💎 Friday Gems (Drawing Daily, Cosmic Perspective, Everything is Temporary)
💎 Friday Gems (Drawing Daily, Cosmic Perspective, Everything is Temporary)
If change is the only constant, then everything is temporary.
Happy February, Dear Readers!
💎 Here are the gems I found this week:
Illustrator Julia Zass on how drawing every day improved her art and upgraded her life
Your Ego and The Cosmic Perspective
Everything is Temporary
A Gem of a Quote by Ursula K. LeGuin on the purpose of art
A Gem of a Song: Cosmorama by Prins Thomas and Discodromo
Illustrator Julia Zass on how drawing every day improved her art and upgraded her life
Source: Creative Boom
After one month, I decided to continue for a year; by then, daily drawing had already become an essential part of my routine. I enjoyed the process so much that I continued without hesitation, and before I knew it, several years had passed by unnoticed.
A daily art challenge is a powerful and energizing way to dive into and develop your creative practice. I know this because I realized I did not understand why sketching was important in the design process many years ago. So, I challenged myself to sketch for a month and dive into the world of sketching.
To say the challenge saved my career would be an understatement. Just one month of sketching daily helped me focus on learning all I could about sketching and practice daily to improve my skills.
As a result, my ideas were well thought out, and I gained confidence in sharing them with others.
The one-month challenge launched my love for sketching and visual communication.
This article is a gem because you can learn about artist Julia Zass’s astonishing daily art practice that started in 2017 and continues to this day. What started as an urge to draw after reading a book became a life-changing creative practice.
As Julia found herself at a time when she felt a lack of art in her routine, her daily practice was a lifeline and a launching point for art that satisfied her creative hunger.
"So, when I'm in the challenge, it's pretty easy to continue because I perceive it as a necessity, not an obligation. It's like nutrition; you just find time to draw like you find time to eat regularly. It becomes a priority, a habit integrated into one's schedule.
Maybe it’s fate, but I’m at a similar point where I feel the urge to create more by giving my art my full attention.
Daily art practice isn’t easy, but it can be life-changing with the right mindset and commitment.
As she points out, drawing should be a pleasure, not a burden. You should be free to make mistakes, take some time off and create your own rules if you feel like you have to. "After so many drawing challenges and their various formats, I now enjoy the freedom of depicting my life without adhering to any particular schedule," she concludes. "I draw about my weekends, vacations, or specific events that catch my attention.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself as you get started. Start small. Draw for a few minutes; later, you can add any constraints to help you along the way.
Experiment and see what works for you. Try it out; you never know how it will upgrade your life. 🚀
Read Julia Zass’s interview on Creative Boom.
💎 Your Ego and The Cosmic Perspective
Need a change of perspective? Let the eloquent Neil deGrasse Tyson help you see yourself through a cosmic perspective. This short clip is a quick hit to pump you up and realize the wonder of being alive on this planet. 🌟
Source: The Marginalian
💎 Everything is Temporary
In the morning I get up and there is nothing to do
I tell myself it is only temporary
In the afternoons I am bored I dislike what I am
I tell myself it is only temporary
In the evening I meet a woman I no longer care for
I tell myself it is only temporary
At night alone confused I listen to my heart beating I tell myself it is only temporary
Brian Patten
If change is the only constant, then everything is temporary. All the happiness, pain, irritation, suffering, joy, sadness, delight, success, and failure we experience is temporary. Understanding this idea helps us stay grounded to ride out the emotions, thoughts, and feelings to come out stronger at the other end.✊🏽
A Gem of a Quote
“The daily routine of most adults is so heavy and artificial that we are closed off to much of the world. We have to do this in order to get our work done.
I think one purpose of art is to get us out of those routines. When we hear music or poetry or stories, the world opens up again. We’re drawn in — or out — and the windows of our perception are cleansed, as William Blake said. The same thing can happen when we’re around young children or adults who have unlearned those habits of shutting the world out.”
A Gem of a Song
Cosmorama - Prins Thomas Discomiks
Need a hypnotic beat to get you pumped up? This is it. I found this song especially helpful when I needed to get ready for a run after work. Doing anything after work is challenging because the mind and body just want to rest and do nothing, but when you have committed to a goal and need to show up, a little help is always good. Try it out the next time you need a little push of motivation.⚡️
A new addition to the Low Fidelity Spotify playlist. A playlist to get you in the zone.
That’s it for this week’s gems. Do you have a gem you would like to share? Send it my way.
I’m thankful that you read this far.
Have a fantastic weekend!
