Greetings Artisan!

Have you ever been overflowing with ideas for incredible worlds but found yourself struggling to bring them to life?

Trust me, you’re not alone. This is one of the biggest questions and problems that people ask me about!

The journey from that initial spark of inspiration to a fully realized project is filled with challenges—from nailing down foundational art skills like color theory and anatomy to maintaining the energy and focus needed to see it through.

That’s why I’m excited to share my recent interview with the amazing artist Matt Rhodes.

I wanted to talk to someone who has finished a large personal project… and also done it on the side.

Matt is a successful professional artist; he’s also the creator of Tellurion, a silent graphic novel (or Visual Story) he developed in his spare time. He’s a shining example of someone who’s turned ambitious ideas into reality, and he’s now diving into a new project called DEAD gODS.

​You Can Check Out The Interview Here -

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In our conversation we dig deep into the creative process, here are some of the things we discuss:

1. The Power of Community: Matt and I reminisced about the early days of posting art online. We talked about how sharing our work on forums helped us calibrate to an audience and receive invaluable feedback. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about creation—it’s about communication and connection. Without an audience and viewers it's hard to know where you stand.
2. Story Over Technical Perfection: We explored the idea that while honing your technical skills is important, it’s often the story and concept that truly resonate with people. An image that invites viewers into a narrative can have a far greater impact than one that’s merely technically polished. A lot of this comes down to planning!
3. Finding Your Unique Process: Matt emphasized the importance of developing a creative process that works for you personally. He shared how he plans his projects, manages his energy, and overcomes creative hurdles. So much of success in a large project like this is about understanding your personal rhythms and finding a sustainable way to bring your ideas to life.
4. Embracing Visual Storytelling: With “Tellurion,” Matt chose to tell a story without words, relying entirely on visuals. This approach not only challenges the artist but also allows for a universal connection with the audience, transcending language barriers. This is actually a really interesting idea that more people could take advantage of. It also allowed Matt to tell a story without taking on the burden of learning to write dialogue at the same time.
5. Navigating the Creative Journey: We chatted about the challenges of long-term projects—the “middle” where the initial excitement fades and the end isn’t yet in sight. Matt shared his strategies for staying motivated, like breaking the work into manageable pieces and celebrating small victories along the way.
6. The Launch of “Dead Gods”: Matt introduced his new project, “Dead Gods,” which explores the antediluvian period before the Great Flood. This time, he’s taking a more open approach, sharing his process on YouTube and inviting others to join him on this creative journey.

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Creating your own projects can be both exhilarating and daunting. Hearing from someone like Matt, who’s successfully navigated this path, is a good way to help understand what is normal and what is not.

Often we can feel there are right and wrong ways to handle this type of project. It can he hard to know when to stop the pre-production and actually begin. But the reality is that often even when a large project does go well... the process is messy and there are many struggles along the way.

Understanding the chaos of creation will help you to enjoy the journey.

Lastly: if you’re looking for some simple takeaways to help develop your own art projects, here are a few from our chat:

1. Find Your Community: Seek out and engage with like-minded artists online. A supportive community can provide encouragement, constructive feedback, all of which are crucial for your growth as an artist and the success of your projects. Finding a good one in the current landscape is hard, but it’s often what makes the difference.
2. Develop a Personal Creative Process: Experiment with different workflows to find what suits your style, helping you manage energy and maintain consistency in your projects. Your style will be unique and personal. You can learn the foundations of how to make art from tutorials, but your personality will drive how you approach many different aspects of creativity.
3. Set Manageable Goals and Celebrate Milestones: Break down your project into smaller tasks with realistic deadlines, preventing burnout and boosting confidence through regular progress. This is supported by all the productivity literature, and is often the key to finishing a large ambitious project.
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Creating your own projects isn’t just about the end result—it’s about the journey you take to get there. Taking actionable steps like sharing your work, refining your process, and setting achievable goals can make that journey more manageable and fulfilling.

And I think Matt does a great job of showing what is possible if you apply yourself a bit each day over a long period of time.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you have a project you’ve been developing? What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced?

Cheers!

-Tim