Taking on Risk

5 things from the studio this week

1. SOME ART MAKING

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I added a self-initiated project to my to-do last week and wrapped it this week. The goals were to play and get better at human characters while maybe adding some new portfolio quality work to my website. The parameters were: 1. Human character, different setting and mood 2. Establish a looseness 3. Simple shapes 4. No over-rendering or smoothing too many mistakes out¹

I’m really pleased with how it all worked out!

New characters often get this head on view to establish style and shapes. Something nice about the nose. I typically have rendered it as a solid color rather than a line drawing. Worth exploring with.

Really love this image. The texture in the sky was the last thing I did and I knew it needed nothing else.

Paid subscribers might recognize this from last week! I’m particularly happy with the looseness and collaged bits.

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2. WORK WISDOM

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“But doesn’t playing it safe almost always leads to boring work? Safe work gets a passing grade. Safe work fills a portfolio. Safe work can please the client. But safe work doesn’t surprise, delight, or change us or our audience.”

—

Christopher Thornock

1. This entire post is so good, please check it out.

2. Christopher manages to get at the why's of why I try to work in experiments and play time into my creative practice as much as I can. I think about it a lot. I make up challenges and games with myself.

If you and I are after steady improvement in our craft, you bump up against “this is good enough” eventually. Safe, passable and consistent is a good place to be, but also can lead to stagnation. I feel it in those moments when I have a sketch and I’m about to take it to final and I feel bored. This is an internal sign that it’s time to take some chances.

You risk failure, of course. But on the other end of that is progress, and maybe potentially something brilliant.

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3. THING I LOVED

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One night this week, my wife was picking on me for laughing and cheering out loud as I discovered The Oatmeals take on Ai art. It’s not just a take down (it is that), but also a real wrestle with it all. So good.

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4. A BOOK TO READ

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If you’re a working children’s book illustrator, you’ve been influenced by Alice and Martin Provensen in some way. For me, the most indelible mark is from The Animal Fair. You have seen it, I’m sure.

The thing about the Provensen’s work, for me, is how well composed it all is. To pull off stylization that is simplifying (and gorgeous), you must have the design and composition absolutely nailed. The Art of Alice & Martin Provensen is a must have compendium of this exact thing over and over again.

Worth a pull from the bookshelf, 2-3 times a week. 5 Stars, no notes.

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5. EPHEMERA, ETC.

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This is so meta (no not the evil one) but I’ve been thinking about this format of “5 things from the studio this week” and how it’s been really, really helpful to my creative practice. The main takeaway is that showing up for your creative habits and committing to recording or sharing them, compounds over time. Here’s what it means practically and some of the benefits:

1. Some art making: I’m held accountable to you all! The time making things in the studio isn’t loose. There has to be some intention, something worth sharing with you. Every step towards getting better involves showing up to make something. Thank you.

2. Work Wisdom: I’m actively looking for things that speak to me that other makers put out into the world in the form of books, videos, newsletters, etc. I then need a place to record them.² I then go back and revisit so I can share with you. It’s a small daily habit that leads to a weekly habit — that I can 100% feel the growth from.

3. Thing I Loved: This is similar to work wisdom, but the goal is to notice when I’m wowed and inspired. This is beyond good for my mental health. I also really love when you’re inspired by this thing or you share your thing that it reminds you of.

4. A Book to Read: Sharing a good book to read is one my favorite things in the world. In addition — recognizing work that is aspirational, inspiring or does that thing really well, keeps my head in check, professionally. Lifting up peers you admire is the right way to be in the creative community.

5. Ephemera, etc: This is maybe the hardest section to write! But it’s a place to be myself, out loud. And for that, I’m thankful.

See you next week!

Best,
Jacob

1. Reminds me of this principle dressed as a hot take:

Undo is for Losers

2. I have a special journal on my phone just for collecting bits o’ wisdom in the DayOne app.