December 31, 2024

A conversation with a pencil

When I pick up a pencil and make a mark on paper, it begins – a conversation. The mark left behind is a prompt to myself; where should the next mark go? And, as mark begets mark, a drawing emerges, and, as a drawing emerges, so does new thinking.

Nine times out of ten, these drawings don’t go further, at least not immediately. But sometimes they take flight and turn into something I could never have predicted in advance. The drawings that take flight are an emergent thing – they arise from the doing. Do nothing, and nothing arises.

So, pick up a pencil now, make some marks, and see what it’s trying to tell you.

Other observations
June 2, 2026

The Usual

Is there value in being consistent & predictable? Is there value in the opposite?

May 19, 2026

It came outta nowhere

Could thinking of ourselves as a characters in an unwritten movie help us process good and bad surprises and make the movie more interesting?

May 12, 2026

Lists work

How do I organise, prioritise and complete the life shrapnel that gets in the way of making more significant work? Can an empty square help?

May 5, 2026

Quentin Dupieux makes films

Why bother making a weird idea that’s really difficult to make if it won’t make you money, find an audience?

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