One Sketch At A Time
by Max Ellis
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Hi Max (aka @iamnotanartist_), If you are not an artist, what are you? To be honest, I am not really sure. But I quite like that. Maybe an observational comedian? The name “I am not an artist” came from a variety of different places. I think the earliest mention of it was when I told someone a few years ago that I wanted to start writing and drawing a cartoon animation and they replied “Max, you are terrible at drawing”. I thought that I’m just going to do it anyway. Even if the drawings are rubbish, I will just say it’s the style? I ended up focusing on just the jokes, rather than creating an animation (as that took a lot of time). I was super anxious about sharing the drawings with people because I know some really talented artists and I didn’t want to be compared to them, so I thought I would set the expectations as low as I could and that’s where the name came from. |
Photo: courtesy of the artist |
I guess I just thought that I had something important that I wanted to share with the world and the most appropriate way I could do that was through drawing, even though I can’t draw.
Can you describe a typical day in the life of an artist/cartoonist like yourself?
I don’t know if my day is typical of all artists, because I don’t spend much time actually thinking of an idea or a joke. They sort of just come into my head without me realising and then there’s a mad panic to write it down somewhere before it disappears.
A lot of the ideas come when I am out drinking with my friends. They are very funny people and we have a lot of fun together, so I write about the stories that we have had and I try and convey the relatable moments.
In the daytime, I spend time reading about human behaviour, history and capitalism. I’m always listening to music as I find it the best way to get into a creative state of mind. In the evenings, I’ll be seeing my debaucherous mates.
What are some proven ways in dealing with anxiety?
People feel anxious for many different reasons, but I think the best thing to do is to speak to someone you trust about how you are feeling. Whether that’s a friend, your family, a doctor, a teacher, just speak to someone as they will share to some degree of what you are going through. I think that we all share some of the same worries because we live in a capitalist society where we are taught to always want more and we are encouraged to be exploited.
Personally, I try my best to live a minimalist lifestyle. Any object that doesn’t bring me joy I give away. I think that helps a lot. I also try to appreciate the emotion that I am feeling at the current moment. Even if I feel pure sadness, I try to really understand that emotion rather than fear it. For me that strategy makes dealing with any emotion more manageable.
I also want to take this opportunity to say that if you are feeling anxious please be careful about searching for posts on social media about it. Some people online romanticize anxiety and depression like it’s something to aspire to have which can be very destructive.
How does it feel connecting with the world through social media?
It’s pretty weird actually. I have met some really cool people through using social media, and made some “online friends”. I like the feeling that everyone is just trying to share their view of the world to a seemingly endless amount of people.
Can you describe a typical day in the life of an artist/cartoonist like yourself?
I don’t know if my day is typical of all artists, because I don’t spend much time actually thinking of an idea or a joke. They sort of just come into my head without me realising and then there’s a mad panic to write it down somewhere before it disappears.
A lot of the ideas come when I am out drinking with my friends. They are very funny people and we have a lot of fun together, so I write about the stories that we have had and I try and convey the relatable moments.
In the daytime, I spend time reading about human behaviour, history and capitalism. I’m always listening to music as I find it the best way to get into a creative state of mind. In the evenings, I’ll be seeing my debaucherous mates.
What are some proven ways in dealing with anxiety?
People feel anxious for many different reasons, but I think the best thing to do is to speak to someone you trust about how you are feeling. Whether that’s a friend, your family, a doctor, a teacher, just speak to someone as they will share to some degree of what you are going through. I think that we all share some of the same worries because we live in a capitalist society where we are taught to always want more and we are encouraged to be exploited.
Personally, I try my best to live a minimalist lifestyle. Any object that doesn’t bring me joy I give away. I think that helps a lot. I also try to appreciate the emotion that I am feeling at the current moment. Even if I feel pure sadness, I try to really understand that emotion rather than fear it. For me that strategy makes dealing with any emotion more manageable.
I also want to take this opportunity to say that if you are feeling anxious please be careful about searching for posts on social media about it. Some people online romanticize anxiety and depression like it’s something to aspire to have which can be very destructive.
How does it feel connecting with the world through social media?
It’s pretty weird actually. I have met some really cool people through using social media, and made some “online friends”. I like the feeling that everyone is just trying to share their view of the world to a seemingly endless amount of people.
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Can you share with us a few instances of Levels of Succeeding to Adult?
Graduating from university (not that I went to my graduation). But that’s just my example of applying myself to something and completing it. Getting out of bed in the morning? That can be pretty hard to do. Not drunk texting people you shouldn’t is probably a pretty good sign of adult success.
Do you look for the funny part in all scenarios? What else helps making sense of the world?
Absolutely. I do that both subconsciously and consciously. There’s something funny in everything if you think about the wider context that thing has in society.
I like to think of us humans all bumbling around just trying to get by and find happiness in one way or another.
To make sense of the world, I read about 20th century history and watch documentaries about people’s experiences. I want to try to understand how people behave in different cultures and which behaviours are consistent across many cultures.
Important lessons you have learned because of life experiences that weren’t planned in advance…
Stay independent and try not to rely too much on other people.
Can you share with us your definitions of happiness and reality?
My definition of happiness would be feeling free from all negativity in the mind. I would define reality whatever one experiences in their physical world.
Who has made you laugh out loud in recent days?
My mates. They are always saying totally outrageous and unpalatable things. It is hard to not laugh constantly around them.
What kind of thoughts do you welcome on a nice fall day?
Autumn is my favourite season. I love the colours and the cool weather and the rain and layers. I welcome thoughts of contentment.
It would be awesome to share your thoughts on #BeatTheBlues which is one of our ongoing campaigns filled with confessions about experiences and ways to beat the blues and rise from the depths of darkness.
Getting out of the depth of darkness is so hard. Sadness can get addictive. Happiness can get addictive. But for me the feeling in between is a feeling of nothing. Personally, I think that the feeling of nothing is worse than the feeling of sadness. When I am sad I feel something. Sadness is more destructive though. When I start coming out of the sadness, I enter the feeling of nothing, and quite strangely, I miss the comfort and familiarity of the sadness I was just in. Eventually, I can get through the state of feeling nothing and enter the feelings of pure joy and happiness.
For me the best way to get out of the darkness is try and apply myself creatively. Get out of bed, listen to music, go for a run, keep remembering the funny parts of life. Talk to people. Share. Trust.
Graduating from university (not that I went to my graduation). But that’s just my example of applying myself to something and completing it. Getting out of bed in the morning? That can be pretty hard to do. Not drunk texting people you shouldn’t is probably a pretty good sign of adult success.
Do you look for the funny part in all scenarios? What else helps making sense of the world?
Absolutely. I do that both subconsciously and consciously. There’s something funny in everything if you think about the wider context that thing has in society.
I like to think of us humans all bumbling around just trying to get by and find happiness in one way or another.
To make sense of the world, I read about 20th century history and watch documentaries about people’s experiences. I want to try to understand how people behave in different cultures and which behaviours are consistent across many cultures.
Important lessons you have learned because of life experiences that weren’t planned in advance…
Stay independent and try not to rely too much on other people.
Can you share with us your definitions of happiness and reality?
My definition of happiness would be feeling free from all negativity in the mind. I would define reality whatever one experiences in their physical world.
Who has made you laugh out loud in recent days?
My mates. They are always saying totally outrageous and unpalatable things. It is hard to not laugh constantly around them.
What kind of thoughts do you welcome on a nice fall day?
Autumn is my favourite season. I love the colours and the cool weather and the rain and layers. I welcome thoughts of contentment.
It would be awesome to share your thoughts on #BeatTheBlues which is one of our ongoing campaigns filled with confessions about experiences and ways to beat the blues and rise from the depths of darkness.
Getting out of the depth of darkness is so hard. Sadness can get addictive. Happiness can get addictive. But for me the feeling in between is a feeling of nothing. Personally, I think that the feeling of nothing is worse than the feeling of sadness. When I am sad I feel something. Sadness is more destructive though. When I start coming out of the sadness, I enter the feeling of nothing, and quite strangely, I miss the comfort and familiarity of the sadness I was just in. Eventually, I can get through the state of feeling nothing and enter the feelings of pure joy and happiness.
For me the best way to get out of the darkness is try and apply myself creatively. Get out of bed, listen to music, go for a run, keep remembering the funny parts of life. Talk to people. Share. Trust.