Daily Painting Workflow
Do you love data visualization and making creativity sound super rigid and analytical?
Well, welcome to my brain! 😂
I’m trying to get into the habit of visualizing, documenting, and sharing my process and flow. I’m a kinesthetic and visual learner, and words help me feel structured. Documentation is something I love to do! It takes time but it’s the “show my work” portion of my creative process.
I think most illustrators would show their process via drawings and even fun zine/comics style. Welp! I do charts! And HOW-TO docs! 😂😂😂 Perhaps why my friend Heather has called me “Data Maiden” more times than once!
Since starting my daily art practice since October, I’ve focused on:
quick 15-20min creations
connecting and checking in with myself and my mood for the creations (a la art therapy)
allowing myself to create however I please and desire
building in spirituality into it, too
letting go of perfectionism and all the “must do” design rules
shortening the time of painting -> digitizing and archiving -> publishing
Here’s my daily painting workflow:
This chart is made with Xmind! I’ve found it to be hella useful to organize my linear workflow, todos, and user journey design thoughts! If you’re a visual + kinesthetic learner like me, this might be great for you too!
Here’s my affiliate links so you and I can both get discounts for Xmind — 15% Off Xmind Pro and 15% Off Xmind Premium or using my affiliate code: estellatse . I get a 25% commission. :)
Balance Meditation App
I’ve been combining meditating with painting, following the guided meditations using Balance. It helps me brain “toggle” into mindful and flow state mode.
Even when I’m stressed or restless, I try to make sure I do my Balance meditations (especially!) so I can slooowww down.
Spirituality Check-In
I light an incense stick at my mini altar for Guanyin, Veronica, and my dad. I do a little prayer. And I often put on my dad’s Buddha meditation bead necklace. I do believe I can feel them when I sit and open myself up to “hellos.”
Child-Self Check-In
I check-in and ask myself:
Is there a Past Estella that needs to express herself today?
Is there a part of me that is feeling hurt and pain that needs to externalize the emotions?
What am I feeling at this moment?
Is there anything that needs to be released? transmuted? externalized? brought to real life so I can hold space for myself?
HOW might I want to Make today? What medium speaks to me? What creative approach speaks to me right NOW?
Breathe + Flow + Make
From here, I allow my subconscious make the choices.
I breathe
And I let the breathe and brush lead me.
Sometimes I have a specific experiment or image I want to try to make.
Other times, it’s less clear and I just go with the literal flow of creativity + breath combined.
I do this usually for 15-20 minutes.
Record for Archives
I scan the piece at 300-600dpi. Edit colors / levels / curves. Remove any scanning glass scratches (lol).
Save a working .PSD version and a sized down JPG version for web/quick sharing.
Publish
Then I finish up by writing a blog post. Sometimes with words related to the imagery, sometimes not.
I mostly don’t share on social media anymore for my own values + ethical choices (I want my site to be the main hub for my work to be seen - not a 3rd party corporation). Sometimes I will share on IG:
I download IG app (yes! each time!!)
Add my IG Story
Delete the app (yes! each time!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~~)
Then I start my workday!