What do you need to be creative?
I always have some exercises to do for my studies or ideas that I would like to experiment with. I struggle to find the time around my job to do as much as I would like to do.
Are there certain factors that are important for you to develop your work?
The room where I work is important. I have moved a couple of times in recent years and I have noticed that if the room is darker or less welcoming, I feel less like being creative, even though it is something that I normally enjoy.
Time is a very important factor and sometimes the idea of time. If I feel overwhelmed because I have a lot to do with work and other external things, I tend to freeze, and end up not doing much.
When, where, and how do you work? How might you develop this approach further?
I work evening shifts and tend to study before my shifts or after as well as weekends. I struggle to do some work when I only have a short amount of time. When I think about it, it is partly because I put myself under pressure by wanting to do too much in a given length of time. I could decide to just get something done for half an hour for instance without thinking that I should do more.
I mainly work in my home office. I would like to sketch more on location because I enjoy it and find it very rewarding. Again, I tend to think that I have too much to do but I could start slowly by taking a sketchbook on my walk and do one sketch for instance and take it from there.
I plan my work as much as I can. In a sense, it is helpful to be organised around deadlines. On the other hand, as mentioned above, I can add too much pressure.
Given your creative process, how do you best document your work?
I used my learning log to document my work.
My sketches are gathered in sketchbooks and sometimes pages clipped together.
I have many digital files and they are organised in folders.
I probably do not organise my pictures as well as I should. I should have them in categories.
What kinds of questions do you use to reflect on your work?
My tutors’s feedback have been very useful as they have encouraged me to keep asking questions.
I mainly try to ask myself the following questions:
- What went well, what works, what do I like in that piece of work and why?
- What challenges have I encountered and what does it means for my work in the future?
- What could I have done better or differently?
- What were my sources of inspiration?
- What have I discovered and what areas do I need to explore further?
How important is reflection to your process?
Reflecting on my work is very important as it helps me to understand how to progress. I also find that stopping to reflect during the process is very useful to make the right adjustments.
Can you develop new questions or prompts?
I always try to add questions to analyse the brief and my work. I have a Word document where I add any new questions I think can be useful.
How does this reflection help feed back into your making?
It is a continuous process. For instance, I know that I tend to hesitate when I create some sketches and my lines are not decisive enough. As a result, it is an aspect I try to focus on.
How would you describe your creative process?
The creative process can vary slightly depending on what I am trying to achieve but it is often as follows:
- I either read the brief and analyse it or, if it is a self-directed project, I define the brief.
- I ask myself as many questions as I can to decide on the research that is needed and carry on some research.
- I develop some ideas.
- I carry out more research if needed as well as some experimentation with techniques I might like to try.
- I create my first sketches.
- I design my illustrations.
What sort of stages do you go through to initiate and develop your ideas
I use mind mapping a lot to develop some ideas by association. At that stage, I use both words and quick sketches that might consist of a few lines only. I might also go for a walk and leave some time for ideas to develop as it helps to take some distance. Sometimes I just keep sketching until something happens. I also look for inspiration in many different areas that can loosely be associated with the brief as ideas keep bringing other ideas.
How important are restrictions to the process?
Restrictions can be a challenge but can also be an opportunity. For instance, restrictions with regards to colours might be an opportunity to be more creative within a certain remit.
Do you start with an idea or proposal, start making and see where it takes you, or work in a different way?
I probably focus too much on what I think the outcome should be at an early stage. It is difficult sometimes not to do this when trying to respond to a brief. In some cases where the brief allows it, I just start sketching to see where it takes me and I enjoy working like this.
Do you have any strategies to deal with creative blocks or obstacles?
If I struggle with a task, I can easily procrastinate or be distracted.
I find that it helps if I pause and ask myself what is stopping me and if there is an element I can change to help me with the task. It can be redefining the brief, taking a different route or realising that the outcome will not be what I had in mind at first.
I also try more and more to just do something instead of hesitating too much wondering if I am making the right choices.
What does experimentation look like to you?
I feel that I do not experiment enough as I focus too much on the outcome. Experimenting would mean not worrying too much about what I am trying to achieve and focussing on the process.
Where do you work, what kind of physical spaces do you need?
As mentioned above, I work mainly in my home office. I do not need a lot of space as I like creating sketches in smaller format (A4 or A3 maximum) and I also enjoy creating digital illustrations.
When do you work, and how best can you structure your time?
I have noticed that I concentrate better at certain times of the day. It would be worth exploring further how I can prioritise some tasks that require more concentration when I find it easier to focus.
How do you draw on inspiration to feed your creativity?
Inspiration is essential and can be found everywhere. I particularly like looking around me as there is so many sources of inspiration such as vegetation and animals, people, buildings, street art, signs and much more. I also look at the work of other illustrators online and sometimes go to exhibitions.
Catherine Roux Degree in Illustration 