Watch now | There are no rules. Whenever you start, that is the right time. Whatever you draw, or write, or create, however long it takes, is right. And when its finished, its finished.
Oh Emily! This is breathtakingly beautiful writing. So immersive and enchanting. And SUCH good advice. I'm absolutely guilty of rushing my creative endeavours, almost as if I'm scared that the inspiration might leave me before I finish. I shall try and heed your very wise words and take my time.
🥹 oh my goodness Robyn, thank you so much for your kind words, that means so much 💛 I still have to remind myself not to rush through and avoid impatience - it can be tricky!!
This is such an important message! I often feel like I don't have enough time and have to rush things in order to get to my goal, but in reality most things turn out way better if we just let go of the how long it takes and focus on the process itself and make that an enjoyable experience.
Yes so true Nika! I guess it’s natural to want to get to the end, to complete a piece, but letting go of the constraints that time puts on us can be so freeing 💛 so glad you enjoyed reading x
Emily thanks for this brilliant reminder to exercise patience. I am a writer, not an artist, but the same principle applies. Your sketch is amazing! The jigsaw puzzle would be next-level challenging!!
Thank you Donna 💛yes - I think the principles apply to any type of creativity, for it to be free of obligation and constraints of time. I bought the puzzle for my mum and she completed it!! She said it was very tricky, but no so much that she gave up on it ⭐
Same here. I think all creative things can benefit from taking our time with the process instead of pressuring ourselves to rush things towards the end.
I’ve been thinking about time and numbers and how we all, at one point or another, get so preoccupied with all that really has no meaning where creativity is concerned that we somehow stress of an unfinished project until it’s no longer a pleasure it’s a chore - an almost impossible on to complete because we’ve convinced ourselves there’s no point, it’s too old, or it’s not good enough, or it’s just all wrong... this really is such very wise advice Emily. And so very needed here this morning...
Your octopus is beautiful, I’m so glad you finished her!
Thank you Susie, I'm glad I finished her too. And I completely agree - it feels like we can't help but preoccupy ourselves with the numbers. I feel like I'm rebelling against all of it just now and also the guilt that seems to ensue when we choose a different path, when we spend a long time, or a short time, when we don't keep up with all of 'it'... Thank you always for your thoughts, love having you here 💛
Thank you Emily, I’m glad I found your little creative corner too, especially when your wonderful drawings arrivé side by side with good advice! Bless you lovely 🤍
That's so true! Even in the overall things like life in general or building a career the feeling of being behind often comes up for me, even though we all live our own lives at our own pace and lately I realized that there is no need to rush anything.
I loved reading this! 🥰 I've often wanted to ask you what you use - pencil, paint, etc., for your illustrations. I recently tried soft pastels for the first time and although they're quite difficult to control, I've loved using them! ☺️ But I'm very impatient and like to be finished a piece in one sitting... I really need to take more time.
Thanks Sarah, I understand that impatience so well. But I guess I’ve learned that it gets me no where and I must surrender to allowing it to take the time it takes! 💛 it’s been a very long time since I finished a drawing in a single sitting! how are getting on with the pastels? 🌟
The pastels are interesting. I like the vibrancy of them. I've used watercolour a lot but my paintings always end up being quite pale, almost like I'm scared to use too much colour! The pastels are great because they're so bold. I'm still getting used to them and how they work. I'm certainly no amazing artist but I enjoy playing.
What do you use for your pieces, such as the mermaid you shared? Do you use paint or something different? ☺️
Happy experimenting!! Sounds lots of fun. I use procreate for a lot of my art these days, but I still tend to stick to the pencils with that too, but I can have more versatility with the colours. I draw in a very similar way to my pencil and paper work in many ways. 💛
Ah ok! Yes, I've seen one or two people on YouTube using that. Before I tried the pastels I used pencils to try out what I was going to do. I really liked using them too. I'm just trying to experiment a bit more with different media. I like watercolour but it doesn't always do what I want it to do!! ☺️
Watercolour is a beautiful medium, I used it many years ago but haven't for a loooong time now. Experimenting is so much fun I think. Much better than getting stuck in a particular way of doing things. 💛
Really great post Emily. Thanks for the reminder. Patience with the craft and with ourselves is so important.
As an artist and writer, I find that knowing when to walk away does help but knowing when to walk back and not allowing that window to close is part of the process.
This is so delightful to read. It evoked an excitement within me as I too had these images I wanted to faithfully create on paper as a youngster and adult I recall.
The process of drawing I find echoed in my writing life. It’s a very new part of my life, but that feeling of time being suspended when I’m in the zone and the words are flowing freely is as you describe so eloquently. I have done writing that started out easily enough but has ground to a halt. I felt frustrated with it until I decided to leave it to one side and write what wanted to be written about a completely different subject. Who knows if I will ever go back to it . It’s parked!
Thanks so much Carolyn, I’ve only recently started writing, but only relatively short letters here in Substack - I hadn’t realised how similar drawing and writing are in how they feel creatively. I love you words - ‘writing what wanted to be written’ - it is like the words (and the pictures for me sometimes) have a life of their own. 💛
I love this post and came back to it a second time to re-read.
I've spent my whole adult life struggling with the constraints of time – either not having enough, or things taking longer than I think they should. Then while recovering from cancer I had months of free time and that's when I discovered that having MORE time did not change the pressure I felt about time. I realized that the problem was not time, but rather my beliefs about it. It is hard to change those beliefs but I'm working on it. Things, especially art things, take the time they take.
Thank you so much Tina, you’re so right. It’s all tied up to our beliefs about time, and they are so hard to change. I’m sorry to hear of your cancer, I hope you’re fully recovered xx
You’re so right Nika. And isn’t it so nice to have such beautiful reminders of this from time to time. Lol I think it’s hard not to use time. 😁 but rather than let it use us, we learn to use it for our creative advantage, allowing us to savour the moment. 🥰 I’m glad we can be reminders for each other too.
Emily, so much of this piece speaks to me because of my own experiences with creativity and inspiration. I loved the beautiful take aways about patience and knowing that things will finally feel complete within us when it is the right time. At least this is how I read it ☺️. And your description of getting lost in the dream with Gamora reminded me so much of the tangible feeling of a mystical experience as well. I know I put a spiritual note on this, but I guess it’s because it spoke to the deepest part of me that longs to get lost in such creative moments like that too. (And I feel lucky to have experienced this too 😇) thanks so much for sharing this magical journey and Gamora with us.
I've had to leave so many things on pause over the last few years for health reasons - this is a real encouragement to read - they will be waiting for me if ability returns - and one day possibly even finished!
I’m so sorry to hear about your health having such an impact on you, but also pleased that this has been encouraging 💛 I’ve got many drawings that I’ve started and not finished and I will come back to them again when the time is right. It’s helped me too to feel more at peace with the passage of time and all the ideas that I haven’t YET brought to life! Sending much love ❤️
Thank you Kim. I think sometimes that there’s so much advice about avoiding perfectionism and having a daily practice that the flip side of allowing things to take the time they need can feel wrong. 💛
Excellent advice Emily. And, a lovely piece. The graphite pencil, specifically the No.2, is the first tool I used as a child for artistic expression. Still is.
Thank you John, I don’t often get to do graphite drawings these days but often have an itch to create on. There’s something beautiful in the simplicity of just pencil, isn’t there? 💛
Lately, I’ve been trying out water soluble graphite in various forms and tools. I’m loving my graphite aquarelle pencils from Faber-Castell. They allow me to draw and blend for a detailed underpainting.
Oh Emily! This is breathtakingly beautiful writing. So immersive and enchanting. And SUCH good advice. I'm absolutely guilty of rushing my creative endeavours, almost as if I'm scared that the inspiration might leave me before I finish. I shall try and heed your very wise words and take my time.
🥹 oh my goodness Robyn, thank you so much for your kind words, that means so much 💛 I still have to remind myself not to rush through and avoid impatience - it can be tricky!!
This is such an important message! I often feel like I don't have enough time and have to rush things in order to get to my goal, but in reality most things turn out way better if we just let go of the how long it takes and focus on the process itself and make that an enjoyable experience.
Yes so true Nika! I guess it’s natural to want to get to the end, to complete a piece, but letting go of the constraints that time puts on us can be so freeing 💛 so glad you enjoyed reading x
Emily thanks for this brilliant reminder to exercise patience. I am a writer, not an artist, but the same principle applies. Your sketch is amazing! The jigsaw puzzle would be next-level challenging!!
Thank you Donna 💛yes - I think the principles apply to any type of creativity, for it to be free of obligation and constraints of time. I bought the puzzle for my mum and she completed it!! She said it was very tricky, but no so much that she gave up on it ⭐
Same here. I think all creative things can benefit from taking our time with the process instead of pressuring ourselves to rush things towards the end.
Yep! And sometimes so tricky to do. I’m practicing!
True! I'm also still practicing not to get too caught up with my frantic thoughts at times😂
I’ve been thinking about time and numbers and how we all, at one point or another, get so preoccupied with all that really has no meaning where creativity is concerned that we somehow stress of an unfinished project until it’s no longer a pleasure it’s a chore - an almost impossible on to complete because we’ve convinced ourselves there’s no point, it’s too old, or it’s not good enough, or it’s just all wrong... this really is such very wise advice Emily. And so very needed here this morning...
Your octopus is beautiful, I’m so glad you finished her!
Thank you Susie, I'm glad I finished her too. And I completely agree - it feels like we can't help but preoccupy ourselves with the numbers. I feel like I'm rebelling against all of it just now and also the guilt that seems to ensue when we choose a different path, when we spend a long time, or a short time, when we don't keep up with all of 'it'... Thank you always for your thoughts, love having you here 💛
Thank you Emily, I’m glad I found your little creative corner too, especially when your wonderful drawings arrivé side by side with good advice! Bless you lovely 🤍
That's so true! Even in the overall things like life in general or building a career the feeling of being behind often comes up for me, even though we all live our own lives at our own pace and lately I realized that there is no need to rush anything.
I loved reading this! 🥰 I've often wanted to ask you what you use - pencil, paint, etc., for your illustrations. I recently tried soft pastels for the first time and although they're quite difficult to control, I've loved using them! ☺️ But I'm very impatient and like to be finished a piece in one sitting... I really need to take more time.
Thanks Sarah, I understand that impatience so well. But I guess I’ve learned that it gets me no where and I must surrender to allowing it to take the time it takes! 💛 it’s been a very long time since I finished a drawing in a single sitting! how are getting on with the pastels? 🌟
I need to work on that a bit more I think! ☺️
The pastels are interesting. I like the vibrancy of them. I've used watercolour a lot but my paintings always end up being quite pale, almost like I'm scared to use too much colour! The pastels are great because they're so bold. I'm still getting used to them and how they work. I'm certainly no amazing artist but I enjoy playing.
What do you use for your pieces, such as the mermaid you shared? Do you use paint or something different? ☺️
Happy experimenting!! Sounds lots of fun. I use procreate for a lot of my art these days, but I still tend to stick to the pencils with that too, but I can have more versatility with the colours. I draw in a very similar way to my pencil and paper work in many ways. 💛
Ah ok! Yes, I've seen one or two people on YouTube using that. Before I tried the pastels I used pencils to try out what I was going to do. I really liked using them too. I'm just trying to experiment a bit more with different media. I like watercolour but it doesn't always do what I want it to do!! ☺️
Watercolour is a beautiful medium, I used it many years ago but haven't for a loooong time now. Experimenting is so much fun I think. Much better than getting stuck in a particular way of doing things. 💛
I really needed to read this today. Thank you!
I’m so pleased Kate, thank you for reading 💛
Really great post Emily. Thanks for the reminder. Patience with the craft and with ourselves is so important.
As an artist and writer, I find that knowing when to walk away does help but knowing when to walk back and not allowing that window to close is part of the process.
Thank you Lisa, yes absolutely sometimes a creative piece needs some time to percolate but not too much 💛 thank you for sharing your thoughts
This is so delightful to read. It evoked an excitement within me as I too had these images I wanted to faithfully create on paper as a youngster and adult I recall.
The process of drawing I find echoed in my writing life. It’s a very new part of my life, but that feeling of time being suspended when I’m in the zone and the words are flowing freely is as you describe so eloquently. I have done writing that started out easily enough but has ground to a halt. I felt frustrated with it until I decided to leave it to one side and write what wanted to be written about a completely different subject. Who knows if I will ever go back to it . It’s parked!
Thanks so much Carolyn, I’ve only recently started writing, but only relatively short letters here in Substack - I hadn’t realised how similar drawing and writing are in how they feel creatively. I love you words - ‘writing what wanted to be written’ - it is like the words (and the pictures for me sometimes) have a life of their own. 💛
I love this post and came back to it a second time to re-read.
I've spent my whole adult life struggling with the constraints of time – either not having enough, or things taking longer than I think they should. Then while recovering from cancer I had months of free time and that's when I discovered that having MORE time did not change the pressure I felt about time. I realized that the problem was not time, but rather my beliefs about it. It is hard to change those beliefs but I'm working on it. Things, especially art things, take the time they take.
Thank you so much Tina, you’re so right. It’s all tied up to our beliefs about time, and they are so hard to change. I’m sorry to hear of your cancer, I hope you’re fully recovered xx
I am, thank you
Mesmerizing.
Thank you Almut
You’re so right Nika. And isn’t it so nice to have such beautiful reminders of this from time to time. Lol I think it’s hard not to use time. 😁 but rather than let it use us, we learn to use it for our creative advantage, allowing us to savour the moment. 🥰 I’m glad we can be reminders for each other too.
Emily, so much of this piece speaks to me because of my own experiences with creativity and inspiration. I loved the beautiful take aways about patience and knowing that things will finally feel complete within us when it is the right time. At least this is how I read it ☺️. And your description of getting lost in the dream with Gamora reminded me so much of the tangible feeling of a mystical experience as well. I know I put a spiritual note on this, but I guess it’s because it spoke to the deepest part of me that longs to get lost in such creative moments like that too. (And I feel lucky to have experienced this too 😇) thanks so much for sharing this magical journey and Gamora with us.
Thank you so much for your kind words Ángel 💛 It does feel like a mystical experience in many ways for me too xx
Your artwork is so stunning, I love seeing it come into being.
Thank you som much Nupu 🥰
I've had to leave so many things on pause over the last few years for health reasons - this is a real encouragement to read - they will be waiting for me if ability returns - and one day possibly even finished!
I’m so sorry to hear about your health having such an impact on you, but also pleased that this has been encouraging 💛 I’ve got many drawings that I’ve started and not finished and I will come back to them again when the time is right. It’s helped me too to feel more at peace with the passage of time and all the ideas that I haven’t YET brought to life! Sending much love ❤️
She’s beautiful. And thank you for the advice. Important to let things take their time ☺️
Thank you Kim. I think sometimes that there’s so much advice about avoiding perfectionism and having a daily practice that the flip side of allowing things to take the time they need can feel wrong. 💛
Excellent advice Emily. And, a lovely piece. The graphite pencil, specifically the No.2, is the first tool I used as a child for artistic expression. Still is.
Thank you John, I don’t often get to do graphite drawings these days but often have an itch to create on. There’s something beautiful in the simplicity of just pencil, isn’t there? 💛
Lately, I’ve been trying out water soluble graphite in various forms and tools. I’m loving my graphite aquarelle pencils from Faber-Castell. They allow me to draw and blend for a detailed underpainting.