Possibly the best birthday gift ever

I was given the book by a friend about twenty years ago. I remember looking at and loving the cover (it wasn’t the current cover but rather a picture of a bright rainbow coloured handprint dripping with paint), reading through the first few pages and thinking that the book probably wasn’t for me.

The book found its way to my bedroom bookshelf and sat there for a number of years until I was diagnosed with ME/CFS and had become too ill to work. Illness made me begin to reassess my life and question paths I’d taken (and not taken).

Embracing jealousy and diving into the book

For a while I’d been thinking about how jealous I’d been of my school friends who’d studied art and gone on to art college. (I’d failed my O’Level art exam at sixteen and let go of any dreams of being a creative person when I saw my result).

The bright blue spine of The Artist’s Way kept catching my eye and I eventually picked it up. One of the first things I read as I flicked through the book was that Julia Cameron believed that jealousy was an indicator of the things we secretly wanted to be doing. Maybe this book was for me after all!

A very long journey (and one that’s not over yet!)

Those first (very uncomfortable) feelings of jealousy have taken me a very long way and been turned into something far more positive.

I’ve worked through the book four times over the last decade and a half. Each time I discover something new and feel like I take a new creative leap.

Time to work through the book for a fifth time

Now feels like a good time to work through the book a fifth time, revisit the exercises, re-embrace the tools of writing Morning Pages and going on Artist’s Dates (and even committing to the dreaded media deprivation week in Chapter Four!).

Join me?

If you’re a member of Sustainably Creative and would like to join me and some other members to work through the book together then you’d be most welcome. I’m planning to begin in the first week of February and will be setting up a dedicated chatroom in the members’ forum (new members are most welcome too of course!).

Julia Cameron on jealousy

If, like I was, you’re feeling jealous of other people’s creative skills and successes then this little interview with Julia might reassure you that that’s okay (and even a good thing!).

__

If you’d like to work through The Artist’s Way with other Sustainably Creative members then pop over to the members’ forum and let Michael know in this discussion. He’ll be setting up a dedicated chatroom soon and will let you know details of that, plus when he’ll be starting working through the book via email.

If you’re not yet a member, but would like to join in and work through the book too, then you can find out about becoming a member here.

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.

Below is today’s One Thing Today podcast. Every couple of weeks the podcast, which is sent out to Sustainably Creative members every weekday, will also be available here on the site.

In which Michael brews his morning coffee and talks a little more about how he is making use of bribery and treats to get past his post holiday resistance to getting down to work.

Members can join in with a chat over on the members’ forum about using bribes and treats to get work done.

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.

I’ve been doing a lot of cajoling since my break from work over Christmas and New Year. Partly I’m a little tired after my wonderful trip to Spain, but partly I’m also unwilling to get back to work after the fun and games of the holidays.

Getting the balance right

This is something I experience a lot. There’s a balance between on one hand, being kind and gentle with myself so that I don’t overdo things and use up my precious and limited energy, and on the other, not giving into the natural resistance to working that we all experience from time to time whether we’re well or ill.

So I’m cajoling myself. Promising myself little treats when I get a few things done. Here in the cafe I’m planning to buy myself a mug of Earl Grey tea (and maybe, just maybe a cake!) after I hit publish on this post.

A little cup for little treats

At home, I’ve been making heavy use of a lovely little cup I was sent from Christmas. The cup is small enough to be filled (guilt-free!) with my favourite Spanish hot chocolate, and I can repeat the bribe a couple of times a day if need be!

What can you get done with a little bribery?

Bribery is a very useful tool in the getting our Important Work done arsenal. What can you get done today with some small treats and bribery?

If you’re a member of Sustainably Creative you can join in a discussion in the members’ forum about using small treats and bribery to help us get our Important Work done.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my fortnightly(ish) The Important Work Letter. Sign up on the right for free.

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.

A Sustainable Life

I’ve been drawing my A Sustainable Life digital postcards and emailing them out to members of Sustainably Creative for about six months now.

Celebrating a little milestone

To celebrate this little milestone I’ve made a very limited print run of the first ten postcards.

The cards come in sets of twenty (two of each design), are signed and editioned, printed on lovely heavyweight paper (350gsm) and measure 105mm x 148mm (4.13″ x 5.82″).

The cards looked beautiful framed (as kindly demonstrated below by Sustainably Creative member, Jez Whitworth) and cost £20.00 (plus p & p) per set. There are ten sets available.

£20.00
(plus £2.95 towards postage wherever you are in the world).

Members’ discount

Members of Sustainably Creative are entitled to a 25% discount, making a set just £15.00 (plus p & p).

Login and click here to order.

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.

I haven’t flown for quite some while and wasn’t aware of the security measure that means all liquids and potions that come along on holiday with us need to fit into a VERY small clear plastic bag. I’ve spend quite a bit of time getting everything to fit! Moreover, because I’m travelling light and only taking hand luggage I’ve had to make very careful choices about what else to pack. 

Packing like this has reminded me just how useful limits are in our creative life too, and I’m chatting about that in the One Thing Today Podcast below. 

The One Thing Today podcast is sent out every weekday to Sustainably Creative members and provides a creative nudge to help listening find one small thing everyday to do to move their creative lives on a little. 

One Thing Today #164: Limits

In which Michael records the podcast en route to his New Year’s holiday in Spain and talks about the usefulness of limits in our creative endeavours. 

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.

Pyjamas and Christmas cake!

This morning I’m podcasting in my pyjamas and celebrating the fact by having a slice of (chocolate!) Christmas cake for breakfast.

In today’s One Thing Today podcast, as a bit of an antidote to all of yesterday’s talk about New Year’s resolutions, I’m talking about the importance of noticing what we’ve done. I discuss a very useful looking web tool called iDoneThis which someone very kindly sent me a link to to recently (thank you, Gerri!).

Cornerstone of the membership package

The One Thing Today podcasts are the cornerstone of the Sustainable Creative membership package and are emailed out to members every weekday. Between Christmas and New Year they are available to everyone to listen to.

If you’d like to have the podcast delivered to your inbox everyday find out more here.

One Thing Today #163: iDoneThis.com

In which Michael is delighted to be able to podcast in his Pyjamas and eat a slice of (chocolate!) Christmas cake for breakfast.

In this episode he talks about the importance of noticing what we’ve done and mentions a site called iDoneThis.com, which looks like a perfect tool to help with just that very thing.

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.

A manageable start to the day

However, I am enjoying recording the daily One Thing Today podcasts. They are a manageable start to the day and, especially after a bit of a break from work, seem to help me get back into a creative and work rhythm.

The podcasts are the cornerstone of the Sustainable Creative membership package and are emailed out to members every weekday. Between Christmas and New Year they are available to everyone to listen to.

I’m discussing the pros and cons of making New Year’s resolutions in today’s podcast.

If you’d like to have the podcast delivered to your inbox everyday find out more here.

One Thing Today #162: New Year’s resolutions

In which Michael pours out his morning coffee and ponders the pros and con’s of making New Year’s resolutions.

If you’re a member of Sustainably Creative and you’d like to join in with the chat about New Year’s resolutions in the members’ forum you can do so here.

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.

Missing the daily podcasts

I have missed recording my daily podcast though. It has become part of my gentle creative rhythm and sets the tone for my day. In the summer months I record out in my studio, increasingly over the colder months I’ve formed a habit of recording in my kitchen while I wait for my coffee to brew.

A Good way to start the day

I then sit and sip my coffee while I upload the finished podcast. A good way to start the day and one which leaves me feeling like I’ve accomplished something (especially good on days when I don’t feel well enough to do much else).

The podcasts form the cornerstone of the Sustainably Creative membership package (the way I’m lucky enough to be able support myself), but I thought it would be nice to make them available to everyone for the next few days.

If you’d like to have the podcast delivered to your inbox everyday find out more here.

One Thing Today #161: Podcasting from a noisy kitchen

In which Michael podcasts from his noisy kitchen and talks about enjoying the ease of resting over the festive period.

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.

My teasmade brews me my morning cuppa, I wait a few minutes for it to steep and then I sit in bed drinking it slowly.

Savouring the quiet time

I savour this quiet time hugely.

When I first became ill my mornings were very different. I would wake in a huge panic, my heart pumping. I’d feel exhausted yet wide awake and immediate leap out of bed. I’d rush about, flitting from one thing to another trying to quell the panic and somehow get a grip on the day.

Now when I wake up, knowing I’m in charge of my schedule, I never fail to feel grateful. I don’t always sleep well, but knowing that I can enter the day slowly sipping my tea (and then go back to bed later in the day for a refreshing nap if I need to), is one of the best things about the life I’ve built for myself.

Creating a quiet oasis to start the day shouldn’t be underestimated

Ill or well, creating a quiet oasis to start the day calmly in shouldn’t be underestimated. It provides an opportunity to come to slowly and set our rhythm for the day ahead.

I often use the time to plan the one most important thing I want to get done that day and sometimes do a little writing or drawing so that I can feel I’ve already moved my creative work on just a little for the day before I get up.

Making a little progress before the hubbub encroaches

It doesn’t take long for the hubbub of other people’s rhythms to encroach on the day, sometimes sweeping us off in directions we wouldn’t choose for ourselves. By making use of this early morning quietness we can a least start the day as we would like and maybe plan or achieve a little bit of something to keep ourselves on creative track.

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.

150 One Thing Today podcasts

Yesterday I recorded my 150th One Thing Today podcast, something worthy of mentioning (and a large hot chocolate)!

To mark the occasion I thought I’d publish a selection of the the podcasts here. If you don’t know, I record the podcasts weekday morning, usually in my studio, but sometimes out and about (and over the colder months, in the warmth of my kitchen). Each day, over a cuppa, I plan the one small thing I’m going to do to moved my creative life on a little and hopefully encourage listeners to do the same.

If you’d like to listen to the podcasts daily, you can find out more about becoming a subscribing member of Sustainably Creative here.

Some past podcasts

One Thing Today #150: Recognising it’s time to stop

One Thing Today #132: Leaving knots alone

One Thing Today #122: Bribery and timers

One Thing Today #115: Little steps to feed our creative soul

One Thing Today #107: Dealing with blockages when deciding on our one thing for the day

Michael Nobbs is a full-time artist, blogger and tea drinker (not necessarily in that order). He writes, tweets and podcasts about drawing and trying to keep things simple.

In the late 1990s he was diagnosed with ME/CFS and, over the last decade he has learnt a lot about sustaining a creative career with limited energy.