Excellent reminder. I frequently write down a single word, and it leads to both memories and new thoughts. Writing the word 'Gratitude' took me back to WWII, and our dinner table. We were a family that said a blessing before and after a meal. Some days our after meal blessing went like this: We thank the Lord for all we've had. For a little bit more we'd have been very glad. But as the times are very bad, we thank the Lord for all we've had." Imbued each of us with a sense of gratitude - which lasted a lifetime.
I do very similar things. I have been journaling daily since January, and it’s almost like once I put some marks to the paper, ideas start to come. They come so quickly sometimes I don’t even think where they are leading me. That’s what I avoid (unconsciously) in the initial stages of drawing - thinking. Once I feel this is going somewhere, then I tend to think more rationally or connect ideas more consciously. For example, I usually start with my pen moving in random (but slow) squiggly kind of directions, suddenly i think oh maybe I this can be a map, I play more, and suddenly that starts becoming a face, so I just go with it. I am purely drawing some forms, then not thinking initially helps.
Thank you, Austin Kleon. You are one of several art teachers for me. At least one thing you say each week leads me down a rabbit hole that is productive. The Steadman film led me to watch another film of him drawing with a dip pen…which my drawing teacher has been pressing me to try…and now I see why! A dip pen might bring very different possibilities when paired with my brain!
Thank you, Austin. You are my favorite writer about all things creative: the mind, the pen, the process of creation. I’m teaching a writing workshop here in Florida and your post today will help me explain/show why pen and mind work together to create a new piece, whether that piece be a poem, a story, an essay.
This makes me think of why the essay is my favorite form of writing. The best essays start with a curious mind wondering about something, and they take you along in the writer's meandering thoughts. And that only works when the writer truly thinks on the page, figures things out as they go. I see this all the time in my own writing. If I know where I'm headed before I start, the place I end up will never be as interesting. (Also, I use Lynda Barry's image exploration exercises all the time to really dig into images in my work, and recall details that I never would have remembered otherwise. They always lead to something interesting--always!)
I finally subscribed, and what a doozy to get started.
I like that you use colored ink. For whatever reason, pink or orange color pencils help me think, then I can solidify with black. Plus, I find that drawing arrows between thoughts and drawings helps me connect ideas.
I tried a new technique today that I Loved. I opened an old sketchbook and referenced myself. It was an instant deep dive, and I was on a roll. I unlocked new ideas from my old self. 🤩
This is really great! I've always thought the same! Lynda Barry also was a great influence for me about this topic! Drawing or writing are the best way to get new ideas! I've also bought watercolors and acrylic paint to always expand my creativity! I can't wait to start using them!
I've found the Freewrite Traveler, which limits editing tools in favor of capturing first words and thoughts, to be a good way to extend my mind for first drafts. Link: http://traveler.getfreewrite.com/ . These Tuesday letters are solid gold, worth every penny of my subscription. Thank you!
This is so helpful to me. We have been talking about the 100 day project in my creative community. I love the video ; I love your take about how the mind works to allow for creativity to flow.
I have asked various friends and fellow artists to let me 'recycle' their magazines from which I hand tear pictures and words to create 'idea collages'. Hand tearing the pages out of the mags is essential to the tactile appeal to this inner 5 year old, versus, the use of scissors which have a tendency to put me on the 'tidy' track and the rapid flow of full pages slows down. Because I have so many different personalities give me their magazines, I am treated to an array of resources that I might not otherwise reach for and the stimulus of new & different feeds me in between art attacks. I love, love, love the phrase 'thinking outside the brain'- far more vast play area than a box!!!
I am always telling my students that I need to have a pencil in my hand to think. So often - that is, all the time - they want to edit their work on a shared doc but I find that it just doesn't spark real insight for me to work in that way. They kindly bear with me as I ask them to print off a copy so that I can scrawl and scribble. I am most helpful to them in this way - and they can see that - so they don't usually crumble about my ways for too long!!
Excellent reminder. I frequently write down a single word, and it leads to both memories and new thoughts. Writing the word 'Gratitude' took me back to WWII, and our dinner table. We were a family that said a blessing before and after a meal. Some days our after meal blessing went like this: We thank the Lord for all we've had. For a little bit more we'd have been very glad. But as the times are very bad, we thank the Lord for all we've had." Imbued each of us with a sense of gratitude - which lasted a lifetime.
I do very similar things. I have been journaling daily since January, and it’s almost like once I put some marks to the paper, ideas start to come. They come so quickly sometimes I don’t even think where they are leading me. That’s what I avoid (unconsciously) in the initial stages of drawing - thinking. Once I feel this is going somewhere, then I tend to think more rationally or connect ideas more consciously. For example, I usually start with my pen moving in random (but slow) squiggly kind of directions, suddenly i think oh maybe I this can be a map, I play more, and suddenly that starts becoming a face, so I just go with it. I am purely drawing some forms, then not thinking initially helps.
Thank you, Austin Kleon. You are one of several art teachers for me. At least one thing you say each week leads me down a rabbit hole that is productive. The Steadman film led me to watch another film of him drawing with a dip pen…which my drawing teacher has been pressing me to try…and now I see why! A dip pen might bring very different possibilities when paired with my brain!
I spent my Saturday morning soaking in your Tumbler page on Lynda Barry. Solid gold. 💛
Love this post, Austin. Time to go analog!
Thank you, Austin. You are my favorite writer about all things creative: the mind, the pen, the process of creation. I’m teaching a writing workshop here in Florida and your post today will help me explain/show why pen and mind work together to create a new piece, whether that piece be a poem, a story, an essay.
Thank you again!
This makes me think of why the essay is my favorite form of writing. The best essays start with a curious mind wondering about something, and they take you along in the writer's meandering thoughts. And that only works when the writer truly thinks on the page, figures things out as they go. I see this all the time in my own writing. If I know where I'm headed before I start, the place I end up will never be as interesting. (Also, I use Lynda Barry's image exploration exercises all the time to really dig into images in my work, and recall details that I never would have remembered otherwise. They always lead to something interesting--always!)
I finally subscribed, and what a doozy to get started.
I like that you use colored ink. For whatever reason, pink or orange color pencils help me think, then I can solidify with black. Plus, I find that drawing arrows between thoughts and drawings helps me connect ideas.
I tried a new technique today that I Loved. I opened an old sketchbook and referenced myself. It was an instant deep dive, and I was on a roll. I unlocked new ideas from my old self. 🤩
— sips tea — — takes mental notes —
I love your strange loops/-ness. Your new blue ink is mahvelous, dahling, and truly enhances your notebook entries. BlacknBlue is good.
This is really great! I've always thought the same! Lynda Barry also was a great influence for me about this topic! Drawing or writing are the best way to get new ideas! I've also bought watercolors and acrylic paint to always expand my creativity! I can't wait to start using them!
I've found the Freewrite Traveler, which limits editing tools in favor of capturing first words and thoughts, to be a good way to extend my mind for first drafts. Link: http://traveler.getfreewrite.com/ . These Tuesday letters are solid gold, worth every penny of my subscription. Thank you!
This is so helpful to me. We have been talking about the 100 day project in my creative community. I love the video ; I love your take about how the mind works to allow for creativity to flow.
Thanks Austin. This is exactly what I needed this morning.
I have asked various friends and fellow artists to let me 'recycle' their magazines from which I hand tear pictures and words to create 'idea collages'. Hand tearing the pages out of the mags is essential to the tactile appeal to this inner 5 year old, versus, the use of scissors which have a tendency to put me on the 'tidy' track and the rapid flow of full pages slows down. Because I have so many different personalities give me their magazines, I am treated to an array of resources that I might not otherwise reach for and the stimulus of new & different feeds me in between art attacks. I love, love, love the phrase 'thinking outside the brain'- far more vast play area than a box!!!
I am always telling my students that I need to have a pencil in my hand to think. So often - that is, all the time - they want to edit their work on a shared doc but I find that it just doesn't spark real insight for me to work in that way. They kindly bear with me as I ask them to print off a copy so that I can scrawl and scribble. I am most helpful to them in this way - and they can see that - so they don't usually crumble about my ways for too long!!