Second Base
The Creative License is a fantastic book about discovering how to incorporate creativity and art into one’s life — a love story, full of humor and passion and inspiration, a wild celebration of amateurism. It’s a book that will unleash every Sunday painter, every frustrated lawyer with an idea for a novel, every doodler, every frustrated music fan, every timid cook and mid life crisising executive. It will bring joy, salvation and empty art supply stores to our troubled world.
The book sprouted from the modest success of my book, Everyday Matters, and from this blog. Over 250 pages or so, it will go a lot further than its progenitors.
I finished writing the text of the book a week ago. My agent read it and gave me raised thumbs and now the manuscript is on my editor's desk over at Hyperion.
The journey is only half done. The first leg was gathering all the thoughts that observations that are the raw materials. Step two was writing down all the words. Next I have to design the book. It will be a wild concoction, full of hundreds of drawings and exercises and calligraphy and stuff, and will consume most of my winter. I will also be including examples from the works of many of my friends: Tom Kane, Richard Bell, Roz Stendahl, Julie Dermansky, Dan Price, Andrea Scher, Prashant Miranda, and more.
It will take another year before the first copy is in my hands but I have a feeling it will be my biggest and best book yet. Stay tuned for further developments!
Oh, and, simultaneously, Hyperion will be reissuing Everyday Matters in paperback with a spanking new cover. R.Crumb wins!
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
sounds good, you have a buyer in me already. (i never thought i could draw until i read everyday matters - now i draw everyday/whenever i can)
Posted by: azura | November 19, 2004 09:05 AM
Excuse me? haven't said a lot about your new book? How about haven't mentioned a word...and I know this as I hang on each of yours. I am so HAPPY that you're doing this and that I'll get to read it. I've wondered, silly of me, if you were a bit burned out since we don't see daily drawings from you. Now I know you're in a creatively combustible place. I really am excited for you, me and all of the others you'll bring into the fold with this new book.
Dana
Posted by: dana jenkins | November 19, 2004 09:17 AM
Danny, it sounds like the book I have been waiting for! I can't think of anyone who would be better for the job than you. Thank you for sharing the journey with us.Katrien.
Posted by: katrien | November 19, 2004 09:28 AM
Put me on the list for a copy! I don't need books with art techniques, I need books to inspire, to prod, to encourage... Michele
Posted by: Michele Merges Martens | November 19, 2004 09:30 AM
Can't wait for your new book, Danny! Guess I'll have to pass the time by exercising my own creativity in some little way every single day.
Posted by: Jane | November 19, 2004 09:52 AM
This sounds wonderful-we need more Danny Gregory these days! Thanks for the update.
Looking forward-
Heather
Posted by: Heather | November 19, 2004 10:01 AM
Congrats, how fun, can't wait to buy the new book in the future... we wish you well ... and when I am really jealous I sign my msgs, the green-eyed lady
Posted by: patty | November 19, 2004 10:08 AM
so excited for you danny:::
you amaze me.
a
Posted by: andrea | November 19, 2004 10:29 AM
Danny - That is really good news!! You, of all people, are the perfect author/illustrator/designer of such a book and I KNOW it will be the inspiration needed for lots of people. If it was in my hands now I would give it to my son, who has the creative juices in him, but is so wrapped up in his work (he's a printing salesman in NYC) that he doesn't give them a chance to escape. Maybe in a year or two after "burn out"...
Nancy Grim
Posted by: Nancy Grim | November 19, 2004 10:30 AM
Congratulations! I can't wait to get my hands on the new book!
Posted by: Lydia | November 19, 2004 10:53 AM
cool!..can't wait for more...will we get sneak peeks?
Posted by: fern | November 19, 2004 10:55 AM
Hey Danny -- what a great way to begin my weekend, reading your fantastic news! Congrats.
Loved your drawings of Joe, and I was lucky enough to meet him about a month ago.
By the time your new book comes out all of my friends will have received my books of choice, Everyday Matters and Change Your Underwear, so I'll be looking for something new to pass on.
Thanks for your work and for your blog -- it's been enormously helpful for me in the fairly new territory of drawing and painting and journaling.
Take care,
Julia
Posted by: julia judge | November 19, 2004 11:24 AM
Danny...
What an exciting concept for your new book! Sure hope it comes out before next Christmas...it would make a great gift for several of my friends.
Can't wait.
Posted by: Lee | November 19, 2004 11:25 AM
Oh, this is so exciting! I wish I still had my bookshop (NOT) so that I could sell the heck out of your books. This upcoming one sounds like an absolute winner, across the board. I can hardly wait to get my hands on it. Congratulations and my best wishes that the rest of this particular part of your journey will go smoothly and flawlessly. Carry on!
Posted by: Jane | November 19, 2004 11:44 AM
Congratulations Danny! I can't wait until it comes off the press--looking forward to it!
Posted by: tania | November 19, 2004 11:46 AM
Looking forward to it!
Posted by: Karen Winters | November 19, 2004 12:39 PM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Rachel | November 19, 2004 01:08 PM
SOLD!
i'm wondering when you find the time to complete all of the projects that you do. are you an insomniac, excessive coffee drinker, or just an extremely driven individual?
Posted by: katie | November 19, 2004 01:19 PM
Awesome. Can not wait for the new book to come out.
Posted by: Lu | November 19, 2004 02:55 PM
This is exactly what the world needs! I honestly don't know if I ever would started drawing again if I hadn't read Everyday Matters. Just think of all the new drawers you'll inspire. This is the best news I've heard all day -- and I've had a really great day!
Posted by: Nina Ricker | November 19, 2004 05:44 PM
Awesome. It's a shame it won't be in the shops sooner. This would be my ultimate Christmas presents. Guess I have to wait another year. *sigh*
Posted by: ecritures | November 20, 2004 04:53 AM
Mazel tov!
Posted by: Dan | November 21, 2004 12:55 AM
Sounds wonderful, can't wait to see it.
Posted by: nic | November 21, 2004 05:40 PM
Yeah!!!
Can't wait!!!
Posted by: Lani | November 22, 2004 02:22 PM
Wow! I'm looking forward to seeing it! -p
Posted by: penelope | November 22, 2004 10:38 PM