On Painting for Illustrators

And liking what you paint.

Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations with illustrators about painting. Whether we’re talking about a specific illustration, or about their painting abilities in general, they often say to me, “I like my drawings better.”

To the chagrin of many illustrators, virtually every illustration ends with painting. It’s unavoidable. While drawing carries with it its fair share of pain points, painting has had a dynastic run of ruining illustrators’ days, weeks, projects, and even careers.

So let’s have a little chat about painting—what to make of it, how to enjoy it, and knowing when to end it.