Creative Director: Filter

I Create: Creative Director of My Life

I didn’t read many novels last year, and for the specific reason that I didn’t want to be distracted. I knew for certain that I wanted to get all the book illustrations done. I wanted to make sure I did everything I needed to do to get my Webshop up and running. Getting the prints, cards and packaging supplies ready to go.

Now that those specific big goals are accomplished, and because I just love reading so much, I decided I would read more this year (as previously stated). I even signed up for a library card again, and I am close to being done my 11th novel. And I’m finding that, it’s for good reason that I kept away from novels last year. I get absorbed into them and just have to read that ‘one more page,’ or ‘one more chapter.’ I really enjoy books. I have found also, that I have to monitor my thoughts about books. I dwell on some situation in the story and have gone over and over in my head about what’s happened or thinking about details. I have to remind myself to change my course of thought. Especially if it’s something in the least bit upsetting, I don’t want to have my brain spiralling and using up my waking moments. I have to remind myself, this is a book, it’s not something that I can control, I have to go to my positive quotes or my phone notes to ‘reset’ my thinking. Look at my art goals. Read over my book ideas. And filter out the unnecessary and get back into more productive frame of mind. That’s my goal going forward, as I read more novels. I have one other out from the library to read next, then I should probably take a bit of a break, so my real goals don’t become compromised 😂. That, or I could use more hours in the day, allowing for my work as well as all the painting I want to do, books I want to read and everything else that needs doing.

Being a couple months into the year now, I have to make sure I keep on track, and don’t lose sight of the specific things I want to happen during this year. But as is often the case, there is a lot of ‘noise’ out there. Distractions. I can be working on some art ideas and then I get more ideas or I come across something that gets me thinking. The most common culprit is comparison. Seeing someone else in a similar venture (for example, art) and they are doing a gallery show. Do I want a gallery show? Should I set that as a goal, maybe not this year but within 5 years? No, and no. A gallery show is not where I’m at, but different distractions come up, different comparisons.

To keep progressing. I must always filter out the noise. I will remember to stay true to what I am working towards. That’s what matters.

Until next week,

Devon

P.s: my illustrated book, has been selected as a ‘Staff Pick’ by the FriesenPress publishing team, so has the ‘Staff Pick’ status in their bookstore! ✨

And you can see it on my site, here