A Corpy's 5 Tips on Practicing Creativity

Before I began drawing and blogging regularly again, one of the challenges that I faced was the inception of an the idea to be translated into an image. Numerous questions go through my head about what to draw that I end up being paralyzed and not continuing because I felt that my subject wasn't creative or interesting enough. My constant self editing before undergoing the actual process made me realize that I didn't get any better at drawing just by thinking of what to draw and then postponing altogether. I discovered that in order to really practice and get better at something, the most important thing is to simply start.

Of course, it's crucial to be deliberate in your work to find a purpose and message for an illustration. Happy accidents can only get you so far, right? But in order to hone a skill, whether it be illustration, calligraphy or writing, one must keep on executing and go through the entire lifecycle of a process.

For my fellow corporate professionals who are also trying to remain creative, here are

A Corpy's 5 Tips on Practicing Creativity

1. Keep a notebook wherever you go

You will never know when the next big (or small) idea will spring out of your system until you're there in that actual light bulb moment. Chronicling the feeling or the idea through writing or a sketch will allow you to remember and develop the fleeting thought while you're in transit, on a line to the loo, while waiting for your boarding time at the airport or in between breaks at the office.

You can doodle too, which can serve as an artwork on its own.

2. Bring a camera with you

This has proven to be a really useful habit for me specially when I travel or when I watch people. Since moments are so ephemeral, a camera is an essential tool for me be able to capture people, pleaces and movements that could later on be useful for an illustration or a subject for sketching and watercolor practice.

Whenever I'm in search of a subject to paint, I take out my camera and browse through photos from months back and exercise "seeing" while drawing. I didn't have to rack my brain for a subject to draw, instead, I was able to immediately practice my perspective, my sketching, my inking, my underpainting or my washes.

3. Be prepared to suck.

Cliche as it may sound, it's true. Practice indeed makes perfect. But I used to have a tendency to get discouraged with my abilities while practicing, because I sucked and I didn't want to make mistakes. Seeking perfection is fine, but if your pursuit for perfection keeps you from growing and taking risks, then there must be something wrong with your process. Perfection is the end result of practice. Practice doesn't have to be perfect yet. Just continue and you will get better.*

*I always remind myself of this too.

4. Know when to focus and when to multitask.

For an individual who is juggling a job and a passion, it's easy to get caught in the day to day chaos of life. Multitasking is idle time disguised as busy-ness, they say. You think you're doing a lot but you end up not progressing when you look back. A lot of people would advise against multi tasking and I would agree to a certain extent. Multitasking can be a good strategy by combining nonproductive time with a productive task to be able to free up your hours and focus on your work or your craft. Check your Facebook on the commute and not touch your phone or laptop when you get home. Instead, work on a sketch, an article or that unfinished song you're been putting in the backseat for the past month. Watch TV while doing jump rope. Read a book while waiting for your lunch to be served. Listen to podcasts or TED Talks while driving. Doodle while you're in a meeting (seriously, studies show that doodling supports memory retention by 29%).

5. Always make time.

The last and final tip is also the most important. Make time for your craft. Go to a quiet corner and don't let distractions keep you from doing what you love. Facebook and other social media are great channels to stay connected with friends and family but they shouldn't be the highlight of the day. The television is a means of entertainment, not a way to use up 24 hours of your day. Work takes up the majority of our waking hours so it's important to utilize our remaining time wisely. Stay focused in coming up with an output and make creativity a habit. 

This is not a tried and tested guide, but something that I'm trying to continuously practice since I started drawing regularly again. Letting go of analysis paralysis took me quite a while, and trust me, it still bites me back in the ass sometimes. I have started to become more aware of my fear to start something and that was the first step that I took to learn how to stop being such a control freak and just keep practicing.

For more inspiration and motivation to practice, check out The Done Manifesto by Bre Pettis and Kio Stark

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Watercolor Weekday: Harry and Minerva

People watching is one of my cheapest hobbies. To set the record straight, I am not a stalker, nor do I have any intentions of being one. (Sa twitter at instagram lang, promise!) I just like to observe how people interact from afar and sometimes make up stories about them in my head. When I see an interesting looking person, I try to imagine what he or she is like--what she does for a living, what could be his errands for the day, where she could be headed or why he has that peculiar expression on his face.

While on assignment in the US for 2 months, I got to see and interact with different sorts of people, specially when I was doing my usual touristy rounds in New York City. I remember a Saturday afternoon spent at a Cafe in Manhattan with a couple of my friends, just watching strangers pass by. We were seated right across the cafe window and it felt as though we were watching strangers from a big screen television.

I've recently started a habit of carrying a camera every where I go and taking photos of random people in hopes of being able to draw them eventually. For today's Watercolor Wednesday entry, I decided to draw an old couple I saw at the Lillie P. Bliss Garden at the MoMa. They seemed to be perusing some book or article and I loved how they were seated side by side, never taking their eyes off of what they were reading.

Let's call them Harry and Minerva.

Started with a pencil sketch of Harry and used him as a scale reference for Minerva.

Doing a wet on wet wash for the background, because I have an aversion to white space. Haha.

I did an underpainting of the skin, making sure that the wrinkles had shadows to be able to show more texture

While doing the initial underpainting to their clothes, I chose a contrast of green and red for Harry and Minerva respectively. In the photo that I took of the couple, Harry's jacket had a more subdued color, but I wanted it to be a bit brighter on my drawing since I will be adding more shadows on it later on. I also added a bit more texture on Harry's hat.

I added more dimension to Minerva's hair and clothes and outlined her eyes and mouth. I super loved the fact that she still had her backpack on. Despite her age, she looks like a young stundent still eager to learn.

Did some final touches on Minerva's glasses and scarf and outlined their shared reading material.

So there's Harry and Minerva, reading side by side. Perhaps they were reviewing the map of the MoMa or reading the MoMa Highlights. I can imagine them doing an exchange of thoughts about what they saw at the MoMa that day, sharing their favorite paintings and discussing the mind boggling minimalist and abstract art. Whatever it was they were doing, it was a pleasure to watch them and even more so to draw them.
If you wish to share some interesting photos of people, let me know! I'd be glad to include them in my next installations of Watercolor Wednesdays. :)


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A Post-Labor Day Drawing

What a productive weekend! Sunday afternoon was spent at a cafe in Alabang Town Center so that I can focus on drawing. I get so distracted at home with television, the laptop and even my bed, so after going to mass, I decided to have lunch by myself and work on my sketches.  Since most of what I've been drawing lately are nature-inspired subjects, I wanted to practice drawing human faces and body movements.

The Pierre Couture Tray at Cafe France. It was soooo filling! The sandwich was okay, but I loved the pasta and the coffee.

I was super excited to try out my new Prang semi-moist watercolor! It's only around 350 pesos at National Bookstore. I usually use my tube watercolors, but for the purpose of mobility, I decided to get this. 

The messy cafe set up. Prang watercolor, Canson paper, Muji mechanical pencil and a kneaded eraser. Kneaded erasers don't have messy residue unlike rubber erasers. I totally swear by them :)

This drawing was based on a photo that I took while my friends and I were buying bread in Coron Market. I chanced upon a street cleaner who was arranging his broom at a corner nearby. He seemed to be concentrating, so I just took a stolen shot. I chose manong street cleaner as my subject to serve as my "Labor Day" drawing. Let's call him Kuya Danny.

Doing the under painting for Kuya Danny's face and clothes. I love that Prang watercolor set generates super vibrant colors! 

Adding more details on Kuya Danny's face. WHAT IS BIGOTE?! (What is mustache?!) Hahaha. Drawing hands and doing the shading on the clothes has always been a perennial problem for me, so I'm determined to work on that. I'll get better, I promise!

Dear Kuya Danny, thank you for your hard work and diligence in keeping our streets clean. I salute you and all the Filipino workers who are doing their very best to earn a decent living. I will be thinking of you as I choose my candidates and cast my vote for the Senatorial elections. 

P.S. You're totally rocking that mustache. :)

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