"Use Your Hands" is the name of chapter 4 of our book Steal Like An Artist and is appropriately named. This chapter is all about getting away from your computer and using the original "digits", your fingers/hands. All to often, I catch myself wanting to just jump in and do a project from beginning to end on the computer, but, this chapter reminds me to use different mediums. The author even tells about having used newspapers and markers to create a book of poems. He would go through the paper pieces and mark out words, stating that all of his senses were used. He felt the paper and pen in his hands and could smell the marker and newsprint. There was also the "faint squeak" of the marker as it went across the paper. "When I was making the poems, it didn't feel like work. It felt like play." I really like that statement and will try to "play" more when I work.
I've noticed that if I've taken a project from beginning to end only using the computer, it can seem flat and lifeless. But, one that I've done multiple sketches on, or even re-started going in a different direction, have much more life to them and more personality. By using more of your senses, even if it's just sketching out more ideas after you've already started the project, you can end up with a better final product.
I don't think computers can be very good at helping us generate ideas, unless, of course you're looking at Pinterest. Haha! Seriously, they do have some really good ideas about a wide variety of things on there. Personally, I think that the things around us can be so inspirational. I like to use my pets as a humorous reprieve from day to day issues, and they are about as far from a computer as you can get. So, find those things that take you out of that mindset — get away from your computer and do something you enjoy — the ideas will come.
It was suggested that we set up an area, away from our computer, to use as our "analog" office. I don't really have room for that, but, I do have an area I go to when I want some quite time. One of my bookcases is in my son's old room, and it has my oak rocking chair and a reading light next to it. There's a window right next to them, too. So, sometimes I like to just go back there and sit in my rocker and read. It's peaceful and away from most of the electronics (there is a t.v. and a boom box in there, but those are for when my son comes home for visits). This isn't a desk, but it's a good place to relax and think, and it's away from my computer.
There are always some interesting quotes in this book, and in this chapter there were two, one by John Cleese, whom most of us know from his Monty Python days, and one by Edward Tufte, whom I've never heard of before. Therefore, I had to look him up. I found him referred to as "the world's best-known expert in data visualization." That's a pretty big title to stand up for in my book. Upon further research I found that he has written many books, had multiple exhibitions, teaches and gives seminars. He is a professor, statistician, writer and sculptor. The quote that is in our book is "I have stared long enough at the glowing flat rectangles of computer screens. Let us give more time for doing things in the real world . . . plant a plant, walk the dogs, read a real book, go to the opera." This is great advice and goes along with this chapter to "Use Your Hands." I ran across some quotes that are from a one-day course "Presenting Data and Information" taught by Edward Tufte. Here's one that really stood out to me "Can the same image prompt different stories and memories in different people? That's a good test for a 'super graphic'." I have included a couple of his book covers and then just a random image of one of his designs that I found.
While reading Chapter 3 of Steal Like an Artist, the main point that I gathered would have to be to go ahead and do that one thing that you've always wanted to do. Everyone's seen a movie that they "just want more" when they leave—write out your idea for the sequel. The same thing goes for books—try writing that next book in the series. You see where I'm going here? If there's something that you've always wanted to try to design, just go ahead and try it. If nothing comes of it, it has at least been a learning experience, and who knows, it may turn out great!
We were asked the question "So, what would your life be like if you were to re-write it?" My answer would have to be, that I wouldn't re-write it. I've had some extremely bad experiences in my life, but, I've also had some great ones. All of which have brought me to the point I'm at right now. If I were to re-write some part then I possibly might not have my wonderful son or my house, etc. I don't want to play the "what if" game. I'm almost 50 yrs. old and I'm very happy with my life.
As for another question we were asked "What might the next few years be like in this story?" I'm not quite sure where I'll end up, but I hope to be enjoying life, and hopefully at some point, becoming a grandma. I would really like to find either a really good job doing graphic design at company that is not all about numbers like my previous employer, but, more about creativity. I would also love to be a freelance designer and work from home.
In this chapter, there's a quote by Brian Eno "My interest in making music has been to create something that does not exist that I would like to listen to. I wanted to hear music that had not yet happened, by putting together things that suggested a new thing which did not yet exist." This quote goes so well with this chapter in that we are told to go write that book, make that music, design that thing, etc. and this is exactly what Brian is saying in this quote. I did some research on his music and it, for the most part, is that very quite, nice relaxing music that just puts you at ease. They are called things like Wind on Water, Emerald and Stone, The Drop, etc. and places like airports, use his music as their background soundtracks. I am glad I checked him out, because I have a really hard time sleeping and I think that I could use his music to help calm my mind when trying to sleep. Most of his YouTube videos are 45min.—over an hour long, but I found this one that you might enjoy.
I've been reading the book Steal Like An Artist - 10 things nobody told you about being creative, written by Austin Kleon, and just finished the second chapter. There are quite a few good things to take away from the reading. Here are some quotes that I really liked "Fake it till you make it" and "Copy your heroes" both of which seem to be really good advice to me. The first one pretty much is telling you to just keep trying, work hard at what you want to do and don't stop until you can do it. The second one kind of helps you with the first. There's a quote that sums it up perfectly "Start copying what you love. Copy copy copy copy. At the end of the copy you will find yourself." - Yohji Yamamoto
The book then has another quote ( it's full of them) "Don't steal the style, steal the thinking behind the style." Which is also some really good advice. I think that this quote is trying to say that you can copy someone for practice or to hone your skills, but in the end, you want to research why the person designed that way, what made them tick so-to-speak, and then incorporate that into your designs to make them your own.
I've used the word "copy" many times in this review, but I would also like to introduce the words imitate and emulate. Imitate is basically a fancy word for copying something, which as I've stated previously is a good way to practice your drawing and to hone your skill. To emulate someone, is to work in the same style as that person. You have studied them and their process and are working in a similar manner, but putting your own twist on it. That's what I think most designers are going for.
In this chapter there is also this pretty cool chart - it is "good theft" vs "bad theft". Under "good" it has honor, study, steal from many, credit, transform and remix. Under "bad" it has degrade, skim, steal from one, plagiarize, imitate, rip off. I'm sure we're all in agreement that we would want to be the "good thief". When reading this, I thought about one of the designers that I wrote about in my blog 2 weeks ago - Alphonse Mucha. I love his work, but can honestly say that I've never tried to create anything in his style. So, I tried a sketch based on his "Precious Stones" series. Now remember, I've never tried drawing in this style and I'm a pretty poor sketcher to begin with, but I'm including a scan of my sketch. Please don't be too tough on me!
Here is a picture of "Precious Stones".
I love the organic flow, the detail, colors, etc., it is praising the feminine form and is full of life.
...and, here's my obscene first attempt at something similar. Please note that I didn't spend much time on this, maybe 5-10 minutes, but, now that I've tried it once, I think I will give it some more attempts. I think that I could pretty easily do the flowers and all "non-human" parts, but will have to really work on my form drawing.
This chapter had quite a few good points to remember when starting out in design and I even used my trusty highlighter on a few sections as a reminder for the future. Just keep doing what you want to do and try hard at it, you'll get there eventually. A quote from Finding Nemo comes to mind "Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming, swimming, swimming", but in this case it would be "copying".
In one of my school books, Steal Like An Artist, the author suggests that you should always be reading. I couldn't agree more! I am one of those people that just devour books! I love so many different kinds of books, that I'm always looking for my next great read. I thought that I would share a brief glimpse into my library (sorry for slightly blurry pictures, I had a puppy trying to help me take them).
These pictures are of just one of my bookcases, please note that it is around 7 feet tall and about 3 feet wide, and that on most shelves, the books are 2 deep. Also, I tend to collect books by authors that I love.
Before you ask, I do read my books more than one time. I'll pick up on some little detail the second, or even third time, that I didn't when reading it originally. Also, I do have my favorites.
I also usually buy in hardback - I prefer the feel of them as opposed to softcover. I do read some on my iPad, but it's usually something that I can't seem to find in print yet, or if it is an up-and-coming new author that only uses e-books.
Believe it or not, I also have multiple boxes of books that I simply don't have room to put on shelves. I go through them all about once a year and try to rotate some of the boxed ones out and put others away. It's like seeing an old friend again.
Even though most of my books are fiction, I can use them for inspiration. I love to imagine that I'm in these wondrous places and can envision my surroundings as though I'm there. Imagination is an important part of creativity and I believe that if you can spark your imagination through reading some of that creativity is bound to come through.
In the last picture, at right, are some antique books that I have stored in a closet - I won't ever get rid of these, but I also won't handle them very much because they are getting a bit brittle. Some are from the early 1900's.
I've also been thinking about books that I would like to read and thought I would share them with you. Pictured at left, are the cover images of 10 of the books that I want to read in the next few months. Three of these I've already purchased and am just waiting on them to arrive.
So, if you take anything away from reading my blog this week, let it be this, "There's no such thing as reading too much!" I truly believe this and will continue to read as long as I'm able. Now, go read a book!
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