Below are ten things I do to help me choose what to draw, and
ten ways I look for inspiration. (Note: Mirka suggested in the comments that you don't have to draw to use these tips. I think she's right; they work for writers looking for story ideas too. Thanks, Mirka!)
1. What are you good at drawing? What are you bad at drawing, or afraid to draw, but want to learn how? What do you like drawing?
Draw one
thing (or more) from each answer.
2. Draw on old images (not literally draw on the images, but
draw on the ideas). Is there a way you can turn an old drawing or sketch idea
into a new character or series of images? Write the possibilities on your list.
3. Are there any specific requirements for the industry
you’re creating a portfolio for? For instance, in a children’s book portfolio,
kid friendly art and sequential images that tell a story (featuring the same
character with different poses and emotions) are important. Draw a picture or
series of images with those guidelines in mind.
4. Go for a walk, see a movie, take a shower, read/watch the
news, talk with people online, or clean the house. Some of the best ideas come
when we’re not trying to find them. I get a lot of ideas from skimming Twitter
(when I skim, I tend to mis-read tweets, which leads to silliness the original
tweeter never intended, which leads to Ideas with a capital I).
5. Start drawing and see what happens. Doodling can
jumpstart your imagination and pull up new ideas you hadn’t thought of. You
might sketch a character you’ll want to do another sketch of, then another and
another.
6. Ask someone else what to draw (in person, by email, on
Twitter - wherever you talk with people). Or open a dictionary to a random page
and draw the first word you see. You never know how that’s going to turn out
(might even spark a story idea)!
7. Make a list of all the possible images for your
portfolio. If you don’t draw everything on your list this time, keep the list
for next time. I always have things left over when my portfolio is done. When I
make my next list, I don’t necessarily want to draw the things from last time.
However, sometimes an old list can jumpstart a new one, or there’s a leftover
idea that becomes the showcase piece of my next portfolio, or it just makes me
realize what I don’t want to draw this time.
8. Set a deadline (self imposed, or for something like a
conference). Don’t underestimate the power panic and deadlines! They can be
good motivators, unless they put you into a stress induced coma, then they’re
bad.
9. Make art that’s not for your portfolio. This might seem counter-intuitive,
but having fun and playing with art that you don’t have to do, can jumpstart
ideas for art you do have to do. It also gives you a break and lets you play
with other mediums or subjects. I find that the personal art I make bleeds into
the art I make for my portfolio and makes it better. When I don’t do art just
for me, my portfolio art suffers.
10. Find inspiration! Here are ten ways you might find
inspiration (add to this list with things that inspire you personally):
I. Take your camera or phone out and start snapping pictures
while you’re out and about, or around your home. Look at them later to see if
they suggest a character or story, or if they would make a great background for
an idea you already have.
II. Participate in an art or illustration challenge, or make
up your own. Illustration Friday is one example. This is a fun way to draw
without thinking about your portfolio, and it could end up being a drawing or
character you can use. (You can see some of my Illustration Friday art here.)
III. Draw a picture about your favorite season, or the
season it is now, or draw a holiday scene (doesn’t have to be a big holiday, it
could be a smaller holiday, like Arbor Day).
IV. Draw your dog, cat, hamster, or fish. Or draw your
children, parents, or friends (draw from life, or look through photos from a
vacation, family gathering, or photo holiday cards people sent you). You might
want to ask permission from people to draw them, but don’t worry about the
fish. (Though if your pictures don’t look like the people you’re drawing, you
might not need to ask the people either.)
V. Go to a museum. Any kind of museum will do, as long as it
has something you are interested in, whether it’s art, nature, history, etc.
VI. Go on a field trip or just out for lunch. Draw while
you’re there, or wait until you get home and draw the feeling you had while you
are there. You don’t have to draw the actual place, people, or animals. Maybe
that café was so busy it felt like a circus, or the park was filled with so
many plants you felt like you were in a jungle. Draw the jungle and the circus
and whatever characters you imagine are there.
VII. Keep a dream journal and draw what you remember
happening. This wouldn’t always work, but if it did, it could be magical … or
really scary!
VIII. Design a new book cover or movie poster for a
book/movie you loved.
IX. Pick a subject and draw it every day for a week or more,
like cows, or dogs. (I did both of those every day for a year!)
X. Go shopping. Seriously. Color themes and stationery can
help you to think of settings or moods for your art. And if all else fails, buy
a new pencil, or some paper, or paints. If you have new art supplies, it might
just make you want to use them!
Note: I don’t use all of these every time – what I need to
jumpstart my creativity or be inspired is different each time, which is why
there are a variety of options here. I hope one (or more) of these help you
choose what to draw for your next portfolio!
Off to work on my portfolio now. I thought up a really great
idea when I was going through some old files …
If you're interested in becoming a picture book illustrator and/or writer, here are some of my past posts that might help:
The Path Illustrators Take To Get Their Work Noticed And Advance Their Careers
Five Tips For Illustrators
The Importance Of Making Art For Fun
Three Ways To Make A Picture Book Dummy
How To Write A Picture Book In Twelve Easy Steps
If You Just Want To Illustrate And Not Write
If you're interested in becoming a picture book illustrator and/or writer, here are some of my past posts that might help:
The Path Illustrators Take To Get Their Work Noticed And Advance Their Careers
Five Tips For Illustrators
The Importance Of Making Art For Fun
Three Ways To Make A Picture Book Dummy
How To Write A Picture Book In Twelve Easy Steps
If You Just Want To Illustrate And Not Write
