How to Make Better Art: 10 Ways to Develop a Creative Routine + Get Better

Say Lou Lou. 2014.

Pencil and gouache on sketchbook paper. Made just before bed, my most creative time.

The only way to get better at something is to practice it, and to practice regularly you must create a routine and stick with it. During the last year or two working as an artist and illustrator these are the top 10 habits I've learned so far to help me develop my craft.

1. Don't apologize for your work. I know its tempting because your work won't be as good as you want it to be yet and you don't want anyone thinking that's all you have inside you. You have so much more you want to express, I know! But fight it, if you don't believe in your work how can other people? If it's not as good as you want, re-work it until you can accept it. Share it and then leave it at that, don't make any excuses.

2. It's OK to make ugly stuff. Experiment in your sketchbook or scrap pieces of paper for even less pressure. It keeps your work fresh and you can find and explore new directions. Continually experiment. Try something that might not work, that's what making art is.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP.

Recent Work / Dinner Party Seating Arrangements for Hong Kong Tatler

A simple, bright, clean illustration for an new article from Hong Kong Tatler on whether couples should be split or sat together at dinner parties? The illustration was inked in ballpoint pen (Stabilo Liner 808 F, naturally) and coloured digitally.

I'm for split in case you were wondering, dinner parties are for meeting new people! What do you guys think? Separate or together? Also, invite me to dinner parties you fancy pants!

Read the article here.

As always, thanks to the wonderful editor Charmaine.

February TMI / This Month I: Spent Sweetly

February was short, but sweet. In an effort to dress more interestingly, I bought some bindis from my local Indian corner store, they're shaped like an upside down flower in unexpected bright colour combinations and I've been having such a good time wearing them. HKD $10/pack, cheap and cheerful.

This year I was really into Valentines Day, a little hand written love note I made (for myself). Various sources have accused me of being overly obsessed with kissing, or as I like to call it, smooching. But that's ridiculous, noone can have too many kisses.

At the Duddell's "Foreign Presence" exhibition, featuring a series of photos from a 1962 fashion shoot in Hong Kong by Francesco Scavullo for Harper's Bazaar. The show is on until May. 

A little shopping complex opened near our place and my mom and I went in to browse and discovered a bookstore! Alas they only had 2 English books (no lie), and I bought one of them! So many tips and new perspective on happiness in this book by Gretchen Rubin.

My friend Helene and I went hiking! We bought picnic supplies from City Super and took the leisurely 2 hour hike to Tai Tam Reservoir and waterfall. Bliss! We did however get lost on our way back and had to hike to the bus in almost complete darkness, luckily we were not attacked by 山賊 or wild pandas.

Taking the advice of the Happiness Project book, I decided to "spend out" and splurge on a deliciously fine lunch for my parents and I, all the better since it was Hong Kong restaurant week. We indulged in the 3 course lunch set at Messina, an Italian restaurant in Hung Hom, complete with molten pistachio cake, petite fours and full leaf peppermint tea. 

As a freelance illustrator, needless to say I spend way too much of my time on Pinterest, whenever I see a portrait on there that catches my eye I like to do a quick drawing of it in my sketchbook. It's spontaneous good practice.

SCAD DeFINE Art Exhibition showcasing the best of their graduating students' work. One of my favourites was MFA candidate Johnny Gin's photography series on HK's historic architecture. 

Invitations to Fixation were printed! I got to catch a glimpse of my Cat Marnell painting being used for the event invite, so exciting. The show opens today in Melbourne's Town Hall Gallery!

I love to go to the library to read magazines to relax and get inspiration. Reading Dazed and Confused and came across a strikingly beautiful portrait of filmmaker Katell Quillévéré so I made a sketch.

I hope you had a sweet February too. Follow me on Instagram for daily updates @kittynwong.

Paintings / Lindsay Lohan

Kitty N. Wong, 2013.
Lindsay. Gouache, pencil, acrylic and gold leaf on paper.
39cm x 27cm.

Another one from the Women I've Wanted to Be series. Although I'm not sure I would actually want to be Lindsay Lohan, I do find her to be a beautiful and enigmatic figure of our current pop-scape, from child star to those tumultous months she spent with Samantha Ronson and now as the 27 year old we are all rooting for to make a comeback.

I had a lot of fun experimenting with gold leaf for this piece, it was the first time I ever used it. I'm always fascinated by videos of artisans applying the tissue thin sheets and this time I got to try it. My desk is still covered with little specks and it's kind of magical.

Lindsay was sent off for the Fixation exhibition at Town Hall Gallery which opens tomorrow!