October 12, 2009
“continuity”
Back in July, I interviewed Hazel Dooney, a very successful Australian artist. Asking her about how she manages her business, she made a very lucid point, one that has really stuck with me:
But none of it works without discipline. Early on in my career, I was told that success demanded one thing above all others: turning up. Turning up every bloody day, regardless of everything.
Besides the famous Woody Allen quote, this reminds me of when I wash about 18, living in Edinburgh. I was talking to the cartoonist, Hugh Dodd, who was a regular in the bar I worked in at the time. I asked him what was the secret of being a successful cartoonist, in his opinion.
“Continuity,” he said. “Anyone can draw a good cartoon… ONCE. But not everyone can draw a good cartoon, every day, day-in-day-out. It’s something you have to work VERY HARD at for many years before you even get close…”
Heh. Many years later, and I still don’t feel anywhere near “close”. Does anybody? But that’s what keeps us going, I suppose…
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A wee chuckle to start your day off right etc.
Good thoughts Hugh, thank you for sharing. I have found persistence to be a key theme of my successes. Even when things seem impossible, that’s when it’s most important to keep going. I am reminded of a British TV programme back in the 70s “Record Breakers” hosted by Roy Castle. The show always closed with the theme song “Dedication” sung by Roy:
Dedication. Dedication. Dedication.
That’s what you need.
If you wanna be the best,
and you wanna beat the rest.
Oo-ooh! Dedication’s what you need, if you wanna be a record-breaker.
Just wanted to share!
This post really hit home with me. Showing up and producing daily cartoons. I realize that regardless of anything else, I will keep producing because it serves as a way to filter life.
Love the new look Hugh! Heading down to Miami anytime soon?
Oh my goodness yes! I’ve been doing a Dragon a Day for the month of October, to improve my skills and expand my abilities. It’s funny because I can only hold myself accountable for it, but it’s working. It’s not just about making something good…it’s the variety that you produce which increases appeal across the masses.
i agree but how do you keep the excitement withing the repetitious continuity, thats the real trick imo
I’ve always been impressed with the discipline of Charles Schulz: 50 years of drawing his cartoon, every day, every frame, every line.
@Daniel, Yes, there’s something rather satisfying and old-school about how Charles Schultz plied his trade. One of the most famous, talented and richest cartoonists in the world, yet his M.O. was all about the work ethic.
Like Hazel said, “Just turning up, every bloody day…”
[…] via Gapingvoid. […]
The daily dedication is what makes you great or wears you down. Three of the most amazing cartoonists EVER packed it in at the peak of their popularity because daily syndication was a bear, and making it difficult to maintain their uncompromising standards. Bill Waterson “Calvin and Hobbes,” Berke Breathed “Bloom County” and Gary Larson’s “Farside.” For my money, cartoonists(syndicated or not) are amazing wellsprings of creativity. They prove if you want to be creative, really creative, do it every day. Hugh rocks. Cartoonists everywhere rock.
I have some good news and some bad. After 20+ years of plying my trade, I am “close.” I have hit my stride artistically, at last, the work moves people, consistently. The bad news? My physical self can no longer sustain the momentum for 16 hour days, my brain starts to fade by Day 5, and I am looking to leave my field now that I am at my best. OUCH. But at least I have some awesome memories and a few sparkly awards…I only wish I had the stamina to continue on!
this is true not only of creation, but also relationships.
being in love, loving someone one day is easy. every day, no matter their mood, no matter your mood, no matter anything…
“Just turning up, every bloody day…”
Monique,
That makes me sad.
Shame on me for bringing sadness to a site about joy! It was an accident. But maybe if you think of it like the career of an athlete, where he/she got to shine like the sun for 20 years, but then had to move on to Phase 2, it will not be so sad, but just the realization of the inevitable. And who knows? Maybe I will love Phase 2 even more…
Another word for ‘continuity’ is ‘consistency’. The post’s insight is equally applicable to the athletic pursuits. “Anyone can hit a three point shot in basetball or bend a corner shot in football… ONCE. But not everyone can do so, every day, day-in-day-out…with pressures, fans screaming, physical fatique, etc. It’s something you have to work VERY HARD at for many years before you even get close…” It’s not just about how good you are at your best, it’s about how bad you are at your worst.
Gilbert, author of mega-best seller ‘Eat, Pray, Love” did a great TED presentation on ‘Nurturing Creativity’ (which I was first alerted to by Hugh’s tweet of it) which brings a lot of this ‘continuity’ notion. She talks about the ‘genius’ behind creativity, but she also says that equally important is the “stubbornness to keep showing up.” — http://brucelynnblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!B5C035B7809F740A!983.entry.