These are great! Sometimes rules are an artist’s best friend, because the ability to make anything, anywhere, with any medium is precisely how I go months making nothing, nowhere. 😂
But I’ve also never been a great rule follower, so once I’ve set my own rules, I make sure they know who’s really in charge! 🎨
Great post! I really like your ideas about authenticity and keeping the traces of your process. Not chasing perfection! I enjoy using sketch books because I can see my style evolving. Thanks for putting yourself "out there", you're an excellent mentor/coach.
Thank you for this video, dearest Danny. Because of you and Draw With Me Thursdays, I filled several sketchbooks. Other followers recommended you. You and JJ were so especially upbeat and entertaining!
Your first wife, Patty, was such a strong person considering all things! I love how she rode Jack on her wheelchair; what a trouper she was!
I do no art now and I do not know why.
I WISH that I had that all-powerful urge to draw and describe so well in your video.
Sigh. I’m praying for another guardian angel that can spur me on to do “art” again!
However, I still do calligraphy names in black ink of deceased members of our parish Church on sympathy card envelopes with a rose in color. The families are extremely grateful which is humbling to me.
I loved the video. I had never seen your wife, Patty. I have followed you for years and have several of your books. It was very encouraging to see how your art developed just with spending more time drawing. Thanks for sharing so much.
Love the rules and then we can break them. It stretches the imagination to use particular art supplies that initially we didn’t use. Video was great. Thanks for creating and tying in the previous videos. The walkthrough of your sketchbooks is always appreciated. It gives me ideas on what I can do to keep the sketching alive and not fear the blank page.
I have a new rule. So new it’s never been followed. Kinda scared of it. Alan Moore says art changes consciousness and consciousness changes reality and so there is no better definition of magic than art. So the question is, what spell are you casting? Have you answered that? What magic does THIS cast?
As much as I like and follow your work, I disagree with nearly every one of your commandments (except for #X, of course).
A beginner taking up drawing is probably already nervous enough without a list of do's and don'ts based on someone else's personal experience. It's just the kind of thing that can prevent someone from trying at all. I'm all for making someone's early attempts at drawing as comfortable as possible.
That said, I intend to have my drawing students in the Fall do at least one of their required daily drawings in ink. Digital artists too. Because it's just a good idea to at least have *some* practice dealing with every line one puts down.
I am struck by the fact that you developed your initial skills over a period of nine months. Have you ever thought of this as your gestational period of growing into your artistry. Kind of like making a baby don’t you think?😏
A lot of what we think are our own rules are things we've been told by others, consciously or unconsciously. I think it's helpful to examine our 'rules' every now and then, and see if they still serve us or not.
1950s illustrators! I used to love Jon Whitcomb's work and could open a magazine (ah, the days of print magazines) and spot his illustrations right away without looking at the signature.
These are great! Sometimes rules are an artist’s best friend, because the ability to make anything, anywhere, with any medium is precisely how I go months making nothing, nowhere. 😂
But I’ve also never been a great rule follower, so once I’ve set my own rules, I make sure they know who’s really in charge! 🎨
Great post! I really like your ideas about authenticity and keeping the traces of your process. Not chasing perfection! I enjoy using sketch books because I can see my style evolving. Thanks for putting yourself "out there", you're an excellent mentor/coach.
Thank you for this video, dearest Danny. Because of you and Draw With Me Thursdays, I filled several sketchbooks. Other followers recommended you. You and JJ were so especially upbeat and entertaining!
Your first wife, Patty, was such a strong person considering all things! I love how she rode Jack on her wheelchair; what a trouper she was!
I do no art now and I do not know why.
I WISH that I had that all-powerful urge to draw and describe so well in your video.
Sigh. I’m praying for another guardian angel that can spur me on to do “art” again!
However, I still do calligraphy names in black ink of deceased members of our parish Church on sympathy card envelopes with a rose in color. The families are extremely grateful which is humbling to me.
Renee Martinez
renny9491@gmail.com
I loved the video. I had never seen your wife, Patty. I have followed you for years and have several of your books. It was very encouraging to see how your art developed just with spending more time drawing. Thanks for sharing so much.
Love the rules and then we can break them. It stretches the imagination to use particular art supplies that initially we didn’t use. Video was great. Thanks for creating and tying in the previous videos. The walkthrough of your sketchbooks is always appreciated. It gives me ideas on what I can do to keep the sketching alive and not fear the blank page.
I have a new rule. So new it’s never been followed. Kinda scared of it. Alan Moore says art changes consciousness and consciousness changes reality and so there is no better definition of magic than art. So the question is, what spell are you casting? Have you answered that? What magic does THIS cast?
Love your words which I have believed all my life! If school budgets are tight; NEVER EVER CUT ART CLASSES!!!
As much as I like and follow your work, I disagree with nearly every one of your commandments (except for #X, of course).
A beginner taking up drawing is probably already nervous enough without a list of do's and don'ts based on someone else's personal experience. It's just the kind of thing that can prevent someone from trying at all. I'm all for making someone's early attempts at drawing as comfortable as possible.
That said, I intend to have my drawing students in the Fall do at least one of their required daily drawings in ink. Digital artists too. Because it's just a good idea to at least have *some* practice dealing with every line one puts down.
???
In one of my art classes a student asked, "Why do we have to have rules in doing artwork?" The teacher answered, "So we can break them intelligently."
I am struck by the fact that you developed your initial skills over a period of nine months. Have you ever thought of this as your gestational period of growing into your artistry. Kind of like making a baby don’t you think?😏
Not really, these were just the first 5 volumes I grabbed off the shelf to share. Nice thought though!
I love your post. I LOVE your video. I love having met you IRL. Bravo! Keep it up!
A lot of what we think are our own rules are things we've been told by others, consciously or unconsciously. I think it's helpful to examine our 'rules' every now and then, and see if they still serve us or not.
Inspiring ! I have a challenge for you …another rule to break !!! Do a drawing or a series of drawings that are to go on the wall …….
Rule 1 and rule 10 for me!
Ha! Love this post especially "X. Art has no rules. Yeah, I totally still believe this one. Rules suck." Couldn't agree more!
I pretty much wrote the same thing a few weeks ago 🤣 https://ofmappery.substack.com/p/disrupt-your-own-creative-process?r=b29zh
1950s illustrators! I used to love Jon Whitcomb's work and could open a magazine (ah, the days of print magazines) and spot his illustrations right away without looking at the signature.
The church of wonkiness! Amen to that.