Aug 15, 2023·edited Aug 15, 2023Liked by Simon Peng
About failure and being a robot. I wanted to be a robot too. But since my efforts to become a machine were inextricably complicated, I accepted failure and the pleasure of the experience. The journey rather than the result.
When it comes to life drawing, I would say I am more versatile. AI has recently helped me unleash my creativity as much as I take my inspiration from what is out there, outside. Deadlines sometimes force us to take shortcuts.
Deadlines! Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em! 😅 They always seem to be both a frustration and a necessity. I really can’t imagine getting much done without them, honestly! But they do often force us to streamline our work in ways that makes less space for certain processes.
What I’ve found is that a lot of my efforts to automate my work because of deadlines can really rob me of the joy of what I do. When that happens, I usually end up asking why I’m doing it anymore at all. I try to keep that in mind and honour the work I love (even if it takes more time) and streamline the rest. I love having systems set up to handle file naming and organizing, for example, while I still choose to use my time on extended research and brainstorming because it connects me more with what I do and how I think.
I feel like the more power we have to automate the things we do, the more we need to be careful to make sure we done automate the joy out of our lives. 😅 I don’t dream of supervising machines and fixing their output, so I try to save the most fulfilling labour for myself.
I spend so much time encouraging my students to sketch from life, and create opportunities for them to do so. I think many of them enjoy the experience, but their commitment to that activity is probably similar to what you describe from your art college days. So it fills me with joy to know you have returned to doing observational drawing, Simon. Personally, I get so much of that wonderful meditative state experience you describe when I'm plein air painting, that I can't say enough about how much I value it. Something about being hyperaware of your presence in that moment... you are interpreting not just the visual, but sound and smell as well. And because you are so intently focused, the world you're observing becomes so much more ... 'substantial'. Tiny things - the edge of a cloud, the call of a bird - that are normally passed over on a busy day - suddenly take on profound meaning. All that sensory information returns as memory when you look at the painting later - a very gratifying experience. Incidentally, to tie all this to the world of commercial art and design: observational drawing/painting is not unlike what I call "doing field research" in the early stages of a client project. Actually going out on location rather than googling some photo reference is imo so important to the creative process on a professional level as well as a personal one. Thanks for another wonderful post!
About failure and being a robot. I wanted to be a robot too. But since my efforts to become a machine were inextricably complicated, I accepted failure and the pleasure of the experience. The journey rather than the result.
When it comes to life drawing, I would say I am more versatile. AI has recently helped me unleash my creativity as much as I take my inspiration from what is out there, outside. Deadlines sometimes force us to take shortcuts.
Deadlines! Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em! 😅 They always seem to be both a frustration and a necessity. I really can’t imagine getting much done without them, honestly! But they do often force us to streamline our work in ways that makes less space for certain processes.
What I’ve found is that a lot of my efforts to automate my work because of deadlines can really rob me of the joy of what I do. When that happens, I usually end up asking why I’m doing it anymore at all. I try to keep that in mind and honour the work I love (even if it takes more time) and streamline the rest. I love having systems set up to handle file naming and organizing, for example, while I still choose to use my time on extended research and brainstorming because it connects me more with what I do and how I think.
I feel like the more power we have to automate the things we do, the more we need to be careful to make sure we done automate the joy out of our lives. 😅 I don’t dream of supervising machines and fixing their output, so I try to save the most fulfilling labour for myself.
I like how you tamed robots. And deadlines too. You seems to be good at it, and I like your website. It is a pleasure to have meet you today!
I spend so much time encouraging my students to sketch from life, and create opportunities for them to do so. I think many of them enjoy the experience, but their commitment to that activity is probably similar to what you describe from your art college days. So it fills me with joy to know you have returned to doing observational drawing, Simon. Personally, I get so much of that wonderful meditative state experience you describe when I'm plein air painting, that I can't say enough about how much I value it. Something about being hyperaware of your presence in that moment... you are interpreting not just the visual, but sound and smell as well. And because you are so intently focused, the world you're observing becomes so much more ... 'substantial'. Tiny things - the edge of a cloud, the call of a bird - that are normally passed over on a busy day - suddenly take on profound meaning. All that sensory information returns as memory when you look at the painting later - a very gratifying experience. Incidentally, to tie all this to the world of commercial art and design: observational drawing/painting is not unlike what I call "doing field research" in the early stages of a client project. Actually going out on location rather than googling some photo reference is imo so important to the creative process on a professional level as well as a personal one. Thanks for another wonderful post!
Love it! You’re a painter and a POET, too! ❤️ thanks, pa!