the 10 'commandments'

frederick franck's guidelines for the creative life

 

1. YOU SHALL DRAW EVERYTHING AND EVERY DAY
    
2. YOU SHALL NOT WAIT FOR INSPIRATION, FOR IT COMES NOT WHILE YOU WAIT BUT WHILE YOU WORK
    
3. YOU SHALL FORGET ALL YOU THINK YOU KNOW AND, EVEN MORE,
   ALL YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT
    
4. YOU SHALL NOT ADORE YOUR GOOD DRAWINGS AND PROMPTLY FORGET YOUR BAD ONES
    
5. YOU SHALL NOT DRAW WITH EXHIBITIONS IN MIND, NOR TO PLEASE ANY CRITIC BUT YOURSELF
    
6. YOU SHALL TRUST NONE BUT YOUR OWN EYE, AND MAKE YOUR HAND FOLLOW IT
    
7. YOU SHALL CONSIDER THE MOUSE YOU DRAW AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CONTENTS OF ALL THE MUSEUMS IN THE WORLD, FOR
    
8. YOU SHALL LOVE THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND A BLADE OF GRASS AS YOURSELF
    
9. LET EACH DRAWING BE YOUR FIRST:
   A CELEBRATION OF THE EYE AWAKENED
    
10. YOU SHALL NOT WORRY ABOUT "BEING OF YOUR TIME", FOR YOU ARE YOUR TIME,
    AND IT IS BRIEF