Notes for Animating Well

Tips on leading a creative life that I've picked up - and may help you too.

These are some thoughts on both a career in animation as well as keeping your personal creative fire burning. Let's not lose the passion for it! Find creative support and inspiration in our courses too!

1. Drawing regularly - doodling becomes your shorthand and creates a ‘shortcut’ to those ideas in your brain. These should be like a diary, private! The pressure should be zero. 

2. Measured practice - to improve at something we generally get there quicker with some form of structure. Make an aim of what to study each month. Are you focusing on hands in June? Great. How about timing in July? A short course can help with this!

3. Experiment - Different ways of moving things. Different media (try to do non digital for a period of time and watch your skills sharpen!). Even in the fast paced world of the animation industry, there’s room to try new things. And when you’re playing on your own time, it’ll help flex that grey matter and give you even deeper inspiration. 

4. Burnout beware - If you’re lucky enough to work in animation, you have to watch for burnout. Separate the day job mentally from your personal life. Wanting to make a short film? This might be harder if you’re animating all day! Your life will require different balances at different times. Go gently!

5. Fill up the well - You can’t always be putting things out there. Social media makes us feel like others are insanely productive. Everyone needs time to create, rest and rejuvenate. When was the last time you topped up your creative well? Theatre, cinema, galleries, travelling ANYWHERE, sitting still for a bit. What do you notice? The key is to be disconnected. No phones!

6. Enjoy the ride! It can be very tiring trying to decide what to do and make, and still find a way to enjoy your art. You are not your 10 year old self! You can do other things, be happy with what effort you’ve put in and take a break. There’s no failure in that ❤️

If you've any tips of your own, send 'em over. I'd love to hear.