People often tell me that it’s easy for me to prioritise my illustration work because I’m getting paid and published. If they were getting published or getting paid, they say, they’d be able to prioritise it, too.
But what people don’t realise is that I’m only getting paid now because I prioritised it before – when I wasn’t getting paid. I spent nights, on the couch after a really long day at work, sketching out weird characters like Eric (who turned into my first picture book and a CBCA Notable book). Those ‘thankless nights’ had to happen first. The period of time where friends and family were bewildered at what I was doing, “What’s the point of this drawing that you’re doing? No one is paying you. What a waste of time. Shouldn’t you be doing more useful things?”
And that’s the problem with things that give us, and us alone, pleasure. Things like meditation, or hobbies like flower-arranging or painting miniatures, have different intrinsic value to each of us. No one else can understand it, but they’re always happy to offer their not-so-helpful opinion.
Back then, messing around with watercolour was just an enjoyable way to spend my evening. I found a hobby I enjoyed. And if the publishing deals dried up today, it wouldn’t change a thing. I’d still be drawing, painting, and writing, just for me, like I did before.