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This is a process & ideas blog from the secret attic headquarters of Meg Hunt, who lives and makes in Portland, Oregon.

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November 4, 2011
in process
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Recent illustration for Runner’s World— this was for their Pack Rules section talking about reader tips. Always a pleasure! Last night I was musing both online and off about where my work is taking me. It’s nearing the end of 2011 (seriously, HOW did it go so quick?) and I’m hitting an all-too familiar place trying to figure out what I want to do with my work and how I can do it— I called that my process, but I think that got misinterpreted as a more factory-like churning out of work in the same way. Which will never really happen with me. What it really is is nailing down the things I want to make as an illustrator (I’ve heard over the few weeks a mantra repeated from several illustrators I admire: do the work you want to make and good things will follow.) and why those things aren’t happening yet, and what do I really love about my work and how can it evolve? My fingerprints will always be in there no matter what tools I use, but learning how to show what I’m capable of and not hold back due to worries or limitations is equally as important as the tools and ways I use them.  In a way, I feel divided between methods— but when you like so many things, it can overwhelm and then make you not like the work anymore. Though I love working and I love so many ways of working. Maybe it’s an issue of editing. I guess what it is is I really want to be proud of the worlds I build and the characters I breathe life into and improve on the weaknesses I’m noticing. Sometimes (like everyone, I know!) you only see the flaws and it discolors the tiny successes. Or like me, I will love something one minute, see the flaws the next, and then double back and find things you like about a piece again. That’s the same case with the above illustration.  Oh process, you could drive a person nuts! On the plus side, being this way has made me a far better illustrator in a very short time. I should scan sketches from my sketchbooks from the past few years— it stunned me seeing how much different things look even from 2009-2011! Anyhow, the next two months are going to be crazy and productive! I promise! And next year I hope I can keep that going, start a new project or two, and be an even awesomer illustrator. Let’s go!

Recent illustration for Runner’s World— this was for their Pack Rules section talking about reader tips. Always a pleasure!

Last night I was musing both online and off about where my work is taking me. It’s nearing the end of 2011 (seriously, HOW did it go so quick?) and I’m hitting an all-too familiar place trying to figure out what I want to do with my work and how I can do it— I called that my process, but I think that got misinterpreted as a more factory-like churning out of work in the same way. Which will never really happen with me. What it really is is nailing down the things I want to make as an illustrator (I’ve heard over the few weeks a mantra repeated from several illustrators I admire: do the work you want to make and good things will follow.) and why those things aren’t happening yet, and what do I really love about my work and how can it evolve? My fingerprints will always be in there no matter what tools I use, but learning how to show what I’m capable of and not hold back due to worries or limitations is equally as important as the tools and ways I use them.  In a way, I feel divided between methods— but when you like so many things, it can overwhelm and then make you not like the work anymore. Though I love working and I love so many ways of working. Maybe it’s an issue of editing. I guess what it is is I really want to be proud of the worlds I build and the characters I breathe life into and improve on the weaknesses I’m noticing. Sometimes (like everyone, I know!) you only see the flaws and it discolors the tiny successes. Or like me, I will love something one minute, see the flaws the next, and then double back and find things you like about a piece again. That’s the same case with the above illustration. 

Oh process, you could drive a person nuts! On the plus side, being this way has made me a far better illustrator in a very short time. I should scan sketches from my sketchbooks from the past few years— it stunned me seeing how much different things look even from 2009-2011!

Anyhow, the next two months are going to be crazy and productive! I promise! And next year I hope I can keep that going, start a new project or two, and be an even awesomer illustrator. Let’s go!

Notes:

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