Author: James Chiang

“Bridges of Sighs” by master painter John Singer Sargent. In my humble opinion, Sargent’s loose and playful watercolor studies, done when he was free from commissioned work, have more vigor, life and beauty than even his masterpieces in oil paint.

“I need to be alone. I need to ponder my shame and my despair in seclusion; I need the sunshine and the paving stones of the streets without companions, without conversation, face to face with myself, with only the music of my heart for company.” – Henry Miller (from Tropic of Cancer)

First off, my apologies for “disappearing” for a couple of weeks. This blog is now almost a year old, and I’ve kept the posts going pretty much weekly since its inception. However, there are times in life when we need to go “off course” – to be free of routine, free from habit (even good ones) – in order to be re-routed or reminded about how to live. As artists, it’s essential that we take stock once in a while. In business it’s called taking a snap shot of your company by looking at the balance sheet, to see what you’ve got and where you’re at. In life it’s a hard look at the now, a pure and unbiased reality check on the totality of life.

Image from a segment directed by the kind and talented Roger Allers (co-director of The Lion King) from the Salma Hayek-produced animated film based on writer-poet Kahlil Gibran’s beautiful book, The Prophet. This unique independent film boasts the talents of eight different directors and numerous visual artists.

Taking time out is something many artists in this industry forget to do. Fearful of not having stable employment, constantly looking for or setting up the next gig has become the routine of the animation artist. It’s a chaotic way to live and a rather large price to pay in order to do what we love. Where does family, friendships and personal time fit in? Should they not be our priorities, rather than an afterthought?

My own recent dilemma – contemplating a huge change in lifestyle that might bring both excitement and joy but also a return to daily challenge and uncertainty – has in itself forced me to take stock, to see and ask what I myself really want and how I’m most useful in the rather short time that I’m here on this planet.

The Song of the Sea is a gorgeous hand-drawn film by Tomm Moore, who also created the wonderful Secret of Kells. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015, the film is a beautiful exploration and expression of grief and magic done in a visual style that’s fitting for this moving Celtic Tale.

And of course, we can only assess our situations properly if we step back or away. Taking the time to breathe while falling off course or being lost can sometimes serve as a great reminder of the things that make us who we are. Some routines, such as daily drawing, painting or writing were dearly missed as I wandered. As strong creatures of habit, human beings don’t do well without routine. And as long as those routines are healthy, both mentally and physically, we know that they serve to strengthen our resolve and better our lives. Being away from that re-affirms their necessity.

BlackSad. Juan Díaz Canales (writer) and Juanjo Guarnido (artist) created magic with their anthropomorphic noir-styled graphic novel crime thriller.

Watercolor studies done to explore color and atmosphere for Blacksad. Juanjo Guarnido’s artistry is beautiful in concept and execution with each panel and page carefully planned and constructed.

It’s good as an artist to always remember to see things in a new, weird way.” – Tim Burton

The other good thing that taking time out does, is it allows us to refresh ourselves, a chance to reboot our initial drives and dreams. Abandoned goals and “to-do” lists get a second chance. In the studio, I’ll wipe out everything on my four by six feet wall-mounted whiteboard that I use to set weekly goals or meetings and turn it into a place to play with my immediate future. I’ll do some free-form or visual mapping – a brainstorming technique that allows ideas to organically and sporadically form – to help me. Sometimes a new story or creative idea evolves, while at other times, the idea of calling or visiting an old friend pops up. Now that it’s visually in front of me, it gives me the extra push to make the commitment.

Visual mapping page  by Steal Like an Artist author, Austin Kleon. Kleon is a big fan of using visual mapping and here he does one after reading John Berger’s book on the Ways of Seeing.

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” – Henry Miller

Taking time off from creating and working diligently also allows us to see clearly again. Every artist knows that if you stare at something for too long (especially your own work) you can no longer see its faults. It’s why counsel or coaching is often necessary to improve our skills because objectivity is not possible when our senses have become conditioned to its surroundings.

The beautiful art of Vincent Van Gogh has become so commonplace that people forget its beauty. Look at something long enough and you won’t see what you saw before. Our perspective changes with time and exposure.

Things that looked special, stop being so special. Things that looked off, start to appear okay. Our eyes (and senses in general) adapt so we don’t become obsessed or overly sensitized to our environment. In harsh times, that’s good for survival but as modern-day working artists, we must never let that happen for any sustained period of time. We must keep a higher standard. We must stay fresh.

“What we need is more sense of the wonder of life and less of this business of making a picture.” – Robert Henri

Of course, falling off course sometimes is just that – a much needed break from being on course. Even the best of artists, writers and musicians go into periods of non-thinking voids, free from actual physical creation.

“To be silent the whole day, see no newspaper, hear no radio, listen to no gossip, be thoroughly and completely lazy, thoroughly and completely indifferent to the fate of the world, is the finest medicine a man can give himself.” – Henry Miller.

Vacations are hard for me personally. My wife teases me, often saying that I don’t know how to relax or do nothing. This period of a lack of productivity drives my mind mad with guilt, sadness and discomfort. It’s practically clinical! But time off is healthy and this obsession with productivity (or success for some people) has become the common malaise of our times. Our accelerated lifestyle and our easy access to technology make taking time off a near impossibility. It takes strong unsung discipline to do nothing these days.

The prolific Norman Rockwell, seen here in his studio, painted his last commissioned painting at the ripe old age of 82, two years before his passing. There is no greater activity for an artist than that of the act of creation.

Finally, the most beneficial aspect of time off is that it propels us to get back to our business of doing art, but hopefully with greater vigor and new found inspiration. As we return to our craft and accept the impact we might have on others, we know that this is what we’re meant to do. And that, when all is said and done, is very re-assuring.

“I suppose the only word for me, when the chips are down, is that I am an artist.” – James Baldwin