Crushing my to-do list. Advice for creatives.
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- čas přidán 23. 01. 2023
- It's so easy to get distracted by plans and excuses. And there's a little creature who's responsible for it all. In this video essay, best-selling author Danny Gregory explores his own procrastination and his answer to the creature.
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I want to thank you for sharing this kind of thinking with us, besides myself I know many artists 20, 30 years younger who think that this only happens to them. I'm going to share your video because it did me a lot of good not to feel alone! Thank you!
You've left out the solitary plate spinners.
My art career stalled 30 years ago when I got married. I had to go back to a 'normal job' to pay the mortgage on our new house, and wasn't allowed to use spare hours to create. Divorced a decade later, I bought land in the boonies to get back to reality. But I found that even with but a tiny part time job to keep wolves from the door, I was plate spinning.
When I'm prepping my vegetable patch for a new season, I'm not pruning my orchard. When harvesting willow to build with, I'm not coppicing my woodland for future firewood. When repairing my chainsaws or mower or off-grid electrics, I'm not sowing seeds.
Meanwhile an ex-flame became an artist. Fine Arts degree and masters paid by family wealth. Over the years she's painted, house cleaned by a cleaner, garden maintained by a gardener. Hours available to muse and paint. Awards flowing in and academy memberships won. No plates to spin.
My art is a distant memory in the story of my survival and recovery, yet it's becoming a fading ember in the core of my Soul. To-do lists are a luxury, but the artist within keeps pushing onwards.
I so relate to this - getting back on the horse… I’m in my mid 60s (suddenly!), and after total exhaustion from work (retail) and needing a 3 hour nanna nap after work each day, and moving shop, my right knee snapped and I ended up in emergency over night. The results of the mri 2 weeks later, revealed the injuries of a fall I’d had at work 3 years ago, which. Ever healed, and weakened my knee - chipped bone and torn tendon. - I hadn’t even taken time out to heal from this! The mri revealed 3 meniscus tears (the snap I heard). So, after the discovery of 7 injuries in this knee, and recovering, my other knee snapped. Again, meniscus tears… Lucky I was on crutches when it happened.
That was 4 months ago. Long service leave and Workcover have been a lifesaver, and I slept the first 2 months, in the day as well, because I was in pain and uncomfortable at night. The whole time, I’ve been fighting to get back into my artwork, and like Danny said, the monkey in my shoulder was telling me I have to apply for public housing first. And Workcover….. I’ve been back at work, 2 afternoons a week, still trying to do my art (just paid $1200 for a 4 day painting workshop), still haven’t finished applying for public housing, and now my storage fees have gone up $79 in 6 months so I have to empty my shed. - I swear there’s a conspiracy! I need to do this Todo list. I need to tick things off.
I remember the overwhelm of possibilities, the paralysis in front of the need to prioritize, and all the wasted wishful thinking towards things I would need to get before I would be able to start.
This year, however, I'm blinded by a blank page. For the first time, I have no idea what I could possibly want or need. I feel disoriented and aimlessly drifting between health appointments and chores and this digging hunch that I may have forgotten about something important. Like a word you know but can't think of. I'm afraid that I'm losing myself, losing my creative connection, losing my spirit somehow. I don't know what to do in order to stop this sensation of falling backwards into every new day, and then out of every day that's over. There's nothing I want more than to create, and to feel, in some sense, anchored.
Start really small. Do something creative for 5 minutes each day. Even if you just sit down and flip through an art book for 5 minutes, anything counts. If you don't like a blank page, do some markmaking on it or collaging and some gesso. Then it is no longer white. 5 minutes..... each day..... and you will move forward. Good luck!
Pick one project as your magnum opus, sell and delete everything else , the motivation and inspiration comes after starting to work on it not beforehand, and then when you are up and running dont ever switch off for a day.
I never make todo lists. That's not how I work. I find them an unnecessary distraction that gets in the way and wastes time. I will make notes but that is more often than not because they will help me think through what I'm doing and add in things I'd not thought of. It will also help me remember things. But other than that that is all the writing I do.
Gratitude for this, on one level we [If I’m honest, ME] can be entrapped in the, “done is better than perfect.” Induction coil.
“Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.”
Lao Tzu
Love that!
Thank you so much for this video!
It described the way I feel lately! I got to just do IT and stop procrastinating!
I am an Artist also and I definitely know that monkey!
Love your videos! Thank you so much!!
Oh, good! I'm so glad you liked it, FilmFanization.
Dang! Not only is this a soulfully great reminder to get going, but it’s a work of art in itself! Did you do all of these paintings?
i think they’re all AI generated
Thank you very much for this Danny! I am only a hobby artist, but the struggle is the same. So much I need, must, want, should, could do and so little skills in priority setting that it is getting really overwhelming :-) Before getting nuts or getting completely paralyzed, I just pick one thing and do it, no matter if it is anything creative, cleaning, washing, something administrative. At least something to tick off the list and that makes me always feel better.
Nothing ever gets created in my studio without a Montblanc Diplomat!
Thank you for the inspiration! ❤
Well said. Thanks again for the inspiration.
I needed to hear this today. Thank you 💗
I loved this essay!! And the illustrations here are just fabulous! Thank you Danny! I'm getting to work!
The illustrations are ai generated. Take a closer look at the weird hands and eyes.
Why are you in my head? I have used a few of these excuses. A night time journal might work...
Dang it man, get out of my head!!! Great video. This is the second one I have watched and you are on point each time. Keep it up!
So grateful I stumbled on this channel! Thank you Danny! 🎨
Thanks for the words of encouragement and positive thinking.
You are so welcome
So precious thoughts, thank you
I recently started writing things to do in my agenda. Surprisingly it does work. I feel free about it, about changing planned things if I feel more enthusiastic about something else, but it's really good for me.
How do I schedule this as my daily wake up alarm? I need to hear it every day, first thing.
I'm so happy I found you and your channel 💛 I play your videos in the background a few times now during my "off time" playing with colors and pens. Thank you for doing what you do and for sharing 🌸
And what a treat! I just found you have a podcast!⭐
We do! *Art for All* will be back soon with Season 5
Hi Danny! I saw one of your Sketchbook Skool videos on my YT feed the other day. Yesterday I clicked on one and then subscribed to your weekly email. Now this video…I’m sure that you know me! I have wasted more time sitting on the couch looking outside of the window thinking about all of the things I need to do for years! Thanks so much for this motivation. I’m going to share it!
Love love your content. I'm 22 and getting inspired to finally start.
You can do this, Andreea-Maria Frincu. I started out by teaching myself and now I draw with confidence. Join me!
Ohhhhh My Goodness...how do you know my exact thoughts and actions????? Thanks for telling me how to overcome my years of procrastination. I am going to assign value to my creativity today and Do It!!! I have to watch this Everyday now! You're Brilliant and Thanks a Trillion!!! 😃💕
AMEN!!!👍
Danny loved the story, illustrations and the narration. I’ve told u before that you , yes you got me drawing again and I got better. I swore after taking a drawing class in college I would never pick up a writing device and draw again. That was my response to that “teacher” who asked me at the end of semester “what did you learn?”
Anyway Danny I can’t say that I draw much now but I like know i did and I can again anytime I decide to do it.🎉
Hey Kathie. If you take a closer look at the hands and eyes of the characters you can tell that they are AI generated. It's a typical glitch of AI art programs. So he just put some text into an image generator.
thank you for making these videos
Such talent for self observation. The cartoons have given so much pleasure. I would start by removing all those colourful pictures on the wall...
Birdy
Thank you, this was a very useful video for me. So recognizable... 😅💜
Couldn't agree more , but I think adding the new Mont Blanc would still put a smile on your face.
you saved my time, my life, and me.
Great message! I'm glad you gave your monkey a time-out.
Thank you.
Good job Danny
Ha ha ha! That's so good! And true! Thks!
Glad you liked it!
was ai used for these illustrations??
Really appreciate this video… I’m putting that monkey out!! 🤣🙏🏽
I can so relate!
Wow, loved this- it is my exact struggle. I have a monkey in my head! I am picking up my sketchbook right now, thank you!
Thank you Danny uncle!
Think you have just been talking about me Danny! Excellent advice, thank you!
You're very welcome
So true ! 🤭😊
I couldn't stop laughing - how can you share all my secrets in YOUR VIDEO ?? You got me on the spot! Thank you :)
Or use the volumes of journal you fill as content for your animation?
My monkey gets me to go to Michaels and Hobby Lobby, buy a bunch of great, new supplies, take them home, drop them in my Art room, still in the bag, and then go find something else to do.
I loved reading the monkey makes a list email and hearing you read, it was a nice reinforcement 🖊️ 🐒
Me too!
Do it - yes excellent choice
🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤❤❤❤thank you sir
Of course you need a horse! Preferably more than one😂
I love the message behind this, but the AI images where a bit disappointing. I think seeing you paint your own piece would've have brought this video together.
Agreed, I switched it off as soon as I realised that he is displaying AI art. So disappointed
thank u.
You're most welcome
✨👏🏻
Funny. Have you been reading my mind LOL? 🤗
Mwahahhaha!
What's a great idea for you animation series the artist, designer and the monkey!?
This is so related to me
I dont even speak the same language with you. But our thoughts are totally SAME. actually ı love drawing but ı didnt know that what should ı do. If you love drawing just draw. I like you master,ı like the way that you Share your opinions and your sempathy. So ım subscribed,byee🙋♀️
Dear Danny. You are telling me nothing, but nothing new! I know it all, but - I forget all about it. Thanks for reminding
My pleasure!
Did you draw all those images? Pretty impressive
Judging by the looks of the hands in these images, personally I would say these where AI generated images.
Omg this is my monkey too😮
Danny I signed up for your weekly essays 3 weeks ago. I only got the first one. Have not heard from you since. What’s up?
That's odd. I post every Friday.... Please email me and can help figure it out.
Yeah, I would’ve emailed you but I can’t find your email address anywhere
Just reply to any of my essays.
AI.
These "illustrations" are egregiously AI generated and it makes me sad
Exactly what I thought!!! Why use Ai ?!? It’s kinda an insult to people who are training to draw. Such a kick in the nuts.
It's so cynical...
First time here , I liked it BUT why oh why are you using Ai images?!?!?
Why not? It’s an art tool.
@@SketchBookSkool I like to see an artists honest marks , that contains their heart and soul. Ai is like a mixed up photocopy of other artist work.
I think it’s only an artist tool if your using it as prototyping or thumb nailing. The way it’s being used here is filler like stock photos
@@SketchBookSkool it’s not an art tool, it’s an art theft - very disappointing. I recommend you reading a lil more about it from artists’ perspective - especially the ones, whose art got stolen and put into the algorithm
🤣🤣🤣
😭🙁🥺😳
Why did you use AI generated images to motivate people to get drawing?
What a wonderful question!
Dude did you really use AI art for this vid? What can I even say...
I think you just said it. As an artist, I like to try all sorts of tools. Sorry if that offends you.
Thank you.
No worries!