to ask for it
- If you sense you need more time, ask before it's too late
- Be honest, explain that you've been working hard but need just a little more time
- The client is on your side, they will support you if they can
- Use this option sparingly, but know it's there
- Better to ask for more time than to show up on the deadline with work you don't stand behind.
0:38:51 - Tip 7
Say No to Projects When You Don't Have the Time
- SEE EPISODE 14: GOOD NEWS FOR SLOW WORKERS
- Reject jobs that don't give you time to do your best work
- This means knowing how long you need (err on the safe side)
- Avoid stacking up too many jobs, if adding more compromises the ones you already have
- Don't fear missing out: saying no does not mean missing out on future opportunities
- Myth of the "once in a lifetime" opportunity
- Getting opportunities means you will get more
- Be ethical, don't abandon your current clients
- If a big opportunity comes your way but you don't have time to do it:
- Plan A: Ask for a timeline extension from new client
- Plan B: Ask current clients if they can move deadlines around to help you accommodate new one
- Saying no is a vote of confidence in yourself
- Don't over-stretch yourself: Your work will be better and you will do better in the long run
0:45:39 - Tip 8
Just Get the Work Done!
- Channel that anxious energy into getting it done
- If you are paralyzed by stress, take a break
- Ask for more time
- Our job is to get the job done by whatever means possible
- Sometimes that means pushing it out under pressure
- Sometimes that means asking for some grace
- We put more expectation on ourselves than our clients do
- Don't try to make "good" work
- Make work that you know works, based on the goals of the brief
0:55:42 - Conclusion
- Don't be so hard on yourself
- The stress we're feeling will feel like a bigger deal than it actually is
- Yes, art work is hard work
- With a change in mindset and taking these pre-emptive steps, you can alleviate stress
- It DOES get better with experience
- Either way, you'll be okay!
LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE
Writing Briefs
PODCAST CREDITS
All music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk.
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