My ' friend Phillipe invented the camera phone and this, like going to a concert where the crowd all have their phones up over their heads sometimes enough to block views of others farther back, makes me wonder if he made more of a curse Or a blessing. I can tell you when he spends time with music or art, he does not snap pics with his phone. LOL,
I remember seeing phones held up at concerts that were just showing a digital flame gif, not recording video.it was just replacing what most used xo do with lighters. Haven't seen anyone doin that in years. ,
That's so interesting about your friend inventing the phone camera, Jason. Like so many things, it certainly has a double edged sword. I remember when the phone replaced lighters too and that seems so revolutionary at the time.
I have recently started using the Freeform app on my phone to do sketches, instead of taking any photos. I'm drawing with my finger and thumb on the screen but weirdly I have really enjoyed it, maybe because it's less precious than paper, and it's made me sketch more than I have in a long time. Feels less perfectionistic for me and lower stakes, and has the option to undo. As for instagram, I made myself a small private account with only 5 friends who follow where I sometimes post my sketches, to get rid of that itch to post, without any public pressure.
I'll have to check out the Freeform app, Joe! It sounds fun and a little like finger painting. And I totally get both the desire to share, as well as the need to keep things private/for yourself. That's nice that you've found a good balance.
Loooooved this. An important reminder to turn my phone OFF on my next artist day. I've been starting to leave it off until noon lol. Maybe I just need to get a flip phone?
I somehow stumbled on your work in Substack Notes and am really, really into your work. I also illustrate stories on my Substack, and it's always beautiful to find more people like this. Looking forward to more from you. : )
Thanks so much, Tatiana! I also have a practice of turning off my phone during the morning which is my most productive time. I'm not always successful with it, but when I am, I'm a lot more productive.
I'm excited to see your work too! Your Substack looks wonderful and I'm excited to read more from you as well!
This is the first time I’ve heard the term “artist date”! I need to start doing these. And yes … the phone … the ever-present phone. I should start locking it in my car before heading out on any future artist date.
Yes, “artist date” is a relatively new term to me too. I certainly do art related things, but I think the solitary component is super important with what Julia Cameron describes as an Artist Date.
I tend to write more than sketch on my artist dates, but I think you have a point. The thought of what you might do with photographs interrupts the feeding of the subconscious with creative observations. I’m going to try and be more careful in the future! Great post.
Thanks Alex. I usually just draw on my artist dates, but I should remember to write too. I find that they both tap into my creativity in different ways.
Oof, Katharine! I feel this! The phone as intruder/parasite! I think I was lucky that I didn't even realize I was doing an artist date until it was over :)
As someone with a dayjob, I have to take the opportunities that free slots of time bring me to create, and as I started to log them to keep track and learn about my speed for planning, I realized how much time being online took, even if it was only community building time. So I agree and recommend to others as well to log a bit of their social time, and be use you are using it to build not to feed parasites
Yes, logging the social media time is a great idea, Cookie! When I've done it, it's actually not as much as I would think, but the problem for me is less the cumulative time lost, but more the interruption to my focus and imagination. Such a struggle, even though I appreciate so many things about the phone!
My ' friend Phillipe invented the camera phone and this, like going to a concert where the crowd all have their phones up over their heads sometimes enough to block views of others farther back, makes me wonder if he made more of a curse Or a blessing. I can tell you when he spends time with music or art, he does not snap pics with his phone. LOL,
I remember seeing phones held up at concerts that were just showing a digital flame gif, not recording video.it was just replacing what most used xo do with lighters. Haven't seen anyone doin that in years. ,
That's so interesting about your friend inventing the phone camera, Jason. Like so many things, it certainly has a double edged sword. I remember when the phone replaced lighters too and that seems so revolutionary at the time.
I have recently started using the Freeform app on my phone to do sketches, instead of taking any photos. I'm drawing with my finger and thumb on the screen but weirdly I have really enjoyed it, maybe because it's less precious than paper, and it's made me sketch more than I have in a long time. Feels less perfectionistic for me and lower stakes, and has the option to undo. As for instagram, I made myself a small private account with only 5 friends who follow where I sometimes post my sketches, to get rid of that itch to post, without any public pressure.
I'll have to check out the Freeform app, Joe! It sounds fun and a little like finger painting. And I totally get both the desire to share, as well as the need to keep things private/for yourself. That's nice that you've found a good balance.
Loooooved this. An important reminder to turn my phone OFF on my next artist day. I've been starting to leave it off until noon lol. Maybe I just need to get a flip phone?
I somehow stumbled on your work in Substack Notes and am really, really into your work. I also illustrate stories on my Substack, and it's always beautiful to find more people like this. Looking forward to more from you. : )
Thanks so much, Tatiana! I also have a practice of turning off my phone during the morning which is my most productive time. I'm not always successful with it, but when I am, I'm a lot more productive.
I'm excited to see your work too! Your Substack looks wonderful and I'm excited to read more from you as well!
That is a very catchy (and NON clickbait) title.
Thank you, Moe! I struggle with writing titles, so I was happy when I came up with this one!
I sometimes get so caught up in finding something to sketch that I miss out on everything around me.
Ah yes. Sometimes when the artist mind turns on, it can be hard to see what's around us.
This is the first time I’ve heard the term “artist date”! I need to start doing these. And yes … the phone … the ever-present phone. I should start locking it in my car before heading out on any future artist date.
Yes, “artist date” is a relatively new term to me too. I certainly do art related things, but I think the solitary component is super important with what Julia Cameron describes as an Artist Date.
I tend to write more than sketch on my artist dates, but I think you have a point. The thought of what you might do with photographs interrupts the feeding of the subconscious with creative observations. I’m going to try and be more careful in the future! Great post.
Thanks Alex. I usually just draw on my artist dates, but I should remember to write too. I find that they both tap into my creativity in different ways.
Oof, Katharine! I feel this! The phone as intruder/parasite! I think I was lucky that I didn't even realize I was doing an artist date until it was over :)
Phones are so tough! I love that you had an accidental artist date :)
As someone with a dayjob, I have to take the opportunities that free slots of time bring me to create, and as I started to log them to keep track and learn about my speed for planning, I realized how much time being online took, even if it was only community building time. So I agree and recommend to others as well to log a bit of their social time, and be use you are using it to build not to feed parasites
Yes, logging the social media time is a great idea, Cookie! When I've done it, it's actually not as much as I would think, but the problem for me is less the cumulative time lost, but more the interruption to my focus and imagination. Such a struggle, even though I appreciate so many things about the phone!