Home again, home again, clippety clop
God, has it really been three weeks since I last wrote anything here? So much for everyday mattering. Sorry for the absence. I have just come back from Los Angeles to find that the weather in New York is far more springular. It was pleasant to shed my layers of sweaters and prance about the daffodils in our garden (well, one daffodil so far).
I had a nice enough time in Los Angeles but a certain mechanical loneliness sets in after so many nights away from my family and my bed. Patti and Jack came and spent the last few days with me in Santa Monica and we drove about, visiting friends and being touristy.
I was shooting a new round of five commercials for Chase and your TV will probably be inundated with them in a few weeks. I am quite pleased with the new batch and it was nice to reunite with the same people I have shot and edited with several times before. It's a pleasant, comfortable routine one falls into with people whom one spends every waking hour with for a month and then never see again for six. Jim, my director, just released a movie (Glory Road, a basketball flick) and the drawing habit I seeded in him last spring is still with him. He now feels comfortable drawing ideas for shots and for the sets he wants, something he'd never felt okay with, despite twenty years behind the camera. Our video assist guy, Ed, became completely hooked on drawing when I first gave him a first lesson almost a year ago and this month he pulled out some incredibly detailed drawings done painstakingly in pencil and most quite amazingly accurate. I'm so pleased he's discovered the pleasures of drawing.
I find myself in a dubious place, mentally and spiritually, these days. On the one hand, I am in the midst of producing commercials which I have always enjoyed (I have three more shoots scheduled for the upcoming month); there's nothing quite like spending millions of dollars to turn your flimsy, in-the-shower idea into something that runs over and over in people's living rooms (or gets zapped by their Tivos). But whenever advertising work takes up too much of my life, replacing my family, my self, my journal, my leisure, even my blog, I start too feel melancholy and adrift. I start to question all of my priorities and the roads not taken. Even the free time I have becomes contaminated. I stop reading ( I have been on a long sequential jag of lovely Dicken's novels, forsaken for trashy novels and magazines), I stop dreaming big thoughts about what I might do next, I stop talking to friends not involved in my current project, I become overly touchy about other people's judgments, and I feel trapped, like a wild animal hunkered over his prey and now anxious some scavenger will pull it away. It's not pretty.
In spite of all this melancholia, I have actually done (or should I say, forced myself to do) a fair amount of drawing in my new red book and I've had a couple of other drawing adventures I'll share here in the next few days. I also have a couple of observations about the world and drawings place in it I'll post soon.
So, please excuse my absence, and be patient with me as I get back on the horse.
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
Danny, as always I love your architectural views! I love the composition of this view.
I'm glad that feeling out of sorts because of the time away from home and so on you drew, drew, drew. I think that's pretty much a good cure for it.
Roz
Posted by: roz | March 30, 2006 07:56 PM
Ah, Danny...the classic conundrum of the artist. Being a musician, some friends in the biz are always complaining to me that they're not happy, not playing the kind of music they really want to play. I tell them that they should be thrilled to be making a living exclusively by playing...what a gift! I also tell them that the workplace is not the place to look for fulfillment; do that on your own time and jump in with gusto. Form a string quartet, or learn all of Ravel's solo piano works, or start that blues garage band you always wanted. Ultimately, we are the only ones responsible for what happens in our lives...so if you have the luxury of a well-paying day job, use it to fund your real passions and fly as far as you can with it!
Welcome home...sorry we missed each other on the left coast...next time!
Posted by: Paul V | March 30, 2006 08:18 PM
Oh, I almost forgot...an amazing post! I know exactly how you feel...recharge your batteries, get in the groove, and can't wait to see your latest drawings...
Posted by: Paul V | March 30, 2006 08:20 PM
So Glad you are back Danny, I thought you may have taken off for Spring Break with your family and decided not to come back! I will look forward to hearing more of your musings about life, creativity and your dreams.
Take Care
CKP in Chicago
Posted by: ckp | March 30, 2006 08:25 PM
Geez, I wondered what happened to you! Welcome back. I understand your plight. I work in a job I hate, but am close to retiring. I hate the boredom of it. No challenge anymore, though easy money. Much rather be writing or drawing in my journal, taking photos, playing guitar, listening to music, meeting people and working out. Oh dang, don't forget the dog. Have to include her in there.
Posted by: Lainey | March 30, 2006 08:30 PM
Happy to see you back, I missed your drawings.
Posted by: Sara | March 30, 2006 08:41 PM
Glad you are back. I understand the feelings completely...I do the same thing but I find LA really sets me back. Just way too many folk and too much pollution for me to deal with for very many days at a time and I just find something so "cheesy" about it...sorry folks but I do. Love the people I know who live there but just don't get it.
Posted by: Kay | March 30, 2006 09:06 PM
Finding balance between work and art, finding balance in life-at-large is a key part of our journey. Wishing you the best at finding your balance, and thank you for the wonderful books and blog.
Posted by: Annie | March 30, 2006 10:13 PM
Glad to see you back - I have enjoyed reading prior entries these past few weeks - so much fun!
Your words on the tear and pull of balancing daily "work" life with the life of art, family and dreaming struck home - it is good to know we are not alone in our journey of trying to find this balance on a daily basis.
Posted by: Robin | March 30, 2006 10:21 PM
Missed ya, mate! Looking forward to your observations.
Posted by: Trevor Romain | March 30, 2006 11:08 PM
Danny, it is wonderful to see a new post on your blog. Thank you for sharing, as always, the struggle to remain in the moment and keep your creativity flowing. I certainly understand the melancholy and the feeling adrift in the midst of life when I am not grounded with my family and my home. I'm sure a good, long weekend in a newly verdant New York will work a tonic on you.
Posted by: Loretta | March 31, 2006 07:13 AM
SOOOOOO! You are the one filling my TV with all those Chase commercials!!
I am loving the new book. I am halfway through it and my daughter (12) is even trying out a few of your activities.
Posted by: Lu | March 31, 2006 09:16 AM
Welcome back Danny, we all sure missed you. I too love your architectural drawings. Out here in Idaho the tall things are mountains so I enjoy seeing pieces of the city. I also like that you used watercolor only on part of the drawing it gives it a different feel somehow.
Posted by: Kate R | March 31, 2006 10:41 AM
Just love when you write about the advertising/art conundrum. Whenever earning a living takes precedence over art, we feel cornered and shackled. Even when we get to squeeze in moments of our art, our life.
Great that you share the feelings with everyone, and we all get to connect and know that we're not alone in feeling that way from time to time. The pain and discomfort peak and pass, rise and fall, return again and again like our every breath. And even if we were working on our art full time, all the time, it would be this way.
Posted by: riva | March 31, 2006 11:24 AM
Welcome back, Danny!! Can't wait to see the drawings in your sketchbook.
Posted by: Kisane | April 1, 2006 11:08 AM
welcome back east danny!
sorry we couldn't meet up in southern cali. i went to mexico and drew a giant welcoming jesus statue atop a hill!
Posted by: crissy | April 1, 2006 12:46 PM
heLLo daNNy...while visiting my niece here in Washington, I have been introduced to you, your site, and one of your books (Creative Lisense), which she surprised me, & is letting me take back to Los Angeles with me. I have always been viewed and have thought of myself as artistic and creative, but NEVER thought I could draw. I leave here after 2 weeks inspired and excited about what the rest of the year will bring. I have even purchased a moleskin sketchbook. Thank you so much for doing what you do.
Posted by: gLoRia | April 1, 2006 06:52 PM
Welcome back, dear Danny.
I missed your posts.
I missed you.
Glad you're back in the big apple.
If you ever come to my home town again and don't let me take you out for a cup of tea, I'll come out to NY just to give you a hard time.
;)
--donavan
Posted by: Donavan | April 1, 2006 10:29 PM
Oh Danny, I'm sorry you're feeling blue. Hope you can see and feel the love from the other 'posters.' Keep on sketching and blogging and writing. The world needs your amazing spirit.
Jane
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April 3, 2006 05:31 PM
Welcome back Danny,the month has been empty without you here with us. I truly missed reading what ever was in youre wonderful mind. Please stay with us and relax and dont start to trout on youre hore just yet :)
Linda
Posted by: Linda | April 3, 2006 08:03 PM