You Don't Need to Rush
On hurry and rest
I am keeping this one short because a man is tired.
Something to listen to:
I had a situation recently. I came home from work on Friday with no plans except to relax and do things I enjoy. I put on a movie but did not have the patience to sit through it so I decided to read a novel I’ve been intending on. I suck at reading fiction. After quickly getting bored of reading, I decided to try drawing for fun. I took my sketchbook, opened it, stared at a blank page, closed it, and retreated to YouTube—my usual pastime. I didn’t spend too long there either. I was bored and exhausted, feeling the fleeting nature of the weekend. I rushed from one activity to the next to “make the most of my time off”. There’s something ironic about trying to speed-run rest.
This is a newsletter about limits.
I wrote, at some point, about comparing myself to other artists; particularly to people who have achieved significant milestones in their crafts. They have put in the proverbial 10,000 hours. In my aspiration towards such a level of mastery, I’ve tried to condense a journey into a session. That said, I succeeded…until I didn’t. I learn things pretty quickly, but I found that in a hurry, I also plateau quickly. My limits are a reality. I get tired, bored, and stuck, wishing to be limitless.
In our current landscape, there is this expectation for rapid generation of “content” and new ideas to keep people clicking. Trends are shifting every week and it is hard to keep up.
There is always more to create and naturally, the concern about falling behind comes up. Sidenote: Why are all the artists dropping albums this year? In the midst of all this, It is important to retain our humanity. I want to consider how my limits can be a blessing. If I could endlessly create as fast as possible, I would not have space to rest and celebrate the things I have made1.
Have you ever thought of rest as a vocation? Rose J Percy wrote about this:
Respect your limits and take a break when you need one.
Some Things I’m Enjoying Lately:
Reb played in a Lorcana tournament so we got together to help him prep for it.
Boom Chicka Pop: Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn is the best popcorn to do it.
Ụlọ Radio vol. 2 is here! This time it features alté sounds and afrobeats as well as some other genre blends.
The cover artwork for Ụlọ Radio vol. 2 features more distorted typography and uses the colour palette of the Nigerian Flag.
Feature Work:
She asked me to illustrate 4 flowers in 4 different styles. At the time, I often asked her for ideas for things to draw. Her favorite flowers are daisies though she’s known for sunflowers.
A concept discussed in Garden City by John Mark Comer and in the Bible. Genesis 1-2
I feel the ache of exhaustion with you. Trying to sit in the uncomfortable space and listen to the exhaustion. I think it’s trying to talk to me, but most days, I’m too tired to listen.
The struggle is real.
When I read this line, "I want to consider how my limits can be a blessing." I immediately thought about how I approached painting with extremely limited brush skills.
Accepting that limitation meant I could start. 30 paintings later and I had a set of beautiful minimalist, abstract pieces that told the story of being and becoming from my perspective.