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.

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, whether that’s an idea, a creator, or a vision that helps you stay oriented when the way forward is unclear.

Why It Matters

Those three children’s books on my desk did not hand me answers, but they kept me aligned with the kind of world I wanted to build. They reminded me how it should feel, even when I lost my way.

Your North Star can do the same. It does not need to map every step. It only needs to hold your direction steady so you can keep moving forward.

What has been your North Star when you started to drift?