The war of art, by Steven Pressfield
“War is hell”
Have you ever attempted something in your life only to hit a brick wall, you found something that set your soul alight with positive energy then shortly after pursuing it you get a healthy does of reality. Or of “life”.
Turns out Steven Pressfield recognized this to the point of writing down probably the most influential books of my collection.
Creative works are some of the most overwhelming misunderstood businesses
If you’re a creative and want to quit, welcome to the club. This club has a plethora of members ranging from frustrated writers, guilt ridden activist to dreaming youtubers and tired painters.
You see I actually was audacious enough to think I was special in my troubles. That I alone was going through the wringer. I looked over instagram seeing artists I love get amazing opportunities, young guys 2 years out of school landing dream gigs. There I was plodding away, a wannabe artist, a guy with a dream too large for his small Ontario town.
Enter a few years of introspection, a few unhealthy bouts of crippling social anxiety and here I stand, waving this book like it’s gospel.
For an artist it’s as close as it’ll get.
Steven addresses most of the concerns you’ll have in this industry, in fact so alarmingly so you’d wager this book was written ala Truman show, with Steven watching your day to day, making interesting commentary about your strife.
There’s only a few books I’d buy twice (once in audiobook, God bless audible) and once in physical form, which has since been given to a dear friend who most certainly needs this helpful ass-kicking that is prescribed in this book. So I guess I better buy another copy for myself to mutilate with a highlighter.
I can say honestly there’s really only a handful of books that I’d re-read. This one skyrocketed to #1.
As an artist, or dreamer, you must take the 3hrs to read this acutely self aware book.
It’ll get you back into the right mindset asap.
What are you still doing here! Go! Read the book!
Ash
Jump! In the Nick of time.
Voices reduced to a single pin point. All you can hear is your breathing. Why the hell is my breath so ragged. Palms clamming up like you’re at prom. Your gaze feels laggy, your brain refuses to see the openness your foolish mind thought would be a welcoming freedom. Just jump already, a voice echos…
The balance
Balance Short post that will allow me to justify spending a few hours in Cinema 4D making a fun MoGraph idea. A relatively undiscussed facet of the visual media career is the triangle of balance. This concept, helps me with budgeting, and also allows me to be pragmatic in terms of bidding. This ones…
Dustin you’re a D#*&!
The setup Let me preface that gloriously click-baity title with this: somehow during the lockdown of early 2021, a perfect storm of learning and creativity hit. You see, I’ve played around with CGI work in the past, a brief interlude into the world of Blender. I made a donut, built a whisky glass and then…