My creative journey

The Artist's Way

At the end of 2021, I was walking around in a PNA in Meadowridge, one of Cape Town's southern neighbourhoods, when I came across a book titled "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.

"What is it about?" I wondered.

After removing the only copy from the bookshelf, I read the blurb and undecidedly clung to it as I continued browsing through the store. Originally I had the intent of giving it as a gift to my eldest sister. Not knowing that I would embark on the artist’s journey at the start of 2022.

Embarking on the artist's journey

One of the first activities in week one is to list five imaginary lives - alternative lives I wish I could have lived.

My list of 5 imaginary lives was:

• Woodworker

• Illustration artist

• Interior decorator

• Librarian

• Voice actor

Cameron then encourages you to choose one of these five lives and to do an activity that embodied it. As a way to live out my imaginary life as an illustrator, I decided to illustrate a story my niece recorded for me that previous Christmas.

The main premise of her story is about a lonely bunny who is on a mission to make friends. Her story involved a tiger, a bird and nymphs or mermaids, and it all took place at the beach.

Since the purpose of this exercise was just to have fun and to ultimately create something special for my little niece, I just used normal printing paper and average children colouring pencils to illustrate her story - nothing fancy.

That is also why I didn't worry about using other artists' work as reference or copying images I found online. This was an opportunity for me to experiment, study other artists and just create. I do not take any credit for the writing of the story (as it is my little niece's creation) nor do I take credit for the characters I drew and I will not pass this creation off as my own.

To illustrate how sincere I am, I want to give credit to the artists and their original art that helped me create this gift for my little niece.

The lonely rabbit

I used Hanna's rabbit at the top right corner in my project.

To find out more about Hanna and her art, you can visit her website by clicking on this image.

The tiger

I used Vladyslava's tiger for this project.

You'll be able to support Vladysalva Stryhul's art on Vecteezy.

The nymphs or mermaids

I used Анастасия Бойко’s mermaids for this project.

You'll be able to support Анастасия Бойко’s art on iStock.

The island

The whole story took place on an island, so for this I used Tartila's beach scene.

You will be able to support Tartila on freepik.

The final result

When I started this project, I did not realise how huge the task was going to be or how long it was going to take me. Let's just say I underestimated - severely.

Since I've only ever been used to drawing an image once and then never again, it was extremely challenging to redraw the same character or location. It was especially difficult to ensure there was a sense of continuity between the different compositions and that you could identify repeating characters or environments.

Here is the end result of this illustration project.

Obviously there is still so much I have yet to learn, but I've managed to finish this project and overall I'm happy with the outcome of this exercise. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to redo this little book and create my own characters with better art supplies.

What I've learned

Even though I still do not consider myself as someone with artist block or as someone who struggles to be creative, I go through times of creative doubt, overwhelm, and indecisiveness.

There are so many creative things, projects and pursuits I’m interested in. It is sometimes overwhelming to choose just one to focus on. Then, having chosen it, I get frustrated when I don’t make progress at the rate that I want to. It is a continuous fight against time, my own limitations and my endless growing lists of interests.

However, looking back to where I was before, I started with Julia Cameron’s exercise of five imaginary lives to where I am now on my creative journey. There are three main things I’ve learned so far:

• Narrowing down my interest and choosing one or two things to focus on.

• I do not need big chunks of time to be creative. I just need to learn to use the short snippets of time I have available to be creative.

• Enjoying something that embodies creativity in order to refill my creative well. This is the hardest and most important lesson Cameron’s Artist’s Way has taught me.

How I'm exploring this alternative life further

I’ve been exploring this alternative life even further by watching illustration artists on YouTube and supporting them on Patreon. Artists I’ve watched while I was busy with my niece’s illustration project were Fran Meneses, FurryLittlePeach and Morgan Long.

• FranNerd inspired me to study how other illustrators draw. Motivating me to develop my own illustration style.

• FurryLittlePeach made me curious about colouring and drawing with Prisma Color pencils and experimenting with watercolours.

• Morgan Long inspired me to sign up for an online illustration course on Domestika called "Sketchbook Techniques for Children's Illustration" by Ema Malyauka.

Since I’ve been taking this course, I’ve started working on my own children’s story. Which I will document on my blog as part of my Creative Journal entries. Along with this illustration project, I’ll also document the activities I’m doing for Julia Cameron’s artist way and any other creative projects or exercises I embark on.