I love this little chat with This American Life's Ira Glass on the importance of persevering in being creative. I think he articulates a wall we all hit a lot, particularly when we start out, when our ambitions are so much greater than our current skill set. He explains that there's a certain entropy that moves all of our efforts towards crap, and that only by being ruthless in self-editing and insisting on trying some more can we be good. It's not about talent so much as it's about being willing to be beaten and to work hard. Failure creates quality. It sounds painful but it's infinitely rewarding. Check him out.
(Thanks,Laura for reminding us about this video)
On August 22, 2008 steve said, “Take care Danny. I love Dan Price's work! I'll try to catch your summit and in the meantime, an early happy birthday to you!!”
in What's Up?.
On August 21, 2008 Marylinn Kelly said, “Danny, Wanted to leave a simple note as one very new to the title, blogger, and say how much your "Creative License" has helped put the pen in my hand on days when I'd rather just stare out the window. Thank you. http://marylinnmlkelly.blogspot.com”
in What's Up?.
On August 21, 2008 ReCynd said, “I have only just discovered you, having stumbled across two of your books (Creative License and Everyday Matters) on Amazon. Though I have only read, I don't know, maybe a third of each book, I am blown away by the effect each has had on me.
Over the past week, I have started the day by reading a speck of Creative License. Now, not being a sappy/emotional/sentimental soul by nature, I am almost reeling (and more than a little startled) by my reaction to your little books. ("Little" is not meant as a perjorative, you must know that, yes?) Now, only so you might be able to truly appreciate this next bit, you should know that I'm more than "unsentimental" or "unemotional"...brother, I'm downright crusty. I was born a cynic, and though I'm attempting to fix that, my cynicism has had 40 long years to steep, so I'll probably die one, too. That said...
...your little books, kind sir, feel like prayers when I read them. Both of them, and each in a different way. Creative License has provided much-needed encouragement, and, in an odd way, permission, to move forward on my creative journey.
Everyday Matters, well... Well, indeed. Its relevance can only be described as "serendipitous"; further proof that, contrary to how it feels, I'm NOT alone on this dark journey (a journey that I had not booked, I might add).
Anyway, this is probably NOT the appropriate forum for this sort of gushing, but I felt compelled to give you at least a HINT of my gratitude for your unexpected gift(s).
Thank you, my friend. ”
in What's Up?.
School's back on and NYU students wander through my neighborhood, clutching new books and pencils. Quite often, I see some of them set up in the park, preparing to draw Washington Square arch. It's a beautiful landmark, and I've often tackled it myself.
I like the ones who slop around
My boy, Jack, 9, has always loved to draw. He draws in the symbolic away kids do, inventing characters in his mind, drawings scenes and battles and maps and worlds. Recently though we have been talking about drawing realistically and from nature.
Last week, we began doing exercises from a great book by Mona Brookes, called "Drawing with Children." The book's method
The Internet Archive has scads of free public domain movies that are really worth browsing through. I came upon this Visite å Picasso from 1950 that is a pocket-sized piece of inspiration.
The 1000 Journals Project is quite intriguing and now there's a movie about it. I like the way this trailer captures much of what we talk about in the EDM group.
I have just returned from a few days in Jerusalem and over the next week I shall doll up and dole out the journal I kept there. As my writing can be a little tough to read, I have transcribed my captions below on the left in brown and then added some further thoughts on the right.
Before you read it and are moved to write all sorts of inflamed comments, bear in mind that my POV is very subjective and distorted by the 70+ years my mother's family
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.
I have been lounging around on vacation with my family for a week, reading, drawing, playing gin rummy, and recharging. In a couple of days, Jack and I will be going to Oregon to spend a week in the wild with Dan Price, drawing, journaling,. camping, living the simple life.
Then I come back to celebrate my birthday, get Jack ready for his first term at art high school, and participate in the Writer's TeleSummit where I will discuss my varied experiences making illustrated books( if you'd like to attend virtually, please use this link
My new book, An Illustrated Life, is almost completed and I am so excited by it. the publisher has expanded the page count so we can have more and bigger journal pages and I couldn't be more pleased. I shall also be doing some more writing for HOW magazine about creativity and I hope to start sending out my children's novel to publishers soon too.
I hope everyone is having a lovely summer. I shall begin blogging again with more fervor once my projects are under control and will share the drawings and thoughts I've been polishing during my days off.
Ciao for now.
I have been invited to give various workshops over the years but have often been reluctant because of the traveling involved. I love the idea of sharing ideas and experiences with other writers and artists but my schedule is pretty...
Maybe it's because of my initials, but when I was little, I was determined to become a vet when I grew up. In fact, I got my first job at the age of 11, working for a vet at...
To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour. William Blake - Auguries of Innocence I have been reading...
The August 08 issue of HOW magazine has a healthy preview of my upcoming book, An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration From The Private Sketchbooks Of Artists, Illustrators And Designers. You'll find sketchbooks and interviews with seven contributors as well...
It's the 13th anniversary of Patti's accident. Jack wrote a lovely essay about how that event has effected him since he was just a baby. Here's a video of him reading it at his school's literary festival. Oh, and...
