I got such a lovely response from our last post on building a creative practice around your work, that I’ve made coloring page printables with the illustrations. These printables are 5x7 - easy to frame for your workspace. You could also make into cards and send to a friend! Do that! It would be so nice! (High res pdf available down at the bottom of the post.) Work hard, but remember to be kind to yourself this week!
I wanted to share what some of my favorite practitioners say about practicing.
“To be a successful freelancer, one doesn't need to be motivated, one needs to be well disciplined in their approach to work.”
MOLLY JACQUES / WHY MOTIVATION IS A LUXURY
This post speaks to me on so many levels. People often assume it takes a ton of motivation to work from home. But really, it just takes a ton of discipline. You're not born with the ability to focus. Discipline is like a muscle. You build it over time through practice. Molly also gives some awesome strategies for doing this. Read her post here.
“YOU MUST LOVE THE PROCESS OF CREATING AND NOT JUST THE END RESULT AND ESPECIALLY NOT THE AFFIRMATION.”
JENNY LEE / DON'T WAIT FOR PERMISSION
I am a serious affirmation seeker (middle child, right here!), so this post from Jenny Lee of Daddy Sang Bass really spoke to me. An artist/writer/creative can feel an immense pressure to do what's popular, especially now that we all carry popularity meters in the form of phones. But Jenny points out that you can't do your work for likes, you have to do it because you can't stand the thought of not doing it. #wisdom. Don't wait for permission to do what you love. Go read and look at her beautiful letters.
“I usually start by making lots of drawings and collages whenever I have an idea. These are such immediate processes that I often work really quickly without worrying about the outcome. I like that idea of being able to think through the hand.”
Herbert Green / Happiness is Handmade
Okay, how cool is this lady? Rachael Cocker chose Herbert Green as her brand name / alias. I love it! I love the idea of thinking through the hand. Her work is so lovely and uniquely hers. I think that's a product of working through an idea without expectation. She recently launched her site, which you can view here. Her interview on Daily Metal is here and where I found the above quote!
Last week was such a big and beautiful, hectic week for us! We had the opportunity to screen print an amazing poster designed by Nimble for Roswell Restaurant Week! You can see the process and all the magic behind screen printing on our newly launched Instagram channel @madanddusty. We also took a much needed field trip to Fernbank Museum with our little nephew. (Baby stegosaurus photo coming soon!) We hosted a big family gathering - nothing caught fire and the dog didn't bite any children. YAY! All in all, a good week for the Beaulieu's.
Have a good week!
Mads