The One Where You Visit My Studio

Come on in.

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Oh, hi!

It’s you.

So nice of you to drop by. I’m glad you are here. I was just thinking about you!

You caught me at my desk. This is where I work, most days.

I spend a lot of time right here, sketching and drawing. And trying to meet all the deadlines on my calendar. And thinking about stories I want to write. And drafting these funny notes to you.

Or more appropriately, maybe I should call this my headquarters. Sometimes I work in other spots too, because variety is good.

Well, since you’re here, would you like a look around?

You would? Fantastic.

My current studio/HQ is just the extra bedroom in my house. I don’t have much of a commute. There are pros and cons to this set-up.

Pros: It’s always right here, and it’s easy to get to. Everything is right at my fingertips, and I have access at all times.

Cons: It’s always right here, and it’s easy to get to. Everything is right at my fingertips, and I have access at all times…which means sometimes I feel like I should be working all the time.

When I’m in the midst of a big complicated project (like the book illustration job I’m currently in the middle of) I tend to work really strange hours, sometimes late into the night. I’m trying to be better about this and give myself boundaries. I know that’s important. I also think this might just be the natural ebb and flow of my chosen career. After the big push of completing a project I usually have a bunch of downtime to even it out.

Anyway.

I have two desks. On this side of the room is my drawing table. It’s where I keep all my pens and pencils and sketchbooks and my table top drawing easel.

That easel saves my neck, literally. I learned the hard way that it’s REALLY important to prop up my surface when I’m drawing for long periods.

I do draw on my iPad. A lot. I resisted it for a while - not wanting to give up paper and paint and pencils. But it’s an essential part of the process now. When it comes to client work, I absolutely would not be able to do what I do without it. The efficiency and flexibility that it brings is a game-changer.

But pencil and paper…

and paints and brushes are still important and necessary.

And then on the other side of the room I have a desk for my big computer - for final artwork edits, and emails, and video meetings, and all the business-y stuff that has to happen.

Other than that this room is full of things that keep me going. I have lots of books. Some are art books…

some are books from my childhood that I loved (and still do)…

and some are books that I admire in terms of their story, or their illustrations, or both.

This year I made a big giant calendar for my pin board on one wall. It’s a big poster size and it shows the entire year - a square for each day. It’s nice to be able to visualize these long far away deadlines - nothing in publishing happens very quickly.

It has worked great, but it’s also a little bit alarming because I can see the year passing us by, and it seems to be going SO FAST.

I don’t know if this little tour is interesting to you, or inspiring, but every time I post a photo on socials that includes my desk, or bookshelf, or drawing tools I always get quite a few comments or questions about my work setup. So, maybe this answered some questions, or curiosities.

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I am definitely one of those people who find it fascinating to be able to peek into the workplaces of creative people that I admire. A few years ago I visited Georgia O’Keeffe’s home and studio in New Mexico, and it was incredible. The whole place has been kept the way it was when she lived and worked there, and as I walked through the house and around the grounds, I felt like I met her.

I also really love this interview with Roald Dahl. You know him as the author of books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and James and the Giant Peach. In this video he takes is into his writing shed in the backyard. The way he arranges his perfect working environment is as quirky and charming as his stories. Maybe you remember that last year Wes Anderson adapted four of Dahl’s short stories into short films for Netflix? If you saw those you will recognize Dahl’s writing shed, as Anderson re-created it perfectly for the films.

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I’ll leave you with this…

A while back I made this small self-portrait illustration showing me at my drawing desk.

I wrote a whole post about what prompted me to create it, and about the significance of some of the objects in my studio that I included in the illustration. If you are interested in reading some more, you can find it right here.

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And that’s it for now!

Thanks for stopping by.

You’re welcome to come back anytime.

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