creativity
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A barometer for inspiration
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2 min read
Inspiration fuels aspiration. Without inspiration, we relax on our laurels and accept things the way they are. There’s no lack of material to serve as motivation. It can be found everywhere and in different formats: Pinterest quotes, posters, coffee mugs, and biographies. But a surfeit of inspiration porn can backfire. Seeking too much of it…
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Imaginary insects inspired by Star Wars
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1 min read
Science-based illustrator Richard Wilkinson mashed together insects into some of the most notable Star Wars characters. Writes Wilkinson on his website: This project was born out of a fascination with collecting, cataloguing and classifying. It draws inspiration from classic Natural History illustration but explores the subjects that we love to collect and classify from the modern…
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Make art regardless of fame
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1 min read
In releasing your thought debris onto the internet, two questions may hold you up: Will anyone will read it? Will anyone care? They certainly won’t read it if you don’t post it. And two, no one will ever care as much as you. That’s a guarantee. So, why wouldn’t you just drift into the freedom…
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The thrill of online publishing
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1 min read
There’s a little bit of a thrill in publishing online. Thinking and writing out loud makes you vulnerable to criticism. But if you ship something new every day, you’ll get better at connecting with people and clarifying your ideas. Sometimes it’s better to be done and then be perfect. So many people make excuses for…
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Filters of mind
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2 min read
The challenge isn’t knowing what to see. The challenge is learning how to see. As soon as you learn what to look for, your originality dwindles. Your interpretation becomes someone else’s. To see well, in pictures and words, you have to know how to notice the good from the bad. Pictures speak in words. If what you…
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How to unthink
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2 min read
Knowledge can be a hindrance. The more we know, the more likely we’re to hesitate in times of execution. So the overthinking basketball player misses a wide-open layup, the tennis player misses an easy return, or the painter or writer can’t seem to get their inspiration to convert on a blank canvas. We trip over…
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Give yourself permission to build
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1 min read
Motivation ebbs and flows. It is fickle and short-lasting. So we can’t wait for the muse to compel us to work. As Chuck Close said, “inspiration is for amateurs.” However, what we can do is develop a passion for something and use it to solidify our grit. Having a little excitement helps us push through…
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Coles Phillips “fade-away” technique
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1 min read
The story goes that he developed his “fade-away” technique as a money-saving exercise. Upmarket magazines would typically print covers in full-colour, but Phillips’ style allowed them to print a single or two-colour cover and have their magazine still look great. Artist Coles Phillips (1880 – 1927), via
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Write a memoir to make sense of your life
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1 min read
“Why write? To write. To make something.” Claude Simon Most people think of writing as a creative outlet. But it’s also an instrument for coping. According to recent studies, writing your own memoir has various psychological benefits. Whether for private eyes or for public viewing, writing extensively about traumatic events helps you break free from the cage…
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You can’t schedule joy
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2 min read
“We make lists because we don’t want to die,” said Italian novelist and philosopher Umberto Eco. The problem with lists though is that we tend to include things we enjoy doing like writing, reading, meditating, along with other habits we should do, like exercise or our grocery shopping. When we fail to cross an item…
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Why we ship
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1 min read
“When we ship, we’re exposed,” writes Steven Pressfield in his book Do the Work. Do we deliver? The professional artist ships even if they don’t believe 100% in what they make. Why? Because behind the cycle of perpetual creation is a signal–whether through viewer feedback or connectivity—on what to make and where to go next.…
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Make even more art
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1 min read
Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art. Andy Warhol