Creative Director: Read

I Create: Creative Director of My Life

My books fall into two. Categories. Books I’ll read over and over, so I want them as part of my ‘collection.’

The other books that I want to try out and see what the are like, but I don’t want to add them to my collection them unless I know they would land on the first list. (The books on both list, I’ll talk about another time.)

So to that end, I got a library card again. I hadn’t used my library card in years and so it expired. Last year was a busy ‘art’ year, with committing to getting my website Webshop up and running – as well as my first illustrated book completed!

I refrained from reading many novels on purpose. When I start on a novel, I just dive right in and want to read it all. And as much as I love books, I didn’t want the distraction of being immersed and emotionally engaged in another world.

I was just listening to one of Jay Shetty’s most recent podcasts and he had some advice that I quite like and could get behind. He says what he does is leave various books in different rooms in his home, open to a page. And specifically, if in the living room, a book about connection or family and friends. In the kitchen, something to inspire about health or nutrition. [I’m not quoting about specific examples, but the point is the idea of it] ~ in the bedroom, perhaps something on meditation or peacefulness. In the entryway, perhaps about an art master, or inspiring figures. When you pass through a room, read at least a chapter. If you read a small passage each time, you are enhancing your own knowledge and ideas. The ‘collection’ doesn’t need to sit idle, when you have a family, a job or a busy life.

I also feel like this is the time of year I want to hibernate. Although, I always love to hibernate and not to commit to activities unless they are hibernating activities, like reading, art making or puzzles. 😅. And after a committed, busy last year dedicated to sharing art and creating new art, and all the activities around that, I just need to rest and read. Art making of new stuff can hold off (slightly) for just a little while. No need at the moment, to getting up at 4am as I had so often to fit in the creative endeavours.

I will still create and plan for the coming work that I want to do, as discussed last week. There’s no putting that aside. And reading is amazing for increasing creativity. So for now, I read. And relish it.

Until next week,

Devon

Quick link to all my work last year, materialized!