I recently watched this TED talk by Simon Sinek about defining why we do what we do, and how it affects not only our own work but also the way others perceive us. About eight minutes in is the interesting story of the Wright Brothers' success despite lacking the funding and other advantages their competitors had at the time. As he says, we all know what we do, some can explain how, but not many really think about "why."
This vid was recommended by Judith Morgan, a brilliant small-business mentor with whom I've been working, and who was inspired to define her own "why" which you can see here. And now it's my turn. (I'm concentrating only on the drawing, not talking about music etc so it's not too long and unfocussed!)
Why?
Because there are so many silly scenarios going round in my head that need an outlet
Because there are serious issues I want to share with others and maybe have an influence
Because I always used to draw, draw, draw as a kid, and it's so good to be doing it again
Because it's satisfying to take complicated concepts and make them easy to understand
Because it's wonderful being able to help social enterprises and businesses doing good
Because people were saying they like my style before I even realised I had a style!
How?
I draft freehand with pencil, ink in with a flex-nib fountain pen, sometimes add watercolour.
Then I scan in my drawings and correct the worst slips of the pen on my laptop.
Always I carry a sketchbook, pencil and pen, and put ideas on paper before they're forgotten.
And I don't care too much any more about lines being a bit wonky - so things get finished!
What?
I illustrate in the old-fashioned hand-drawn way, often in black and white, for websites, for publicity material, for publications, for all sorts of varied projects...
I write and draw comics based mainly on stuff from real life, sometimes quirky, sometimes pointed...
I'm working on a few projects of my own: making an interactive game-comic (like a choose-your-own-adventure book), illustrating a science quiz booklet, planning a small graphic novel sort of thing about cycle camping in 1897...
. . . .
Here's an answer to "why" from Vania, who helps people overcome emotional eating and yoyo dieting, and one from Jo, who is setting up affordable retreats for worn-out working women in an off-grid olive grove. What about you? Why do you do what you do?
Why?
Because there are so many silly scenarios going round in my head that need an outlet
Because there are serious issues I want to share with others and maybe have an influence
Because I always used to draw, draw, draw as a kid, and it's so good to be doing it again
Because it's satisfying to take complicated concepts and make them easy to understand
Because it's wonderful being able to help social enterprises and businesses doing good
Because people were saying they like my style before I even realised I had a style!
How?
I draft freehand with pencil, ink in with a flex-nib fountain pen, sometimes add watercolour.
Then I scan in my drawings and correct the worst slips of the pen on my laptop.
Always I carry a sketchbook, pencil and pen, and put ideas on paper before they're forgotten.
And I don't care too much any more about lines being a bit wonky - so things get finished!
What?
I illustrate in the old-fashioned hand-drawn way, often in black and white, for websites, for publicity material, for publications, for all sorts of varied projects...
I write and draw comics based mainly on stuff from real life, sometimes quirky, sometimes pointed...
I'm working on a few projects of my own: making an interactive game-comic (like a choose-your-own-adventure book), illustrating a science quiz booklet, planning a small graphic novel sort of thing about cycle camping in 1897...
. . . .
Here's an answer to "why" from Vania, who helps people overcome emotional eating and yoyo dieting, and one from Jo, who is setting up affordable retreats for worn-out working women in an off-grid olive grove. What about you? Why do you do what you do?
