Navigating a New Creative Endeavor | PART ONE

Hi Friends! Happy May!
How are you? Hanging in there? Ready for Summer?

I’m going to be honest, my brain is tapped from all the computer and client work I’ve been doing, not to mentioned I just lost hours by accidentally deleting 9/10ths of this whole blog post. AHHH Squarespace has been so glitchy lately on blog drafts, so note-to-self and note-to-you, back up your posts in pages or evernote.
But I love you all so here I am to write it again.

I’ve been working a lot as of late, settling into our new life in Michigan, and finishing up two picture book deadlines. I also started a new windowsill herb garden and in the week I’ve had it, it hasn’t died, which I consider a win!

I don’t have an eloquent segue into this blog post, but starting a garden is close.
Today we’re talking about beginning again, starting over, navigating new creative endeavors.
Beginnings are ever present. Mornings. Blanks sheets of paper. Workouts. We are always seemingly starting over. But what about the huge changes? The gigantic leaps? I’ve always handled change with ease but the massive broad shifts into new territory are overwhelming. And the farther I am in my career, the scarier they get.

In October, I talked about launching ‘Into the Unknown,’ sharing ways to ease transition. Six months later, it reads like a packing list for an expedition. Now my boots are almost on the ground and my legs are shaky. Moving from a hazy amorphic feeling of a plan to concrete steps is difficult. Details are easy for me, the big picture is not. Creating is easy for me, business is not. So how do I go about creating my big picture business while relishing in the creative details?

The short answer is: I’m learning! Since you’re here (and I’m glad you are) we can navigate this together. Two things I’ve found really helping in navigating change: Visualization and Realization. Today I’m sharing a couple visualization tools and next month we’ll dive into realization.

VISUALIZATION

“The clearer you are when visualizing your dreams, the brighter the spotlight will be to lead you on the right path.”
-Gail Lynne Goodwin

When launching into new territory, it’s helpful to see the details in our minds and in the world. It makes the hazy emotional cloud of an idea become much more distinguishable and concrete.

SEE IT IN YOUR MIND

There are endless visualization articles, studies, and meditations abound.
One simple one I do from time to time is a writing exercise where you write down your perfect day in the future. I get super detailed in mine, like I can see what type of flooring is in my house, what the clouds look like outside the window and what kind of coffee mug I’m drinking out of. While you can be as vague as you’d like, I do encourage you to try and be intricate where the creative work is involved.

OK! Grab a piece of paper or a journal (something you won’t lose - these are nice to keep)
Don’t overthink it - this is freewriting and no one has to read it.
Imagine your perfect but ordinary day 3-5 years from now. Since this is focused on work, don’t choose a day off or lavish vacation.
I’ve provided some questions to consider below - feel free to use any, all, or none!

On your perfect but ordinary future day:
+ What time do you wake up?
+ Are you alone? Is there anyone else there?
+ Do you wake up with anything on your mind?
+ What’s the first thing you do?
+ What will you wear for the day?
+ What is the weather like, or the scene outside your window?
+ What’s for breakfast? Do you have a morning routine?
+ You’re on your way to work now, what’s your studio like? Describe in detail.
+ There’s a creative project on your ‘desk’ that you’re excited about. What is it?
+ Do you have any meetings? Are they virtual? Will you travel?
+ It’s time for lunch - what will you have? Will you be alone? Will you meet someone?
+ Back at work for the afternoon, do you change projects?
+ Do you have something to ship or deliver?
+ Do you have any plans after work? Is there a show or event?
+ What do you need to get done before you leave for the day?
+ What’s for dinner? Will you eat at home? Out and about? With anyone?
+ How will you unwind from the day?
+ What was your favorite part of your day?

The first time I did this, I was astonished at how easily I could visualize my perfect day. Since then, I have ‘memories’ of this daydream to see if I’m on the right track. When we lay the foundational tracks for our future, it’s easier to check in and see if we’re where we’d like to be. Our creative or future goals can change and that’s ok too. The main point is to be able to see where we’d like to end up so we can harness our energy in the present to move towards our future goals.

SEE IT IN THE WORLD

One of the hardest parts about a creative endeavor is that often we’re trying to wrap our brains about something we can’t actually see. Doing a moodboard, for me, is one of the closest ways of ‘seeing’ my vision in the real world. Sometimes making the mood board is more interesting than actually doing the projects!

I encourage you to make a mood board for your new endeavor. You can make a board on pinterest, or you can create one from magazine and material cut outs. You can also create a PDF, print it and hang it on your studio wall. Whatever you choose, have it close and available for the times you feel uncertain with which direction to go. I also find that it’s helpful to combine outside inspiration with some of my actual work. That way, the goal doesn’t seem so out of reach.

I’m part of an organization of visual entrepreneurs called the Art Brand Alliance (which I’ll talk more about next month) and we’ve been doing a string of creative visualization exercises. Alongside that, for the past year or so, I’ve been diving deeper into the things that delight me, my story, my values, etc. For one of our recent meeting in the ABA, I created this vision board, which I feel is the closest I have come to visually representing my new direction of work, which for now I’m calling Rebecca Green 2.0! Some of the work is mine and the other is credited.

From top left:
Scene from Jiří Trnka's "The Czech year", Mon Cachet Vintage Envelope, Tove Jansson and Tuulikki Pietilä with Moomin House, Chickpea Magazine Cover, Apple Cider Donut (me), Celia (me), Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox Set, Vintage Crayons via Christian Montone, Vintage Wooden Box, Christmas Table by Cote Maison, Night Ride (me), Cutie Mystery Girl at her desk, credit unknown - who is she!?, and Henri & Miko (me)!

Sharing this publicly feels vulnerable because it’s quite close to my heart. For months now I’ve wanted to hide away and burn everything down so I could start from scratch and build a new version of my work. This is hard to do when work is seemingly permanent online and picture books take years to come out. The ‘real work’ always seems so far away.
I recently met with creative coach, Betsy Cordes, who runs February 13 Creative & Art Brand Alliance and she helped me realize the benefit of sharing as I grow. It’s what I’ve done since I started this blog and my illustration career 11 years ago. I’ve brought you with me as I learn and this should be no different.

Next month, I’ll share more of what I’m learning in terms of putting a plan into action - moving from dream to reality. *Spoiler alert, it takes time! For an impulsive person like your ol’ friend RG, that’s hard!

If you’re interested in hearing more about transitions, my new work, and the thoughts behind it, I recently did a podcast with Dan Blank where we discuss just this topic. We also talk a bit about social media and this very blog post/newsletter! This is the third time I’ve spoken with Dan and he’s just such a supportive and caring mentor to creatives and writers alike. Have a listen here.

Also I literally just walked to my windowsill and some of my herbs are drooping and wilted. HOW does anyone keep plants alive?! Tune in next time to Plant Killers! I’ll give you all my best tips to be the worst gardener in history.

OK but for real - cheers to Spring and newness. Go save your blog draft. Take care of yourself and others. Eat some fruit. Feel the sun on your face if you can. May all our futures be bright and full of compassion and creativity.

Until next time,
xo,

Becca

PS - Thanks SO MUCH for sharing all your sweet thoughts and experiences on last month’s post regarding moving and relocating. Lots of stories about change, locations, and even fond memories about mochi and 7/11s! While I can’t respond to all the comments, I read and relish in each one. You guys are the best.