Mind Maps, finally!
turning something I DON'T want to draw into something I DO want to draw.
Hi! I’m Kayla Stark, an illustrator working primarily in the children’s publishing world. You’re reading “Odd Thoughts”, my blog/newsletter where I talk mostly about illustration, process, publishing, and anything else that’s tangentially related in my life. Join in! Everyone’s welcome!
Years ago, someone told me I should illustrate an urban garden piece for my children’s illustration portfolio.
I don’t give a flip about urban gardens.1
Now, if gardens (specifically gardens in cities) are your bag—THAT’S GREAT! I’m just not interested whatsoever in drawing them…snore…
But all is not lost for poor, poor “urban garden”. My complete disinterest in it makes it the perfect subject to demonstrate one of my favorite creative tools…🥁🥁📯…
The MIND MAP!!
Want to make a subject you find boring not boring? Use a mind map.
(turn it into something you do give a flip about)
Don’t know what to draw/write/etc.? Start a mind map.
Know exactly what you want to draw and feel excited about it? Do a mind map anyway. It doesn’t take long and you may unearth an idea you like even more. :)
What is a mind map?
a brainstorming tool for making connections around a central idea or theme
You may have noticed that I mention mind maps pretty often in my posts. I do one for almost every project. (seriously, like 99.99999% of them)
Like the Ode to a “Scarry” Halloween pieces and the Kākāpō mugs and saucers :)
This is how I mind map: (a step by step)
Start a 10-20 minute timer and commit to working on the mind map during that time…no other distractions allowed.
Write the theme or subject in the middle of the page and circle it.
From there, add branches of word associations that stem from your main theme—and even more branches from those branches. There are no bad ideas…write down everything that comes to mind. This is not the time to edit yourself.
Note: It’s helpful to know the format of your project when considering ideas. Is it for kidlit/children’s publishing, licensing/cards, products, editorial, etc.?
Keep going and branching out your map until the timer runs out. If you feel like you want to continue after the timer buzzes, set another one.
You should have something like this. It’s like seeing my brain splat on a page, fantastic! You’re finished at this stage, and will have a ton of ideas to work with. It may look a little overwhelming, but you aren’t using everything—it’s for finding your best2 idea. But I like to take mine a little further and see if I can find some interesting combinations.
I highlight a few parts that feel most exciting to me. What would I ACTUALLY want to work on and draw?
I look at the highlighted bits and consider how I might interpret them combined. I’m not combining all of them, just a couple here and there.
It helps me to put a different color dot beside each of the combinations—so I can quickly see what I’ve paired with what.
And lastly, I’ll write out the idea(s) I’ve landed on. It usually looks like this (below), only typically in messier handwriting in the margins of my mind map page.
I LOVE mind maps…is that clear yet?! It’s a judgement free place (just for me) to dump ideas and thoughts. I always, ALWAYS find connections I didn’t think of beforehand AND I feel more confident and excited to start the project. A win-win-win.
If you were expecting to see a finished piece at the bottom of this newsletter, welp…I’m sorry…I haven’t picked one to work on yet. I only wanted to demonstrate the mind map as a bomb-ass tool. (Truth is, I’m kinda saving these ideas for one of my next purposeful practice pieces...working on backgrounds…)
Do you have a favorite out of the four I chose? …doesn’t mean I’ll do it…but I am curious. 🙃
Other noteworthy things
Spider in the Well by
is out next month! (March 19th) I’m so excited for this picture book—the art, the story—ugh it gets me every time. The only thing I don’t like about it is that I didn’t write it. 🙃 jk…kinda.
Preorder here! Or from your fave indie bookstore.
I made circle labels for packaging. MakeStickers asked if I wanted to partner with them again with an emphasis on “how I use stickers in my small business”. I don’t really use them, apart from selling them. So I made a couple of circle labels that I can stick on orders (and they’re interactive, ha!) The reel I made about them
New stories/dummies for the story machine! I’m keeping my brain busy while my picture book dummy is on submission by exploring new stories. This sketch is from one of three I’m noodling on and is based on a TRUE STORY!
Now it’s your go!
Your turn! Make a mind map for a project you’re working on, or want to work on! Try it once…for me. And then tell me about it. I mean it—you won’t be bothering me. :)
My kitchen/dining area needs some big art on the wall. I’ll do a mind map to help me decide what to make. (I’m already thinking…hear me out…a giant onion painting!)
If you want to become a donor for this newsletter by upgrading to paid, thank you thank you thank you! You make this all easier to manage and continue. And if not, that’s ok too, glad you’re here. 💛
Alright, byeeeee! Off to plant my urban garden…😂😆
I don’t give a flip about DRAWING them, but I am happy they exist—I appreciate them.
aka most exciting for you; or best for the project; etc.
Brilliant post! I’ve done them in the past but have somehow forgotten about them. Will definitely try this approach again. They work so much better than a list. Thanks for sharing! 🤩
Oh this is so helpful! Despite creating a jar of my own prompts for my 100 Day Project there are inevitably some I feel more drawn to than others. If something isn't sparking I'm going to mind map and see what comes up. Thank you for pushing it into combinations too, makes it much more interesting.