Turn ideas into projects!
How to never stop having ideas, part 2
Hey guys,
in last week’s newsletter, I sent you three of my favorite strategies that help me to never run out of ideas. I also mentioned that there’s a couple more, so let’s head into part 2 with 3 more strategies!
4. Define your go-to topics!
Think about topics that keep on fascinating you. These could be more or less banal - on my personal list are, for example: architecture, plants/overgrown things, robots/cyberpunk or just drawing stuff in isometric perspective.
I like to call these go-to topics, as I can return to these subjects in my art any time, and immediately feel inspired. It also works in combination with other topics. A client wants me to illustrate their new product? What would it look like in a robotic cyberpunk way? Could it be turned into a building? Even if I don’t end up actually drawing the product as a building, this way of thinking and combining sets free fresh creative thoughts and perspectives.
Sit down and make a list of your go-to topics! If you can’t come up with any now, maybe it’s time to develop them, so you can add something to your unique artistic language.
5. Use References!
“Using references is bad for developing your art style”. Did you also have that art teacher who told students this kind of nonsense? I had multiple, and this stuck with me (and many fellow students) for a long time..I felt like no one wanted to admit their use of references.
Artists need to build a visual library, and I strongly believe that it doesn’t matter if you build this out in the wild, or through a screen. No, you don’t have to travel to Antarctica to study drawing icebergs 😅.
The internet is an insane resource for all kinds of references. Remember my very first tip from last week? “Look at what surrounds you!” - let’s include your computer screen to this advice. Find a nice Instagram account or Pinterest board, and channel the inspiration into your own interpretations. Don’t forget to credit them, though!
6. Turn Ideas into Projects!
Are you one of those artists who always create single artworks, without building a relation between them? For this strategy, next time try to turn an idea that you like into a series! You can start coming up with three instead of one ideas, and voilá: you’ve got yourself a project!
Projects keep you working, are way better suited for portfolio posts, and show potential clients that you’re able to produce consistent work.
My Curious Cabins series is a great example how a single idea (drawing a isometric house with a unique funny twist) turned into a project. I could always sit down and add another couple of these relatively easily, because the basic frame of the conceptual idea is already there.
I’m surely going to turn this strategy into a whole article, as I’d love to give you some more advice on how to actually build a series concept.
Two more things I’d like to share with you today:
I started working on my first comic!
My own contribution to my Gooey Goose project I founded with Dominik will be two short comics - my first ever comics! Took 37.5 years to finally get to this point, but now I’m brave enough to try it! I recently posted an article on Patreon, explaining how I tackle this challenge, and showing my very first steps. It’s up here!
Ohne den Hype Podcast
Here’s one for my german speaking readers: I’ve recently recorded a Podcast episode with Sven from Ohne den Hype, and it’s out now. You can listen to it here - viel Spaß!
That’s it for today! Thanks so much for reading, and please let me know if you found my idea strategies useful! 😊
Cheers
Stefan