I try to draw something, anything, every day. Unfortunately, there are times when I just don’t get to.

Everyone has things get in the way. Even if they’re minor. Maybe it’s hobby, a class you’re taking, a meeting, or a friend’s birthday. Sometimes you’ve got a bunch of errands and chores to do. Family obligations. Other times, you’re just way, way, way too tired to physically do anything. I mean, you could make yourself get up and draw, but if you’re tired enough, the effort you do put in, big or small – whether on a major piece, a sketch, a doodle, or a scribble – may not do you any good, thus wasting time and materials. That’s called “going through the motion”, or bad practice. I don’t like to go through the motion. I hate bad practice. Even when I doodle, I want to get something out of it. That’s called good practice.

That said, I actually do try to fit in some sort of drawing every day, even if it is just a doodle. Right now, it’s not necessary for me to work every day on something that will become finished artwork, as much as I’d like to. I’m not paying myself, and that artwork is for me to show off. So, why not work on finished artwork when I know my efforts will go towards making them awesome instead of going through the motion and having my efforts result in something average or below average? Thus, sometimes, a doodle is what I can fit in. At least with a doodle, I’m trying to work out something practical: a pose, a gesture, anatomy, structure… anything. It’s certainly better than nothing, and working out something small and specific only helps one’s technical skill. A sketch is even more focused.

Then there’s the mental game. When you’re motivated to start a career in illustration, or you just want to complete art projects for your own satisfaction, it’s also important for your head to stay in the game. Especially if you’re unable to draw for most of the day (ie. you’ve got a day job). I find it essential to find ways to keep myself thinking about my art every day. This way, it never leaves me.

In my case, that involves writing during breaks in the day, for comics and illustrated text I want to self-publish. It involves thinking of ideas for new portfolio pieces. It means that, at the end of the day, when I’m too freakin’ tired to draw, I know I at least have the energy to sit at a computer and send emails to art directors, at least a small batch almost every night until I finish my list and I don’t have to do it again for at least a month or so.

This way, I can live the art life every day while I still have my day job and other things happening in my life. I think that might be the most important thing: to find a way to keep your art in your life every single day – to keep your head in the game.