Everyday Matters

I enjoyed this book a fair bit more than I expected too. It's a little autobiographical and a little sketchbooky. And he has a forthright way of viewing the world and stepping outside his experiences that gavew something to ponder about my own. No spoilers here. But things you don't expect help you into his world and you find yourself along for the ride, including unexpected moments of light that one might not expect to easily find at times.Read it in a few hours and it was a satisfying evening spent.

I was not expecting anything when I started this book...frankly, I'm not sure I remember ordering it. In any event, the parallels between this graphic memoir and my own life make this book read more like an answered prayer than merely another memoir.I take that last part back. It's not just that the author's experiences mirror my own life that makes this book notable. Rather, it's that Gregory manages to capture his own HUMANITY...without resorting to irony or the manufactured self-deprecation that seems to plague the modern memoir that makes this book so notable. I mean, finally!, someone has managed to write an HONEST memoir, one that does not require an attorney's Release of the Facts as a prologue."Everyday Matters" reads like a private journal, without the pretention that comes when the author knows other folks'll be reading it. Gregory's sketches are likewise uninhibited and imperfect; together, the text and illustrations create a personal, intimate environment for the reader that is inviting and judgment-free; none of the "You shouldn't have looked (though I knew you would, so I gave you my best side)" business that is the meta-text of so many memoirs, but instead offers a reassuring, "Well, that's me, hair and all...what do you think?"A thoughtful, generous gift from Gregory to his readers.

I found it to be an enjoyable and thought provoking read. Maybe you need help with depth, shading or perspective in your drawings...this book may help you with gaining a NEW perspective. I enjoyed his artwork and what he shared with his readers. Thank you. Looking forward to reading & seeing other works by this author/artist. Thank you.

Although this is a book telling Danny Gregory's story of his wife and their son Jack, it's also his story about what prompted Danny to teach himself to draw. If you're a seasoned artist, or just beginning to dabble, quickly run to your computer and order any of Danny Gregory's books. He is one of my favorite authors! He is so inspiring and sensitive. I took one of his online "Sketchbook Skool" classes and was immediately hooked. He's down to earth, humorous, and captures your heart with his life stories and his incredible way of urging anyone to draw, because it's really not about drawing, it's about seeing. Danny's books have helped me have fun drawing and painting things like my breakfast in the mornings, and if I'm really stumped as to what to draw, I've been known to take off my shoe and try to draw my foot. It's not perfect, it's fun! And, if you're looking for a perfect rendition of a subject or object, get out your camera and take a picture, but it won't be as much fun!

I liked it. I was drawn in by the story of why he went into drawing that I read in the preview (his wife getting into an accident) but I felt the book focused on the repetitive theme of how drawing helped him cope .... and that he recommends it. That's great buuuut I felt the story only hit the surface of what was going on. I wasn't expecting great literature but I felt there was so much missing, so many more questions about the accident, about everyday life after the accident. In the book, he said things changed after his wife's accident, they did things differently - well how did you do them differently?On the other hand, this is the first sketchbook I ever bought (although I have bought graphic novels before). Perhaps the focus is on the sketches. In which case, I'm not sure I'd've bought it. The sketches were nice, just not sure it would draw me in enough to make a purchase.

Had this book on my wish list forever, finally ordered it. I should have ordered a long time ago. It was what I needed to add perspective to my own life. I am an artist and teacher, so I was intrigued by the sudden undertaking of an individual to take an interest in daily drawing. Also I had a common thread with the sudden situation of my husband going from healthy to being confined to a wheelchair. This book is a genuine great book explaining the techniques I teach all the time about the basic foundation drawing skills. I love how he talks about the dilemma of his life changing and the dreams lost. The little stories are wonderful and the illustrations are a treat to the eyes. This book has so much value on many levels........Inspiring!

First time I read "Everyday matters", thought "i know it, but I want to learn something useful to start journaling myself everyday". It may not sound as a great goal in life, but actually it was my thinking that time. Once I began to read it... I felt a bit ashamed, I am complete, at least in the outside, but life sometimes turns up everything, and you must change or get stuck in pain, hate, self pity, you name it. It requires a strong will to live beyond that ominous adversities, and get the right meaning of all these matters. I should say to Danny Gregory: "I am very proud of you,as a fellow human being", and to all future readers, well, you will find a reminder of how fragile our comfortable existence is, and how much effort it takes to overcome a personal loss, but overall you'll find a beautiful and true tale of reencounter with yourself and your significant others, in love and courage to find new ways to live a good, exciting and meaningful life. Trough the healing power of love, drawing is a tool of great use to find those ways. After all, an artists search around to see beyond conventions and find new paths to understand the world and themselves. Journaling, drawing, living an illustrated life, that is in few words what "Everyday matters" is to me. Thanks again Mr. Gregory!

The new edition book by Hyperion Books has very poor paper quality and the prints are very dull. The content is great.

O melhor diário ilustrado que já vi. Com conteúdo inspirador, ilustrações e caligrafia lindas. Vale a pena ter o livro físico. Recomendo!

Émouvant, motivant quand on débute dans le dessin, un très très beau livre. Les illustrations nous font balader à travers la vie de tous les jours. Les textes, même si ils sont en anglais, sont accessibles si vous avez un niveau moyen en anglais. Mais même si vous ne comprenez pas beaucoup, les images parlent pour eux-mêmes.

Un detalle a considerar es que el texto está escrito manualmente y aunque la letra es bastante clara, eso podría hacer que la lectura sea menos rápida si se tiene prisa. El libro ha tenido mucho éxito y es muy popular, particularmente entre artistas y aspirantes a dibujantes, ya que ha conmovido, inspirado e impulsado a mucha gente a dibujar hasta las cosas más cotidianas.Danny Gregory cuenta una parte de su vida y el cambio dramático que tuvo como consecuencia de un accidente que sufrió su esposa. Relata cómo el ponerse a dibujar y de este modo apreciar la belleza de las cosas que lo rodeaban lo ayudó a superar la situación por demás complicada y prácticamente le salvó la vida.El autor, profesionalmente es o fue un creativo de publicidad y se nota en el particular estilo de sus dibujos a tinta y acuarela que llenan el libro y son dignos de mirarse con detenimiento. Son dibujos tomados de sus sketchbooks, muy expresivos.Es un libro recomendable para los interesados en temas humanos y de arte.

I loved Danny's wry humour and how he encourages you to draw what you see each day. I keep a gratitude journal but never thought to do it by drawing. Not an instruction book per se but great encouragement and inspiration.