Oh brilliant Fiona - yes I get exactly that with drawing and sound, such a strange phenomenon, I have synesthesia and I’ve always put it in the same bag! And I’m with Dick on purple! Your new book sounds exciting!
Loves this Fiona! Well done on finishing the artwork, and so lovely to get out and fill that creative well again! I am getting to know that cycle of deep work hole to decompression very well now, and the refilling and refueling is so important! Loads of gorgeous inspiration here! I never knew that about Van Gogh, even after doing a book about him! Thanks for the list of audiobooks, I’m about to launch into artwork mode until February! Which ones would you recommend? I have to say I tend to listen to more “trashy” books, as I have internally decided it’s a waste to listen to good books on Audible, but you have totally changed my mind! Thanks for that! And I TOTALLY know what you mean! I am immediately plunged into whatever audio I was listening to when I look at my artwork! Haha!! Xxx
Thanks Ella, so glad I got round to compiling it all. The Van Gogh box totally charmed me, such a lovely way to work out his colour. It reminded me that Paul Smith has been known to wind yarn around cardboard to design his iconic stripes!
I mix it up with my audio company whilst I work. Sometimes silence for days when I've got big problems to solve. But I've found really good writing does engage me and keep me focused on artwork for good chunks of time. I enjoyed all of the ones listed - the lightest read here would probably be You are Here by David Nicholls (really made me want to go on a big walk!) and I was so sorry to finish Bee Sting by Paul Murray. Let me know if you've got any tips! : ) x
About the Van Gogh tip: when he was younger, for many months, my son's absolute favorite toy was a set of wool dryer balls I bought on Etsy (in an Ikea laundry hamper, like an ultra mini ball pit :)). Since he loved them, I ended up ordering probably about 20+ of them, plant dyed in lovely colors, and I always found myself creating color palettes with those, I must still have the pictures!
And about remembering what you listened too while creating something... In 2014, I completed a 365 project (365 drawings on index cards), and it was definitely the year I listened to the most podcasts ever (Design Matters, The Moth, etc.). Even 10 years later, I get flashbacks of what I was listening to if I ever get a peak of one those cards!
The mini ball pit wool balls sound wonderful! That's powerful stuff, to still be having the flashbacks ten years on. But I guess we get so absorbed in the world created by the audio whilst we're drawing, that it gets fused with the image in our memory! : )
Soooo inspiring - I like love Van Gough’s knitting collection and Dick Bruna’s ban on purple… and what a great idea to collect pencils relating to the places you’ve visited. VERY much looking forward to the new book too 😍
Thank you Jane! Turned out there was a bit of a common link on the theme of colour throughout the post. Yes, I thought it was hilarious that Dick Bruna doesn't accept purple is a real colour! Let's just hope he never crossed paths with Prince! : )
Such an interesting post, Fiona! Loved it. The Dick Bruna studio reconstruction looks fascinating - a real, behind-the-scenes insight into his life and work - and his chair, so comfortable! Thanks for sharing all this 😊
Thanks Simon! There was such a lovely atmosphere in the studio and a sign suggesting we sit on his chair! I also tried getting writing powers of Roald Dahl's chair a few years ago. It's developing into a bit of a thing! : )
And also want to say I've been enjoying your honest substacks!
Oh brilliant Fiona - yes I get exactly that with drawing and sound, such a strange phenomenon, I have synesthesia and I’ve always put it in the same bag! And I’m with Dick on purple! Your new book sounds exciting!
Thanks Sam! Oh I hadn't linked it with synesthesia - how interesting!
Wonderful post - I’m so envious of your trip! It looks and sounds fabulous! 🤩 xx
Thank you Kate! Must admit the whole trip exceeded my expectations. There wasn't much pre planning involved and managed to fit a lot in. : )
Loves this Fiona! Well done on finishing the artwork, and so lovely to get out and fill that creative well again! I am getting to know that cycle of deep work hole to decompression very well now, and the refilling and refueling is so important! Loads of gorgeous inspiration here! I never knew that about Van Gogh, even after doing a book about him! Thanks for the list of audiobooks, I’m about to launch into artwork mode until February! Which ones would you recommend? I have to say I tend to listen to more “trashy” books, as I have internally decided it’s a waste to listen to good books on Audible, but you have totally changed my mind! Thanks for that! And I TOTALLY know what you mean! I am immediately plunged into whatever audio I was listening to when I look at my artwork! Haha!! Xxx
Thanks Ella, so glad I got round to compiling it all. The Van Gogh box totally charmed me, such a lovely way to work out his colour. It reminded me that Paul Smith has been known to wind yarn around cardboard to design his iconic stripes!
I mix it up with my audio company whilst I work. Sometimes silence for days when I've got big problems to solve. But I've found really good writing does engage me and keep me focused on artwork for good chunks of time. I enjoyed all of the ones listed - the lightest read here would probably be You are Here by David Nicholls (really made me want to go on a big walk!) and I was so sorry to finish Bee Sting by Paul Murray. Let me know if you've got any tips! : ) x
I loved reading about your trip, thank you!
About the Van Gogh tip: when he was younger, for many months, my son's absolute favorite toy was a set of wool dryer balls I bought on Etsy (in an Ikea laundry hamper, like an ultra mini ball pit :)). Since he loved them, I ended up ordering probably about 20+ of them, plant dyed in lovely colors, and I always found myself creating color palettes with those, I must still have the pictures!
And about remembering what you listened too while creating something... In 2014, I completed a 365 project (365 drawings on index cards), and it was definitely the year I listened to the most podcasts ever (Design Matters, The Moth, etc.). Even 10 years later, I get flashbacks of what I was listening to if I ever get a peak of one those cards!
Thank you Veronique, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
The mini ball pit wool balls sound wonderful! That's powerful stuff, to still be having the flashbacks ten years on. But I guess we get so absorbed in the world created by the audio whilst we're drawing, that it gets fused with the image in our memory! : )
Soooo inspiring - I like love Van Gough’s knitting collection and Dick Bruna’s ban on purple… and what a great idea to collect pencils relating to the places you’ve visited. VERY much looking forward to the new book too 😍
Thank you Jane! Turned out there was a bit of a common link on the theme of colour throughout the post. Yes, I thought it was hilarious that Dick Bruna doesn't accept purple is a real colour! Let's just hope he never crossed paths with Prince! : )
What an inspiring trip! I've been to Amsterdam but I didn't know most of the wonderful places you visited. Now I know where to go next time!
Thanks Momoko, I'm feeling lucky I managed to see so much. There's still more I want to do next time too! : )
What a dream trip! I would love to see his studio. Loved reading this. Very inspired to go and make some collage!
Ah thanks Charlotte! Glad it left you feeling inspired! : )
Such an interesting post, Fiona! Loved it. The Dick Bruna studio reconstruction looks fascinating - a real, behind-the-scenes insight into his life and work - and his chair, so comfortable! Thanks for sharing all this 😊
Thanks Simon! There was such a lovely atmosphere in the studio and a sign suggesting we sit on his chair! I also tried getting writing powers of Roald Dahl's chair a few years ago. It's developing into a bit of a thing! : )
And also want to say I've been enjoying your honest substacks!
Haha I love that approach to inspiration 😂 I hope it pays off!
And thank you 🙏