Episode 434 of the CMP, a Creativity Matters Podcast — thinking about year-end reflection and a captivating year-over-year video series
This episode has a short sequence of vignettes – or maybe a sequence of short vignettes, little things, daily things, moments of light, memory, and craft.
The main portion of this episode hinges on a set of video interviews with Billie Eilish. In 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, Vanity Fair has sat down with Billie and recorded a one-on-one. It’s beautifully done, and when you watch one of the later years, you see some of the prior-year questions and answers side by side or in sequence. You also get to watch Billie watching/listening to her answer from a previous year. It’s a really fascinating process. The juxtaposition of answers, the small changes, the maturation, and the evolution is wonderful. I enjoyed watching 2019 and then 2020. I really enjoyed her in these interview videos.
But watching them also made me wish we all had the benefit of this kind of process – and of someone who cares about our answers.
I do a short set of end-of-year questions. I haven’t posted 2020 yet, but you can see the earlier ones here. I also post questions to kickstart thinking, goal-setting, and planning for the new year. I’ll be posting updates for this year soon.
These kinds of question sets (and you can find lots of options online) can be valuable. They are, however, mostly line-item answers. They invite you to just list things, write simple one-liners, and give concrete information that helps you document your year …. the one ending and the one beginning.
The video interview does something just a bit different. There is something different in answering questions out loud, in talking out your answers. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to watch yourself thinking through and answering questions from earlier points in your life? Wouldn’t you like to see your answers even from last year, pre-pandemic, and then see how you answer questions on the spot this year after a topsy-turvy year at home due to COVID-19?
Lots to think about.
Note: after I recorded, I thought that it may sound super odd that I even blinked at the fact that my son doesn’t remember that fire truck. Of course at that age (the actual Christmas in question), he was too young, for sure. Sometimes we forget that. That truck and the whole “mini car/city” thing was something that lasted for years. Even so, the pragmatic part of me knows those memories aren’t there. It’s my own issue with reconciling things.
#IllustrateYourWeek December
I will be continuing #illustrateyourweek through December and posting prompts and nudges at Instagram. You will find more information (explanation, strategy, approach, and more) at Instagram.
Listen to Episode 434
This episode is available in many of your favorite podcast players or via the YouTube video (audio only) below. I hope you will follow (subscribe) at YouTube, too. The video format makes it easy to pull the podcast up here on the site or in your YouTube app.
Mentioned in this Episode (or Related)
- Episode 286: Holiday Light and Showing Up (and older show)
- Episode 287: All But One
- Episode 367: Illustrated Journal
- Billie Eilish: Same Interview, The Third Year | Vanity Fair
- Billie Eilish: Same Interview, The Fourth Year | Vanity Fair
- Crocheted “Baubles” ornaments
Tools
- Notes on large format sketchbooks
- ROYGBIV supplies: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet
- Uni-Gel Alpha Shaker pencil (mine is listed as “slightly firm” – but it’s super cushy; they do come in other softness/hardness ratings. I really do love this shaker!)
- Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, Large, White (these things disappear like socks; you can never have too many white erasers lying around)
- Moleskine Art Sketchbook (what I’m using for regular drawing and my illustrated journal)
- Moleskine Art Sketchbook — the REALLY big one — A3 (11.75″ x 16.5″)
- Platinum Carbon Black ink (what’s in my fountain pen)
- Sktchy app for inspiration photos
- Micron 08 (larger nib good for thicker lines or filling in small-medium spaces)
- Micron 01 (favorite for drawing)
- Micron Sampler
Show Information:
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- Guitar music: Nicholai Heidlas on SoundCloud
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