Drawing on a Deadline: the highs and lows of my latest illustration project ✨
[7-10 min read]
There’s nothing quite like the thrill (and stress!) of working on a big illustration project with a deadline looming over your head. In December last year, I embarked on a new creative journey where I illustrated a whole bunch of new things I have not drawn before—pushing my digital drawing skills to the limit. As always, the process was filled with both moments of joy and deep frustration. And if there’s one thing I learned (again), it’s that the devil truly lies in the details...
A bit more about this illustration: This infographic details a future scene of an Energy Community. Certain resident buildings have solar panels installed that generate electricity. With this, local energy sharing is made possible. This can be shared with local schools, community centers, local businesses, residents, and homeowners' associations. The residents in the neighborhood are less dependent on the big energy providers and have more autonomy and control. Want to know more about this project? You can visit this link (the article is in Dutch).
The Highs: When the Magic Flows ⭐️
One of the best parts of this project was the sheer excitement of bringing new ideas to life. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing a blank canvas transform into a vibrant illustration filled with personality. When I was in the flow, time seemed to disappear, and my stylus danced across the screen effortlessly. It’s during these moments that I’m reminded why I love being an illustrator.
Another high point? Seeing my improvement in speed and technique. Over the years, I’ve developed my own workflow, but each project forces me to refine it further. This time, I experimented with new brushes and color palettes, which gave my illustrations a different look. Exploring different shading techniques and playing with textures made the process even more enjoyable.
The Lows: When Things Just Don’t Work 😭
Of course, not everything went smoothly. Deadlines have a way of turning creativity into pressure, and not every drawing session was magical. Some days, I’d stare at my screen, endlessly tweaking tiny details that didn’t seem to make much of a difference. Other times, an illustration just wouldn’t come together the way I envisioned it, leading to a frustrating cycle of redraws and revisions. I dreaded drawing humans on the realistic side, yet when the drawn humans looked exactly like how I wanted, it gave me so much energy!
Then there’s the dreaded perfectionist mindset. I have a habit of zooming in too much, obsessing over the smallest imperfections. But when you’re working under a deadline, you have to know when to stop. I had to remind myself that done is better than perfect—something easier said than done when every tiny stroke feels important.
At a certain point, I was stuck and luckily I have friends that are amazing in digital drawing! SO, I asked them for feedback on the drawing and learned so much! Sometimes, you need friends that help you even further :)
The Devil Lies in the Details ✅
Speaking of tiny strokes, this project reaffirmed just how much details matter. The smallest highlight, the tiniest shadow, the subtlest texture—these elements might seem insignificant on their own, but together, they create depth and life in an illustration. I found myself obsessing over these aspects, knowing they would make a difference in the final piece. But at the same time, I had to be careful not to get lost in them and forget about the bigger picture. It's not making the illustration perfect, but understandable!
Final Thoughts 💜
Looking back, this project was both a challenge and a great learning experience. Deadlines may add pressure, but they also push me to grow as an artist. I’m proud of the work I created, even if the process wasn’t always smooth. And in the end, isn’t that what makes creating art so special? The mix of struggle and triumph, frustration and joy, chaos and beauty.
So, to fellow artists juggling deadlines: embrace the highs, power through the lows, and remember—perfection isn’t the goal, progress is.