Enchanted by Boredom
The noble quest for boredom and making it my newest source for inspiration.
Hello there!
It’s been very hot this week so let’s use art to pretend it’s not!
It’s been a minute! While this space and my other little corners of the internet have been pretty quiet since I released Down the Shore back in July, I’ve been here, working, resting, working, and resting. Actual resting - the kind where you take time away from the computer and especially the phone. We journeyed on all of the day trips we possibly could, took the bike rides, went to the farmer’s markets, the baseball games - even a few dance classes with the one and only Sutton Foster (!!!), and probably most notably adopted a second cat from our local shelter, and named him after my favorite friendly puppet, Ernie.
If you’ve followed me on social media for any period of time, you’ll know that I don’t post often, for a number of reasons, most of them not profound. Sometimes what I’m working on is not shareable at the moment. I’ve also never viewed myself as a content creator of any kind - I’m not very good at making videos or creating bite sized shareable content, with zingers or one line deep thoughts. I’m also not an animator, despite many best practice guidelines by marketing “experts” encouraging illustrators to dabble in animation for the purpose of making our images more shareable. And sharing my process in a bite sized manicured video makes me feel like I’m trying to perform - setting a camera up while I work feels like a low budget reality show. Others seem to excel at this but any time I tried, it changed the output of what I created. So I decided a long time ago that I would put out what I personally prefer as a viewer - visually interesting, colorful images that make you stop and stare, not scroll.
And yet, somehow, for the last several years I found that even though I stayed true to myself in how I shared with others, I found myself scrolling for way too long, completely antithetical to what I want(ed) and consuming content that was of no relevance to me whatsoever. Using social media as my chosen method of inspiration and rest. But it didn’t inspire, convict, make me laugh, or calm me down.
It just made me really anxious.
With Summer upending this endless cycle of work, rest-by-scrolling, work, sleep - I unintentionally took a step back from the scrolling and I found myself notably less anxious, and with a lot of ideas and inspiration for future work. My phone even broke part way through our annual trip down the shore to Cape May, and I found myself bored. It was unnerving and totally delightful.
I decided after that trip that I would allow myself to be bored as much as I could. But I guess it’s not actually boredom I’m after. It’s the absence of distraction - mindless scrolling and filling up space that’s meant for creativity, and not consumption. The kind of distraction absences that lead to magical ideas, that makes kids pick up sticks and believe they’re scepters belonging to reigning queens in a far away kingdom.
After all, George Balanchine was inspired while he ironed.
Puzzles!
Speaking of intentional phone-free activities - I’ve released a few new puzzles!
Autumn at the City Market, Sparkling City, and Winter Lights 12 Days of Puzzles are all available where Galison puzzles are sold.
Print Shop Update
I’ll also be reopening my print shop at the end of this month! I am moving my print production to New York where I am excited to be able to share that I can make the pricing a little lower, and also offer mini prints! I’ll be offering a number of pieces as minis - 3.5x5 and 4x4 - I’ve never had so many requests for something so simple that I could not do - until now! Very excited about that.
I’m working on a few books and 5 puzzle projects right now, and will do my best to keep you all posted of the exciting new things coming in the next few months! Thank you all for being here. I hope you can all spend a little time being bored today.
You’re absolutely spectacular