just pick up my pens you can’t forget the staff these days
the staff these days
the staff these days so thank you that I was thinking the
so thank you that I was thinking the
so thank you that I was thinking the other day actually the last time I did
other day actually the last time I did
other day actually the last time I did any kind of public speaking was in this
any kind of public speaking was in this
any kind of public speaking was in this very Hall approximately 21 years ago
very Hall approximately 21 years ago
very Hall approximately 21 years ago because when I was a student here I was
because when I was a student here I was
because when I was a student here I was a key member of the literary society at
a key member of the literary society at
a key member of the literary society at Delphi still gay and the school debating
Delphi still gay and the school debating
Delphi still gay and the school debating team pretty geeky on it but actually
team pretty geeky on it but actually
team pretty geeky on it but actually found being involved in those roles did
found being involved in those roles did
found being involved in those roles did help me somewhat in my time at school
help me somewhat in my time at school
help me somewhat in my time at school firstly I found that it gave the bullies
firstly I found that it gave the bullies
firstly I found that it gave the bullies something tangible to focus on and
something tangible to focus on and
something tangible to focus on and secondly it helped me develop my
secondly it helped me develop my
secondly it helped me develop my confidence for speaking in front of
confidence for speaking in front of
confidence for speaking in front of crowds like this now obviously it was 20
crowds like this now obviously it was 20
crowds like this now obviously it was 20 years ago when max first fell in touched
years ago when max first fell in touched
years ago when max first fell in touched me a few months back to invite me to
me a few months back to invite me to
me a few months back to invite me to take part in these talks I jumped at the
take part in these talks I jumped at the
take part in these talks I jumped at the opportunity and then has it dawned on me
opportunity and then has it dawned on me
opportunity and then has it dawned on me my confidence sort of ebbs away a little
my confidence sort of ebbs away a little
my confidence sort of ebbs away a little bit both at stage it was too late to
bit both at stage it was too late to
bit both at stage it was too late to pull out so I’m here now
pull out so I’m here now
pull out so I’m here now thankfully I’m on quite familiar
thankfully I’m on quite familiar
thankfully I’m on quite familiar territory so hopefully things will go
territory so hopefully things will go
territory so hopefully things will go okay if not I’ll just start sniffing the
okay if not I’ll just start sniffing the
okay if not I’ll just start sniffing the marker pens
marker pens
marker pens so as it said in my introduction I Ellis
so as it said in my introduction I Ellis
so as it said in my introduction I Ellis traitor and being an animator before
traitor and being an animator before
traitor and being an animator before that and I spent the best part of my
that and I spent the best part of my
that and I spent the best part of my life really
life really
life really drawings I thought what I’d do is start
drawings I thought what I’d do is start
drawings I thought what I’d do is start by doing a drawing I was born in the 70s
by doing a drawing I was born in the 70s
by doing a drawing I was born in the 70s so I’m going to draw a space hopper so
so I’m going to draw a space hopper so
so I’m going to draw a space hopper so just big round ball essentially oops
just big round ball essentially oops
just big round ball essentially oops with nobody handles seem to remember and
with nobody handles seem to remember and
with nobody handles seem to remember and for some reason they have a really scary
for some reason they have a really scary
for some reason they have a really scary face like a kind of kangaroo and
face like a kind of kangaroo and
face like a kind of kangaroo and myxomatosis I’ve seen from that but so
myxomatosis I’ve seen from that but so
myxomatosis I’ve seen from that but so gonna have a nose donkey teeth and it
gonna have a nose donkey teeth and it
gonna have a nose donkey teeth and it looks something like that I seem to
looks something like that I seem to
looks something like that I seem to remember anyway it’s a very rough
remember anyway it’s a very rough
remember anyway it’s a very rough rendition of a space over now I’m gonna
rendition of a space over now I’m gonna
rendition of a space over now I’m gonna color it in so those of you with OCD or
color it in so those of you with OCD or
color it in so those of you with OCD or a poncho for being tidy might want to
a poncho for being tidy might want to
a poncho for being tidy might want to look away at this point because I’m
look away at this point because I’m
look away at this point because I’m gonna do this ah whoops I’ve gone over
gonna do this ah whoops I’ve gone over
gonna do this ah whoops I’ve gone over the lines those of you who don’t know
the lines those of you who don’t know
the lines those of you who don’t know Sir Kenneth Robinson he’s a sort of
Sir Kenneth Robinson he’s a sort of
Sir Kenneth Robinson he’s a sort of educational consultant or guru and he’s
educational consultant or guru and he’s
educational consultant or guru and he’s a brilliant raconteur he’s exceptionally
a brilliant raconteur he’s exceptionally
a brilliant raconteur he’s exceptionally witty and he kind of carries his quiet
witty and he kind of carries his quiet
witty and he kind of carries his quiet charisma which is why I’ve chosen to
charisma which is why I’ve chosen to
charisma which is why I’ve chosen to plagiarize him tonight and in his talk
plagiarize him tonight and in his talk
plagiarize him tonight and in his talk he focuses on at one point how children
he focuses on at one point how children
he focuses on at one point how children just seem to plow into problems totally
just seem to plow into problems totally
just seem to plow into problems totally unafraid of making any mistakes and
unafraid of making any mistakes and
unafraid of making any mistakes and that’s how they learn and he uses one
that’s how they learn and he uses one
that’s how they learn and he uses one anecdote to illustrate this and he sent
anecdote to illustrate this and he sent
anecdote to illustrate this and he sent us on his son’s nativity play and the
us on his son’s nativity play and the
us on his son’s nativity play and the three wise men are about to go on stage
three wise men are about to go on stage
three wise men are about to go on stage and as they go on stage they get that
and as they go on stage they get that
and as they go on stage they get that order slightly muddled but they carry on
order slightly muddled but they carry on
order slightly muddled but they carry on regardless the first boy goes up like
regardless the first boy goes up like
regardless the first boy goes up like his mentee and he approaches Mary and
his mentee and he approaches Mary and
his mentee and he approaches Mary and Joseph and the newborn baby Jesus and he
Joseph and the newborn baby Jesus and he
Joseph and the newborn baby Jesus and he hands out his box and says I bring the
hands out his box and says I bring the
hands out his box and says I bring the gift of gold then the second boy goes up
gift of gold then the second boy goes up
gift of gold then the second boy goes up a little bit early he gets on stage and
a little bit early he gets on stage and
a little bit early he gets on stage and he says I bring myrrh so then the final
he says I bring myrrh so then the final
he says I bring myrrh so then the final boy arrives realizes they’re going bit
boy arrives realizes they’re going bit
boy arrives realizes they’re going bit out of sync but doesn’t matter he
out of sync but doesn’t matter he
out of sync but doesn’t matter he carries on he goes that presents his box
carries on he goes that presents his box
carries on he goes that presents his box and says Frank sent this
and says Frank sent this
and says Frank sent this now it is pretty funny I like that isn’t
now it is pretty funny I like that isn’t
now it is pretty funny I like that isn’t it to see why I stole it now so
it to see why I stole it now so
it to see why I stole it now so basically what mr. Kenneth Robinson
basically what mr. Kenneth Robinson
basically what mr. Kenneth Robinson concludes from this humorous episode is
concludes from this humorous episode is
concludes from this humorous episode is that if you’re not prepared to be wrong
that if you’re not prepared to be wrong
that if you’re not prepared to be wrong you can’t come up with anything original
you can’t come up with anything original
you can’t come up with anything original now the same is true of children’s
now the same is true of children’s
now the same is true of children’s drawings and I’ve got an example here if
drawings and I’ve got an example here if
drawings and I’ve got an example here if I can operate this thing there we go
I can operate this thing there we go
I can operate this thing there we go right so I know this is probably a bit
right so I know this is probably a bit
right so I know this is probably a bit small for you but this is a portrait of
small for you but this is a portrait of
small for you but this is a portrait of me which was done by my daughter and
me which was done by my daughter and
me which was done by my daughter and given to me last Father’s Day you can
given to me last Father’s Day you can
given to me last Father’s Day you can see there says daddy at the top now the
see there says daddy at the top now the
see there says daddy at the top now the first thing you’ll probably notice about
first thing you’ll probably notice about
first thing you’ll probably notice about this image I hope you’ll notice is that
this image I hope you’ll notice is that
this image I hope you’ll notice is that it looks nothing like me right
it looks nothing like me right
it looks nothing like me right for a start I don’t know why but I’ve
for a start I don’t know why but I’ve
for a start I don’t know why but I’ve got a shot of vertical turquoise hair i
got a shot of vertical turquoise hair i
got a shot of vertical turquoise hair i goodness knows why my hands and feet
goodness knows why my hands and feet
goodness knows why my hands and feet seem to look like tarantulas that have
seem to look like tarantulas that have
seem to look like tarantulas that have wilted in the Sun I’ve got a second head
wilted in the Sun I’ve got a second head
wilted in the Sun I’ve got a second head growing out of my torso and the less we
growing out of my torso and the less we
growing out of my torso and the less we say about the Slender Man in the
say about the Slender Man in the
say about the Slender Man in the background here the better
background here the better
background here the better so obviously I’m teasing I love this
so obviously I’m teasing I love this
so obviously I’m teasing I love this picture and what it shows is a bold and
picture and what it shows is a bold and
picture and what it shows is a bold and carefree attempt to try and capture what
carefree attempt to try and capture what
carefree attempt to try and capture what my daughter believes is my essence my
my daughter believes is my essence my
my daughter believes is my essence my personality either that’s all she needs
personality either that’s all she needs
personality either that’s all she needs serious psychiatric treatment
serious psychiatric treatment
serious psychiatric treatment but as Kenneth Robinson says if you’re
but as Kenneth Robinson says if you’re
but as Kenneth Robinson says if you’re not prepared to be wrong you’ll never
not prepared to be wrong you’ll never
not prepared to be wrong you’ll never come up with anything original case in
come up with anything original case in
come up with anything original case in point right there now in a way our
point right there now in a way our
point right there now in a way our education is a bit like that we happy
education is a bit like that we happy
education is a bit like that we happy sorts of guidelines that are laid out
sorts of guidelines that are laid out
sorts of guidelines that are laid out for us and then we work our way until we
for us and then we work our way until we
for us and then we work our way until we get to what’s Olivia a chosen career at
get to what’s Olivia a chosen career at
get to what’s Olivia a chosen career at the end now I remember back in the fifth
the end now I remember back in the fifth
the end now I remember back in the fifth form the careers advice I received and
form the careers advice I received and
form the careers advice I received and there was this initiative called s Co
there was this initiative called s Co
there was this initiative called s Co Morris B which i think is still going
Morris B which i think is still going
Morris B which i think is still going today
today
today and basically it involved people’s
and basically it involved people’s
and basically it involved people’s having to fill out various
having to fill out various
having to fill out various questionnaires lots of multiple-choice
questionnaires lots of multiple-choice
questionnaires lots of multiple-choice boxes to tick and in sit an interview
boxes to tick and in sit an interview
boxes to tick and in sit an interview then all the data’s collated fit into a
then all the data’s collated fit into a
then all the data’s collated fit into a big machine and you basically wait to
big machine and you basically wait to
big machine and you basically wait to have your fortune told and the results
have your fortune told and the results
have your fortune told and the results have rendered out and it tells you the
have rendered out and it tells you the
have rendered out and it tells you the career you’re going to do now with me I
career you’re going to do now with me I
career you’re going to do now with me I didn’t just get one career option on her
didn’t just get one career option on her
didn’t just get one career option on her I got to and this is absolutely true
I got to and this is absolutely true
I got to and this is absolutely true this is what it said I was given the
this is what it said I was given the
this is what it said I was given the choice of either being a diplomat
choice of either being a diplomat
choice of either being a diplomat pretty snazzy or a car mechanic
pretty snazzy or a car mechanic
pretty snazzy or a car mechanic now you couldn’t get two more in
now you couldn’t get two more in
now you couldn’t get two more in Congress career paths if you tried
Congress career paths if you tried
Congress career paths if you tried diplomat or car mechanic I’d not sure
diplomat or car mechanic I’d not sure
diplomat or car mechanic I’d not sure what I was meant to take away from that
what I was meant to take away from that
what I was meant to take away from that whether I was going to get a call from
whether I was going to get a call from
whether I was going to get a call from the United Nations and certainly be
the United Nations and certainly be
the United Nations and certainly be whisked away to North Korea to fix the
whisked away to North Korea to fix the
whisked away to North Korea to fix the alternator on Kim jong-un’s Fiat Punto
alternator on Kim jong-un’s Fiat Punto
alternator on Kim jong-un’s Fiat Punto or I don’t know it made no sense to me
or I don’t know it made no sense to me
or I don’t know it made no sense to me the truth of the matter is I was a
the truth of the matter is I was a
the truth of the matter is I was a teenager I didn’t have the first clue
teenager I didn’t have the first clue
teenager I didn’t have the first clue what I wanted to be I was too concerned
what I wanted to be I was too concerned
what I wanted to be I was too concerned about getting a wedgie from an ex house
about getting a wedgie from an ex house
about getting a wedgie from an ex house debating competition they were troubling
debating competition they were troubling
debating competition they were troubling times now admittedly there are careers
times now admittedly there are careers
times now admittedly there are careers which have a specific vocational point
which have a specific vocational point
which have a specific vocational point to them and you have to fulfill certain
to them and you have to fulfill certain
to them and you have to fulfill certain qualifications and attain certain skills
qualifications and attain certain skills
qualifications and attain certain skills to get to that career – for instance she
to get to that career – for instance she
to get to that career – for instance she is one she wants to be a vet basically
is one she wants to be a vet basically
is one she wants to be a vet basically and she’s doing chemistry maths and
and she’s doing chemistry maths and
and she’s doing chemistry maths and biology and she’s currently scouring the
biology and she’s currently scouring the
biology and she’s currently scouring the country looking for a university so she
country looking for a university so she
country looking for a university so she can study there once it’s finished or it
can study there once it’s finished or it
can study there once it’s finished or it sounds now that level of focus and
sounds now that level of focus and
sounds now that level of focus and determinations extraordinary for a
determinations extraordinary for a
determinations extraordinary for a six-year-old girl
six-year-old girl
six-year-old girl so obviously I’m joking she’s 17 but I
so obviously I’m joking she’s 17 but I
so obviously I’m joking she’s 17 but I think she did make up her mind about
think she did make up her mind about
think she did make up her mind about being a vet when she was six and I’m
being a vet when she was six and I’m
being a vet when she was six and I’m sure now lots of you here tonight who
sure now lots of you here tonight who
sure now lots of you here tonight who also have a firm grasp on what you wanna
also have a firm grasp on what you wanna
also have a firm grasp on what you wanna do when you leave this school and you’ll
do when you leave this school and you’ll
do when you leave this school and you’ll be currently equipping yourselves with
be currently equipping yourselves with
be currently equipping yourselves with the skills and the qualifications to
the skills and the qualifications to
the skills and the qualifications to achieve that that’s great but then
achieve that that’s great but then
achieve that that’s great but then there’s the other end of the spectrum
there’s the other end of the spectrum
there’s the other end of the spectrum where I dwelt and there’ll be a few deer
where I dwelt and there’ll be a few deer
where I dwelt and there’ll be a few deer here tonight as well he fall into that
here tonight as well he fall into that
here tonight as well he fall into that category who are more like concussed
category who are more like concussed
category who are more like concussed hamsters wandering around the labyrinth
hamsters wandering around the labyrinth
hamsters wandering around the labyrinth you’ll know who you are because you’ll
you’ll know who you are because you’ll
you’ll know who you are because you’ll be the ones giving serious consideration
be the ones giving serious consideration
be the ones giving serious consideration to doing a degree in English literature
I’m teasing because oh sorry
I’m teasing because oh sorry I warned of you I was there in fact I
I warned of you I was there in fact I
I warned of you I was there in fact I distinctly remember finishing my English
distinctly remember finishing my English
distinctly remember finishing my English degree and they think it’s myself right
degree and they think it’s myself right
degree and they think it’s myself right what am I going to do with this I still
what am I going to do with this I still
what am I going to do with this I still don’t have the answer to that question
don’t have the answer to that question
don’t have the answer to that question by the way in case you’re wondering but
by the way in case you’re wondering but
by the way in case you’re wondering but I do remember my very last English
I do remember my very last English
I do remember my very last English tutorial and my cheater was trying to
tutorial and my cheater was trying to
tutorial and my cheater was trying to reassure the students about our career
reassure the students about our career
reassure the students about our career prospects and you say not to worry
prospects and you say not to worry
prospects and you say not to worry because statistically ninety percent of
because statistically ninety percent of
because statistically ninety percent of us would leave with a full-time job you
us would leave with a full-time job you
us would leave with a full-time job you don’t want on to say that 90 percent of
don’t want on to say that 90 percent of
don’t want on to say that 90 percent of those candidates would be working in a
those candidates would be working in a
those candidates would be working in a fast-food restaurant and then he got up
fast-food restaurant and then he got up
fast-food restaurant and then he got up and left and closed the door and I never
and left and closed the door and I never
and left and closed the door and I never saw him again and that was literally the
saw him again and that was literally the
saw him again and that was literally the last line in my entire academic career
last line in my entire academic career
last line in my entire academic career that’s what it all boiled down to this
that’s what it all boiled down to this
that’s what it all boiled down to this point this line here all those revision
point this line here all those revision
point this line here all those revision timetables exercise books ink cartridges
timetables exercise books ink cartridges
timetables exercise books ink cartridges calculator batteries detentions it all
calculator batteries detentions it all
calculator batteries detentions it all boiled down to that moment now I know
boiled down to that moment now I know
boiled down to that moment now I know what you’re thinking that’s a very
what you’re thinking that’s a very
what you’re thinking that’s a very depressing note to end a talk on but the
depressing note to end a talk on but the
depressing note to end a talk on but the good news is I haven’t quite finished
good news is I haven’t quite finished
good news is I haven’t quite finished yet but I can’t promise that it won’t
yet but I can’t promise that it won’t
yet but I can’t promise that it won’t get more depressing where do I go from
get more depressing where do I go from
get more depressing where do I go from here one of the good things about having
here one of the good things about having
here one of the good things about having such obtuse career options is it
such obtuse career options is it
such obtuse career options is it essentially grants you a blank page to
essentially grants you a blank page to
essentially grants you a blank page to color in all over again so where do I go
color in all over again so where do I go
color in all over again so where do I go I’ll tell you where I came exactly back
I’ll tell you where I came exactly back
I’ll tell you where I came exactly back here
here
here quite literally my first employment
quite literally my first employment
quite literally my first employment paycheck was from this very school
paycheck was from this very school
paycheck was from this very school obviously I wasn’t a teacher I was too
obviously I wasn’t a teacher I was too
obviously I wasn’t a teacher I was too overqualified for that
I works in the maintenance department
I works in the maintenance department and I remember on my first day I let
and I remember on my first day I let
and I remember on my first day I let slip to the foreman Mike Hancock that I
used to do are a level and so he
used to do are a level and so he responded by thrusting a paintbrush into
responded by thrusting a paintbrush into
responded by thrusting a paintbrush into one hand a five liter bucket of magnolia
one hand a five liter bucket of magnolia
one hand a five liter bucket of magnolia emulsion into the other and said there
emulsion into the other and said there
emulsion into the other and said there you go Picasso go and paint the
you go Picasso go and paint the
you go Picasso go and paint the classroom block so that was the summer
classroom block so that was the summer
classroom block so that was the summer of 96 for me now if you would ask me
of 96 for me now if you would ask me
of 96 for me now if you would ask me back then if I thought that job would in
back then if I thought that job would in
back then if I thought that job would in any way shape or informed the person I
any way shape or informed the person I
any way shape or informed the person I am today I said no not at all
am today I said no not at all
am today I said no not at all although I did learn some pretty
although I did learn some pretty
although I did learn some pretty spectacular new swearwords off the crew
spectacular new swearwords off the crew
spectacular new swearwords off the crew but the truth is it’s very easy to
but the truth is it’s very easy to
but the truth is it’s very easy to overlook menial jobs that we often take
overlook menial jobs that we often take
overlook menial jobs that we often take just to make ends meet but the fact of
just to make ends meet but the fact of
just to make ends meet but the fact of the matter is while they may not be
the matter is while they may not be
the matter is while they may not be along the lines of what we want to do
along the lines of what we want to do
along the lines of what we want to do they nevertheless play an integral part
they nevertheless play an integral part
they nevertheless play an integral part in how we get there so take for instance
in how we get there so take for instance
in how we get there so take for instance the modern classical composer Philip
the modern classical composer Philip
the modern classical composer Philip Glass I’m sure some of the music
Glass I’m sure some of the music
Glass I’m sure some of the music students here would have heard of him
students here would have heard of him
students here would have heard of him but people who haven’t heard of him
but people who haven’t heard of him
but people who haven’t heard of him would certainly have heard one of his
would certainly have heard one of his
would certainly have heard one of his many film scores now he didn’t receive
many film scores now he didn’t receive
many film scores now he didn’t receive his first professional commission till
his first professional commission till
his first professional commission till he was 41 before that he worked in a
he was 41 before that he worked in a
he was 41 before that he worked in a steel mill in his hometown and then as a
steel mill in his hometown and then as a
steel mill in his hometown and then as a taxi driver in New York now he said that
taxi driver in New York now he said that
taxi driver in New York now he said that he was driven for his curiosity for life
he was driven for his curiosity for life
he was driven for his curiosity for life and that any dis about trumped any
and that any dis about trumped any
and that any dis about trumped any distinct he might have had for working
distinct he might have had for working
distinct he might have had for working and if we look at Harvey Pekar the
and if we look at Harvey Pekar the
and if we look at Harvey Pekar the American comic writer he proves that
American comic writer he proves that
American comic writer he proves that being in the employment doldrums can
being in the employment doldrums can
being in the employment doldrums can actually be a great catalyst for
actually be a great catalyst for
actually be a great catalyst for creativity a lot of his stories and
creativity a lot of his stories and
creativity a lot of his stories and characters are based on the real-life
characters are based on the real-life
characters are based on the real-life characters he met every day in his
characters he met every day in his
characters he met every day in his dead-end job as a filing clerk at the
dead-end job as a filing clerk at the
dead-end job as a filing clerk at the local hospital I myself made my first
local hospital I myself made my first
local hospital I myself made my first short film when I was in-between temping
short film when I was in-between temping
short film when I was in-between temping jobs having just moved back into my
jobs having just moved back into my
jobs having just moved back into my parents house in my early 20s after
parents house in my early 20s after
parents house in my early 20s after splitting up with my girlfriend happy
splitting up with my girlfriend happy
splitting up with my girlfriend happy days
days
days so you know there is like the end of the
so you know there is like the end of the
so you know there is like the end of the tunnel
so basically I then went on to do a
so basically I then went on to do a three-month kind of post-grad animation
three-month kind of post-grad animation
three-month kind of post-grad animation course in Bristol where I now live and
course in Bristol where I now live and
course in Bristol where I now live and eventually I started getting some
eventually I started getting some
eventually I started getting some freelance work as an animator I started
freelance work as an animator I started
freelance work as an animator I started out in children’s TV programs and also I
out in children’s TV programs and also I
out in children’s TV programs and also I made some short films that really are
made some short films that really are
made some short films that really are not for children but were a lot of fun
not for children but were a lot of fun
not for children but were a lot of fun to make anyway and unfortunately the
to make anyway and unfortunately the
to make anyway and unfortunately the budget and the funding started to fall
budget and the funding started to fall
budget and the funding started to fall out of the animation market in the UK at
out of the animation market in the UK at
out of the animation market in the UK at that time so the work dried up when I
that time so the work dried up when I
that time so the work dried up when I was lucky enough to get a full time job
was lucky enough to get a full time job
was lucky enough to get a full time job at a digital agency doing animation for
at a digital agency doing animation for
at a digital agency doing animation for children’s and educational apps and
children’s and educational apps and
children’s and educational apps and games and stuff like that then it’s
games and stuff like that then it’s
games and stuff like that then it’s complete Scott more more involved the
complete Scott more more involved the
complete Scott more more involved the job seemed to become more perfunctory
job seemed to become more perfunctory
job seemed to become more perfunctory than creative so I decided to take
than creative so I decided to take
than creative so I decided to take another drastic diversion and I quit my
another drastic diversion and I quit my
another drastic diversion and I quit my full-time job and I decided to go back
full-time job and I decided to go back
full-time job and I decided to go back to being a freelancer and working
to being a freelancer and working
to being a freelancer and working children’s illustration and it was the
children’s illustration and it was the
children’s illustration and it was the best decision I’ve ever made
best decision I’ve ever made
best decision I’ve ever made providing I don’t open my bank
providing I don’t open my bank
providing I don’t open my bank statements now I’ve got another example
statements now I’ve got another example
statements now I’ve got another example for you of one of my illustrations for
for you of one of my illustrations for
for you of one of my illustrations for my book there you go so the good thing
my book there you go so the good thing
my book there you go so the good thing about being a children’s illustrator is
about being a children’s illustrator is
about being a children’s illustrator is that essentially I get to color over the
that essentially I get to color over the
that essentially I get to color over the lines all over again
lines all over again
lines all over again so here is image from my second book the
so here is image from my second book the
so here is image from my second book the Lumberjacks beard is available in all
Lumberjacks beard is available in all
Lumberjacks beard is available in all good book shots and some pretty enough
good book shots and some pretty enough
good book shots and some pretty enough ones and you can rent it from the
ones and you can rent it from the
ones and you can rent it from the library for free so you don’t have an
library for free so you don’t have an
library for free so you don’t have an excuse so here we see basically the
excuse so here we see basically the
excuse so here we see basically the trees essentially triangles on sticks
trees essentially triangles on sticks
trees essentially triangles on sticks the clouds and the shadows are just
the clouds and the shadows are just
the clouds and the shadows are just scribbles and there’s no way that hefty
scribbles and there’s no way that hefty
scribbles and there’s no way that hefty lumberjack can live in such a tiny log
lumberjack can live in such a tiny log
lumberjack can live in such a tiny log cabin so basically everything
cabin so basically everything
cabin so basically everything technically is wrong with this picture a
technically is wrong with this picture a
technically is wrong with this picture a bit like my daughter’s image but that’s
bit like my daughter’s image but that’s
bit like my daughter’s image but that’s what makes it so right basically one of
what makes it so right basically one of
what makes it so right basically one of the hardest parts of my job these days
the hardest parts of my job these days
the hardest parts of my job these days in fact he’s trying to unlearn all the
in fact he’s trying to unlearn all the
in fact he’s trying to unlearn all the constructs that were drilled into me
constructs that were drilled into me
constructs that were drilled into me when I was a student like perspective
when I was a student like perspective
when I was a student like perspective and scale and things like that so that’s
and scale and things like that so that’s
and scale and things like that so that’s the lumberjack beard now
the lumberjack beard now
the lumberjack beard now there’s one last thing one last diagram
there’s one last thing one last diagram
there’s one last thing one last diagram I want to draw because basically
I want to draw because basically
I want to draw because basically wondering where am I going with this I’m
wondering where am I going with this I’m
wondering where am I going with this I’m not sure myself but think what I what
not sure myself but think what I what
not sure myself but think what I what the gist of what I’m getting out is that
the gist of what I’m getting out is that
the gist of what I’m getting out is that it’s okay
it’s okay
it’s okay to color over the lines metaphorically
to color over the lines metaphorically
to color over the lines metaphorically speaking at any given point in your
speaking at any given point in your
speaking at any given point in your career and hopefully this diagram will
career and hopefully this diagram will
career and hopefully this diagram will show that that’s my plan
show that that’s my plan
show that that’s my plan so we’ve got two converging lines like
so we’ve got two converging lines like
so we’ve got two converging lines like that this is a time line denoted with T
that this is a time line denoted with T
that this is a time line denoted with T I was listening in some lessons and
I was listening in some lessons and
I was listening in some lessons and basically here is the wide end the early
basically here is the wide end the early
basically here is the wide end the early stages of our stage of our life we have
stages of our stage of our life we have
stages of our stage of our life we have a breadth of options a plethora of
a breadth of options a plethora of
a breadth of options a plethora of opportunities laid out before us and
opportunities laid out before us and
opportunities laid out before us and being children we can color it in as
being children we can color it in as
being children we can color it in as liberally as we like it doesn’t matter
liberally as we like it doesn’t matter
liberally as we like it doesn’t matter where kids it’s fine no one cares but
where kids it’s fine no one cares but
where kids it’s fine no one cares but then as we get a bit older and a bit
then as we get a bit older and a bit
then as we get a bit older and a bit more self-conscious we start to Curran
more self-conscious we start to Curran
more self-conscious we start to Curran bit more tightly now I turned 40 a
bit more tightly now I turned 40 a
bit more tightly now I turned 40 a couple of weeks ago so technically that
couple of weeks ago so technically that
couple of weeks ago so technically that puts me with current medical advances
puts me with current medical advances
puts me with current medical advances the way they are hopefully about halfway
the way they are hopefully about halfway
the way they are hopefully about halfway down this timeline that’s me right and
down this timeline that’s me right and
down this timeline that’s me right and as you can see my options have narrowed
as you can see my options have narrowed
as you can see my options have narrowed considerably okay but what you can’t see
considerably okay but what you can’t see
considerably okay but what you can’t see what this diagram doesn’t show you this
what this diagram doesn’t show you this
what this diagram doesn’t show you this it just beyond this halfway point
it just beyond this halfway point
it just beyond this halfway point there’s this Phantom Zone here now this
there’s this Phantom Zone here now this
there’s this Phantom Zone here now this is what I call the midlife crisis
is what I call the midlife crisis
is what I call the midlife crisis territory right
territory right
territory right so here anything goes literary whoo it’s
so here anything goes literary whoo it’s
so here anything goes literary whoo it’s like being a kid again no one cares is
like being a kid again no one cares is
like being a kid again no one cares is brilliant you go over lines it doesn’t
brilliant you go over lines it doesn’t
brilliant you go over lines it doesn’t matter that’s like a veritable Jackson
matter that’s like a veritable Jackson
matter that’s like a veritable Jackson Pollock right there and what that
Pollock right there and what that
Pollock right there and what that represents is things like messy divorces
represents is things like messy divorces
represents is things like messy divorces impromptu motorbike purchases an
impromptu motorbike purchases an
impromptu motorbike purchases an unhinged desire to take out a second
unhinged desire to take out a second
unhinged desire to take out a second mortgage and start your own art design
mortgage and start your own art design
mortgage and start your own art design juice bar all those things fix your arms
juice bar all those things fix your arms
juice bar all those things fix your arms do okay then after that we keep coming
do okay then after that we keep coming
do okay then after that we keep coming in and the lines get narrower and
in and the lines get narrower and
in and the lines get narrower and narrower our pen starts to run out of
narrower our pen starts to run out of
narrower our pen starts to run out of ink you can read a metal into that if
ink you can read a metal into that if
ink you can read a metal into that if you want and then eventually we get to
you want and then eventually we get to
you want and then eventually we get to full stop at the end a finite black dots
full stop at the end a finite black dots
full stop at the end a finite black dots now I’m sure you can guess what that
now I’m sure you can guess what that
now I’m sure you can guess what that represents
represents
represents if not I’ll make it a bit easier for the
if not I’ll make it a bit easier for the
if not I’ll make it a bit easier for the ones with less imagination I did warn
ones with less imagination I did warn
ones with less imagination I did warn you if I get more depressing so
you if I get more depressing so
you if I get more depressing so basically that black dot I think is the
basically that black dot I think is the
basically that black dot I think is the only kind of truth on this whole chart
only kind of truth on this whole chart
only kind of truth on this whole chart everything that precedes it is one big
everything that precedes it is one big
everything that precedes it is one big blank coloring book which is ready to be
blank coloring book which is ready to be
blank coloring book which is ready to be filled in either with diligent precision
filled in either with diligent precision
filled in either with diligent precision or big bold sprawls either way you’re
or big bold sprawls either way you’re
or big bold sprawls either way you’re not going to be scored out of ten you’re
not going to be scored out of ten you’re
not going to be scored out of ten you’re not going to get given a gold star
not going to get given a gold star
not going to get given a gold star you’re not gonna get marked down for it
you’re not gonna get marked down for it
you’re not gonna get marked down for it it’s I think the only parameters that
it’s I think the only parameters that
it’s I think the only parameters that really matter are the ones that measure
really matter are the ones that measure
really matter are the ones that measure how content we are any given point on
how content we are any given point on
how content we are any given point on this timeline it’s very easy to perceive
this timeline it’s very easy to perceive
this timeline it’s very easy to perceive a given career as a goal or destination
a given career as a goal or destination
a given career as a goal or destination that we set out to achieve but in my
that we set out to achieve but in my
that we set out to achieve but in my experience the problem with having goals
experience the problem with having goals
experience the problem with having goals is that goal posts inevitably shift and
is that goal posts inevitably shift and
is that goal posts inevitably shift and sometimes they just disappear entirely
sometimes they just disappear entirely
sometimes they just disappear entirely so I think the key is just to not regret
so I think the key is just to not regret
so I think the key is just to not regret a moment of how we get there so you may
a moment of how we get there so you may
a moment of how we get there so you may as well be as neat or as messy as you
as well be as neat or as messy as you
as well be as neat or as messy as you like
like
like thank you
”
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