Illustration has been the most consistent thing I’ve done for the past 13 years. Meditation has been the other most consistent thing I’ve done for the past 8 years.
Both practice helped me so much to discover, define and shape who I am today, what I do, and how I do it. Even so, I see myself as a beginner most of the time.
I still regularly feel like I’m new to meditation as soon as I sit in the morning.
My head might be full of thoughts, my body might be full of sleep, or I’m way too “busy” to stop for 10 friendly minutes (at 6.30am).
As a result I forget how to focus on the one thing that matter, even if I’ve done the same thing over and over again for 170+ hours (thanks to Headspace for keeping track). Eventually I always end up in the same comfortable place, of breathing, accepting, letting go, and repeat, tomorrow.
In a similar way, my experience of growth as an illustrator regularly brought me back in trying for the first time to express myself with the medium.
I felt confident about doing illustration, right from the beginning, even when it was pretty rough. But the ongoing battle between satisfaction and doubt, was ever present and is here to stay.
This is what keeps me coming back to tackle on a new challenge, every time. Progress, learn and grow a bit more, after each iteration. It is only a routine on a mission to remain playful, engaged, and rewarded by practice. That’s the motivation. Nothing else.
In a nutshell, everyday is a repeat of the same part to play.