Creating Routine – Monday Minutes.

Hello Friends!

I’ve decided Monday morning will be the time I set aside to share some insights into my creative routine. I will try my best to keep it brief… though, let’s be honest, will likely fail. However, I’ll break it up into little morsels, so you can pick & read as you desire.

This morning, I will be introducing a new drawing challenge I have set myself + dig into a few thoughts about marketing that I’ve been mulling over. I’ve been doing a lot of brainstorming, yet suspect I won’t be doing myself any favours by dumping an essay in your inbox this early on. So, I might pop back in midweek with a few more bits and pieces! Please let me know in the comments if you’d prefer one in-depth email, or a couple of short and sweet posts!

#MondayMerger

Drawing is no different to exercise, once you stop, it feels all the more challenging to get back into it. It was with this awareness that I created myself a drawing challenge titled #MondayMerger. A little creative activity to dust off any cobwebs that were spun in my mind over the last few days of work.

The premise is simple. I refresh my Pinterest feed and select the 2nd image in the top row. I then refresh it again, and select the new photo in the same place. This leaves me with two random images that I have to ‘merge’ together.

The idea stems from my love of taking inspiration from unlikely items, and applying it to a new form. Perhaps, a cake inspired by a pair of sneakers? The idea is not to simply end up with a cake shaped like a shoe.. though if I’m feeling particularly literal, it could be that unimaginative. But on a good day, I prefer when the references are simply suggestions in the finished piece. It’s an exercise in pulling together two exisiting objects/images/photos and creating something fresh.

I tested out the idea last week when I pulled out a photograph of a cat by Jane Burton and an image of makeup artist Rowi Singh with a flower adorned braid. I RARELY draw cats so decided to take this opportunity to give it a go. Whilst I don’t feel the result were particularly imaginative, it was certainly something a bit different for me. (Oh and I should mention, I try to limit myself to 30 – 40 minutes for the whole activity, after all it is just a warm up which could possibly spark a bigger idea.)

Considering that I created the above last Wednesday, it doesn’t really count. After all today, is Monday. So, this morning I tested it out ‘for real’ and below is the result. I wasn’t thrilled with the creativity of it, nor the pictures ‘generated’ by Pinterest for that matter, but I enjoyed returning to my sketchy line drawing style from old. Call me smug, but I actually think this could be quite a cute business card for a baker. Any takers? hee hee.

I enjoyed waking up knowing I had something I ‘had’ to draw, so I’ll certainly be attempting to maintain this habit.

Attempting ‘Marketing’

If you have read my first post, you will know that I’m struggling to get ‘Friend of Note’ off the ground. I recognise I don’t think I’m quite yet creating something people desire, but product ideas are something I will explore as I continue. However, there is a lot of work I could be doing to try get my work under the noses of a new audience.

From my own experience as a shopper, I tend to support the businesses of those I feel affection for, ie; a small haul from vlogger Catherine Kay (Katnipp), because she is my absolute favourite vlogger out there. Or becoming a Pateron of Leigh Ellexson & Tiffany Tan (AppleCheeks) as their videos and podcasts have provided me with plenty of company as I draw.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that I decided to experiment with video last week. In fact, I must have been feeling uncharacteristically bold because I simply made a rudimental recording of a project I was working on and uploaded it to Instagram… despite looking rather ordinary and having no real game plan. I actually enjoyed the process! (Though, surprise surprise, struggled with cutting the video down to 60 seconds.) This led me to investigate the world of TikTok. I’ll be upfront with you, I’m not a fan and don’t even use the platform as a viewer. Yet, I wondered whether it could be the place I find my audience?

Five minutes of scrolling later, I knew this wasn’t for me.

If you’ve made it this far, you can tell I am a long-form sort of gal. I’m not one clever enough for quick hooks, nor wish to create something disposable & forgettable. That isn’t a diss on TikTok, it’s just not my style, nor a space I want to have to engage with. Which leads me back to YouTube. I think I’m going to give it a go! Today’s the day I’m dedicating to investigating this further, but I suspect you’ll be hearing more about this soon.

Thanks so much for following along!

Fiona x

“People love it when you give your secrets away, and sometimes, if you’re smart about it, they’ll reward you by buying the things you’re selling.”

Steal Like an Artist – Austin Kleon