The life of an artist is romanticized with tales of soul-searching sojourns, secretive trysts, and inspiring muses. But for some artists, wrangling toddlers and working a second job is closer to the truth. To get a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of creatives, we’re asking some of our favorite artists to share their morning rituals.
Jen B. Peters (@jenbpeters) is a graphic designer and illustrator in Los Angeles. Peters worked six years for Mattson Creative before opening her own design studio. Her signatures are bright colors and a playful, hand-drawn aesthetic, as can be seen in features by Buzzfeed, Lauren Conrad, and Design Love Fest.
What time do you typically start your day?
I am lucky to be able to work from home and if I have a morning without a client meeting or call I try to let myself wake up naturally without an alarm. I tend to be a night owl, so a little extra sleep is a luxury and I typically will wake up around 8 am.
First thing you do once you’re out of bed?
Brush my teeth and head for the kitchen to make breakfast.
What are the hallmarks of a good morning?
I love mornings when I wake up feeling inspired and creative, knowing I will be able to jump right into the day. I also love leaning into the occasional slow morning when my schedule permits it.
Are you a breakfast believer?
YES! Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Currently my go to breakfast is a veggie stir fry with a fried egg on top. Those that know me would say my day does not truly start until I have had breakfast!
How does your morning fit into your creative process?
I feel the most focused in the mornings and I try to accomplish my managerial tasks first (emails, scheduling, etc). This work is not my favorite, but I seem to be faster, more motivated, and get less overwhelmed earlier in the day. I then dive in and devote the rest of my day and focus on my creative projects, I tend to feel most inspired in the afternoon and evening.
Is a good morning spent in solitude or with others?
Both. During the week my husband normally leaves for work before I start my day, and I really love my quiet mornings alone. But I equally love our weekend mornings together, sleeping in and making a big breakfast.
Morning media: book, morning TV show, Twitter, or other?
I currently am in the bad habit of checking Instagram while still in bed. I also love to listen to podcasts to get inspired first thing, my current favorites are How I Built This, Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations, and Kind World.
Is there anything you’d like to change about your morning routine?
I want to start working out more in the mornings. I sit for so many hours of the day, my body feels so much better when I motivate myself to workout and I want to make that a priority!