When I sit down to plan upcoming posts for my blog, I find that some of the most insightful ideas often come not from me, but from the experiences and interests of you, the reader. That’s why I’m excited to introduce a new way for us to work together: a topic suggestion form.
Your unique perspectives, questions, and interests play a critical role in shaping the content I create. Whether you’re struggling with a specific challenge or simply curious about a particular topic, your input is invaluable to me.
Please take a moment to share your thoughts using the form below. It’s an easy way to suggest topics you’d like to see covered on the blog. Additionally, feel free to contact me via email or my contact form if you prefer a more direct approach.
Suggestion Form
Your input will not only allow me to tailor the posts to your needs better but will also foster a sense of community where we can learn and grow together!
Thank you for being a part of this blog and for your continued support and readership!
I have updated all of my Creative Work Problems Comics Posts on this blog!
I uploaded them for a while to Instagram and my blog as solo posts. When I did them, I mostly just posted the comic itself, and rarely some more information about it. Well, now I’ve updated them all and added additional help and knowledge for almost every topic. I’ve also updated the name of the post so that it’s no longer named after the comic. Each topic is now more easily identifiable by the title of the post. You can now search the hell out of this site if you are looking for a topic you need help with.
I have listed below every post I have made with these comics in it. So if you’re interested in more information about a topic you see at the bottom of the list, don’t hesitate to go there.
I’m a note-taking addict. A few years ago, my notebooks were filled with notes for myself and my work as an illustrator and comic artist. Note-taking is something we all do, but often not in the right way. We write down our thoughts and ideas, but sometimes we don’t look at them again. A few years ago, when I was filling these notebooks, I would sometimes skim through my notes, but I often didn’t find what I wanted or found things I could have used earlier. So I’ve changed the way I use and work with my notes. Now I can actually use all my notes and they give me new insights and ideas for my creative work almost every day.
In this blog post, I’m going to talk about how you, as an artist or designer, can use your notes effectively to help you in your creative work. How not to forget your notes, how to use them effectively, and how you can increase your creativity and productivity just by using notes.
The Perfect Way to Capture and Use Notes
Plot twist: There is no perfect way to capture and use notes. But you should try different methods to see what works for you. So if you have been taking notes the same way forever, try to experiment and find a better way to take and use notes. I recommend doing everything digitally. There’s the “Zettelkasten”-method, but you need a lot of drawers to use them effectively. Who has room for that? Our space these days is digital! So do it digitally! Of course, you can write your notes on paper, but I recommend that you transfer them to something digital later to be able to use them effectively. I’ll show you how I capture and work with my notes later in this article.
Note-Taking Apps
There are a lot of note-taking apps out there. Choosing which one to use is up to you. Watch some videos about them, try them out, and then choose the one you like best. Everyone is different and likes different things.
I’ve tried a few and I like using Obsidian. I also use Notion, but not for note-taking. What I like about Obsidian is that it keeps all the notes it generates as an isolated file on my laptop. That way, if Obsidian ever disappears, I’ll still have all my notes and I can just import them and use them in another program. Here’s a short list of note-taking apps:
So you have your app and your old notes ready to work with. Now what? Well, before we start, we need a system for taking and organizing notes. This system can help you find and use your notes more efficiently. Here are some things you could do, but don’t have to.
Use a consistent format
Use a consistent format when taking notes or they will quickly become a mess. Examples include having a header and footer. In some apps, you can use a template so that all your notes have the same format. Things in your header and footer can be Tags, note types, aliases, authors, sources, “see also”, etc.
Use tags or keywords
Assign relevant tags or keywords to your notes. This can be particularly useful for searching and grouping related notes. I use tags as a separate file. So a tag like “drawing” is a separate note that takes me to drawing stuff and even more notes related to it.
Index and number your notes
For comprehensive notes, create an index and a numbering system. This will help you navigate through your files and speed up your workflow in your note-taking system. I use a variation of “Johnny Decimal” for numbering: Check it out!
Review your note-taking system
Every now and then it is good to review your system. How can it be improved? What is missing? For example, I had a lot of trouble with the indexes in my note-taking system. So I changed them to the numbering system mentioned above. Now it’s much easier to find things when I’m not using the search function.
Backup!
Always have a backup of your notes! Even if it is “in the cloud”. Apps and servers can die, you know.
What to Do With Your Notes
There are lots of things you can do with your notes, and a lot more stuff out there on this subject. If you want to know more: Search and you will find it. It’s too much for a single post. Anyway, here are some things you can (and shouldn’t) use your notes for:
1. Remember forgotten thoughts and ideas
Go back through your old notes to find ideas you have forgotten. Sometimes a quick note from months or years ago can give you a great idea for your next creative project.
2. Use your note-taking system as a second brain
Your notes are a second brain where you can store helpful information related to your work in art and design. This can come in handy when you need help with something technical or want to improve your skills. When I am making a story, I like to look at all the notes I have on storytelling. So I go into my app and search for “story” or go to the “storytelling” tag. A bunch of notes come up and I pick the ones I like and read them. Then I use those notes to create my story. The same goes for any other skill I need to use. You don’t have to use it every time, but sometimes it’s good to see what else there is to the thing you’re making.
3. Boost your creativity: Find new insights
By taking detailed notes, you may discover new connections between old ideas and thoughts. Your connected notes work like your brain. An idea is usually a mixture of two thoughts. By tagging and connecting your notes, you may discover new insights and create new ideas. Reviewing your notes regularly may uncover interesting connections between ideas that seemed unrelated. So when taking notes, try to find tags and connections as you write them down.
4. Try to use atomic notes
An atomic note is a single piece of information. This makes it easier to organize and connect your notes in a meaningful way, creating a network of interconnected ideas. Atomic notes can be linked together to form a knowledge structure that helps you think, learn, and create more effectively. You don’t have to use these types of notes all the time, but they’re really powerful for creating new insights.
5. Use evergreen notes
Everygreen notes are pretty much the opposite of atomic notes. These notes are designed to be permanent and timeless, containing information or insights that remain relevant and valuable over a long period of time. I use them for information and thoughts that I use on a regular basis. For example: I have an evergreen note for every project I’m currently working on. It contains everything I need to know and remember about the project.
6. Plan your projects
Your notes can help you better plan and track your creative projects. For each project, I use different notes for research, goals, timelines, and other things. I make connections to existing notes and use those connections to generate new ideas. In Obsidian, with their canvas feature, you can have a visual guide and overview of your entire project.
7. Use visuals in your note-taking system
Try adding drawings, mood boards, or pictures to your notes. They can help you visualize the mood, themes and look of your creative work. Combining them with your old notes from years ago can help you come up with even better creative ideas and designs. Here also with the Obsidian canvas feature, you can visualize your written notes in conjunction with your visual notes. Perfect for us artists and designers.
8. Delete useless notes
If you are not sure if you can use a note that you really like, keep it. It might help you in the future. But as soon as you realize it doesn’t fit anywhere, delete it. It will only clutter your files and your mind. Only make and keep notes on things you might need and can use in the future.
9. Do not use your note-taking system to “work”
Note-taking can be addictive. It is so satisfying to organize and work with your notes. But don’t use it to procrastinate or “work”. Set up your system and use it when you need it. Don’t work all day to find better ideas and connect thoughts. It will feel like work, but it’s not. If you use your notes when you really need them, it will help you in your creative work and can improve your creativity and workflow.
How I Use My Notes
How I use my notes could be a whole new post in this blog. If you are interested, send me an email. Here’s the short version:
I usually write thoughts and ideas on sticky notes and scraps of paper throughout the week and then enter them into Obsidian at the start of each week. I work with a pseudo “Zettelkasten”. Yes, you can use the above ‘Zettelkasten’ method in a digital environment. But I only use the parts of the system that I like. You could actually write whole books just from atomic notes using this system. So check it out if this is something you want to do.
For each note, I tag it as a fleeting, literature, or permanent note. I will add a todo to these tags to remember what I need to work on. A finished permanent note should be an atomic note in my system. I link these notes with other notes to create new insights. Evergreen notes are used when I need something regularly. These contain lots of links to other notes.
All my notes are in one folder. Yes, just one folder. But I have indexes or maps of content that act as tags and “simulate” a folder. Why this? So I can use a note in different folders without moving or copying it. It also helps with connecting thoughts and ideas. And I really like that!
My Note-Taking System in Obsidian
Conclusion
Your notes aren’t just old records; they’re like active sources of inspiration, knowledge and ideas. By regularly reviewing and using your notes, you can get the most out of them. Think of your notes as powerful tools for your creative journey. This will help your creativity grow and your skills improve.
If you would like to hear me talk more about this, drop me an email.
Composition is like the magic ingredient that makes creative work truly shine. It’s what makes your creations really stand out from the crowd, so people remember you. And now there is help! I have created a Composition Compendium with useful tips and all the design principles I have been able to gather over the years. I’m thrilled to give it to you, absolutely free!
The Composition Compendium
13 principles with numerous sections in a collapsible form
58 images for easy understanding
What is the Composition Compendium?
The Compendium is the digital version of my old composition cheat sheet that I used for years. It’s a handy guide that’s even better than my old cheat sheet! This compendium contains a whole world of composition and design tips, complete with explanations for each idea, 58 helpful images, and links to additional resources.
What Will You Find Inside?
Learn how to use composition in your creative projects with simple, straightforward tips.
Explore the essential parts of composition: Focal Element, Structure, and Balance.
Take a closer look at each principle of design, including color, contrast, pattern, and more.
A visual guidance to each principle for easier understanding.
The Compendium is designed to be easy to use. Distraction-free and clean.
How to Get Your Free Compendium
Just sign up for my newsletter below, and you’ll receive an email with a direct link to the Notion page – no strings attached!
Don’t worry – I respect your inbox and your privacy. You won’t get any spam, and I won’t share your information with anyone. I only send out a few newsletters a year, filled with helpful resources and updates on my latest content. It’s all about helping you become a better artist.
Don’t miss your chance to enhance your creative process with the Composition Compendium. Sign up today and receive the Compendium immediately!
An Ever-Changing Composition Guide – Forever.
The Compendium is here to stay! I will make it even better and change it over time for better usage. But I need your help! So please, give me feedback and send me helpful links that I can include in the Compendium. It is only with your help that I will be able to make this thing even more special.
For months I felt numb to what I was doing, there was no fun anymore. I didn’t enjoy my dream job anymore. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration because I didn’t hate my job. I just lost the passion for what I was doing and that was a little too much for me.
The problem with not having fun at work is that you automatically get less done and get bored quickly. In other words: I was no longer productive. So I asked myself how I was going to enjoy my creative work again, and actually, I was able to answer that question, and I managed to have fun again. My dream job was saved!
How I did it, and how you can do it too if you’ve become numb to your creative work, is what I’m going to tell you in this short blog post.
Things that are fun
One of the reasons I wasn’t having a good time wasn’t because of a boring work process or a stressful client. In those moments, it can be normal not to have fun, even when you have your dream job. My place of numbness was in doing things I used to enjoy a lot. Working on things I wanted to make, sketching wildly, and creating new creatures and worlds, to name just a few. None of it was as fun as it used to be. As a result, my own deadlines on all my projects were clearly dying.
How did I start to enjoy it again? And how do you get the fun back? By doing these three things today:
Thing 1: Make an effort.
Sometimes we do work that we can’t identify with. Less so when we are doing our own work, and more so when we are doing work for others. But even when we do it for ourselves, we may feel that it’s not our work. This happens when we put less effort into it.
According to Yu-Kai Chou in Actionable Gamification, it is important to own your work in order to enjoy it. We need to be in control of everything we do. When we put less effort into something, we own it less. Therefore, we enjoy it less. I have noticed this with my own work. This insight has helped me tremendously, and it is such a simple trick.
Practical action: Put more effort into your creative work and you’ll enjoy it more.
Thing 2: Telling yourself it’s fun.
Here comes a piece of behavioral therapy. Because we tell ourselves it’s not fun, our brains change (no joke) and we train ourselves not to enjoy it. Even if we don’t believe what we tell ourselves, our brain changes for the better (or worse)! This is another simple trick that has helped me so much.
Just tell yourself: This is fun! I love this work! Or even when it’s difficult: This is difficult work right now, but this is what I want to do and it’s fun. This will change the structure of your brain (I’m really not kidding) and after a while, you will automatically enjoy your creative work more.
Practical action: During a difficult phase of your work, tell yourself that you enjoy it and want to do it.
Thing 3: Create systems that celebrate your accomplishments.
Whether it’s checking off to-do items or something else, when you get something done, you should celebrate your accomplishments with systems created specifically for that purpose.
I created a level system where after 30 points I move up a level and get to draw a lottery ticket with rewards. A record system also helps: If you want to paint for an hour every day, keep track of it, and after a while, you can visually see that you have a winning streak. You will automatically try to keep this streak going. That way it’s more fun to stick with it when motivation isn’t there.
Practical action: Create systems for your successes that can make your creative work more fun.
Conclusion
These are my top three things that have put the fun back into my work. They’re so simple, it’s almost silly that I (and maybe you) haven’t done them before. If you’re not having fun, these things can help you put some fun back into your creative work. Give it a try, you’ve got nothing to lose!
