Dan Santat's Blog, page 16
October 6, 2020
October 2, 2020
45 (my annual birthday rant)I often like to celebrate my...
45 (my annual birthday rant)
I often like to celebrate my birthdays with some personal accomplishment. Nothing major, just simple things. One year I picked the first lemon from a lemon tree I brought back from near death. Another year, I built myself a table. Last year I ran my first half marathon (which a few months later resulted in running my first marathon) This year I finished sketches on my 360 page memoir.
I was supposed to go to Japan this year. It had been a dream of mine and now that dream is on hold.
For now.
Now that we’re seven months into this pandemic, it feels as if the universe has been slowed down to 1/3 speed, and to me that actually feels like a comfortable pace. We can’t do very much out in the world right now, and the weird part is…
I kinda like it.
Don’t get me wrong, everything is total anarchy. My entire state is on fire, there are earthquakes, a pandemic, I haven’t seen my parents since March, people have lost jobs, friends have gotten sick, a few have even died, and so on and so forth. 2020 is the worst year I’ve ever experienced.
I’m talking about the perspective of time.
When this pandemic first started I was still working at a frantic pace. My life had always been that way. All my life I’ve always been working and keeping myself busy. I was so wound up that my leg would shake if I just sat in place for too long trying to release excess energy from my body. I was constantly jumping from one project to the next, trying new things, seeing new places while rushing here and there only because it felt like the world’s default speed was set to sprint and I had to keep up.
Then, for the first time in my entire life, I was caught up with work. My plate of work was empty. I had actually caught up with everything. I had no obligations to anyone!
I had so much free time I played video games that had collected dust on my shelf for over five years. I took time to learn to play a new instrument. I took time to finish books that I had set aside for ten years. I even managed to work on new ideas that I never considered touching due to work and family obligations. I feel like I can sit and actually enjoy my cup of coffee rather than gulping it down. I can spend more time on a painting, and so forth.
It just feels nice to not to be rushed.
I haven’t felt this way since I was a kid. Like those early years of your life that felt like they stretched on to an eternity and you were eagerly hoping the world would speed up.
I can’t wait to get my driver’s license
I can’t wait to go to college
I can’t wait to legally drink
This is obviously the faint silver lining in what we can all agree is a dire year, and I am obviously in a privileged position to feel this way, but we all need to find the tiny victories where they lie because it is optimism in all of us that propels us forward. We as human beings are a resilient species and we’ve endured other pandemics in the past and have prevailed. The unfortunate situation for you, dear reader, is that we just happen to be alive during a time when this horrible historical event is happening.
We are all going into the history books on this one.
So, for now, allow yourself to feel sad, and angry, and scared, but also understand that it’s okay of shit breaks and you have no control over anything. I want you to know that I appreciate all of you for the efforts you’ve put into keeping everyone safe, and relaxed, and mentally fit. Like many other trying chapters in the history of mankind, we’ve moved on to bigger and better, we will prevail and this struggle is only temporary.
Japan will still be there
Friends and family will be waiting for you on the other side.
Peace.
October 1, 2020
As with technology our video presentation went a little awry...
As with technology our video presentation went a little awry and I had to improvise, so I pulled out a piece of paper and showed kids in our virtual school visits how to draw various Halloween themed characters using letters from the alphabet #TheAlphabetsAlphabet by @imjustchrisharris with art by me
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFzn8guHb4z/?igshid=cnxt076811kh
September 30, 2020
September 28, 2020
IN STORES TOMORROW! #TheAlphabetsAlphabet
Written by...
IN STORES TOMORROW! #TheAlphabetsAlphabet
Written by @imjustchrisharris with art by me.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFr6mBnHOlu/?igshid=17lirexjizm34
360 pages later, finished the last sketch of my first memoir and...
360 pages later, finished the last sketch of my first memoir and gave myself an early birthday present this year
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFrMe5jnd_1/?igshid=rl8smppzfqm0
September 25, 2020
The jacket and case cover for #TheAlpabetsAlphabet. If you read...
The jacket and case cover for #TheAlpabetsAlphabet. If you read the book author, @imjustchrisharris created an alphabet code that is hidden throughout the book.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFkapzEHKzk/?igshid=1ddkkdfhw0imv
September 23, 2020
I originally had plans for #TheAlphabetsAlphabet to be 3D...
I originally had plans for #TheAlphabetsAlphabet to be 3D illustrated and immersed in real life photography. I was reluctant to share this because if it worked I feel like it would have been amazing, but due to a busy schedule, and a lack of ability, I couldn’t get it to work. It’s hard to experiment with a new style when you’ve got other projects that need your attention. I do have plans to attempt this 3D method on an upcoming project. Always experimenting. Trying to keep things fresh
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFe2sSaHDcQ/?igshid=1axcexl3w1zu3
September 16, 2020
I’m thrilled to let you all know that I have a new book...
I’m thrilled to let you all know that I have a new book coming out the end of this month with the very talented @imjustchrisharris (author of I’m Just No Good at Rhyming) and we’ve got the most clever alphabet book in store for you all. His writing really is magnificent in this. #TheAlphabetsAlphabet
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFN5l3in4Kn/?igshid=1qtmac439tz3m
