Tea with McNair

• labor day? okay ...make something!

Working on Book No.2 (NOT the title ...really) in my creativity series. In order to keep at it everyday I use my MacBook Pro, notes doodled & scribbled on sticky notes while reading  ...everything, long & short passages written in my with-me-all-the-time-sketchbook, a great iPhone app "Dragon Dictation" I speak into and email to myself . Whatever works to capture any and every thought. I am also keen on picking up any writing instrument from one of my trusty and beloved FOUNTAIN PENS, felt pens, and I still love using good old No.2 lead pencil. I just picked up a couple of dark, soft "4B"s at Hobby Lobby. (See previous post, below, for link to 40% off coupon!)

Everyday that I write new words, paragraphs, and pages, or draw and design art and graphics for my new book is a day that inspires all of my life. It puts me in an ebullient mood to interact with friends and strangers. (That would be above my normal ebullience.)

This weekend ...TODAY, if you do not already have a way to capture your thoughts, imaginings, and dreams, GET SOMETHING. Hobby Lobby, Michael's, Dick Blick's, Utrecht, or your local, independent artists supply store all have a grand array of sketchbooks, notebooks, and writing, sketching, and doodling implements of every size, shape, color, and price range. (Dollar Tree has great "41-HB" pencils with excellent erasers ..they're green and come several for a buck. Grab some.)

The first page of all of my (150 +) sketchbooks has this phrase ...

"Anything worth remembering, is worth writing down."

The key to what size, shape, style of "sketchbook", notebook, Moleskine, to get is one that you will USE ...of(t)en. Daily is best—even for ten minutes.

Get the "Goldilocks" edition: Not too big (to have with you all the time), Not too small (to make a big doodle when BIG ideas come your way) ...but just right (for you.) Ask: will it fit in my (bag you carry a lot)?

Let me know, let us all know, what you created this Labor Day weekend.

If you didn't read it last week, read my previuos post, BELOW, for a little creative poke.

[Every once in a while someone says, "I read your, blog, McNair, but there's no (name of art story I mentioned) in my area. Here's clue: Target and Walmart (I was there yesterday) have all the tools you'll need to jump start your weekend of doodling, journaling, visual thinking, and idea capturing.]

"The hardest part about starting is starting."

~ Guy Kawasaki {blog}

•   •   •   •   •    •   •

DODDLING :: Rather than say, "I can't even draw a stick figure." Open your copy of my book "HATCH!" and do the excersises in chapter 14, The Doodle Factor and start using McNair's Fearless Field Guide to Doodling & Visual Thinking (page 167-183.) 

WHAT? You don't have a copy of HATCH? I gotta go lie down. Meanwhile, go to the top of this blog ("what's brewing") and download the FREE PDF of the opening pages (including the complete first chapter with my doodles): HATCH-SAMPLE.

AND ...you can order signed + personalized copies of HATCH, directly from me, using the link above. (Same price as Amazon)

Best time to start: RIGHT NOW:

1. Download Hobby Lobby 40% off coupon (linked in post below);  2. (No Hobby Lobby near you) find an artist supply in your area, or Walmart, Target ... 

3. While you're there, get a sketchbook/notebook for spouse, friend, your kid ...call and have them meet you there. WHAT? You've never heard of giving Labor Day Presents?

Whatever you do ...DO. Get movin'.

 

 

Related articles

- doodle on!

- what are your plans for the weekend?

Notebooks Buying Guide

• what are your plans for the weekend?

TRY THIS :: Start something. Finish something. Continue something. There is a "something" in your world. A passion, a pet project, a dormant hobby that needs you. You may be the only one in your world who is interested in ...(something), but you are interested, fascinated, inspired, engage by "it."

While Summer is still all around us and weather should not be an issue—get out and do it. OUT ...side, OUT ...in the garage, OUT ...of town ..OUT of the box you spend far too much time in. (And unless your passion requires snow, get out and get after it.) And if you do need snow, this weekend is for your OTHER passion, the snow-less one.

You need not tell anyone. 

TRY THIS :: Tell, whomever you need to, "I will be un available for a few hours Saturday AND Sunday afternoon."

Then GO.

Do not go half way, or do just a little bit. Take four hours, half a day, overnight, and GO for it. It just might save your life.

The UCLA School of Medicine's REAL AGE* project believes that to the degree that you are pursuing one of your life's passions you can ADD (or SUBTRACT) up to six years TO (or FROM) your life.

You may need to dig through some old files, move some dusty boxes in the garage, attic, or basement, or call a friend to see if you can borrow the fly rod he "borrowed" from you #%@&! years ago.

If you cannot find your box of water paints (quickly) and and paper, there's a Hobby Lobby near you and you can 40% one item with this week's COUPON (good through Saturday, 16 August 2014—but they have a new coupon every week! (Closed Sundays)

So, what's it gonna be? 

TRY THIS:
    • Fishing (call your buddy: Have him bring your rod & reel he borrowed)

    • Painting (there's an art class, or three, somewhere, TODAY, check online)

    • Writing (Readers await your story)

    • Build a ... (in the backyard, park, school)

    • Read (start, or finish reading) ...

    • Blog Post (just write it) ...     

• Photo safari ...

 

     • Teach your kid how to ...

    • Edit+post video ...

    • Cook a new recipe

    • Fill ___ pages in your sketchbook

    • GET a sketchbook—use coupon. (Start with a simple, spiral-bound sketchbook so you will USE it.)

It doesn't need to make sense to anyone, but you. But YOU are the reason for pursuing you passions. (You have more than one.) Passions are the clues to who we really are in our essence—our most essential, valuable self. It is why you are here.

Find (and pursue) your passion and you find your power and know your purpose.

Have a great weekend. Let me know what you create. 

Remember:

 

 

[Image, right, available on t-shirts, TEA mugs, etc. at McNair's Curiosity Shop. Drawing is McNair in action, captured by Steve Bjorkman—a friend since 6th grad!]

--> Discover your "REAL AGE" by taking the FREE online Real Age Test. You might be younger or older than your age ...I'm younger, a lot. Find out. 

• All art (unless otherwise noted) © 2012 by C. McNair Wilson. Car repair & tank truck public domain.