When I was deep in the thick of illustrating Barry Needs A Hug, I knew what I was doing—at least in some ways. Colors, style, and character design came naturally. I knew the way like the back of my hand. But illustrating backgrounds? That’s where I was completely lost. I was making progress, yet I just felt directionless—like I was moving without a clear sense of where I was going.
That’s when a three-book children’s series I loved quietly rose on my creative horizon. I kept all three stacked on my desk, and whenever I needed inspiration, it was the first place I looked. The worlds inside those pages were beautifully rendered—simple, charming, full of wonder. I knew I didn’t have the skill set to create something like that, not exactly. But I didn’t need to. It was enough to guide me—to remind me of the kind of story I wanted to tell and to keep me moving forward when I started to drift. Over time, those books became my North Star. A quiet reminder of what I was reaching for, and why.
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What “Finding Your North Star” Means
In the vast wilderness of creativity, your North Star is the fixed light in the distance that helps you stay aligned with your deeper “why.” It’s not a map or a checklist. It’s a steady point of inspiration—an idea, a creator, or a vision that helps you stay oriented when the way forward is unclear.
How to Follow Your North Star
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Light in the Wilderness
The creative journey can often feel like wandering in the dark. But with a North Star—like that stack of children’s books was for me—you don’t need to see the whole path. You just need a steady light to move toward.
What’s your North Star? Is there a body of work or vision that gently pulls you back when you stray? Maybe it’s time to look up—and let that light guide you home.
