Maybe it’s because I’m just a little older, but the late 1960s were a great time for DIY-ers. Tuning in and dropping out was all about forging your own path. Books like The Whole Earth Catalogue and Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance were all about countering the post WWII conformity.
Not at all - I think the Whole Earth Catalogue was at the beginning of the same movement I was introduced to. In fact, what I participated in was the very end of this movement, after all the pathways were well worn by these true pioneers. I think we were just following in their footsteps, at least in terms of publications and stuff like that... but also, this movement had steam and lasted all through the 70s, and it wasn't really dead by the time I stumbled across it, though perhaps it was thriving in different places.
It really is amazing what doing something every day for a number of years can do for you, even if you're going through puberty and like trying to figure the world out. Maybe drawing was practice for other things, like writing every day. I dunno, but I am thinking a lot about that early connection.
Maybe it’s because I’m just a little older, but the late 1960s were a great time for DIY-ers. Tuning in and dropping out was all about forging your own path. Books like The Whole Earth Catalogue and Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance were all about countering the post WWII conformity.
Not at all - I think the Whole Earth Catalogue was at the beginning of the same movement I was introduced to. In fact, what I participated in was the very end of this movement, after all the pathways were well worn by these true pioneers. I think we were just following in their footsteps, at least in terms of publications and stuff like that... but also, this movement had steam and lasted all through the 70s, and it wasn't really dead by the time I stumbled across it, though perhaps it was thriving in different places.
Great callout, J.E!
Man, I thought that book was the bomb-dot-com
Dude, I know all about DIY. I've personally built every item of IKEA furniture in our house. I'm practically MacGyver, basically.
Also, your childhood drawings would give anything I can produce today a run for its money.
It really is amazing what doing something every day for a number of years can do for you, even if you're going through puberty and like trying to figure the world out. Maybe drawing was practice for other things, like writing every day. I dunno, but I am thinking a lot about that early connection.
Nice piece, Andrew.
Thanks, Michael! The history took me longer than I anticipated to write, but I'm glad I got to know this a bit more.
That's BS man, I bet you use AI to make your illustrations too.
AI see what you dad there.
AI feel like I'm the victim of dad bias
"Dad bias" is a new term for me!