“The problem isn’t that you can’t draw, it’s that you don’t.” So much truth in that simple sentence. Thank you! 🙏🙏

I started watercolor art when I was 69 (I’m 71 now) and I’m having a blast! I’m not trying for perfection, I’m simply having fun. Thank you for you wise words of support!

Wonderful video. You have given me hope. I have stepped away from Art because my husband is battling cancer. My mental health has deteriorated. I picked up a pencil today and drew my old cat - As I looked hard and scrutinised the details of my cat I started to feel better for the first time in months. Then I watched this video. 🙏 Thank you so much. I needed to hear these words. 👊❤️

@laurak5196

5 ай бұрын

@amandasymon4363 I’m so glad you picked up that pencil. Art heals! Best to you and your husband.

Dear Danny, I wish you had been one of my Art teachers when I was in High School a half century ago. Maybe my life would have turned out differently. Thanks for all your gentle, thought provoking and motivating videos and essays. You have the gift of communication.

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

I would have been rather young.

@user-pw2dq4lf2p

2 жыл бұрын

@@SketchBookSkool Yes, Danny, but you know what I mean !

@KadiiRawr

2 жыл бұрын

I know exactly what you mean - I made my way through education thinking I wasn't good enough at creative pursuits so gave them up, but have constantly felt a pull towards creative hobbies. If I had a teacher like Danny to guide me and reiterate "it doesn't matter if it's bad, what matters is that you keep going", my life may have turned out totally different! Better late than never :)

@georgiagalaxy

Жыл бұрын

Agreed, I couldn’t stand being in my art class, I failed and left.

@MissVindicat

Жыл бұрын

@@SketchBookSkool 😂😂

Is it normal to start falling in love with Danny after listening to his caring voice and encouraging wisdom for an hour? I've been watching the newest videos, but I feel like going ALL the way back to the beginning. 😍 Not a stalker, I'm happily married, just can't get enough of this man's experience. 🤓

@andreaskye

Жыл бұрын

I am the same. I posted I wanted to be his sidekick like the thing that spins around behind Sonic the Hedgehog. 😂

@SandravdB1976

5 ай бұрын

Same here😁

@theartesana

4 ай бұрын

I feel the same 🙂

I wish I had a dad like you. My life would have been magic!

I teach watercolor in life long learning program. I’m a retired art therapist 30+ years. You are preaching to the choir. I share your videos with my students. Please keep up the great inspirational work. Thank you.

After listening to this I sent it to my daughter and asked her to please share it with my grandchildren, it's something everyone should hear..

1. Regain Control 2. Meditation gives perspective 3. Find positivity 4. Value the journey, not just the destination 5. Artists connect 6. Make progress every day 7. The joy of mastery 8. Find comfort in ambiguity 9. It's okay to waste time 10. Rediscover analog 11. Accept failure 12. Think less 13. Make 14. Don't take, make 15. Perfectionism is soul crushing 16. We are born artists 17. Speak your Truth 18. Express yourself 19. You can do this as well as anyone 20. Let go 21. Don't wait to be ready 22. Creativity prepares us for change 23. Find your thing 24. Talent is a myth 25. Do it. Now. 26. Be kind to you 27. Vulnerability makes you tough

When I finished my art degree I was burned out. I think the fear of being wrong took the joy out of creativity for me. Losing that fear and creating 'just because' has been amazing to rediscover. 😊

Perfectionism is soul crushing and shopping won’t soothe your soul. I needed to hear that as it’s a vicious circle I’m stuck in. Thank you for your videos and your e-mails

Danny, you are brilliant, thank you for the inspiring words. I recently, accidentally (yeah, right-it was a God wink for sure) met a group of ladies who are watercolorists and they have kindly adopted me. We get together at least once a week. I can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun. Have a wonderful, blessed new year, I know I will.😊

“It’s okay to waste time.” Brilliant! I tend to forget that. I have to share this video. Thank you for sharing and Happy New Year!

@pinkfeet518

2 жыл бұрын

time isn’t wasted if you’re having fun doing it :)

As a perfectionist, your videos are really therapeutic. Thanks!

Thank you for your soft healing voice. I suffer from clinical depression. Art takes me away from that, just as you described but I struggle to start, full of so much fear , and that just makes everything worse. Thank you for this help.

Danny Gregory you are so wise, so inspiring and your voice is so soothing! This is my kind of Art Therapy. Thank you sir!

Thank you so much for this encouragement... for life in general!!! I'm a senior and started watercolor a few months ago and then took a break... bad idea... starting over ... I need to do a little every day! ... This talk brought tears... not sure why... but am determined to begin again. My husband is my biggest support and just happy to see me enjoy art! Fantastic coach and teacher .. God bless you in the New Year from a California gramma 😄🌴🌺

The big word there was joyful not happiness joy . Words of wisdom sir .

Gracias.... embrace the feeling of being wrong or embarrassed of not knowing. Gracias.

Your videos remind me of why i chose this path. Although I'm not your target audience, I work in the arts, it's easy to forget why you chose this job. many of my professional colleagues are dispassionate and view art as a means of making money, more concerned with getting the next job than being real. For me art can never be just a hobby, because I already tried, and my life was miserable, now I fight not to forget my decision. Thanks for not letting me forget...

God, I just recently started getting into painting and sometimes I doubt my own ability. I cannot explain how much I loved this video!!!!! 😁

Thank you Danny for telling us to Stop every day chores or dealing with getting thing done on schedule or on time , just let yourself be still & let go for a few Minuits & enjoy your quiet moments , relax & draw or paint , but don’t feel guilty. I’ve often felt like that , but not any more . Danny you were so right!!! Just relax & let go . Xxxx Helen Kirrage xx

When I was in college, I majored in art the first time, graduated, couldn't find a related job, so went back to school and got an engineering degree, which became my money making gig. One time, I was at a Christmas party, having a creative discussion, and was told that I was not an artist because I did not make money at it. I told this person that I was more of an artist because I didn't make money at it. I created what I wanted, and was not bound by what is popular and people's wallets. I am now retired, and have the same attitude. I think some of your best points involve doing art every day, and doing what you want. That is the most satisfying part. I "make" almost every day, and enjoy every part of it. Thanks for spreading this message!

Danny, I have learned so much from you over the past few years! My confidence has grown as an artist. My delight in creating beautiful, ugly, funny, and moving scenes has increased. My ability to use art as self-reflection, inspiration, and deep acceptance of life in general has been a blessing! So from the bottom of my heart, thank you! Cheers to a happy and healthy and creative 2022!

“Shopping won’t soothe your soul” Yes it will, especially when splurged on art supplies! 🤣

This is one of the best videos made for artists I’ve ever seen. Thank you for this. 🤗

Hi Danny! I’ve been following along with you for quite awhile now and I just wanted to tell you how much I admire the way you are filling all of of the nooks and crannies of your life with wonderful things, artful things and taking so many of us along with you and showing us how to do this too. Thank you for that. And by the way I’m hovering over the 82 year mark and still feeling excited about life and learning every single day!

@SketchBookSkool

4 ай бұрын

Wow, thank you!

Saw the thumbnail and thought it said “27 ways art can CHALLENGE your life”…I felt that. 😂

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

That too.

@elizabethbarnes3969

4 ай бұрын

🤭💖💖

After some color experiments, I felt like I can't draw. So I mixed colors, took my brush and just painted an apple. I like it. Don't be afraid to let go of an experiment that isn't working and move on. I have so little free time with my job now that it's critical I make time for art.

Gosh!! I’ve just written to you dear Danny & I’ve come back to your video & the most vital help you’ve just given me is LET GO!! Be myself ! Thank you dear God bless you x Helen Kirrage x& yes I Will be Kinder to myself !

"Don't wait to be ready." YES!

My moto: Explore art and you'll discover life. I'm so glad you are promoting art as a lifestyle rather than a career.

Man, you got me again! If this isn’t a kick in the pants to start drawing I don’t know what is. I’m subscribing to your newsletter right now!

I just love this video. I write short stories and i'd love to illustrate them myself. I was a pretty good artist in high school and I've been mulling on if i can do the illustrations myself after so many years . Happy 2022.

I really appreciate these words. I may listen to this video a few more times while I work (or when I’m down) to help myself improve.

Wow! This is exactly the perfect message for the beginning of a new year. Thank you!!

Lose the fear of being wrong - make art your response to reality.

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

Yes! 🙌

Many thanks Danny…your soothing voice and common sense advice are so much appreciated.

Wow...I need your voice in my ear for everything in life. . .so inspiring. Spend lots of my spare time watching art tutorials, buying the proper pens, paints, equipment etc. I have many unstated sketchpad of all different types and sizes! What am i waiting for You? You have inspired me to just go for it. Happy New Year.

Again... Life changing and so beautifully said, but mostly you sound like a man who is invested in bringing beauty and joy into the world. Thank you... I learnt something precious now.

Thank you! These are very valuable tips to me! Amazing!

I've called art my "insanity prevention/sanity maintenance tool" for years...

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

😂 Love that!

Another great motivational talk, just what I need to get motivated for the new year, Thank you, Happy New Year!

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

Happy new year!!

I am convinced, thank you so much! God bless you!

Thanks for the great tips, much appreciated by me and I'm sure a great many others here! Having been a professional artist for over 45 years i.e. a former retired fashion illustrator in NYC, floral designer/window dresser and now painter as well as a lifelong pianist/composer, one is never too old to learn from others! I do find however, that I paint much better to music and the creativity flows along with the rhythm of the music! I once did a black and white ink illustration of Edgar Allen Poe before starting to put music to his poems and as i was doing it, I felt a spiritual surge of energy shooting down my right arm as I was working on the piece which I did in around 4 minutes! In fashion art school in NYC we had to take fashion sketch classes where we were timed with a timer, 10 mins, 5 mins and 3 min. drawings because one has to work fast when being a fashion artist in the industry. Sadly, that's a dying art these days since fashion photography took over! I work only in acrylic i.e. Liquetex and since that dries fast I work as fast as it dries. Oils take too long to dry and I love how brushes can be cleaned with warm water instead of turpintine. I used to love the smell of turpintine in high school where I took art as a major in my senior year and was art editor of the yearbook. Luckily I had great teachers, my art teacher was a graduate of Pratt Institute, my piano teacher had graduated from Julliard! Some of my favorite memories other than studying art in Europe, one summer in Spain, Italy, Paris, France and London, were my summer art lessons with my wonderful teacher from the Yale School of Art. He taught me how to do portraits in pastel out on his deck on his very modern home in the woods when I was in my early teens and we would work barefoot so ever since then I love to paint in my bare feet on my deck! Not into Plein Air painting, tried that and didn't like all the wind blowing sand in my painting at the beach! Something both the late great Monet and VanGogh had to contend with as well, so I'm mostly a studio painter at home. I have a mild form of MS, partially blind in one eye now at age 73, but thankfully still have good vision in my right eye! I love reading about the great painters and composers of the past and what they had to contend with as well. Monet also went blind towards the end of his life because of cataracts due to his smoking! My heart and soul is where I live near the sea but also at Giverny in France. Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit his pink house with the green shutters or his famous colorful garden and lily pond when I was in France as it hadn't yet been restored and open to the public. But, I have all the books about it now and there's a fabulous tour of his home and garden and lily pond here on KZread that is by the Claude Monet Foundation. I also have his cookbook, the recipes they ate which is a great book, "Monet's Table" and have made some of the recipes! Not his green birthday cake yet, though. Being an artist is a real challenge esp while raising a family, and battling a chronic illness, but I've managed to "keep a goin'' like the late great American actress and women's rights activist Katherine Hepburn always said! I also never compete with others. I just compete with myself, trying to get better like practicing the piano which I loved to do when I took lessons. Am enjoying all your great videos, keep them coming! Peace, love and namaste~

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad my words are helpful, Brenda Drew

@bsulfm1484

2 жыл бұрын

I love your flowing, refreshing, vivid, enthusiastic words - a luminous verbal canvas ! Thank you.

@AngelaSunde1

11 ай бұрын

Oh, how I would enjoy meeting you, Brenda. Your enthusiasm is contagious.

@brendadrew834

11 ай бұрын

@@AngelaSunde1 Thank you~

Watching this whilst making marks. I got your book, How To Draw Without Talent and I've started it now. Thank you

As a collage and intuitive painter I agree!

Thank you for your gentle wisdom and encouragement. Much needed today.💙🙏🏽💙

You have a great voice for this. I could just replay this over and over.

"You won't make art like Rembrandt or Shakespeare, and guess what? They didn't make art like you." With your permission, Danny, I'd like to add this quote in my future sketchbooks. Now that I think of it, I'd like to ask for retroactive permission to use another one -- the quote that begins with, "Sketchbook are the most important tools...", if you please. Excellent, inspiring video. Thank you.

Hi Danny, I don't want to receive your essays. Thanks for the offer. I just want to see and listen to you. Your message has so much power when you deliver it with your presence. I find your voice so calming and comforting, and feel myself willing to listen and relax, take a deep breath and let in what you're saying. Then I feel ready to begin again. Thankyou

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

I understand. Whatever I can do to help is cool with me.

This is one of my favourite videos ever, thank you Danny!!!!

ahhh the flow zone! Happy New Year dear Danny! It is always a delight to let your mellifluous tones invoke arty reflections!

Just discovered your channel and I’m a fan!

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks and welcome

I really enjoy you talks and advices at the end. I started in digital art recently and it’s new for me. I ve been always a traditional artist, a painter after all. Now this changes are challenging me all the time, seeing young people so good at it and me…just starting…uff! Sometimes I feel to quit , but I listen to you and I see that I cannot give it up. Thank you so much! Sorry my English

Great video, thanks Danny. Happy New Year to you and yours 🎉

Ty for the inspiration. Using these for prompts for journaling. Love your channel. Tfs.

This is one of the best things I have listened to in a very long time!! THANK YOU!!

I always feel better after watching your vlog. This one is especially good. We all need to remember the importance of living our truth and letting our imagination soar.

Totally. Awesome. Thank you and all the best to you and yours in the coming new year.

Such an uplifting and joyous film. Thank you and a very happy new year!

Your videos like this are so soothing and invigorating at the same time. Happy new year and I'm looking forward to your videos this year.

So much wisdom in this video, thank you for sharing!

Hey Danny, loved this and indeed all your motivational videos. Best life coach ever! Thank you and Happy New Year to you, JJ and Twiglet xxx

I simply loved it!!! What a way to end this difficult year…. And a wonderful way of starting the next one…….. let’s move on…. 2022!!!!

So beautiful, thank you for every word, really love it

Hi from italy, thank you so much for this video. It means more than you can imagine. Wish you a Happy new Year 2022

Amazing, magical teaching about art-artist's mood/thinking/living, thank you Danny, love it!!!

I completely agree with you, thanks for saying it so nicely 🙂

Great advice! Everybody can learn from it! Thank you so much!

yesss. 👍. we are the problem solvers. ⭐️

This is great!

This blew me away. Thank you 🙏🏻

Listening to your words is therapeutic Danny. Your humility.and sincerity is what l love the most. Passive, loner Artists can embrace and soak in your wisdom..from someone from Zimbabwe who struggles with much of the up-front, bold nature of the culture here.

Eres un gran maestro y tus consejos son extraordinarios. Muchas gracias. (tambien por habilitar la traducción al español)

Thank you for your wonderful words, I needed this today, thank you again👍👍❤️

Thank you. I needed this, today ☮️

Thank you cery much! I will share it.

Dear Danny! I love you very much! Thank you❤

Your philosophy is not only for art. This is helping me in every part of my life. Thank you for this, for sharing it 💞♥️

You really saved my spirit today. TYSM!❣️✨

Very good insight Danny!

You have great charisma and a talent for flirting with the camera. Maybe a TED talk encouraging budding artists?

This is wonderful Danny !! Thank you for this video . I have hope 💗 I really enjoy making art and some time my life takes over lol

Muchas gracias!!😍

Some of this advise applies to life itself and not only to art. Great words 💯

Thanks Danny, you are a gem. Greetings from italy

Dear Danny, Happy New Year, you are amazing, you always courage us, I guess you are a life-coach as much as you are an artist❤️❤️

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you!

i love your videos so much, they always give me so much motivation

Thank you and Happy New Year mate. All the best from Blighty on this New Years Eve.

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and Happy New Year to you!

Very helpful points. You make art so simple and enjoyable.Thank you. My biggest enemies are procrastination and perfectionism. Working on that.

Happy New Year !

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

Same to you!

Thank you Sir!

Loves and respects from here.🇹🇷

Thank you so much. This is what I really needed. At the moment I was feeling closed up and mentily sufficating. Your words have opened a door and let the light in. God Bless you.

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful!

Thank You 🌻

Just signed up. I've been needing some creativity in my life for a number of years and it's time, but I need some sort of structure so I'm working that out. I intend to document the process because I see others have a similar issue re structure.

Danny, thank you so much for this video!!!

@SketchBookSkool

2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you so much for this! It helped me put aside my tendency for perfectionism

Thank you Dear Danny Gregory, I’m trying each day to put aside 10 minuites sorry can’t spell mints!!HaHa! Just to try & sketch something from my balcony. I know you are right , because it is me trying to do something that I know I will get better each time I try! Thank you very much . God bless you & fFamily xx Helen Kirrage x