11/04/2026
Meet Matthew Phelan Matt Phelan/Zidek, who illustrated our DEVOTION theme for November. He’s inspired by old science fiction and fantasy paperback covers from the 1960s and 70s. Explore some of Matthew Phelan’s favorite works on the CreativeMorings blog
Creativity is often portrayed as a lightning bolt of inspiration that strikes in a flash. But most creative work is toiled over and tended to. Page by page, rehearsal by rehearsal, brushstroke by brushstroke. We feel called to bring our vision to life.
For centuries, illuminated manuscripts, handwritten Qur’ans and Torahs, Buddhist sand mandalas, and Hindu temple carvings were made by people who didn’t separate making from praying.
But creating doesn’t always feel like a revelation. The drafts that go nowhere. Practices when nothing clicks. Every sketchbook page you want to tear out. Every version you save then start over. You must keep the faith during the dry spells and blocks.
Practicing your craft is a ritual. It is an act of love.
IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
An illustration of a city street at night in deep blue tones. A worn, glowing billboard with torn pink edges and graffiti reads “DEVOTION.” Above and to the right, a warmly lit yellow window shows a person painting at an easel while a black cat sleeps on the windowsill beside them. Below is a shuttered storefront and a “Deli & Grocery” sign. A banner along the bottom reads “ | Illustration by Matt Phelan” and “CreativeMornings.”
Link: https://creativemornings.com/blog/devotion-illustrator-matthew-phelan
