7 tips for getting ideas onto a page

Sometimes it can be tough to bring ideas to life. It feels like reality cannot possibly meet the expectations of your original vision. However, I do believe it is possible with - as with many things - persistence.

I originally intended to show you how I got patch ideas for my Honey Art Show Girl Gang jacket out of my brain and onto a page. However, that might prove to be a very long-winded post that doesn't offer much insight.

So instead here are 7 no bullshit to-the-point lessons I learned putting that jacket together. And here's a bonus tip right off the bat. There is no right way to make art, whatever works, works. Remember that if nothing else.

Research up-front can save time later

As I said before, I will research the shit out of an idea. This isn't limited to conceptual research either. It may involve watching youtube tutorials, reading step-by-step wiki-hows and sometimes just looking at a lot of art on Pinterest, Instagram or an artbook. Studies help - but if you share them be sure to credit sources and don't steal them for final ideas. I take notes about what elements I like and why, how they fit into an idea and I'll doodle bits and pieces to see how they work. Which leads me to my next point.

Try lots of things

Facts are facts, not every idea works out.  A skill you have to hone is knowing when to tweak and when to abandon. This could be early on in the process when you're doodling or later when you're trying to refine an idea. The more you experiment, the more likely you are to hit on something that suits your needs. Rather than stubbornly trying to make something work that isn't turning out as you hoped go try something else. It may be better or it may just allow you the space you need to attack that original idea with renewed enthusiasm or new insight.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes

When you're invested in an idea, you may keep pushing at it hoping that it'll magically fix itself but you can also go the other way. You hit on something and love it so much you're too invested to push it further. Worrying about fucking it up after already bringing it so far. Some of the best work starts as a fuck up and besides...

If you did it once, you can do it again

And probably better. I learned this from stunning illustrator John Howe. He has created art for the Lord of the Rings (books as well as the films) and beautiful covers for one of my favourite authors Robin Hobb. His is one of the few art 'how to' books I have never gotten rid of. That tiny nugget of 'if I did it once, I can do it again and better' changed my life and not just in terms of art!

Tracing paper  is my friend

That said, just because you can draw something again and again, doesn't always mean you should. Ultimately, I'm trying to make a living from art and that requires me to more business minded. If I like 3-parts of a sketch but one area needs tweaking? I'll trace it. I'll overlay tracing paper on the bit that doesn't sit right and trial different things. When I have something I like, I'll trace it again onto a single sheet. This isn't cheating, it's time saving. Everything is still original and a tracing isn't an exact replica, it's still an organic process and you'll make tweaks and changes as you go. You'll just be able to make them more quickly.

Time saving is efficiency not cheating

As above, so those in the back can hear it.

Feedback helps

When you've been working on something for a long time, you can go a little blind to it's nuances. I've found that this is the best point to take a break and put it out into the world. Getting good constructive feedback requires you to ask a specific question - 'what would improve the likeness' or 'is the perspective off' - otherwise you may find your call for help just reaping emoji responses. While the feedback accumulates I can work on something else, helping me gain the distance I need to restore my critical eye.

That's it! The 7 key things that help me make shit day in, day out. I hope they prove as useful to you as they do to me.

Now I gotta get back to making said shit - if you wanna see what I'm up to then come say hi on Instagram.

Much love,
Tiffany