What are the things that you do every day? Go on, make a list. Shower, walk the dog, eat an egg, whatever it is. There's something to be said for routine, and I'll go ahead and admit that as I grow older I get more and more fixed in mine. And sometimes, routine is lovely. There's something soothing about the ritual of making a pot of tea. There's a special joy in walking past the same hedge every day and then realizing that one day the unassuming thicket has exploded into pale flower -- particularly because you saw the same plant covered in snow. Of course, routine can also be crazy-making, as when you're so sick of your same two chicken recipes you're about to choose from.

Designer/illustrator Chris Piascik has found a way to make the daily routine into something creative and affirming: He makes a drawing every day. We've all seen lots of "drawing a day" projects, but what I love about Piascik's are the messages he chooses to illustrate, and that he often shares the origin of the idea. "If everybody likes what you are doing, you're doing it wrong," he quotes Jen Bekman (and provides a link to the podcast he got the quote from).






You must see the video Piascik got this seeming zen koan of a quote from. It's just...not what I expected. But it's pretty great.

I love the idea of doing a drawing (or something creative) every day, making it part of the routine. And I also love the way Piascik seems to get inspiration every where. A podcast, a friend's comment, a triumphant bowler. I think this might be the secret of the daily art project -- you start to realize that the muse works longer hours than you'd ever suspect.

Check out all of Chris Piascik's daily drawings at his site.

Read More:
The Creative Commandments
What Inspires Creative Greats