THIS Is How You Make Big Decisions
Let’s face it, we’re all trying to figure this ‘life’ thing out, and sometimes, we’re on the wrong path, and we need ways to discover that so we can correct course.
Here is a principle you can use to make significant, life-changing decisions fast.
Figuring Out Where You Want To Go
Long ago, I was at an art academy that trained me to become a painter. I was in my third year and had a few years left to go before I finished. The thing was, long term, far into the future, I didn’t see myself as a painter. I enjoy drawing a lot.
So I quit.
And now I draw a lot. And I will be better at it in five years because of it.
Figuring out where you want to be five or ten years from now sounds like a corny question they ask you during a job interview. It is, but it’s a valuable question to ask yourself because it enables you to make big decisions quickly.
If you do X, will it bring you closer to where you want to be in five years? If so, then do it; if not, then don’t.
Run the two scenarios in your head, and figure out if you will regret doing or not doing it.
Many things we do are unimportant to our life goals.
This Week
Another video.
I just came back from a holiday. A change of scenery jogs my creative muscles quite a bit!
I was using my own Morning Sketches APP in a small A5 sketchbook. A4 would have been too heavy to carry around, and as a good friend reminded me, the best sketchbook is the one you have with you.
As you can see, this newsletter is now going out on Wednesday instead of Friday. My hosting provider broke my newsletter twice with a server update, and they are off on the weekend. They update on Tuesdays, so I can now notice on Wednesday if something is wrong and correct it immediately, or at least contact them before they take weekend leave.
Huge New Set Of Flashcards!
I took almost a thousand pictures and have spent a few days converting them into cards. I have many rotations of statues, so you can click through them and see them at different orientations. This is useful for understanding the underlying 3D structure. I managed to create 165 new cards out of them using 526 of the photos I had taken. There’s an enormous amount of stuff there.
I also significantly improved my photo editing skills. I’m now using the free darktable because it was the only free option that supported my camera, but boy, is it good. Typically, you get JPEG images from your camera, but some models allow you to export in RAW format, which is the data directly from the camera sensor. The JPEG is a significantly reduced version of that data. The cool thing about RAW is that you can make significant adjustments to the image! It’s amazing what you can pull out of these RAW files. Most of the photos of statues were taken in relatively dark museums. Look at how bright I could make them. Also, for drawing reference, it is best if there is little contrast in the darker areas so you can see what is there.
You can find all the new flashcards here , and the separate categories: hands , heads , statues , (silly) props , art , architecture , vehicles .
As I used the Morning Sketches APP, I noticed minor annoyances and wrote them down. Cards are now scheduled farther into the future. I found myself getting bored with the cards I had already drawn and felt the urge to search for other reference materials to use.
To that effect, you can now also choose from a flashcard browser at the top of the page, so you’re not stuck with one image. It has become the de facto center now, where you can choose another reference image. I now understand why platforms like Netflix use such a vertical scroller to allow you to select something: it’s a very, very compact way to present a lot. Most of the flashcard browser is off-screen, so it takes up very little space while offering a lot. The view is considerably cleaner as a result.
The Questionnaire
I sent out a questionnaire in the form of a little game to the newsletter, Discord, and YouTube last week. You were given 50 euros and the assignment of spending it on new features for the Practice Drawing This website. Although you theoretically have until September 8th to participate, a clear trend is showing. The 3D models are hugely in demand, which makes sense. If these parametric 3D models are helpful at all, this is the only place you can find them. Not only did you allocate a significant budget to it, but you also provided me with valuable tips on how to improve the user interface for the 3D models.
I myself spend most of my time in the flashcards, but alas!
Rembrandt wanted to be known for his biblical paintings, but he’s remembered for his other work, like The Night Watch. Noel Sickles did excellent illustrations during his long career, but he is remembered for introducing chiaroscuro (stark black and white, black-spotting) in newspaper strips when he was around 18. You make lots of things, and your audience chooses what resonates.
I have 885 flashcards now, which should be more than enough to last a lifetime.
3D models it is!
One thing I am overruling you on: the User Experience part stays key even if you allocated little budget to it. That is one key thing I am offering. The information on the “Practice Drawing This” site isn’t new or unique; I’ve just presented a unique, streamlined way for you to interact with that information, making it easy to practice drawing.
Loads of improvements and additions are coming soon!
Yours sincerely,
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