Passion Over Productivity (Highest Excitement Part 2)

Hey again Art Friend!

Yesterday was day 2 of my grand experiment.

If you read day 1’s email you know that I stepped out of my costly coaching programs  into something simpler – and maybe riskier:

Letting my highest excitement guide me each day.

In art. In life. In every little decision.

I want to see if enthusiastic surrender to my authentic bliss is sustainable… or if it’ll all come crashing down in a blaze of irresponsible glory.

In short, I’m choosing passion over productivity.

Any bets on how it all turns out?

Day 2 started relaxed —  a little extra sleep with Luna and Ollivander curled up with me. 

I dream of animals… do they dream of people?

Wednesdays I teach high school art, so I brought the experiment to the classroom. 

Before class I made a list of 19 of my favorite ridiculous art games and let the students choose which ones we did.

We designed absurd t-shirts  and made them battle head to head.

We drew dating profiles for imaginary characters and paired them up for blind dates.

(The 600 year old space grandma and the murderous voodoo doll ended up lady and the tramp style in a sewer. Iconic.)

Every single student was drawing, laughing, and fully engaged—more than I’ve ever seen during a “serious” lesson.

Afterward, I went to my favorite yoga class, led by the ever-inspiring cosmic powerhouse Joy. (Who is every bit her name.)

She could be an army drill sergeant except every word out of her mouth is a glowing affirmation of  beauty and strength. 

I can do the hardest things in that room, smiling the whole time.

Then I went home…

And stripped down to shower – but I was hungry.

So naturally, I made lunch. Naked.

That’s when Kayla walked in, home unexpectedly early.

There was a fair bit of eye rolling (I don’t think much surprises her anymore).

But hey, empty house? Both of us home? That doesn’t happen every day.

Let’s just say my shower was further delayed. ☀️

Later that afternoon, I drove my favorite back road into Boulder  to deliver a framed print of “The Thinker” to a friend/art collector.

I got to see her amazing space and help choose where her new piece would hang. 

I got to hear the stories of the other amazing art in her house. 

That’s the part of being an artist that I love the most: being present and sharing connection.

That’s what day 2 was all about.

Not productivity. Not plans. Just presence, play, and the kind of aliveness you can’t schedule.

And tomorrow? I’ll let the art decide again.

Is my string of luck going to run out?

Will responsibility pull me back into the cycle of “should”?

I guess we’ll find out!

Stay tuned for day 3!

— Ryan

Below: Kaley and her new piece, The Thinker. If you’d also like a print of this piece,  reply with the word “THINKER” and I’ll send you  some size/frame options!