The old adage “practice makes perfect” often comes to mind when learning something new – from playing a musical instrument to mastering a second language. But what if the success of practising could be improved dramatically by the added commitment of doing it every single day, without fail?
Renowned North American choreographer Twyla Tharp is convinced that the secret to living a more fulfilling life is to make creativity – in whatever form you desire – a daily priority. In her book, The Creative Habit, she offers practical exercises for understanding the importance of rituals, daily observations and cultivating curiosity to fuel our commitment, while avoiding major sabotages: distraction and fear.
Roberts Creek resident Tzaddi Gordon first made her commitment to a daily creative practice in September 2016, breaking what she calls “the chain” only once. Since that one break, Tzaddi has been on a nearly 300-day roll, making illustrations, lettering and other art that she shares on social media through Instagram.
Gordon has been making her living as a freelance visual designer for nearly 11 years, shifting her focus over time from primarily web design to include branding, graphic design and illustration. More recently she’s added apparel and accessories, which entail surface design, to the mix.
“I’m eager to focus even more on illustration and surface design this year,” notes Gordon, who has built a solid body of artwork to draw from, partly through her daily practice.
Wanting to “shake things up” in her design work and learning new skills were motivations for adopting a practice, notes Gordon, but funnily enough the idea was sparked by comic Jerry Seinfeld.
“To become great at your craft, his advice to young comedians was to write every day and mark it with an X on your calendar,” notes Gordon. “He said: ‘Don’t break the chain.’ So that’s how my daily commitment was born.”
Gordon’s practice is straight forward. She simply commits to spending some time drawing or creating every day and then sharing it. “I need the rules to be simple so I can flow with my inspiration and energy levels,” she says. “Most days I spend an hour or more, but sometimes all I can do is 15 minutes, and that’s OK.”
Struggles with perfectionism around sharing were challenging at first, but the benefits of learning new digital art skills have been huge for Gordon. Plus, she’s gained recognition and commissions as an illustrator, while inspiring others and expanding her community through creativity.
“Bit by bit really adds up to a lot of practice!” she notes. “The most interesting client projects I’m working on these days are a direct result of this practice.”
Tips from Gordon for starting your own daily practice include experimenting with structure and timeframe, perhaps starting with a 30-day challenge. Having the right media, working space, a book or a class with assignments may help inspire you. And if going public seems too daunting, try sharing your work with a friend, first.
