These are great rules. I especially love the first two. Feeling like we need to constantly share our work online does push out room for the quiet, deep development of a body of work.
Thank you Shan! Yes, since we can ingest so much input online we expect lots of output of ourselves in turn, but we're not actually privy to all of the hours of other people's making. Wishing us lots of quiet and space to deepen our work this winter 🤍
Ooooh how I love these, and the shortened versions too! The two that you've distilled the ten down to are the most crucial rules for sure. And I am all about pivoting freely!!
THIS IS SO POWERFUL and IMPORTANT!! I'm taking this as a message from the Universe - because my word of the year is FOCUS and when I saw the image of the word FOCUS in red, it made me stop in my tracks.
I've been thinking a LOT about how I want to engage with social media. I haven't quite come to a conclusion about it yet - but this post is really helping me think about it in the context of my entire creative practice. Time to sit down and write the 20204 Manifesto!
YAY happy it resonates!! That gigantic FOCUS in red... Wendy MacNaughton really knows what itch to scratch!
It's not easy to be so black and white with social media (though it's certainly appealing), so it's good you're taking a lot of time to think about your choices intentionally! And in the meantime we can build up ways to stay connected and inspired and focused thru other means :) like this manifesto!
“In my interview with Camey Yeh, an illustrator who has found a large audience through Instagram…”
I tend to adhere to the philosophy of “Throw everything against the wall and see what sticks.” That’s why I attempted to fix Carolyn up with my son! Hey, you never know.
The digital age allows exponentially more opportunities to see what "sticks on the wall;" but creativity could be channeled away from the art and into the various digital platforms (peer pressure could also be a factor in this).
Similarly, I’m 70 and I see my peer group investing what time they have left in medical screenings and doctor visits, to try to squeeze out one more day while they are frittering their precious time in the medical industrial complex and not in enjoying each day. They waste months trying to get days. My approach is to ask what our ancestors did when they had no or few choices back in the day? That’s the same question artists should ask themselves, “What did artists do before the digital age, to reach an audience?” Most likely they concentrated on their art.
Maybe my father had the answer: I got a divorce from my 1st wife (no children involved). I was ashamed when I told my parents; I told them I felt no passion and I just wasn’t happy. My parents, were loving working class parents, and I was a college-educated pharmacist, went paycheck to paycheck during their lives. I asked my dad, “How did you and mom stay together?” And my dad sat forward in his chair and pointed a finger at me and said, “Your mom and I stayed together in order to survive; we made it through the rough patches because we needed each other. Your problem is you have too much money and too much time on your hands and you aren’t worried about paying the bills, you worry about being happy.” So maybe the artist of today is over-analyzing the situation and forgetting their “relationship” to art during the rough patches.
What a scorching comment from your father! Yes often the rediscovery of art in adulthood comes from places like social media, but we need to remind ourselves of the initial discovery - our child selves - and remember to play!
Inspired to try this for myself! Thank you for sharing your process. (My manifesto, to my chagrin, is not going to be as aesthetically delightful as yours :o)
Love your use of “we” and each of the points you make in your manifesto. So cool you’re experimenting with film! If I can be helpful in any way, call me! Xo
Thank you Courtney! Ah, I am taking "baby steps" as you wisely put it in your post, experimenting with iPhone cinematic mode and capturing light during different hours of the day. I want to see how far I can take it with the tools I have before upgrading. If you have any further beginner tips, do let me know!
Thank you for this. It's a bit of serendipity because I have decided to quit Instagram, which is a little scary but I don't want to fight an algorithm that does not serve me any more. I want to make more space for my art and connect more fully with people who can appreciate what I do. I think I'll write my own manifesto as well.
These are great rules. I especially love the first two. Feeling like we need to constantly share our work online does push out room for the quiet, deep development of a body of work.
Thank you Shan! Yes, since we can ingest so much input online we expect lots of output of ourselves in turn, but we're not actually privy to all of the hours of other people's making. Wishing us lots of quiet and space to deepen our work this winter 🤍
great rules! Here is a quick 10 off the top of my head.
1. Show up every day.
2. Jump in!
3. Study the greats.
4. Celebrate your peers.
6. Don't freak out about bad work.
5. Tension is the trigger to breathe. Relax.
7. Start a project with an end in mind. But it's more important to start.
8. Pivot freely.
9. No rush.
10. Do it again tomorrow!
Whenever I make a list something like this I like to cut it down.
1. Show up every day.
3. Study the greats.
4. Celebrate your peers.
5. Tension is the trigger to breathe. Relax.
8. Pivot freely.
...and further...
1. Show up every day.
5. Tension is the trigger to breathe. Relax.
Ooooh how I love these, and the shortened versions too! The two that you've distilled the ten down to are the most crucial rules for sure. And I am all about pivoting freely!!
THIS IS SO POWERFUL and IMPORTANT!! I'm taking this as a message from the Universe - because my word of the year is FOCUS and when I saw the image of the word FOCUS in red, it made me stop in my tracks.
I've been thinking a LOT about how I want to engage with social media. I haven't quite come to a conclusion about it yet - but this post is really helping me think about it in the context of my entire creative practice. Time to sit down and write the 20204 Manifesto!
YAY happy it resonates!! That gigantic FOCUS in red... Wendy MacNaughton really knows what itch to scratch!
It's not easy to be so black and white with social media (though it's certainly appealing), so it's good you're taking a lot of time to think about your choices intentionally! And in the meantime we can build up ways to stay connected and inspired and focused thru other means :) like this manifesto!
Great manifesto!
“In my interview with Camey Yeh, an illustrator who has found a large audience through Instagram…”
I tend to adhere to the philosophy of “Throw everything against the wall and see what sticks.” That’s why I attempted to fix Carolyn up with my son! Hey, you never know.
The digital age allows exponentially more opportunities to see what "sticks on the wall;" but creativity could be channeled away from the art and into the various digital platforms (peer pressure could also be a factor in this).
Similarly, I’m 70 and I see my peer group investing what time they have left in medical screenings and doctor visits, to try to squeeze out one more day while they are frittering their precious time in the medical industrial complex and not in enjoying each day. They waste months trying to get days. My approach is to ask what our ancestors did when they had no or few choices back in the day? That’s the same question artists should ask themselves, “What did artists do before the digital age, to reach an audience?” Most likely they concentrated on their art.
Maybe my father had the answer: I got a divorce from my 1st wife (no children involved). I was ashamed when I told my parents; I told them I felt no passion and I just wasn’t happy. My parents, were loving working class parents, and I was a college-educated pharmacist, went paycheck to paycheck during their lives. I asked my dad, “How did you and mom stay together?” And my dad sat forward in his chair and pointed a finger at me and said, “Your mom and I stayed together in order to survive; we made it through the rough patches because we needed each other. Your problem is you have too much money and too much time on your hands and you aren’t worried about paying the bills, you worry about being happy.” So maybe the artist of today is over-analyzing the situation and forgetting their “relationship” to art during the rough patches.
What a scorching comment from your father! Yes often the rediscovery of art in adulthood comes from places like social media, but we need to remind ourselves of the initial discovery - our child selves - and remember to play!
Inspired to try this for myself! Thank you for sharing your process. (My manifesto, to my chagrin, is not going to be as aesthetically delightful as yours :o)
Thank you Teresa, please do share yours! I'm sure it will be so beautiful and aesthetic like your moodboards! <3
This post is something I highly suggest every writer here read. I am definitely going to create my own artist manifesto!
Love your use of “we” and each of the points you make in your manifesto. So cool you’re experimenting with film! If I can be helpful in any way, call me! Xo
Thank you Courtney! Ah, I am taking "baby steps" as you wisely put it in your post, experimenting with iPhone cinematic mode and capturing light during different hours of the day. I want to see how far I can take it with the tools I have before upgrading. If you have any further beginner tips, do let me know!
Smart! Great to ease into it, just following your curiosity... Each of the videos on my YouTube channel might spark something or teach you a little something new. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCswX-PcZrHaFlotEw9jKDhA
Well I decided last night to stop using social media.
So tired of update it more or less every day. And for what?
Better to just enjoy the moment to create something 😊
Thank you for this. It's a bit of serendipity because I have decided to quit Instagram, which is a little scary but I don't want to fight an algorithm that does not serve me any more. I want to make more space for my art and connect more fully with people who can appreciate what I do. I think I'll write my own manifesto as well.