Offhours Weekly #10: Take the Wheel
Drawings, Quotes, Lettering & Notes.
👋🏾 Hi, welcome to Offhours Weekly, a share of illustrations, drawings, thoughts and links. Thanks for being here, you’re amazing, tell a friend.
Tapped In
I’ve been thinking about the idea of a muse this week as I’ve been formulating the low stakes project idea, mentioned in the last write up. A muse in the sense of an energy at the center of my artistic inspiration. I think of that energy like a spiritual guide.
Whether you subscribe to the notion or not, if you have ever been in a state where you feel super creative and your ideas are flowing, that’s what I’m referencing—being connected to that energy, tapping into the universe. It all feels a little mystical, and might sound crazy. But you have to be a little out there to want to recreate images you see in your head.
I can’t force ideas, and when I do, they come out terribly. I try to remind myself to surrender to process. I have to enable myself to do the things that help to feed the energy and let things happen as they should.
My process starts with curiosity, and is then followed up with supporting that initial spark—collecting information, grabbing references, sketching and then at some point—hopefully—a flow develops and it starts to stick. I put my hands up, and let the muse take the wheel. An energy, a wave, I have to move with and just be the vessel for.
I like to picture a muse with ideas floating around, trying to find a person, a vessel, and if you are ready when it finds you, your cup will be full. Too much? Probably.
🎧 Music Vibes
Going Normal by Matt Martians - One of the members of a group I follow, The Internet. Stand out tracks for me are ‘Stampede’, ‘God Said its Ok’ and ‘Mercury Retrograde’.
🔗 Linky Links
You may notice that most of my links are about painting and art studio visits. I love seeing a studio space and a process unfold. Way more inspiring to me than learning some new trick with illustrator or photoshop.
Backyard Studio Shed is a Sanctuary For Painter Sari Shrya - Found this dope youtube channel The Quest for Zest, that features studio visits in Austin and NYC.
In the studio: artist and designer Yinka Ilori - So much color! First came across this artist when I read about his colorful chair designs.
Lenworth Mcintosh - I call him my cousin, since he’s Jamaican. He’s been my internet friend for a long time and I love his work. I’ve witnessed his move from apparel start up to comic book creator/illustrator to oil paintings.
Welcome new subscribers! Thank you for joining the gang.
Thanks for subscribing. Until next week!
- Stay Wonderful.
Visit my Website: vaughnfender.com
Shop Zines & Tings: vaughnfender.com/shop
Talk to me: @vaughnfender