Lilla here. This is the final one of five newsletters in which I’ve been sharing some of what I know from being an artist, an art agent, an author, a speaker, a columnist and more for more than three decades. You can find the previous newsletters here:
- The 5 traits of successful illustrators
- How to make time for your art (and why your messy sink is a good thing)
- How to get down to the business of creating in just one hour
- How to kick envy’s butt (and what it says about you)
Today, to finish off, I’m going to talk to you about the secret of life. Isn’t that great?
The secret of life for creative people
The first key to success for creative people is structure and organization, and here’s why: our minds are bursting with ideas, colors, shapes, and thoughts, which makes us naturally non-linear.
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Because we’re full of imagination, we actually need the opposite—structure and organization—to bring everything together. But it doesn’t have to be dull or boring! You can organize in a way that feels fun and inspiring (and, for the record, I do love folders, but only the pretty ones).
For instance, you can organize your pencils in a fun, creative way, and this is a metaphor for organizing your space, your mind, and your to-do lists in ways that feel playful. Trust me, I used to be the most disorganized person, losing things daily when I was younger—it was quite something! People are surprised now because my studio is neat, with everything in cubbies and super organized. Why? Because that’s how I can succeed—when everything is in order.
Some of the ways I organize my studio: my drawers of oddities and jewelry supplies (left) and the files I use to organize material for my courses (right).
The second key to a fulfilling creative life is community. Working in isolation can be tough and isn’t good for us creative types. We need to surround ourselves with a supportive community.
So how do you find one? If you know local artists or creative folks, try starting a group that meets up—maybe at a café on the first Friday of each month. Don’t know anyone nearby? The internet has opened up endless possibilities for finding your community.
In all of my online art courses, we have private Facebook groups for each class because community, support, and positivity are so important. The only rule in these groups is to stay positive. I love these groups—they’re friendly, helpful, and full of advice. You can ask questions, get feedback on your work, and celebrate your successes. Recently, I heard about a group of artists who met through one of my classes and have been meeting online for years—that makes me so happy, and I want the same for you!
Finding your community is crucial. Take some time to think about how you can create or find that network of support, and make sure you connect with others.
Your Mini assignment #5
Your final assignment is to complete this brand new worksheet I’ve made for you. Each of your dreams is a butterfly: butterflies are beautiful and they fly, just like your dreams!
I created this brand new worksheet for you to help you to start thinking about your career dreams. Click here to download your FREE copy and fill it in. Let your dreams fly!
Download your copy and then fill it in. Dig deep into your career goals. If you like, you can have one small, one medium and one big dream. Or maybe one that’s short-term, one that’s mid-term and one that’s longer-term – whatever works for you.
Then I want you to think about how you’re going to achieve those dreams. What do you need to put in place? What skills do you need to hone? What support will you need? Write that in too.
When you’re done, pop it somewhere where you can see it often to maintain focus on your goals, and share it on social media if you like – I’d love to see them, so be sure to tag @makeartthatsells and use the hashtag #MATSButterflies if you do.
What did you write? Perhaps you want to create a gorgeous portfolio for picture book illustration, alongside a ready-to-send picture book illustration pitch ready to go to publishers and art directors. Maybe you want to explore the dreamy world of designing for home décor, and how you can get a home décor line of your very own. Maybe you want to improve your lettering skills, to open up a whole host of new art markets and paying jobs.
Whatever your hopes, dreams and plans for your creative career, this feels like a good time to mention the giant Make Art That Sells annual sale, which kicks off on Tuesday, November 19th. You’ll find huge savings on ALL the Make Art That Sells classes, with 30% off every single individual course and up to half price off bundles! Plus I’ll be doing THREE live events where I’ll be answering your questions and giving away FREE courses!
In next week’s newsletter, you’ll be able to download your FREE Sale Guide & Playbook, with details of everything that’s in the sale, plus worksheets, quizzes and more – don’t miss it! And pop the first day of the sale, Tuesday, November 19th, on your calendar now!
- Tuesday, November 19th to Friday, December 6th: Mark your calendars for our huge annual sale, with at least 30% off everything and up to 50% off our career-changing bundles!
- Tuesday, November 19th: Join the Make Art That Sells teachers for a FREE live Zoom event at 12 pm ET/5 pm GMT to mark the beginning of our huge annual sale! Plan your career for 2025, ask our teachers anything, plus course giveaways galore!
- Next newsletter: Get your FREE Sale Guide and Playbook, packed with downloads, quizzes and savings galore!
Lots of love
