Nov 18, 2009

Someone Else's Dream

I'm a curator (actually the Art Director since everything that prints is approved by moi) at Teefury. (BTW, I'm also AD at Designbyhumans.com)

I recently found Tom Ledin's work while trolling the internet and I picked up his design.

It became one of the top selling designs ever at Teefury.

We interview our artists, and one of his answers is something that sparked my interest.

The dream is simple: Art, Food, Fun, and Sleep.

If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Tom Ledin, "I would become a full-time artist, and rent a really big studio, that I could fit a nice big halfpipe in. Then I would make art, art, and more art with a skateboarding break every hour or so. I would also probably put a futon in there, because skateboarding makes me sleepy. In reality, I'd probably make a little art in the morning, then skate, then get a burrito, and then sleep the rest of the day. God that sounds so good."

Reading Tom's dream, I thought to myself:

Nice dream.
I want a similar reality.
It would be possible to attain that reality... maybe.

Then I thought:

I have not had a dream for myself for a long time.



It's easy to lose touch with our dreams especially with work and the typical drudgery of life. I think that's why we love movies, art, music, etc. They all represent the dreams of others, another life, much more exciting than ours. It is simpler to adopt someone else's dream when we do not have a clear vision of our own. Throw in busy work provided by a job (which is essentially helping to achieve someone else's dream), we start to falsely believe that our busyness correlates to us striving to achieve our own dreams, but rarely does earning money for the exchange of time show up on the list of anyone's life aspirations.

Introspection has reminded me of my goals. I haven't necessarily been derailed from my dreams of being an independent artist as taking the job at Teefury and Designbyhumans was part of the plan of getting a boost in savings for future cash flow, as well as earning more internet respect and clout.

I still create art although not as prolific, and I've been able to do some small works for major companies that should continue to build on the perception of the "jimiyo" name.

Still, there's something awry.... or not. I'm not sure.

Maybe it's that I hold having a dream and trying to attain it in such high regard, that I have to feel that something is wrong if I'm not always struggling to achieve something grandiose and extraordinary...

Certainly, there is always better, but when is enough. Is complacency such a deplorable frame of mind?

If everything was perfect, I'd own a business that would require ONLY art from me, maybe a little marketing because its fun to figure out what makes people react, beyond that, in a fun studio, where I could take a break to jam on the guitar or play a quick round of Call of Duty without fear of being judged as a lazy worker, nice lunch meetings to shoot the shit about business and ideas, Starbucks coffee, Sushi/Thai/Mexican for lunch, and after the day's work is done, total disconnect from work to be with loved ones.

"...God that sounds so good..."

Anyways. I need to brainfart some more so I can plan out some paths for myself in the next upcoming years.

Have you been derailed or preoccupied with busyness that you haven't taken the time to visualize your dreams? GET SOME!

10 comments:

Michelle said...

Good post, it's too easy to lose track of long-term goals in favor of the more easily attainable :)

ziritt said...

Awesome post man!!
I am a dreamer too.

thestray said...

Nice post.

Yeah, I've been derailed. Major bumps in the road. I didn't really realize it at the time but I had kinda gave up. I wasn't actively pursuing my goals, I was just focusing on making ends meet at a job I didn't like, and I had started feeling like I didn't really have what it takes to do the things I wanted to do. I had a lot of excuses why I wasn't doing things, but the truth was I was just insecure and scared.
Then two things happened. 1) I realized that if it wasn't for the people I loved I would completely hate my life. I think it's hard on your soul to do something your heart isn't in every week day (and some Saturdays). 2) I got some solid encouragement from my mom, who seems to always know when to say exactly what I need to hear.

If you want something you've got to work for it. It seems like common sense, but I think that eludes a lot of people, and instead of working for it they wait for it. They wait for the opportunity, when they should instead be creating the opportunity. My mom told me that "Every day you should be doing something that will bring you closer to your goal." and that advice has gotten me farther than I would've thought possible in a short time. I kinda kick myself every day for all the time I wasted, I could be so far along by now.

There are a lot of things I want to do, my goals are ambitious. T-shirt design is like phase 1 of the plan, it's a good way to get your name out there, establish some cred and following while also earning some money, and it's fun and rewarding as well. My dream is just as simple Tom's or yours. I just want to be able to create the things I want to create, and just hang out, haha. A day working on a project I'm passionate about (like a comic or a cartoon) and then spending time with family and friends. That's what I want my everday to be. Also throw in some hot chicks in there. Gotta have those.

So, Mr. Yo, it's no secret you're a talented guy, also a smart guy, not just buttering you up because you curate my artwork (did I mention also a handsome guy?) and I'm sure you're capable of the motivation and focus required to get what you want out of life. All that remains is finding a way and acting on it. Seems like you're halfway there already.

"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure." - Bill Cosbyf

thestray said...

Jeez... I type a lot of words.

theinfinityloop said...

"Is complacency such a deplorable frame of mind?"
I have to say, from experience: Yes.

And good read. I've missed your introspective posts. Treat us with them a little more often, eh? ;)

jimiyo said...

thanks for all the comments guys.
you guys are all on my VIP list! :D

thestray... we should somehow form a brotherhood/accountability or some sort of mutual encouraging group for artists. no touching though. :D

Matt Eyer said...

great post. made me think a lot

X said...

Nice post, Jimiyo.

Yeah, the busyness gets me down sometimes, especially when you throw in the busyness that comes with caring for others like a wife and a couple kids. Reading with my kids might seem like a drag each night, but it all counts towards a greater goal.

I think the key is to make sure that whatever busyness you are sujecting yourself to is by your choosing. Maybe in a perfect world you would just be creating art, but I'm sure working at DBH is still a very artistically valuable way to make a living.

As long we all grow a little bit everyday...then we are the big winners. Yeah for us!!

Andrew Lapinski-Barker said...

I saw this posted a while back and decided to save the read for a good time. As it turns out this was a perfect time to read this. All my life I have never, ever set long term goals for myself, its never hindered me but often I lack long term motivation as well. I think I might sit down today and draw out some long term goals.

More posts here! Twitter is alright but I miss the long blogs :)

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