Rollo Skinner may have spent his twenties feeling lost, but a bold new beginning transformed his life. After a decade of putting his energy in the wrong places, he returned to childhood pursuits of drawing, writing and experimenting with flowers.
Now, Rollo has written a book, designed floral sets for brands like Gucci and Soho House, and created a purposeful life pursuing his passions. To celebrate our Just Start campaign, we sat down with Rollo to talk about following your curiosities and taking that first step forward.
When staring at a blank page, how do you overcome the initial hesitation to begin?
At the beginning of a project you will always have a mixture of fear and curiosity – so I try to get really curious about what I’m about to start working on. If it feels daunting then perhaps the reward of a cup of tea in 20 minutes time. And, if it goes wrong (and it always does at some point), you can just change it.
How do you keep up momentum once you’ve started something new?
Self-doubt is an inevitable part of starting any project. At the beginning, every road bump feels massive, but the key is learning to be okay with them. If you keep dedicating time – over and over again – the project will start to gain momentum and an energy of its own. It took me two years of writing and illustrating to finish my book.
I knew it had to exist in the world. So I vowed to finish it, then just showed up over and over again. There were times when I had to step away for a while, but I always came back. Keep showing up, and over time, your project begin to unfold and reveal itself to you.
Where do you find the inspiration for your new ideas or goals?
Walking in nature is my go-to, especially being in the woods. But really ideas can come from anywhere. If I get really stuck, I put on some music and dance. I could dance out a scene in a story, brushstrokes of an illustration, or imagine an overgrown world I’m working on. Movement in the body gets the mind flowing, and it stops you taking everything so seriously!
Why do you recommend freewriting to explore curiosities?
Freewriting is a vital tool to unblock your inner voice. It’s helps you get out of your own way. If you start to overly consider things, or come up with calculated answers of what you should be doing, you’ll block the weirder, more wonderful things you want to express. Let the ink flow freely onto the page, and in turn, your mind will start to flow too.
What role does stationery play in your creative process?
The right stationery is crucial. Whether that’s sketching out designs for flowers, working on a book or drawing. The materials are key. I carry a book and pens with me wherever I go, you never know when an idea will appear.
When was the last time you started something new?
I’m working on a project at the minute which is a first for me. I’m designing a paper theatre, inspired by a Shakespearean toy theatre I had as a child. I definitely have that mix of fear and curiosity you get at the beginning of something new – but mostly I’m curious and excited about how it will come to life.
Is there a type of pen or stationery item that you consider your “good luck charm” when starting a project?
I’m not too specific but I do like a pen that’s got very free flowing ink. A fountain pen or dip ink are lovely. I also enjoy using a very fine paintbrush to sketch out designs. It creates a very beautiful calligraphic quality. I often work on brown paper. It makes something feel earthen and ancient.
What advice would you give to someone looking to begin something?
First of all: prepare to begin. Set yourself up in a lovely way, with a cup of tea, maybe a lit candle. Create a sense of ceremony, it can be playful and fun – and a little bit magical. Rather than thinking about the entirety of a thing, if you want to write a book for example, only think about writing the first 250 words.
Once you’ve started, the answers will begin to appear. When it get’s hard – and it will – KEEP GOING. Of course if you don’t want to do it any more, that’s ok too. I’ve begun SO many things to then realise they weren’t quite right – but how can you know if you never start?
What do you feel most grateful for starting?
Creating my book, an illustrated fable called Queer By Nature, was an incredibly cathartic experience. As a young boy growing up in rural Dorset, I never felt like I saw myself reflected in the often glossy, city-centric queer culture. I suddenly reached a point in my life where I felt incredibly lost. Unnatural even.
Unable to talk to anyone about it, I struck off into the woods. I had this burning need to find what in the woods is queer. Through words and drawings I have tried to pull out the heart of what the forest had to say, to allow others to hear the messages they need to hear. It’s been published in Dutch and is being published in German by Harper Collins later this year. It’s very exciting as it makes its way across Europe. One day, hopefully soon, it’ll find a home here in the UK too.
Is there anything you’d like to begin in the future?
I want to keep following my curiosity – over and over again – and see where it takes me. I’m currently working on my next book. I’m very intrigued to one day write a musical.
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