Portrait #647 and a critical response
Dear VulpesFerox:
Thanks again for your Amazon review of my book, The Creative License. The first paragraph of your review was very supportive and suggested that you found the sort of encouragement I had intended to offer.
However, I would like to respond to your critique in the rest of your review; several of your responses were so different from what I had intended that I wanted to make sure I hadn't made some sort of horrible errors in writing. Please take the following responses in the spirit with they were intended — not as a defensive rebuke but merely a suggestion that you may have missed my point in a couple of places.
More specifically:
"What I disagreed with most was his statement that one should avoid putting negative things in their journal and that they should always be upbeat and positive. "
I assume this a reference to my essay "The Good Book" (pp 60-61) where I chronicle my attempts to steer my journals away from being a dumping ground for my complaints and neuroses and instead a place to contemplate the good things in life. I find few forums for this sort of contemplation and the practice of counting my blessings and looking for the silver lining has been very helpful. I am by nature a 'glass half empty' sort of person and can use all the help I can get to see the bright side of life. I certainly record 'bad things' in my journals ( I recently did a comic strip about getting a six inch gash in my head after being hit by a hockey puck) but I try to capture them in a way that is somehow transformative. Illustrated journaling is intrinsically beautiful and quite different from having pages and pages of scrawled, cramped whining. When I whine now, I do slowly carefully and calligraphically accompanied by little drawings of me whining. Believe me, my journal is packed with the good, the bad and the ugly, life entire. This is the stuff of art and I certainly never intended to steer people away from any corner of their experience, dark or light.
"I felt the small section where he teaches people how to draw was brief (and unnecessary if you aren't into keeping an exceptionally visual journal). His recommended exercises were scattered at best; for example, his drawing exercises range from something you'd learn in a college level Drawing I class to Advanced Drawing; I imagine the jump from the former to the latter could be very frustrating for people without a drawing background."
My book is not intended to give in-depth drawing instruction (I include a list of books on p.46 that do a much better job). Instead I want to give people the basics that will get them on the road ( I take pains to explain my intentions in the introductory section, that I will teach you the basic ropes but that your own practice will improve your skills far more than my tips) and then inspire them to keep going. I'm not sure what exercises you think will be frustrating to those without much drawing background but I'd love to know. I am completely self taught and don't quite know what the normal progression of classes would be in an art school.
I firmly believe that anyone can teach themselves to draw and with practice will become quite accomplished and thousands of my readers have written to verify this. I also think that if you think that learning to draw is
"unnecessary if you aren't into keeping an exceptionally visual journal'"
then I have failed to convince you of my premise: that learning to draw is a gateway into expanding your creativity .
"He was also very one-sided about how one should draw in their journal; he basically states that brief sketches and quick drawings only prove that people lack the patience and attention span to sit down and make a complete and accurate drawing, whereas I feel sketches hold just as much as any "complete" drawing."
I am sorry that you came away with this inference. I tried time and again to suggest that the goal in not a complete and accurate drawing or to devote huge chunks of time but just to fit in as many little opportunities to draw something, anything to keep in the habit, On page 54 I say " I don't think that illustrated journaling is really about doing great drawings. You're not out to make something that you could frame or give as a Christmas present." On page 58, I explain how to manage your time so you can afford ten minute increments in which to draw. That's all I suggest you need, ten minutes day. On page 59, I offer a whole page of suggestions of opportunities to find those ten minute increments. On page 139, I urge the reader to work in short increments "a five-minute drawing here, a two-minute sketch there." On p.140, I say " Keep it simple. Do something small and easy."
I'm not sure if any of these clarifications change your opinion. I would hope that my book can give you the sort of support and advice you were looking for when you bought it, I would also hope that other potential readers of the book will not take your review on Amazon as the final word but that this dialogue will offer further food for thought.
Thanks again for your opinion,
Your pal,
Danny
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I have posted the response to my response in the comments section of this post.
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
Hey Danny:
I just picked up everyday matters. I have to say that it humbled me. And to think I was bitching about whether my portraits were valid. I have to say after reading "Everday Matters" I feel a little foolish. As for the critic you wrote about above, I have found "The Creative License" to be one of the most stimulating and artistic butt-kicking books I have ever owned. Almost everyday I blindly open to a section and read it. There is so much useful information on drawing and life in general I just can't seem to put it on my bookshelf. I have found the published work you have done to be nothing short of amazing. Keep doing what you do and forgot the nay-sayers.
Posted by: Bill Muzzy | January 20, 2007 11:06 AM
Your response is wonderful, Danny. I need to get over to Amazon and see when the paperback copy of Everyday Matters is due out.......I'd like to give a copy to everyone I know. Keep on keeping on. Your inspiration to all of us is immeasureable.
Posted by: jane humphrey | January 20, 2007 11:10 AM
Danny, all I can say some people do not get it no matter what form , words drawings, that you can give them. Surely if this person would start a journal he would be half way through the whining pages. I wonder how he would illustrate this?
Your friend,
Linda
Posted by: Linda | January 20, 2007 12:01 PM
Danny...I appreciate your response to this fellow's comments on Amazon about CL. You clarified your position well (I hope he reads it). In the process, you have ONCE AGAIN jump-started me. The only thing I've drawn in the last month was a sketch of a man on a train as we rode to Philly. But I have recently been more focused (i.e., CRAZED) with sewing and quilting and postage stamps and postcards, not to mention the holidays, and my elderly mother. All sketch-worthy subjects. I am motivated to FIND THAT 10 MINUTES A DAY!!!!
Posted by: Rita Cleary | January 20, 2007 04:43 PM
One thing I enjoy as much as a sincere critique is the conversation that follows.
Thanks.
Posted by: fern | January 20, 2007 06:36 PM
Hi Danny,
You certainly kept your cool well. I'm annoyed at the writer of those comments, but since you can be calm about it, I now can be as well.
His approach is narrow. The very purpose of your book and outlook is to be open to the new things at every turn. It is such an important and uplifting approach! Thank you for being the great person that you are.
and you did inspire me to paint a little watercolor of my blooming azalelas. Came out much better than I had hoped.
Best,
Kate
Posted by: Kate | January 20, 2007 07:59 PM
Danny,
Your response is well-thought out and reaffirms what I felt was your basic tenet - people can realize a talent, a wish, a dream, a desire just by devoting a little time to it each day. Both Creative License and Everyday Matters books have inspired me and kicked me into action. I took my Moleskin to the dentist office the other day and in between the Novacaine and root canal, I did some sketching from where I sat. You helped me to help myself by my capturing what I focused on in one moment in my life. I walked out with a numb mouth, but happy that I had used the time wisely. Masterpieces? Nah. But that wasn't my aim. I had improved my skill by 20 minutes worth of work. Life is made up of small moments which become our sometimes hazy memories if we don't put them down on paper.
Posted by: Bradley | January 20, 2007 08:29 PM
Danny I finally got your EDM book in paperback and I have to tell you when I first started into it I didn't think I was going to get through it as tears kept welling up. However I did and finished it in one sitting. I admire your honesty and courage to put yourself out there in such a way. I loved the variety of sketches with your quirky & touching anecdotes peppered throughout.
Regarding that review on Amazon: I think it's quite clear that yours is not a how-to book in any way (and actually on the back the category your book falls under is "self-help/ inspiration"). Furthermore, I think anyone can interpret words or suggestions anyway they want and turn them into a negative or positive thing - which brings us back to the glass being half-full/half-empty =)
After reading your book, I made a commitment to draw & sketch daily and to make getting back to that "zone" a should, not a could. Thanks again for sharing your art & life and for giving me a creative nudge!
Posted by: laura tm | January 20, 2007 08:32 PM
I'm a newbie to your website and also your book, from Bangkok, Thailand! I've just saw your amazing book on the shelf of my regular bookstore yesterday, and that opened the door to this new world! What I like about your book is that it's not similar to other drawing teaching book that tends to start step by step with how to stroke a line, etc. What attracted me most is how to be creative and start to look and think about things around you! I'm not sure if it's the message you want to deliver but for me, that's the best part of the book. I believe that everyone has his/her own style and way of drawing. Your drawing, my drawing, his drawing or her drawing styles don't have to be "expert" or even similar, but all of us can express our creativity fully through our drawings, and that made our drawings unique. And I believe that's what I found in your book.
All and all, I really love it!
Posted by: Taye | January 21, 2007 08:08 AM
Danny- I admire your response. I'm another person with the glass-half-empty tendency and I agree wholeheartedly that it's not something that needs to be fed by whining into a journal (or blog). Your encouragement to make Everyday Matter by enjoying everyday matters and drawing from your experience is wonderful- I don't have your book, but from everything of yours that I read, I would wholeheatedly endorse it for anyone who would like to expand their creativity and build their visual awareness. I'm coming from 30 plus years in art education and to all your encouragements and suggestions giving people permission to draw and not treat drawings as too 'precious' and expect that they be perfect, I say a resounding YES!! Sorry that the reviewer missed the point, but fortunately your fan club hears you loud and clear.
Best regards, keep up the good work.
Posted by: Virginia Wieringa | January 21, 2007 12:19 PM
Danny--
Regarding what should and shouldn't go into a journal doesn't have to be split between "upbeat" and "whining." This implies that if one writes something positive, you're a strong and worthy person, but if you write something dark, you're a self-pitying whiner.
There's an entire world between the two, and while I agree that illustrated journalling is more extroverted while automatic-type writing is more introverted, one shouldn't be perceived as better than the other, simply because it's "upbeat."
Personally, I've been keeping therapeutic journals for the last 20 years, and it's the place where I make a complete commitment to honesty, no matter how dark it gets, because the truth does indeed set you free. Of course, I work with a therapist as well, with the intention of the whole process being one of enlightenment and insight. This is completely different from "whining," which is what someone does who doesn't really want to change, nor do they want to dialog, with themselves or anyone else.
All that said, I agree that my illustrated journals have an entirely different tone from my therapeutic ones--the former are more like mini-essays, the latter a type of inner poetry. One should never be judged better than the other, simply because it's perceived as more "positive." One can gag on false positivity just as much as poor-me complaining.
Posted by: Mary Ann | January 21, 2007 04:58 PM
Danny,
Since the talk is about The Creative License I just had to let you know how much your book has meant to me. I saw it at the local bookstore so my 12 year old son, Jack got it for me for Mother's Day last year. What a treasure. You know how things speak to you only when you are in a place to hear it? Well those simple statements you made in the beginning of the book about that drawing, like most things, takes practice and it will get better.... Well, I never had a whole lot of confidence in my drawing ability. I haven't drawn in almost 20 years! But what you said to me just took the pressure off! After reading your book I took out a skech book (I have many that are blank) and started drawing and I was amazed! What you say about that most of drawing is about really looking at something is so true. This has added a wonderful dimension to my life and I am truly grateful!!
Posted by: Julie | January 22, 2007 10:44 AM
Mr. Gregory,
It makes me so happy to see that even 'real' artists get defensive when pissant punks try and rip apart their work. Thank you for not being 'above' being human.
P.S.- This guy's comments are so far off the mark it makes me wonder if he read your book at all. I did, and it got me drawing again after a long hiatus. Thank you so much! Life is juicy again!
Posted by: absolutley_small_girl | January 22, 2007 02:26 PM
A nice response to my response from vulpesferox ( who is, incidentally, a woman)
Dear Danny,
Words in a book are a mere moment of a thought, a
snapshot of a larger evolving process; thank you for
giving me the opportunity to see the rest of the
picture. Your diplomatic insight furthered my
understanding of where you're coming from.
P.S. I look forward to reading Everyday Matters!
Warmest Regards,
.
vulpesferox
Posted by: Posted by Danny | January 23, 2007 08:15 AM
THE CREATIVE LICENSE CHANGED MY LIFE. PERIOD.
Posted by: KATCH | January 23, 2007 10:59 AM
Danny--
Just a suggestion (not necessarily for posting): When you post one of these beautiful portraits, can you do what you do with your horizontal pix, meaning you give us a smaller version first, to see the whole thing in its composition, then a larger version for detail?
Your portraits are really breathtaking, but I have to scroll through them...I never see them in their entirety, and this has happened on various computer screens, not just my one at home. (I'm at a freelance job today.) Just a thought...
Mary Ann
Posted by: Mary Ann | January 24, 2007 01:14 PM