Stressed out? 8 Ways to Alleviate Stress as a Professional Illustrator

Take The 6 Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art - Use this link to get 30 days free on Skillshare.In this episode, we'll go through 8 ways to alleviate stress as a working illustrator. Making art for a living, often under tight deadlines and high expectations, can be very stressful. But if we're stressed out all the time, we'll end up burning out. So how do we avoid stress in our work, even as we perform on a deadline? How can we manage multiple projects and give each one of them our best? And how can we do all this without burning out? Join me as I share the surprisingly simple ways that I've been able to take the edge off stress in my own work. Along the way, I hope to encourage you to keep going and not to let the little (and sometimes big) setbacks hold you back. 01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes!Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODE0:00 - Intro0:00:39 - OpenerCreative work can be stressfulTrying to come up with creative ideas on a deadlineThings don't always line up as we expect, even with experienceHow to keep going, manage stress and not burn out?0:02:53 - How to SupportThank you for your support!Join me on Patreon - patreon.com/tomfroeseShare this Podcast/Episode with friends / followersFollow/Subscribe/Rate/ReviewTake my classes - use these links to get 30 days free on Skillshare0:03:51 - Story: Bad PhotographyMy first ever paid creative gigEvent photographer at boss's family eventHad no idea what I was doingPicture were pretty badStressed out about it for a long timeNow I know I was being too hard on myselfFirst time is always a learning processFailure/bad work is inevitableThings turned out fine anyway0:11:25 - Tip 1 Accept Stress as a GivenStress is inevitableExpecting it takes the edge off a bitWe can also plan for it0:12:55 - Tip 2Give Yourself Permission to FailFailing is inevitableSometimes our fault, sometimes notHotel Hell example - Gordon Ramsey making me feel convictedImportant thing is to turn things around as soon as you noticeAccept that failure will happenGive permission to fail and be bad sometimesJust keep getting up and getting better0:20:23 - Tip 3Set Realistic Timelines with Enough Time to Get LostKnow what it takes to get your job doneSometimes we need a period of getting lost/experimentationBuild time into your schedule for that0:24:41 - Tip 4Don't Try to Read the Client's MindStart all projects off with a briefClients won't always know what info you need to do your jobSometimes you have to ask themAsk up front in the briefOr ask later in process when you realize itYour job is to turn their idea or message into an illustrationYour job is NOT to come up with their reason/purpose/messageIf you try to just guess what they want, you might end up wasting a lot of timeDon't be afraid to push for missing information0:31:21 - Tip 5Lay the Groundwork EarlyThe creative process is a sequence of steps that start simple and get progressively more involvedSkipping steps or leaving early steps to the last minute will put strain on the creative partStart early with the simple, non-creative stuffGive yourself time to sink into a job0:35:05 - Tip 6Ask for More Time When You Need itThere's almost always more time in a scheduleYou just have to ask for itIf you sense you need more time, ask before it's too lateBe honest, explain that you've been working hard but need just a little more timeThe client is on your side, they will support you if they canUse this option sparingly, but know it's thereBetter to ask for more time than to show up on the deadline with work you don't stand behind.0:38:51 - Tip 7Say No to Projects When You Don't Have the TimeSEE EPISODE 14: GOOD NEWS FOR SLOW WORKERSReject jobs that don't give you time to do your best workThis means knowing how long you need (err on the safe side)Avoid stacking up too many jobs, if adding more compromises the ones you already haveDon't fear missing out: saying no does not mean missing out on future opportunitiesMyth of the "once in a lifetime" opportunityGetting opportunities means you will get moreBe ethical, don't abandon your current clientsIf a big opportunity comes your way but you don't have time to do it:Plan A: Ask for a timeline extension  from new clientPlan B: Ask current clients if they can move deadlines around to help you accommodate new oneSaying no is a vote of confidence in yourselfDon't over-stretch yourself: Your work will be better and you will do better in the long run0:45:39 - Tip 8Just Get the Work Done!Channel that anxious energy into getting it doneIf you are paralyzed by stress, take a breakAsk for more timeOur job is to get the job done by whatever means possibleSometimes that means pushing it out under pressureSometimes that means asking for some graceWe put more expectation on ourselves than our clients doDon't try to make "good" workMake work that you know works, based on the goals of the brief0:55:42 - ConclusionDon't be so hard on yourselfThe stress we're feeling will feel like a bigger deal than it actually isYes, art work is hard workWith a change in mindset and taking these pre-emptive steps, you can alleviate stressIt DOES get better with experienceEither way, you'll be okay!LINKS FROM THIS EPISODEWriting Briefs See Video 6 (Stage 1: Onboarding) in my class, The Six Stages of Illustration on SkillshareHow to write an illustration brief that saves time and gets great results (by Sam Osborne)How to Brief an Illustrator (from a client's perspective) (Handsome Frank)How to write a creative brief in 4 easy steps (99 Designs)PODCAST CREDITSAll music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHEREtomfroese.comlinktr.ee/mrtomfroese
PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com