Hope you've all had a fine holiday season and that you survived none the worse for wear.
As we neared the end of 2023, I'd been actively reflecting on what I can do to stay more productive in 2024 Here are two concepts that I've come up with for myself - personal training and exercises that I'm implementing in the next twelve months. I'm sure I'll come up with more before the year is over. Bear with me - we're only a couple of days in.
Sundown Social Media.
As an artist, I've been showing my work online for as long as galleries and blogs have been around. Somehow those galleries turned into feeds and posts and daily videos and whatever the great algorithm dictates. It happened so insidiously that I didn't even notice it until I was compelled to step back and ask myself why I was posting (or having the urge to post) as much as I was. Social media IS NOT critical to becoming a better craftsman. It's barley useful as a business tool. Social media may be a "nice-to-have" for discovery and work, but I push back on the idea that it's critical....for any thing.
n 2024, I'm not going to directly participate. If you see posts from me via wherever, know that it's not me - it's someone I hired to handle all that extra.
Set Active and Passive Reminders.
It's amazing how much time I will back when I side-step getting caught up in frivolous things that aren't essential. More importantly, I will be more mindful and observant of what I will be doing in my working hours. This is the active version of my reminder.
To help with that mindfulness, I small but obvious figurine on my desk that judgingly stares back at me, as if to say "Hey, man. Did you get to the stuff you meant to finish today?" That's my passive reminder.
Okay, that's two. More during the year. Here's some art as I practiced using new inking brushes in hopes that my output speed pick up. Enjoy, and thank you for being here.
Not really all that profound, but I hope it's helpful to some of you. More during the year. Here's some art as I practiced using new inking brushes in hopes that my output speed pick up. Enjoy, and thank you for being here.
ARC ATHENA team, Rough pencils and inking tests using new brushes on Procreate app.