What I've been listening to
The more rigorous drawing schedule over the last few months has been a good way to figure out what I feel most productive listening to at different times of day/during working sessions of different lengths. Lately I've been listening to a lot of podcasts and audiobooks as opposed to music, my usual go-to. I think this is partially because these pages have no dialogue, so I don't have to worry about messing up any text, but also I listen to a lot of the same playlists and artists on repeat to put myself into a kind of trance and channel certain emotions, so it's nice to listen to stories sometimes to break that up. My regular rotation includes...
Morning drawing sessions (1-2 hours):
First Up (NPR News)
The Daily (NY Times)
Post Reports (Washington Post)
Evening drawing sessions (1-4 hours):
Videos of Harry Potter landscapes/indoor settings with ambient sounds/soundtrack medleys on youtube
Pod Save America, if I want political hot takes
Sometimes nothing, because my brain is tired from work
Weekend drawing sessions (4-10 hours per day):
Podcasts
Twilight in Quarantine (part of Hot and Bothered)
Various interviews with graphic novelists (on Spotify and youtube) such as Jeff Lemire, Craig Thompson, Tillie Walden, and AJ Dungo.
Music playlists:
Bumpy poppy playlist, if I need something to keep me energized and motivated
Longing/Lovesick playlist, 8 hours of sad music because you can't listen to happy music when drawing sad memories ;)
Audio books (I've been going 100% with indulgent fantasy books):
Finished Outlander, Midnight Sun, and The Fellowship of the Ring
Part way through The Two Towers
Part way through Harry Potter et la coupe de feu (fourth HP book in French, for when I'm doing something simple that allows me to focus on listening in a second language; often I can't split my focus that much)
Almost done with Révélation (fourth Twilight book in French, same as above)
