1 00:00:03,110 --> 00:00:09,945 Hi everyone. Hi. 2 00:00:09,945 --> 00:00:14,040 Thank you so much for for being with 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:15,900 us here today and for 4 00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:17,070 listening to my story for 5 00:00:17,070 --> 00:00:18,630 about the next 20 minutes. 6 00:00:18,630 --> 00:00:22,515 So I grew up in a family of artists. 7 00:00:22,515 --> 00:00:25,710 My mom and dad were weavers and that's 8 00:00:25,710 --> 00:00:27,900 actually me 9 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:30,270 underneath the loom and then my mom, 10 00:00:30,270 --> 00:00:31,965 this is definitely in the early eighties. 11 00:00:31,965 --> 00:00:34,065 You can, you can tell for sure. 12 00:00:34,065 --> 00:00:37,045 And my grandparents were illustrators. 13 00:00:37,045 --> 00:00:39,530 One of my favorite places growing up 14 00:00:39,530 --> 00:00:42,455 was in my grandmother's studio. 15 00:00:42,455 --> 00:00:44,210 She was a prolific 16 00:00:44,210 --> 00:00:46,505 children's book illustrator and drew 17 00:00:46,505 --> 00:00:50,555 over a 1000 titles during her 55-year career. 18 00:00:50,555 --> 00:00:54,200 My grandmother had an immense impact on 19 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:55,850 my visual aesthetic as well 20 00:00:55,850 --> 00:00:57,875 as my work ethic and attitude. 21 00:00:57,875 --> 00:00:58,730 By it. 22 00:00:58,730 --> 00:01:01,715 I only recently realized this. 23 00:01:01,715 --> 00:01:03,440 Most people know me as 24 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,945 an illustrator and an educator. 25 00:01:05,945 --> 00:01:07,730 Currently, my desk is piled 26 00:01:07,730 --> 00:01:09,470 high with pens and paper, 27 00:01:09,470 --> 00:01:10,580 and I spend my days 28 00:01:10,580 --> 00:01:12,500 happily drawing and teaching. 29 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:14,630 But up until eight years ago, 30 00:01:14,630 --> 00:01:18,080 actually really hated drawing, hated it. 31 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:20,060 So when I was a kid, again, 32 00:01:20,060 --> 00:01:21,845 I grew up in a family of Illustrators. 33 00:01:21,845 --> 00:01:23,495 I didn't want to draw it all. 34 00:01:23,495 --> 00:01:25,175 I was pretty lazy, 35 00:01:25,175 --> 00:01:27,244 loved watching tons a TV 36 00:01:27,244 --> 00:01:28,070 and couldn't wait for 37 00:01:28,070 --> 00:01:29,525 my next trip to the mall. 38 00:01:29,525 --> 00:01:31,160 My mom tried to teach me how to 39 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:32,870 weave and I was like, 40 00:01:32,870 --> 00:01:34,730 No, I'm too busy. 41 00:01:34,730 --> 00:01:36,980 So basically to sum it up, 42 00:01:36,980 --> 00:01:39,260 I was kind of a jerky kid. 43 00:01:39,260 --> 00:01:41,780 But somewhere along the way 44 00:01:41,780 --> 00:01:43,850 after a failed attempt at being 45 00:01:43,850 --> 00:01:46,160 a broadcast journalism major and a 46 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,995 very mediocre English major. 47 00:01:48,995 --> 00:01:51,920 I stumbled upon graphic design. 48 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,280 This way of working really clicked with me. 49 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,820 So my first graphic design job was laying out 50 00:01:58,820 --> 00:02:00,800 catalogs for a gift company 51 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:02,390 and Omaha, Nebraska. 52 00:02:02,390 --> 00:02:04,280 I was also working as 53 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,545 their sales representative and would spend 54 00:02:06,545 --> 00:02:09,110 a lot of my time traveling to trade 55 00:02:09,110 --> 00:02:10,550 shows and Merchandise Mart 56 00:02:10,550 --> 00:02:12,920 gets all over the United States. 57 00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:17,420 Here I observed hyper consumption on display, 58 00:02:17,420 --> 00:02:19,130 and this is where my fascination with 59 00:02:19,130 --> 00:02:21,650 consumer culture really was born. 60 00:02:21,650 --> 00:02:24,395 I filled notebooks with ideas, 61 00:02:24,395 --> 00:02:27,065 but they were messy and without order. 62 00:02:27,065 --> 00:02:29,600 I knew I had to make work about 63 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:30,950 the strange and compelling 64 00:02:30,950 --> 00:02:32,915 consumption-driven world around me. 65 00:02:32,915 --> 00:02:36,020 But I wasn't sure where to start. 66 00:02:36,020 --> 00:02:37,505 I was observing 67 00:02:37,505 --> 00:02:39,035 some really kind of 68 00:02:39,035 --> 00:02:42,440 amazing consumer spectacles at that point. 69 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:43,670 So this is the late 90s, 70 00:02:43,670 --> 00:02:44,780 early 2000s, and 71 00:02:44,780 --> 00:02:46,400 beanie babies are really popular. 72 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:47,840 And you remember Beanie Babies. 73 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:49,985 I witnessed a fist fight 74 00:02:49,985 --> 00:02:52,265 between two adult men 75 00:02:52,265 --> 00:02:55,100 trying to get their fall order 76 00:02:55,100 --> 00:02:57,500 of Beanie Babies in on time. Okay. 77 00:02:57,500 --> 00:03:00,110 I did the same trade shows target 78 00:03:00,110 --> 00:03:02,165 as Monica Lewinsky. 79 00:03:02,165 --> 00:03:03,920 When she had handbags, 80 00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:05,330 it was after the whole Clinton thing 81 00:03:05,330 --> 00:03:05,900 and she was like 82 00:03:05,900 --> 00:03:08,675 now I'm going to be a handbag designer. 83 00:03:08,675 --> 00:03:11,420 And so I basically followed that route too. 84 00:03:11,420 --> 00:03:12,650 And again, it was this. 85 00:03:12,650 --> 00:03:15,935 Sane world of consumer culture. 86 00:03:15,935 --> 00:03:17,450 And again, I knew I 87 00:03:17,450 --> 00:03:18,845 had to make work about it, 88 00:03:18,845 --> 00:03:21,575 but I wasn't sure where to start. 89 00:03:21,575 --> 00:03:23,750 And that feeling of not knowing where to 90 00:03:23,750 --> 00:03:27,095 start made me feel horrible. 91 00:03:27,095 --> 00:03:29,885 Okay. I felt stock. 92 00:03:29,885 --> 00:03:32,300 I didn't know how to begin at all. 93 00:03:32,300 --> 00:03:34,550 And so as I was 94 00:03:34,550 --> 00:03:37,355 researching and looking at different artists, 95 00:03:37,355 --> 00:03:40,565 I came across the artist, I'd reshape. 96 00:03:40,565 --> 00:03:43,610 And in the early 1960s address Shay 97 00:03:43,610 --> 00:03:47,105 had several photo projects going on at once. 98 00:03:47,105 --> 00:03:51,155 34 parking lots, some LA apartments, 99 00:03:51,155 --> 00:03:54,920 and 26 gasoline stations to name just a few. 100 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,155 So for this book projects, 101 00:03:57,155 --> 00:03:59,930 he developed a series of rules 102 00:03:59,930 --> 00:04:02,390 and in an art news interview 103 00:04:02,390 --> 00:04:04,040 and 980 to Russia, 104 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,020 I said it became 105 00:04:06,020 --> 00:04:08,675 rules that I knew I had to follow. 106 00:04:08,675 --> 00:04:11,090 Then it was just a matter of being 107 00:04:11,090 --> 00:04:14,405 a good little art soldier and finishing it. 108 00:04:14,405 --> 00:04:16,190 And so after reading 109 00:04:16,190 --> 00:04:18,230 those words, it clicked with me. 110 00:04:18,230 --> 00:04:20,300 What if I created rules for 111 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:22,370 myself to follow and carry 112 00:04:22,370 --> 00:04:24,080 out in order to execute all of 113 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,495 these fragmented ideas I was having. 114 00:04:26,495 --> 00:04:30,980 What S harness the power of repetition and 115 00:04:30,980 --> 00:04:32,600 accumulation to document 116 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,340 my everyday experiences 117 00:04:34,340 --> 00:04:35,765 with consumer culture. 118 00:04:35,765 --> 00:04:37,880 What if I became 119 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:39,920 a good little aren't soldier TO? 120 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,575 So for the last ten years or so, 121 00:04:42,575 --> 00:04:43,940 I've been making objects and 122 00:04:43,940 --> 00:04:45,380 developing projects that talk 123 00:04:45,380 --> 00:04:48,050 about our wants and needs and how 124 00:04:48,050 --> 00:04:51,530 we use and engage with our stuff. 125 00:04:51,530 --> 00:04:54,380 Lots of stuff, along with obsessing over 126 00:04:54,380 --> 00:04:57,545 the things that we buy or give or steal. 127 00:04:57,545 --> 00:04:59,810 I make work about personal consumption, 128 00:04:59,810 --> 00:05:02,015 celebration, joy, 129 00:05:02,015 --> 00:05:03,935 privacy, guilt, 130 00:05:03,935 --> 00:05:07,070 so much guilds and the every day. 131 00:05:07,070 --> 00:05:10,545 And of course, it's all about access. 132 00:05:10,545 --> 00:05:13,465 The thing that I have loved 133 00:05:13,465 --> 00:05:15,310 from doing all of 134 00:05:15,310 --> 00:05:17,560 these projects over the last ten years or so, 135 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:18,955 is really focusing on 136 00:05:18,955 --> 00:05:21,160 the community of the shared experiences 137 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:25,090 that come out of these everyday objects. 138 00:05:25,090 --> 00:05:26,995 But all of my projects, 139 00:05:26,995 --> 00:05:29,515 they rely on a system of rules. 140 00:05:29,515 --> 00:05:30,205 Okay? 141 00:05:30,205 --> 00:05:32,200 This system of rules gives 142 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,815 the order to the initial chaos of ideas. 143 00:05:35,815 --> 00:05:38,890 These rules help me structure my workflow. 144 00:05:38,890 --> 00:05:41,530 They keep me moving and making when I 145 00:05:41,530 --> 00:05:44,725 don't think I can move or make anymore. 146 00:05:44,725 --> 00:05:46,495 And so for every project, 147 00:05:46,495 --> 00:05:48,460 I create a system of rules to 148 00:05:48,460 --> 00:05:53,145 follow, execute, and repeat. 149 00:05:53,145 --> 00:05:54,980 Because you know, what's really, 150 00:05:54,980 --> 00:05:56,375 really terrifying. 151 00:05:56,375 --> 00:05:58,280 A blank piece of paper 152 00:05:58,280 --> 00:06:00,115 is what's really terrifying this paper. 153 00:06:00,115 --> 00:06:01,595 So terrified when I was drawing it, 154 00:06:01,595 --> 00:06:03,185 I could make it blank actually, 155 00:06:03,185 --> 00:06:04,310 to fill it with lions that 156 00:06:04,310 --> 00:06:05,690 was that terrifying. 157 00:06:05,690 --> 00:06:07,940 And again, like the chasm creative death for 158 00:06:07,940 --> 00:06:10,220 me and for most people as being told, 159 00:06:10,220 --> 00:06:11,300 Oh, you know, you can do 160 00:06:11,300 --> 00:06:13,250 anything you want to do. 161 00:06:13,250 --> 00:06:15,555 And that's 0. And also, 162 00:06:15,555 --> 00:06:17,570 as a teacher, that's 163 00:06:17,570 --> 00:06:18,410 the worst kind of 164 00:06:18,410 --> 00:06:19,880 assignment to give to a student. 165 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,220 To be like, I'll just do whatever, 166 00:06:22,220 --> 00:06:23,990 it's, just be creative. 167 00:06:23,990 --> 00:06:27,650 That's the worst phrase that you can tell 168 00:06:27,650 --> 00:06:29,570 anyone who's trying to figure out how 169 00:06:29,570 --> 00:06:31,655 to be creative is just be like, 170 00:06:31,655 --> 00:06:33,560 oh, just have fun with it. 171 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:34,760 It's horrible. 172 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:35,345 So. 173 00:06:35,345 --> 00:06:36,860 Initially what looks like 174 00:06:36,860 --> 00:06:39,935 freedom, it becomes crippling. 175 00:06:39,935 --> 00:06:42,800 Okay, So starting with a system of rules 176 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,445 makes this blank sheet of paper weigh less. 177 00:06:46,445 --> 00:06:49,655 Scary. Rules are good, 178 00:06:49,655 --> 00:06:52,430 they're good because constraints, 179 00:06:52,430 --> 00:06:55,190 it yields creation. 180 00:06:55,190 --> 00:07:00,335 So before I drew, I photographed, 181 00:07:00,335 --> 00:07:03,365 I documented Target shoppers, 182 00:07:03,365 --> 00:07:06,635 thrift stores, yard sales. 183 00:07:06,635 --> 00:07:07,790 You know what you're trying to think 184 00:07:07,790 --> 00:07:09,815 of earlier, yard sales. 185 00:07:09,815 --> 00:07:12,890 All of these photo projects lead to 186 00:07:12,890 --> 00:07:14,315 a bigger project called 187 00:07:14,315 --> 00:07:16,070 Obsessive Consumption. 188 00:07:16,070 --> 00:07:18,335 So with Obsessive Consumption, 189 00:07:18,335 --> 00:07:19,880 I photographed everything I 190 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,830 purchased for over two years. 191 00:07:23,170 --> 00:07:26,090 I archived and uploaded to 192 00:07:26,090 --> 00:07:30,334 a pre blog era website for all to see. 193 00:07:30,334 --> 00:07:32,660 This site also shared 194 00:07:32,660 --> 00:07:34,640 more than just my purchases. 195 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:35,990 I gathered stories 196 00:07:35,990 --> 00:07:37,715 about viewers favorite objects. 197 00:07:37,715 --> 00:07:39,290 I have published interviews of 198 00:07:39,290 --> 00:07:41,480 people talking about their collections. 199 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,840 And I created a bizarre little community 200 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,570 with the catalyst being my consumption. 201 00:07:47,570 --> 00:07:50,705 It was weird and I knew it was weird, 202 00:07:50,705 --> 00:07:52,220 but I also knew that I was 203 00:07:52,220 --> 00:07:54,215 going in the right direction. 204 00:07:54,215 --> 00:07:56,690 I didn't know if it was, you know, 205 00:07:56,690 --> 00:07:57,800 where it was going, but I 206 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:59,765 decided to follow it. 207 00:07:59,765 --> 00:08:01,490 So earlier I mentioned 208 00:08:01,490 --> 00:08:02,870 that I was an illustrator, 209 00:08:02,870 --> 00:08:05,945 okay, right now, I love drawing. 210 00:08:05,945 --> 00:08:07,925 I do it every day. 211 00:08:07,925 --> 00:08:09,620 But however, that part of 212 00:08:09,620 --> 00:08:11,225 me would not exist if 213 00:08:11,225 --> 00:08:12,710 I had not enlisted in 214 00:08:12,710 --> 00:08:15,035 the process of rule-based making, 215 00:08:15,035 --> 00:08:17,540 I most certainly would not have 216 00:08:17,540 --> 00:08:20,360 called myself an illustrator a few years ago. 217 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,750 So let me explain a little bit about this. 218 00:08:23,750 --> 00:08:29,030 I started drawing when I was 26. 219 00:08:29,030 --> 00:08:29,885 Probably. 220 00:08:29,885 --> 00:08:33,050 I had just started my first big girl job 221 00:08:33,050 --> 00:08:35,420 as a professor at a university. 222 00:08:35,420 --> 00:08:38,795 I was also $24 thousand in credit card debt. 223 00:08:38,795 --> 00:08:40,595 Really cool. 224 00:08:40,595 --> 00:08:43,850 And I was absolutely terrified. 225 00:08:43,850 --> 00:08:46,340 I felt like I was a complete fake 226 00:08:46,340 --> 00:08:47,480 because I had just spent 227 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,445 two years showcasing. 228 00:08:49,445 --> 00:08:51,380 Look at everything that I've been purchasing. 229 00:08:51,380 --> 00:08:52,970 Let's talk about the stories behind 230 00:08:52,970 --> 00:08:54,620 or objects all the while I'm 231 00:08:54,620 --> 00:08:55,790 accumulating more and more 232 00:08:55,790 --> 00:08:57,050 and more credit card debt and they didn't 233 00:08:57,050 --> 00:09:00,050 want to tell anybody about it at all. 234 00:09:00,050 --> 00:09:02,450 Shame is a very powerful thing. 235 00:09:02,450 --> 00:09:04,490 And so these 236 00:09:04,490 --> 00:09:06,740 machine-generated credit card statements 237 00:09:06,740 --> 00:09:09,560 would show up every single month. 238 00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:11,315 They were haunting me. 239 00:09:11,315 --> 00:09:13,355 They were taunting me. 240 00:09:13,355 --> 00:09:17,075 They were reminding me that I was a failure, 241 00:09:17,075 --> 00:09:18,859 that I was a coward 242 00:09:18,859 --> 00:09:20,435 because I wouldn't talk about it. 243 00:09:20,435 --> 00:09:22,205 I wouldn't talk about it. 244 00:09:22,205 --> 00:09:25,745 But something had to be done. 245 00:09:25,745 --> 00:09:29,045 So I created a system of rules. 246 00:09:29,045 --> 00:09:32,360 And rule number 1 was to have 247 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,640 extreme exit over credit card debt and feel 248 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,295 totally helpless and stupid. 249 00:09:37,295 --> 00:09:39,800 Check that was really easy to complete. 250 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:41,245 Sometimes you need to start 251 00:09:41,245 --> 00:09:42,410 lists with something that 252 00:09:42,410 --> 00:09:43,595 you're already doing. 253 00:09:43,595 --> 00:09:45,710 So you can just cross it off for you 254 00:09:45,710 --> 00:09:49,070 now it's like I'm on the way. 255 00:09:49,070 --> 00:09:52,055 One, number two was that I was going to draw 256 00:09:52,055 --> 00:09:53,390 all my credit card statements 257 00:09:53,390 --> 00:09:54,560 every single month and 258 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:56,675 sell they were paid off. 259 00:09:56,675 --> 00:10:00,110 Okay, so remember Jain at the time? 260 00:10:00,110 --> 00:10:02,585 Drawing at that time was 261 00:10:02,585 --> 00:10:05,255 my least favorite way of working. 262 00:10:05,255 --> 00:10:07,670 And remember how I 263 00:10:07,670 --> 00:10:08,810 said that I felt like I was 264 00:10:08,810 --> 00:10:10,460 a terrible illustrator when I was 265 00:10:10,460 --> 00:10:14,135 a kid without feeling had not changed. 266 00:10:14,135 --> 00:10:16,610 But that, that was, that was the point. 267 00:10:16,610 --> 00:10:18,440 Like I wanted to pick a way of working that 268 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,735 I felt really uncomfortable with. 269 00:10:20,735 --> 00:10:22,370 I wanted to challenge 270 00:10:22,370 --> 00:10:24,770 myself in a way that would push 271 00:10:24,770 --> 00:10:29,270 myself to actually complete this project. 272 00:10:29,270 --> 00:10:31,340 This project was not supposed to be fine. 273 00:10:31,340 --> 00:10:32,225 Okay. 274 00:10:32,225 --> 00:10:33,800 Rule number three was 275 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,540 to make myself accountable 276 00:10:35,540 --> 00:10:36,800 by uploading the credit card 277 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:38,795 statements to the Internet. 278 00:10:38,795 --> 00:10:40,220 Because if this were 279 00:10:40,220 --> 00:10:41,240 just something that I was going 280 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:42,439 to do in a sketchbook, 281 00:10:42,439 --> 00:10:44,210 I would have like probably quit 282 00:10:44,210 --> 00:10:46,100 this after the first credit card statement. 283 00:10:46,100 --> 00:10:49,055 But I am aware I'm very motivated by like, 284 00:10:49,055 --> 00:10:50,780 I'll tell people that I'm doing something and 285 00:10:50,780 --> 00:10:52,685 by God, I will finish it. 286 00:10:52,685 --> 00:10:54,230 But if it's just me, I'm fine with 287 00:10:54,230 --> 00:10:56,000 letting myself down, you know, 288 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:57,470 but like other people, 289 00:10:57,470 --> 00:10:59,900 even if they don't care, I'm like No, 290 00:10:59,900 --> 00:11:01,760 I can't let them down and they're like, 291 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:03,755 What were you doing again anyway, 292 00:11:03,755 --> 00:11:05,690 that's my own erotic system 293 00:11:05,690 --> 00:11:07,370 that kind of works in the back of my head. 294 00:11:07,370 --> 00:11:10,580 So anyway, so there's more and then there's 295 00:11:10,580 --> 00:11:16,625 more rules was to share my story, 296 00:11:16,625 --> 00:11:19,160 respond to e-mails from people who are also 297 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,800 having frustrating credit card experiences. 298 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:23,450 I became this credit 299 00:11:23,450 --> 00:11:25,910 card mishap confessional outlet 300 00:11:25,910 --> 00:11:27,290 for people that I did it 301 00:11:27,290 --> 00:11:29,375 now and people that I didn't know, 302 00:11:29,375 --> 00:11:31,220 my office hours at school 303 00:11:31,220 --> 00:11:33,395 stopped being about advising. 304 00:11:33,395 --> 00:11:36,500 And I would receive a stream of 305 00:11:36,500 --> 00:11:38,180 students that would knock on my door and 306 00:11:38,180 --> 00:11:40,040 they come in, how are you doing? 307 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,530 Bobby never had a student named Bobby before. 308 00:11:42,530 --> 00:11:43,640 I don't know where that came from, 309 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:46,850 but as I said it and they're like, 310 00:11:46,850 --> 00:11:48,455 Can we close the door? 311 00:11:48,455 --> 00:11:50,090 And I'm like, okay, this is 312 00:11:50,090 --> 00:11:52,055 strange and be like, 313 00:11:52,055 --> 00:11:53,360 do you have to pay off 314 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,130 your credit cards every month? 315 00:11:55,130 --> 00:11:56,720 I'm like, Oh, sit down. 316 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:58,910 Let's talk about this. 317 00:11:58,910 --> 00:12:00,680 And then like other questions, 318 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:02,900 very simple questions, What's APR made? 319 00:12:02,900 --> 00:12:06,185 And so it really became 320 00:12:06,185 --> 00:12:07,910 a lot of credit 321 00:12:07,910 --> 00:12:11,015 advising for my college students TO, 322 00:12:11,015 --> 00:12:13,519 and I find those conversations 323 00:12:13,519 --> 00:12:15,350 that I have with my students about money, 324 00:12:15,350 --> 00:12:17,330 really rewarding, really rewarding 325 00:12:17,330 --> 00:12:20,030 because it's tough to talk about this stuff. 326 00:12:20,030 --> 00:12:22,580 Very tough to talk about this stuff. 327 00:12:22,580 --> 00:12:24,530 Rule five for me was to 328 00:12:24,530 --> 00:12:26,630 slowly pay off my debt. 329 00:12:26,630 --> 00:12:27,710 And I did. 330 00:12:27,710 --> 00:12:30,545 So in February 27th, 2010, 331 00:12:30,545 --> 00:12:32,150 six years after I started 332 00:12:32,150 --> 00:12:34,745 this project, I became debt-free. 333 00:12:34,745 --> 00:12:37,625 When I started my credit card project. 334 00:12:37,625 --> 00:12:39,710 Again, I hated my drawing. 335 00:12:39,710 --> 00:12:41,645 I hated joins so much. 336 00:12:41,645 --> 00:12:44,570 I actually considered a form of punishment. 337 00:12:44,570 --> 00:12:45,560 Dry. 338 00:12:45,560 --> 00:12:46,850 My credit card statements 339 00:12:46,850 --> 00:12:48,485 was the equivalent to writing, 340 00:12:48,485 --> 00:12:51,245 I will not be stupid with money over and 341 00:12:51,245 --> 00:12:55,220 over and over again on a chalkboard. 342 00:12:55,220 --> 00:12:57,860 So this project wasn't fun. 343 00:12:57,860 --> 00:13:00,185 But again, that wasn't the points. 344 00:13:00,185 --> 00:13:02,180 But however, as this project 345 00:13:02,180 --> 00:13:04,535 progressed and my debt went down, 346 00:13:04,535 --> 00:13:06,290 I actually started to take 347 00:13:06,290 --> 00:13:09,170 pleasure in making repetitive lines, 348 00:13:09,170 --> 00:13:11,060 drawing type, and focusing 349 00:13:11,060 --> 00:13:12,710 on the subject at hand. 350 00:13:12,710 --> 00:13:14,960 Two years into my credit card project, 351 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,030 I wanted to draw something else in 352 00:13:17,030 --> 00:13:18,560 addition to my frustrating 353 00:13:18,560 --> 00:13:19,970 and credit card statements. 354 00:13:19,970 --> 00:13:22,355 So I made a new set of rules 355 00:13:22,355 --> 00:13:23,720 and my daily purchase drawing 356 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,115 project was born. 357 00:13:25,115 --> 00:13:25,880 Again. 358 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:27,440 I started small. 359 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,750 I drew one black and white line drawing 360 00:13:29,750 --> 00:13:32,045 of something that I purchased every day. 361 00:13:32,045 --> 00:13:33,680 The drawings were simple 362 00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:35,810 and of everyday objects. 363 00:13:35,810 --> 00:13:38,045 This process made me incredibly 364 00:13:38,045 --> 00:13:40,189 aware of how much passive consumption 365 00:13:40,189 --> 00:13:42,530 occurs in our daily lives and 366 00:13:42,530 --> 00:13:43,580 how little attention we 367 00:13:43,580 --> 00:13:45,860 pay to everyday items. 368 00:13:45,860 --> 00:13:47,900 And I kept with it and I drew, 369 00:13:47,900 --> 00:13:49,580 and I drew and I drew in 370 00:13:49,580 --> 00:13:53,120 2922 daily joins later I can safely 371 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:54,710 say that I love to draw 372 00:13:54,710 --> 00:13:55,910 and that I don't feel like 373 00:13:55,910 --> 00:13:59,735 opposer by calling myself an illustrator. 374 00:13:59,735 --> 00:14:02,330 My early drawings or not. 375 00:14:02,330 --> 00:14:05,030 However, sometimes drawing with 376 00:14:05,030 --> 00:14:06,080 my hands felt like I 377 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:07,655 was drawing with my feeds. 378 00:14:07,655 --> 00:14:10,775 However, I kept going and I kept sharing. 379 00:14:10,775 --> 00:14:12,980 My style, remained kind of wonky, 380 00:14:12,980 --> 00:14:15,275 but it became a confident walk. 381 00:14:15,275 --> 00:14:18,110 My hands stopped feeling like feet. 382 00:14:18,110 --> 00:14:20,390 I was documenting my life through 383 00:14:20,390 --> 00:14:22,970 my stuff and I became hooked. 384 00:14:22,970 --> 00:14:25,520 I started other rule-based projects because 385 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,895 one set of rules is simply not enough. 386 00:14:28,895 --> 00:14:30,620 And I honestly feel that 387 00:14:30,620 --> 00:14:33,575 these rules are for anyone. 388 00:14:33,575 --> 00:14:34,700 They can work. 389 00:14:34,700 --> 00:14:36,650 They can work in this way if they want you. 390 00:14:36,650 --> 00:14:38,615 This doesn't just go for artists. 391 00:14:38,615 --> 00:14:39,980 This structure can work for 392 00:14:39,980 --> 00:14:41,585 somebody who loves numbers. 393 00:14:41,585 --> 00:14:43,190 These rules can work for somebody 394 00:14:43,190 --> 00:14:44,630 who loves to run. 395 00:14:44,630 --> 00:14:46,685 This is for people who love to cook, 396 00:14:46,685 --> 00:14:49,250 who are losing weight or who read a lot. 397 00:14:49,250 --> 00:14:51,440 These rules are for everybody. 398 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,330 You just need curiosity 399 00:14:53,330 --> 00:14:55,115 and a bit of discipline. 400 00:14:55,115 --> 00:14:57,830 These rule-based projects allow you to work 401 00:14:57,830 --> 00:15:00,590 and small and manageable scope. 402 00:15:00,590 --> 00:15:02,930 You pick out what you like and 403 00:15:02,930 --> 00:15:06,244 combine it with your unique point of view. 404 00:15:06,244 --> 00:15:09,950 You are giving yourself tiny assignments. 405 00:15:09,950 --> 00:15:11,780 Each assignment gives you a chance 406 00:15:11,780 --> 00:15:13,925 to practice your thing. 407 00:15:13,925 --> 00:15:16,505 And as you complete each assignment, 408 00:15:16,505 --> 00:15:19,025 work starts to accumulate. 409 00:15:19,025 --> 00:15:21,530 As you complete each assignment, 410 00:15:21,530 --> 00:15:22,670 you start to feel more 411 00:15:22,670 --> 00:15:24,619 confident in your technique. 412 00:15:24,619 --> 00:15:27,215 As you complete each assignment, 413 00:15:27,215 --> 00:15:29,720 you'll learn more about your subject matter. 414 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:31,805 What's not to love. 415 00:15:31,805 --> 00:15:33,769 It's all about scope, 416 00:15:33,769 --> 00:15:36,335 repetition, and discipline. 417 00:15:36,335 --> 00:15:38,240 So if you have an underused camera, 418 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:39,710 take a snapshot of your kids 419 00:15:39,710 --> 00:15:41,555 every day in the same location. 420 00:15:41,555 --> 00:15:42,860 If you go on hikes, 421 00:15:42,860 --> 00:15:44,960 assign yourself the task of sketching 422 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,485 one tree or one vista or one leaf. 423 00:15:48,485 --> 00:15:49,535 You love food. 424 00:15:49,535 --> 00:15:50,870 Keep a food diary. 425 00:15:50,870 --> 00:15:52,520 Are you obsessed with music? 426 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:53,990 Make monthly playlist, 427 00:15:53,990 --> 00:15:55,385 and share with friends. 428 00:15:55,385 --> 00:15:57,665 You don't have to be an artist. 429 00:15:57,665 --> 00:16:00,079 That isn't what this is about. 430 00:16:00,079 --> 00:16:03,020 Making is what you make of it. 431 00:16:03,020 --> 00:16:05,945 This is about documenting an aspect of 432 00:16:05,945 --> 00:16:09,710 your life through accumulation of repetition. 433 00:16:09,710 --> 00:16:12,560 We all liked to tell stories, 434 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,155 and we all like to listen to stories. 435 00:16:15,155 --> 00:16:17,135 As author Joan Didion said, 436 00:16:17,135 --> 00:16:20,465 we tell ourselves stories in order to live. 437 00:16:20,465 --> 00:16:24,230 Also, if you share your projects with others. 438 00:16:24,230 --> 00:16:26,300 They will hold you accountable and 439 00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:28,490 be delighted at the same time hack, 440 00:16:28,490 --> 00:16:30,335 they might just join in with you. 441 00:16:30,335 --> 00:16:31,910 So let me show you a little 442 00:16:31,910 --> 00:16:33,320 bit what I'm talking about. 443 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:34,940 For the last 30 years, 444 00:16:34,940 --> 00:16:37,460 photojournalists Diego Goldberg has 445 00:16:37,460 --> 00:16:38,840 taken a photo of everyone 446 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:40,190 and his family every year. 447 00:16:40,190 --> 00:16:41,585 On June 17th. 448 00:16:41,585 --> 00:16:43,700 He is an accomplished photo journalist. 449 00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:45,770 But the project he's most well-known for 450 00:16:45,770 --> 00:16:46,880 is something that anyone 451 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,215 should be able to do. 452 00:16:48,215 --> 00:16:49,940 He says, sometimes 453 00:16:49,940 --> 00:16:52,535 the simplest ideas are the best. 454 00:16:52,535 --> 00:16:56,750 My mother-in-law, Kathleen, loves books. 455 00:16:56,750 --> 00:16:58,760 I recently discovered that she 456 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:00,440 has been keeping notebooks with 457 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:01,580 simple one or two 458 00:17:01,580 --> 00:17:03,080 line entries of every book that 459 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,315 she has ever read for the last 30 years. 460 00:17:06,315 --> 00:17:10,150 That simple act of documentation, repetition, 461 00:17:10,150 --> 00:17:12,280 and accumulation has manifested 462 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:15,205 into a tremendous creative archive. 463 00:17:15,205 --> 00:17:17,500 That archive tells a story 464 00:17:17,500 --> 00:17:19,780 of a life through books. 465 00:17:19,780 --> 00:17:21,775 Carry van der yacht. 466 00:17:21,775 --> 00:17:23,110 She has a project that's 467 00:17:23,110 --> 00:17:25,180 called ugly face Wednesday. 468 00:17:25,180 --> 00:17:27,175 And it has simple goals. 469 00:17:27,175 --> 00:17:29,740 She dedicated a year 470 00:17:29,740 --> 00:17:31,930 to making 50 to absurd phrases. 471 00:17:31,930 --> 00:17:33,565 She's also a PSU grad. 472 00:17:33,565 --> 00:17:35,720 I just want to point this out. 473 00:17:36,660 --> 00:17:39,850 Is ugly face says 474 00:17:39,850 --> 00:17:41,890 everyone can make an ugly phase. 475 00:17:41,890 --> 00:17:43,645 Okay, so let's on Earth, 476 00:17:43,645 --> 00:17:46,090 that kind of fancy camera that 477 00:17:46,090 --> 00:17:47,260 you purchased that you don't 478 00:17:47,260 --> 00:17:48,955 really use that often. 479 00:17:48,955 --> 00:17:50,725 Start using that. 480 00:17:50,725 --> 00:17:52,570 All of these projects explore 481 00:17:52,570 --> 00:17:54,490 a variety of concepts and mediums, 482 00:17:54,490 --> 00:17:57,250 but they all have a few things in common. 483 00:17:57,250 --> 00:17:59,320 A dedication to simplicity, 484 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:01,195 a distinctive point of view, 485 00:18:01,195 --> 00:18:03,715 and a pretty cut and dry rule system. 486 00:18:03,715 --> 00:18:06,535 And they also have a bit of discipline. 487 00:18:06,535 --> 00:18:07,974 Those are art soldiers, 488 00:18:07,974 --> 00:18:11,290 say they're okay on a pink background. 489 00:18:11,290 --> 00:18:13,120 So again, so whatever you 490 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:14,350 wanted to create a system 491 00:18:14,350 --> 00:18:15,490 of rules for yourself 492 00:18:15,490 --> 00:18:16,840 to follow and carry out. 493 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:18,850 So first, keep it simple, 494 00:18:18,850 --> 00:18:20,650 keep it simple, simple, simple. 495 00:18:20,650 --> 00:18:22,015 And then remember, 496 00:18:22,015 --> 00:18:24,100 the beauty is in the details. 497 00:18:24,100 --> 00:18:25,765 Is this going to happen once a day, 498 00:18:25,765 --> 00:18:28,390 once a week, once a month, once a year? 499 00:18:28,390 --> 00:18:29,260 Are you going to organize 500 00:18:29,260 --> 00:18:30,399 it onto a spreadsheet? 501 00:18:30,399 --> 00:18:32,000 Do you need to set R0 and sinners? 502 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:32,870 Are you going to write, 503 00:18:32,870 --> 00:18:33,770 are you going to draw? 504 00:18:33,770 --> 00:18:34,835 You're going to collect, 505 00:18:34,835 --> 00:18:36,140 what are you gonna do? 506 00:18:36,140 --> 00:18:38,615 Sit down and work out the details. 507 00:18:38,615 --> 00:18:42,545 Because again, beauty is in those details. 508 00:18:42,545 --> 00:18:44,300 And also this is so important. 509 00:18:44,300 --> 00:18:45,980 I tell my students this all the time too, 510 00:18:45,980 --> 00:18:47,720 we learn through making, 511 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:48,710 not just sitting there 512 00:18:48,710 --> 00:18:49,730 and thinking that and talking 513 00:18:49,730 --> 00:18:50,780 yourself out of projects 514 00:18:50,780 --> 00:18:52,205 we learn through making. 515 00:18:52,205 --> 00:18:54,590 So again, the first project might fail, 516 00:18:54,590 --> 00:18:57,560 and that's okay, it's okay to fail. 517 00:18:57,560 --> 00:18:58,880 I have a pile of 518 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,205 really bad ideas that have failed. 519 00:19:01,205 --> 00:19:03,800 It's okay. And it might take 520 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,600 several attempts before one project 521 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:06,830 really clicks with DO. 522 00:19:06,830 --> 00:19:08,690 Again, we learned to making you 523 00:19:08,690 --> 00:19:10,550 build upon those failures and you 524 00:19:10,550 --> 00:19:13,265 create something better from 525 00:19:13,265 --> 00:19:15,035 something that you've failed from. 526 00:19:15,035 --> 00:19:16,490 And then you've gotta kinda commit 527 00:19:16,490 --> 00:19:17,960 to the crazy, okay, 528 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,275 so don't give up after a day or two or three, 529 00:19:21,275 --> 00:19:22,640 or eight or even 12, 530 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:24,095 The first couple weeks 531 00:19:24,095 --> 00:19:26,525 of anything feels awkward. 532 00:19:26,525 --> 00:19:28,700 It's okay to feel uncomfortable not 533 00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:30,875 knowing where you are going. 534 00:19:30,875 --> 00:19:33,934 You have to commit to the crazy. 535 00:19:33,934 --> 00:19:35,420 And you've gotta repeat. 536 00:19:35,420 --> 00:19:36,830 You've gotta repeat, repeat, 537 00:19:36,830 --> 00:19:39,200 repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat. 538 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,530 Okay, So becoming an illustrator 539 00:19:42,530 --> 00:19:44,645 was a very pleasant surprise. 540 00:19:44,645 --> 00:19:46,370 I never thought I would share 541 00:19:46,370 --> 00:19:48,785 the same profession as my grandmother. 542 00:19:48,785 --> 00:19:51,830 And now I draw every single day in 543 00:19:51,830 --> 00:19:55,535 my own studio at her drawing table. 544 00:19:55,535 --> 00:19:57,440 I got here by creating 545 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,530 my own rule systems and constraints. 546 00:20:00,530 --> 00:20:02,585 And now I challenge you to find 547 00:20:02,585 --> 00:20:04,220 your own rule system 548 00:20:04,220 --> 00:20:06,515 and to commit to your crazy. 549 00:20:06,515 --> 00:20:09,390 So thank you very much.