Lilla here! I’ve put together a series of five newsletters for you, where I’ll answer some of the big questions I often get asked after decades in the creative industry. I’ll also share key insights you need to know to succeed as an illustrator.
Some career highlights for me so far include publishing my first book, I Just Like to Make Things, writing my regular column for Uppercase magazine, speaking gigs, and launching my jewelry craft line. I’m thrilled to pass on everything I’ve learned over the past 30 years!
In the last newsletter, we discussed five traits that can help you thrive as an illustrator. If you missed it, you can catch up here.
How to Make Time for Art (And Why your Messy Sink Might Be a Good Thing)
Today, let’s dive into something every artist faces: how do you make time for art when there are so many other demands on your schedule? Maybe you have family commitments, a job, a partner, or even that Netflix series you’ve been meaning to binge-watch. I totally get it—life is full of distractions.
Make Art That Sells student Erica Root drew this image imagining her dream gig for the MATS MBA (Money BadAss) course. Fun fact: her first author-illustrator children’s book was published last year!
But here’s the truth: to be successful as an illustrator, you need to make time for your art and make it a priority, whether you’ve got five minutes or five days to work with. The more time you spend on your art, the better you’ll become—it’s as simple as that. No one will take you seriously unless you take yourself seriously by putting in the time.
What can you jettison to make room for your art?
I want you to think of your life like a room. This room is filled with all your various activities, commitments, and things. Now, ask yourself: What can I remove from this room to make more space for my art?
It’s like redecorating. Imagine you’ve got two beautiful new pillows you want to add to your room, but to fit them in, something else has to go. These pillows will enrich your room, just like making time for your art will enrich your life—but something has to be taken out to make space. The same goes for your time.
What can you remove to free up some time, even just a little? What can you delegate or put aside? When I used to teach middle school a billion years ago, my sweet students would ask, “Miss Rogers, how are you so good at drawing?” I’d tell those sweet kids, “I don’t watch much TV.” It’s all about choices. Are you going to binge-watch all weekend, or set aside time for your art? Are you going to be known for your spotless house or for your art?
In the MATS MBA (Money BadAss) course, you’ll create a support recipe to help you focus on how you can find time and support for your creative career, like this one by Make Art That Sells student Madison Patterson.
There are different ways to free up time. You could trade chores, hire a babysitter, or even get a cleaner, even if it’s just once a month. Maybe you’ll let your sink be messy for a day because it’s not a priority. Maybe you can simplify your wardrobe to just five outfits, so you spend less time doing laundry. It all comes down to prioritizing what truly matters to you.
Your Mini Assignment #2: Find One Extra Hour for Art
Your mini assignment this week is to find one extra hour for your art. Just one extra hour, even just four 15 minutes chunks.
I hope you find this exercise both inspiring and fun. I know you can do it!
- Next newsletter: Okay, you’ve found your extra hour: now learn how you can get right down to the business of creating art, even when an hour is all you have.
Lots of love
