Last week my wife shared a web-comic that has since been making the email/web circuit. It's beautifully drawn, but it is particularly significant to me because it incorporates some of Bill Watterson's (Calvin and Hobbes) words given at a graduation in 1990. Just like his strips about a young boy and his stuffed tiger, it is full of meaning and wisdom.
click to see the entire strip
When I left my teaching job, I encountered a lot of misunderstanding from a lot of people. I originally thought people would be happy for me because I had chosen to make the change to focus on what I loved doing. But instead I found that most people didn't know what to make of a person who wanted to be a freelance musician and teacher.
An artist I know once told me--when I was a much-younger and aspiring musician--that I would have to make sure to give myself time to create. I think people who don't create art often underestimate the amount of time it takes. Learning to perform music takes hours (upon hours!) of practice. Writing songs and composing, recording and arranging music takes just as much time. It's very hard to "squeeze" in creative activity around a busy schedule.
Then when we had a child, and I took on the task of adjusting my schedule to raise Elmer, I again encountered a great deal of misunderstanding. Honestly--looking back--our choice made a lot of sense. Anali has a regular job at an office from 9-5, whereas I worked from home and could adjust my own work schedule accordingly. Even so, I was told (and sometimes still am told) that it is "woman's work" and that I shouldn't be doing it. (This isn't to say that Anali hasn't had to give anything up! We both have given a lot to our little guy.)
You'd think in our modern society that has so changed--and is still changing--that more people would understand a non-traditional life. Bill Watterson did not let his commercial success or the allure of wealth guide his career. In fact, because of the difficulty of avoiding the influence of his commercial success he left the public sphere and never returned. Instead he focused on his family and living a life the way he wanted.
I think that's what makes him a success.
"To invent your own life's meaning is not easy but it's still allowed and I think you'll be happier for the trouble."
- Bill Watterson
http://zenpencils.com/comic/128-bill-watterson-a-cartoonists-advice/
Thanks to Gavin Aung Than (zenpencils.com) for his great artwork!
An artist I know once told me--when I was a much-younger and aspiring musician--that I would have to make sure to give myself time to create. I think people who don't create art often underestimate the amount of time it takes. Learning to perform music takes hours (upon hours!) of practice. Writing songs and composing, recording and arranging music takes just as much time. It's very hard to "squeeze" in creative activity around a busy schedule.
Then when we had a child, and I took on the task of adjusting my schedule to raise Elmer, I again encountered a great deal of misunderstanding. Honestly--looking back--our choice made a lot of sense. Anali has a regular job at an office from 9-5, whereas I worked from home and could adjust my own work schedule accordingly. Even so, I was told (and sometimes still am told) that it is "woman's work" and that I shouldn't be doing it. (This isn't to say that Anali hasn't had to give anything up! We both have given a lot to our little guy.)
You'd think in our modern society that has so changed--and is still changing--that more people would understand a non-traditional life. Bill Watterson did not let his commercial success or the allure of wealth guide his career. In fact, because of the difficulty of avoiding the influence of his commercial success he left the public sphere and never returned. Instead he focused on his family and living a life the way he wanted.
I think that's what makes him a success.
"To invent your own life's meaning is not easy but it's still allowed and I think you'll be happier for the trouble."
- Bill Watterson
http://zenpencils.com/comic/128-bill-watterson-a-cartoonists-advice/
Thanks to Gavin Aung Than (zenpencils.com) for his great artwork!
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