hello my friend. I hope this new year treats you well. So far it’s been great for me.I have to announce it soon 2023 Ecuadorian Chautauqua on Money and Meaningbut before that I’ll give a quick update on what I’ve done so far.
Having decided to extend my sabbatical from Get Rich Slowly indefinitely, I was released. The moment I made that decision, it felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from my back. Now I can pursue my other passions without regrets. No guilt. I feel like I don’t need to give myself “permission”. I just do what I want and that’s great.
Isn’t this what economic independence should be?
how to use time
My diet and fitness choices have remained strong for six weeks now. lifting weights twice. I walk about 5 miles every day. doing yoga My alcohol consumption has decreased considerably. More importantly, I make smarter food choices.
yes i am losing weight but i am not obsessed with anything quantified so far resultInstead, I try to pay attention to my actual habits and routines.i am focused on process Because in the end that’s what matters most. (Having said that, I am happy to report that my blood pressure has dropped from an average of 144/96 in early December to an average of 126/84 this week. yay!)
Also:
- My dog and I are continuing a project to walk all the streets of Corvallis. Mapping farm stands and small free libraries we notice.
- I keep working in the garden.
- I continue my culinary adventures.
- I continue to manage my mother’s estate.
- I continue to see a lot of movies, including Wednesday night secondary screenings at my local theater. (Movie Tonight? Patrick Swayze’s road houseIt’s not a pick-your-own movie, but I’m watching whatever this place decides to show. )
But most of the time I’ve been exploring art. Specifically, I am teaching myself how to draw manga.
clear lines
I took some photography classes 20 years ago. Audubon So I can call myself a professional photographer (Ha!)—but I have never created any other form of art.
For several years I wanted to learn how to draw. Since October I have been wondering where to start. do you want to learn watercolor? Painting by yourself? Explore other media? Is there anything you can learn from YouTube? Do you take college classes? Self-taught from books?
Last week, I spoke with a few real-life artists. One is a friend from high school who makes a living selling handicrafts at the local market. Another one of his is his Get Rich Slowly reader named Jacob. Jacob is a civil engineer by day, but works as a watercolor painter by night. (his stuff is great!) These two conversations have made it somewhat clearer.
You see, I am drawn to visual storytelling.As longtime readers know, I’m a comic for life mania. I’m also into movies (especially cinematography). To me, cartoons and movies are essentially the same thing. I want to learn to tell visual stories like this.
Talking to Jacob last week helped me understand where to start on my art journey. I have the knowledge, experience and vocabulary to teach me how to explore
Like figure. I like Ligne Claire The most famous drawing style in Hergé’s work Tintin Manga. (Strictly speaking, Hayao Miyazaki’s works are not Ligne ClaireIn my opinion studio ghibli movies Embodying a similar style: clean, simple characters drawn against detailed, realistic backgrounds.)
“If I were you,” Jacob told me. 1 Explore medium and illustrations with it. ” I’ve got it!
penny short
So that’s what I’ve been doing for the last week.I chose a medium – ink, but especially brush pen — and I’m starting to learn how to draw from scratch. Currently, I watch YouTube videos and read books. Jacob encouraged me to attend face-to-face classes and workshops. i think that is a good idea. We’ll see them later in the year.
Since I’m starting from scratch, I need to practice hundreds (and thousands) of hours in advance. I have a lot to learn. I’m fine with that. So far, it’s been fun.
Yesterday was revelatory.
First, I Finally came up with the first character concept for Penny Short, the ostensible heroine of a comic strip I’ve been plotting for the past two years. Inspired by Dr. Seuss, I found a way to draw her.
Also yesterday I colour my character. I used to draw simple pictures with just a black brush pen. (However, the Penny-Her Short sample above is drawn in standard Sharpie.) Colors are not in the picture. But yesterday, I accidentally added some color to the sketch, Voila! Added dimension.
Basic stuff for sure, but that’s where I am on this journey…
I admit that a lot of what I do in art is disjointed. I jump from one project to the next. When I’m watching a movie, I notice an interesting frame, pause the movie, and spend the next hour trying to draw what I see.Annoyed Chihiro spirited away Drawn in my art journal using Papermate Flair pens.
I’ve never done this before, so most of what I’m doing is primitive. I often imitate and imitate. I’m fine too! It’s fun figuring out stuff like this. For example, I can draw the head of a cartoon dog, but I’m not very good at drawing the body.so i spent many Playing around with different body styles.
Or take the eye as an example. I believe eyes drive character design.It’s so strange that he spends two days obsessed with the method Eye Drawn, but that’s what I did. Different artists approach the eye in different ways. Each method has advantages and disadvantages. Which style do you use for which character?
Most of the time it’s a lot of repetition: you draw the same character over and over again until you learn the movements. The returned paper is piled up.
find fulfillment
Anyway, this means I’m having a good time. I’m in a good mental space — the best mental space I’ve found in almost a decade.
And what do you know? This vacation has helped me realize that I don’t have to abandon Get Rich Slowly entirely. Perhaps all that is needed is a change of attitude. Instead of thinking of GRS first, you can treat him as his second (or third!) order in life. You can say anything you want here. Maybe that means a long gap to publication, and that’s fine.
Let’s see.
In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy this period of my life. It is fulfilling. It’s exactly what I needed.
postscript: As I say, I have to officially announce 2023 Ecuadorian Chautauqua on Money and MeaningThat’s what I was sitting on this morning, but instead I wrote this update on my life.
Here’s the basics: In late July/early August, I met my favorite people (Jess and Corey’s phioniasfrom Tanja our next lifeJess and Lauren complaints get rich) discuss money and meaning during a retreat in Ibarra, Ecuador. This will be his fourth time participating in these events. they are always great.
Officially announced next week!