Being the underdog might just be the thing you need to make the work you want to make.
Author: Matt Shanks
Striving for imperfection
Humans watch other humans strive to do things perfectly because it’s rare that it will ever be perfect. Even the most awarded, respected, consistently performing master of their craft will, on occasion, have an off day.
Scales of success
What success looks like to one person is different to another person. So which scale should we all subscribe too? Or should we simply stop caring?
In pursuit of less
In writing, people often mistake word count for effort and complexity. But poetry and kids books are a good example of how the opposite is true.
An argument for keeping my day job
Perhaps the frustration you face in your day job is a source of energy in your creative work and that’s something you shouldn’t change right now.
Talent doesn’t exist
It’s great if you’re talented, but what if you aren’t? Did you just miss out? Or maybe this idea of ‘talent’ doesn’t exist at all.
Picture books should be a collaboration, not a negotiation
Picture book making is a bit like improv theatre. You have actors working in an open, trusting way, to create something more than the sum of it’s parts.
Art is an infinite game
How do you ‘win’ at art? More likes? More followers? Better reviews? What about if the point of Art is to keep playing the game and not to win it?
Everything is a draft
No matter what you do, today’s best work is tomorrow’s stepping stone to even better work. This means everything is a draft. Over and over and over again.
Which medium should I use?
Watercolour, acrylics, crayons. Different mediums produce different results and the potential can be overwhelming. So, which one should you stick with?