What Does This Photo Have To Do With Your Creative Journey?

I took this photo (below) last week. I can’t help but wonder if the workers who paved this road realized they were making art, or if it was just another damn day fixing cracks in the street.

When you look at this picture, does it resonate with you?

How does it relate to your creative journey?

Tell us by leaving a comment…

Subscribe to this blog's RSS feed

Do you have a sketchbook? A notebook? Something you can pull out anytime, anywhere, and be creative?

A sketchbook (let’s call it a sketchbook) is your best friend; you can say anything to it and it doesn’t judge. It’s always there for you - when you’re bored, when you’re fidgety, when you need to express yourself.

(below are samples from my personal sketchbook)

Open your sketchbook - it’s open-minded. It can’t see you, but it’s all ears.

Do you know what I like to do with my sketchbooks?

I like to spill things on them accidentally. Coffee, food, beer, it’s all good.

This does two important things:

1. It reminds you that your sketchbooks aren’t mean to be perfect.

2. It gives your sketchbook character.

Go ahead - make your weirdest, worst art in your sketchbook. Write those bad song lyrics, draw that lady’s head out of proportion - who cares! Nobody has to see, because it’s yours. It’s private. Don’t show anybody. Or show everybody - it’s up to you.

There are many different kinds of sketchbooks. They come in all shapes and sizes. The style you choose is personal. Don’t buy just any old sketchbook you find in Barnes & Noble. Get something you love, something that feels good in your hands, fits in your back pocket, or tucks conveniently in your bag.

Me? I always buy the same sketchbook: a Cachet Classic Hardbound Sketchbook (never spiral) with over 200 acid-free blank pages. (Acid-free means the paper won’t yellow.) I get one of two sizes: either the horizontal 6″x9″, or the small square 4″x6″ size. Both are portable and give my hand room to stretch. This sketchbook is bound like a real book, so you can’t easily tear pages out, but I do sometimes if I want to give a drawing away.

The Moleskin notebooks and sketchbooks are very popular; apparently Hemingway used them, among other famous creators. (They make a really nice watercolor book.) But I’ve yet to meet a Moleskin that suits my needs. (Again, you gotta buy a book that’s right for you - not just ’cause Hemingway used it.)

So, what are you waiting for? Get yourself a sketchbook or notebook! Scribble, doodle, jot down that brilliant idea. Whatever. Use it everyday. Whether it’s a cheapo spiral-bound notebook you buy at Walgreens, or a nice one like the ones I mention above. Sketchbooks are an invaluable part of the creative process and a fantastic way to record and archive your creative journey.

Leave your sketchy comments, or tell us about your favorite sketchbook/notebook!

What books have changed your life?

If you could recommend 3 books to us…books that will improve our creative journey in some way, what would they be?

Here are 3 that have changed my life, both personally and creatively:

1. Loving What Is by Byron Katie. If I had one book to give someone to help them overcome anxiety and become enlightened it would be this. Byron Katie’s “Work” is simple, powerful, and life-altering - like a miracle whenever I do it, which isn’t nearly enough. You simply apply 4 questions to any stressful thought. The result is clarity, acceptance and peace. You might not like or agree with everything here (I don’t), but Katie’s Work is radically changing millions of lives. All you need is a pen and paper. (Here are videos of Katie doing The Work with people.)

2. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. Because it taught me and millions of people how to draw and I’ve made my entire living at it.

3. A tie: Jitterbug Perfume and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, both by Tom Robbins. I had to include some fiction here, and Robbins is my favorite. I remember feeling high as a kite after finishing Cowgirls, and the last sentence of Jitterbug made me pray that one day I might create something as wonderful and masterful. Robbins is an acquired taste with his wild metaphors, but his worldview is fun and magical, and my life is that much more so because of his books.

Okay, your turn! Tell us your top 3 life-changing books…add a comment!

“Way too much coffee. But if it weren’t for the coffee, I’d have no identifiable personality whatsoever.” - David Letterman

Have you noticed? Everyone likes their coffee different:

…Cream and sugar.

…Hazelnut, with cream. No sugar.

(Or as my friend John jokes; “I like my coffee the way I like my women - cold and bitter.”)

I could sit here all day rattling off the countless ways people like the same thing - coffee.

One coffee - infinite possibilities.

Yet there’s only one way people like their coffee: the “right” way.

Isn’t that interesting?

My coffee might make you go “ew”.

Your coffee would make me say “blech.”

So who says we’re all supposed to like Picasso?

And why are you pressuring yourself to paint like Picasso, when what you should be doing is painting like you?

The “right” way.

The way you like it.

Spending your life trying to be like someone else, or trying to create like someone else, or doing what you think you should do instead of what you really want to do, is like drinking someone else’s coffee your whole life. (Cold and bitter indeed.)

If there was a chalkboard hanging over the counter here at Creative Journey Cafe, it would say “Today’s Wisdom” in big rainbow letters. And underneath those words, it would say:

“Be your own coffee!”

(Have a nice day. And if you’d like to add some sugar or cream to this post, leave a comment.)

You remember the TV show Northern Exposure from the early 1990’s, right?

I’ve been revisiting it on DVD. Man, it was one of the best, most intelligent, most creative TV shows ever.

If you need a little creative inspiration today, I think you’ll enjoy this great clip I found (video below). It’s John Corbett’s character, Chris, waxing poetic about light…and then he reveals his ‘brilliant’ art project. Enjoy!

Who was your favorite character on Northern Exposure and why? Leave your comment…

You’ve probably heard about Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon professor who gave his now famous Last Lecture after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died a few days ago.

What an amazing and inspirational guy. He spent the last year of his life sharing his journey and inspiring millions of people to live fully.

Here he is on Oprah, talking about fulfilling childhood dreams:

“Truckin’, like the do-da man…” - The Grateful Dead

I love turning mundane moments into creative opportunities, don’t you?

Three weeks ago I was in my car, idling at a stoplight, when a huge truck pulled alongside me. I generally don’t like trucks. They’re big, they’re loud, and they block my view. But this particular truck was art on wheels; colorful, reflective, composed of bold shapes and sleek lines. It was awesome.

For days after, I kept noticing trucks and how creative and cool they are. It occurred to me that trucks are the vehicles that carry millions of people along their creative journeys.

It gave me an idea:

Everytime a truck pulled up next to me in traffic, I would take a picture of it with my iPhone.

My only rule was that destiny had to bring the trucks to me, to a full stop, and I had to be in my car, stuck in traffic.

So here are 8 trucks that destiny brought my way these past few weeks:

It might amuse you to know that one of the truck drivers saw me snapping photos of his truck and yelled at me. He had one tooth. He shouted, “Can I help you??!” to which I responded accordingly, in the spirit of my project: “Truck you!”

[When you’re stuck in traffic, do you stay creative? My little truck game sure did make gridlock a lot more fun and the time fly! Thoughts? Leave a comment!]

So today is my birthday, and below are my Top 10 creative excuses for taking the day off from blogging:

10. There are so many candles on my cake, the cafe has become a fire hazard.

9. Thirty-nine trips around the sun makes a man tired.

8. I’m waiting patiently by the mailbox for your gifts to arrive.

7. I never drink and post.

6. I keep getting frosting on the keyboard.

5. The clown will be here any second.

4. No internet access at the brothel.

3. It’s hard to blog and dance at the same time.

2. Here are the keys to the cafe. Hang out as long as you like, lock up when you’re done.

…And my number one creative excuse for not blogging today?…

1. I didn’t think you’d want me to blog in my birthday suit!

[We will return to our regularly scheduled inspiring posts soon enough. Until then, thank you all for being part of this cafe. It’s the best gift you could give me - your time, attention, feedback, and appreciation. Thank you!]

Do you have a particular creative goal? A destination you want to reach?

Are you enjoying every step along the journey?

You might appreciate this:

Last Friday I took the ‘day off’ and went to Martha’s Vineyard. My goal - my ultimate intention - was to reach a beach at Gay Head (Aquinnah) where colorful cliffs loom over the sea.

That was my goal for the day; get to that beach.

But I noticed something along the way: every step getting there - and back - was exciting, even if it was ‘boring’.

For example:

1. Buying a ticket to get on the ferry was kind of exciting. So was waiting for the ferry to arrive (I sketched people).

2. Being on the ferry itself, with all the excited people, was kind of exciting.

3. Cruising out of the harbor (starting the journey) was exciting. So was noticing the names of boats we passed (which gave me an idea for a future post).

4. Arriving at Martha’s Vineyard - exciting.

5. Finding the restaurant my friend told me about - the one that served great fish tacos - exciting.

6. Catching the shuttle bus to Edgartown was exciting (we passed a beach where they filmed Jaws).

7. Seeing my book on a shelf at the Edgartown bookstore was exciting.

8. Arriving at my destination - Aquinnah - was exciting.

9. Walking the mile-long path to get to the beach was exciting. The path cuts through grassy dunes and bushes filled with flowers and butterflies. (You can hear the ocean…anticipation builds.)

10. Finally, reaching the beach itself. Awesome!

But wait - the journey doesn’t end there!

11. Leaving the beach, the old bus driver told me his life story. Like how he almost died - should have died - 3 times in his life, but didn’t. He once drowned. He got shot in the heart! He survived a terminal cancer diagnosis…

He said God must have a reason for keeping him around - maybe so he can help others in some small way - give them strength, or comfort, or help them appreciate life in general, the way he does.

I tipped him five bucks, but his stories were worth the whole trip.

Granted, a day on Martha’s Vineyard doesn’t give a man a lot to complain about. Life is filled with challenge and hardship in many places around the world. I guess my point is, sometimes we get so fixated on getting our prize that we dismiss the amazing things that happen along the way.

It’s about the journey, not the destination, as they say. I thought of how true this was as the ferry carried this lucky boy away from the Vineyard, with the orange sun setting on the water.

What a beautiful ride.

Your thoughts? Leave a comment.

“Self-trust is the first secret of success.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

How secure are you in your creativity?

Do you need others to tell you you’re good?

There’s a line in the novel The Fountainhead that I love. The protagonist, maverick architect Howard Roark - the embodiment of self-confidence - shows one of his drawings to a sculptor, Mallory, who he wants to hire.

Roark asks, “Like it?” to which Mallory responds, “Don’t use stupid words.”

Until that moment, Roark never came close to needing validation or approval. His artistic vision is iron-clad. He will not bend or make alterations. He knows he’s good. Mallory knows it, too.

In the book, The War of Art, Steven Pressfield says this about “support” groups and workshops: “The more energy we spend stoking up on support from colleagues and loved ones, the weaker we become and the less capable of handling our business.”

I think it’s a balancing act. One of the joys of creating anything is in sharing it with others. We all want feedback. It can be very discouraging to work on something that gets no response. No response can feel worse than a negative one.

Obviously, a novelist wants her reader to like her book. A comedian wants to get laughs. We all want to hear, “I love your work.” But when we don’t hear it, do we crumble and quit? Do we deem ourselves unworthy? Or are we secure enough to know we’ve done our best job?

There’s a subtle difference between needing support - needing that “I love you” - and asking for guidance or perspective. If we want a pat on the head, we can run to Mom. But if we want want honest help, we need to seek people who won’t mince words.

There’s also a difference between launching your work hoping to hear “That’s great!” and launching your work to simply say, “Here it is.”

Can you feel it?

When I was a kid, I used to sing for the neighbors when they visited for coffee. I love praise and approval…still do. (I’m a Leo - we love the spotlight). Applause is addictive.

But we can’t build our house on it, because when nobody claps, then what?

How do we build creative self-confidence? Hard work on our craft. Receiving unsolicited praise from people we respect. Remembering our victories.

No doubt, a kind word of encouragement always helps, and it feels good to give it. Everyone gets discouraged from time to time. When a friend reminds you of how talented you are, (like Roark does for Mallory in The Fountainhead) it can make a huge difference. We’re all in this together. This blog is here to inspire, after all.

Still…is your creative house built on sand or rock? Do you have an “inner candle flame that never flickers”?

Do you know you’re good?

Your thoughts?