The latest book Oliver is illustrating for me, The dragon's lie, goes slowly but his latest toy certainly doesn't. So the deadline came and went and my gracious publisher has instead allowed us to finish by September 1st 2009. PLEASE OLIVER GIVE ME A BOOK BY THEN. As you can see his motivation is low but his happiness level is high. I gave him ALL of the first advance money $4000 but Money did not motivate him to complete the illustrations so I'm all out of ideas. Any suggestions Dan? (I know you read this blog) I don't want to come the guilt trip yet... wouldn't work anyway. I suggested that the virtuoso is his own reward but that notion failed to inspire. If the story was important enough to him perhaps that would make a difference. Having a book in schools and bookshops leaves him unimpressed. Knowing thousands of kids will be receiving this book for Christmas does not move him. I thought making nice pictures was enough of a buzz but that's just me. Oh well. As a young man in the 1980s I found that girls were interested in me because I wrote and illustrated kids books. Their pretty eyes sparkled with interest, they smiled and moved closer when I talked about my latest picture book. Maybe he'll do it for love. Or maybe girls are more impressed these days by small, fast, black, convertible BMWs... Ah phooey ;(
February 28, 2009
Distracting... isn't it?
The latest book Oliver is illustrating for me, The dragon's lie, goes slowly but his latest toy certainly doesn't. So the deadline came and went and my gracious publisher has instead allowed us to finish by September 1st 2009. PLEASE OLIVER GIVE ME A BOOK BY THEN. As you can see his motivation is low but his happiness level is high. I gave him ALL of the first advance money $4000 but Money did not motivate him to complete the illustrations so I'm all out of ideas. Any suggestions Dan? (I know you read this blog) I don't want to come the guilt trip yet... wouldn't work anyway. I suggested that the virtuoso is his own reward but that notion failed to inspire. If the story was important enough to him perhaps that would make a difference. Having a book in schools and bookshops leaves him unimpressed. Knowing thousands of kids will be receiving this book for Christmas does not move him. I thought making nice pictures was enough of a buzz but that's just me. Oh well. As a young man in the 1980s I found that girls were interested in me because I wrote and illustrated kids books. Their pretty eyes sparkled with interest, they smiled and moved closer when I talked about my latest picture book. Maybe he'll do it for love. Or maybe girls are more impressed these days by small, fast, black, convertible BMWs... Ah phooey ;(
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4 comments:
God damn it. I'm motivated enough, but always respond negatively to undue pressure and you know this.
I guess it's from the Goldsworthy tradition of forcing children to achieve by twisting their arms I guess. The performing seal? I have a terrible problem with authority, and pressure like this. When will you ever learn? I can openly tell you and say it straight but I can't control it, it's just the way I am. If I get someone on my case with undue pressure, guilt, stress, or any of the rest of it the productivity brakes are swiftly and firmly applied.
But it's interesting to reflect on why I am doing the book in the first place. Like any of my work, touch screen, website, interactive and illustration alike.. I'd say it's simply for the challenge and to do something new. Life is defined by learning, new experiences and challenge. That's the buzz.
It is not for the audience, unfortunately, it is most certainly not for the love of money. It is not for praise nor accolade, that is largely undeserved. I don't even know if I do it for girls anymore.
I work for the challenge and the chance to learn and improve, as Bill Gove puts it; to EXPERIENCE change. I detest stasis almost as much as you loathe suburbanism... Drives me nuts, but perhaps they are related. The closest thing I get to stasis is procrastination, but that in itself, is a very intensive and draining activity. I almost always need to have something to do. I do push-ups waiting for the lift, make flip books on my iphone waiting for the tram. When I am not working/drawing/cooking/cleaning I am studying or sleeping. When I am too sick to do any of that I am playing computer games.
Motivate me? please don't. Even this post, which is a public attempt I presume, really gets me down. Can we please just move forward with this unique and opportune challenge as we have been, I see no problems with motivation.
Illustration and creativity is the most unique and challenging thing I do. Thanks for the opportunity.
I am professional. If you are worried in the slightest about getting this done, let's talk about timeframes, other work commitments, and make some deadlines, even ambitious ones.
Illness and catastrophe aside, I don't see any hindrances amongst our current creative process. Dammit dad, don't start rapping my knuckles now when it's you who taught me how to dig my heels in in the first place.
I'll make you a deal. Every time you feel the urge to "motivate me" in a mundane fashion, instead, use that same energy and apply it to one of the following productive acts...
1. Check the timeline, are we actually delivering what we should? On big projects, it's often hard to know how much we actually have left to go, it takes time and thought in its self to asses. If we are on track, what more could we be doing with the time available... think about it, give me a buzz any time to discuss.
2. Is there anything on your side of the project that you can finish up or work on without me? Do you have some spare time to do so?
2. Is there any of my work that could use with some comments or guidance? Have a think about it and tap it out in an email or give me a call and talk it through.
3. Call me and organise some time to work on the book together. Rather than grinding your gears alone, come over here and grind them out on a piece of paper.
4. Try and think of things we need to get done and keep lists that you can check off. Spend a minute thinking of other ways to progress the project. How can we make better use of our time, improve our methods and communication?
Fast-food motivation such as money, stress, guilt, etc are real creativity downers. Best reserved for boring work. We have so much positive energy around this project, lets focus on that instead?
P.S. my car it is awesome, don't bring her into this.
That was possibly the best rant ever.
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