How to be an Unprofessional Artist | Zander Cannon | TEDxGrinnellCollege

Zander Cannon talks about the importance of truth and honesty in both the realm of the personal and the professional.
Since 1993, Zander Cannon has written and drawn comics about gods, robots, astronauts, police officers, paleontologists, aliens, feng shui masters, superheroes, and monsters. He lives in Minnesota with his strong wife Julie and above-average son Jin.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@PropheticAnomaly]

The pain in his voice is absolutely heartbreaking.

[@altamashurooj]

audio issues were so frustrating beause I was hanging on to his every word

[@jhavajoe3792]

One of the better artist TED talks. Always seems the most honest, personal presentations are the most captivating and moving. Graphic Novels, that most of the populace hasn't figured out, is a true art form. I find creating ( in whatever medium) and telling your own story is part of a lifetime of powerful self-therapy. The saying goes: "An artist does what he/she does because they have to do it."

[@zakUSDedelman]

This has to be the most thought-provoking, feral, insightful, moving, articulate talk I've seen out of TED yet. Probably timing has something to do with it. "Discovering Yourself Through Impact" or "Risk is the Reward" also would have been great titles. I feel like his story has a plot twisted inside that would make a beautiful film. A story about a guy who hated his job but loved his work. Cheers Mr. Cannon.

[@fritzschneebauer6565]

To let people know what you could/would do, if you are left to your own devices. This part of the speech has a deep inpact on me! That's why I do videos on KZbin!

[@Dynocation]

Beautiful wording. I could hear the emotion in his voice. Sometimes the most precious things to you are the least expected ones.

[@vanshbharadwaj]

Pain in a different experience for every single person, But this is the closest I have ever come to understand it. That narration is heartbreaking.

[@sageseventh]

Congrats Zander. It does make you famous in that world. And success isn’t always about money. It’s more about doing what u love working for yourself, to me that’s priceless. I would use more characters in your life as you have done for this for, keep bringing your life’s authenticity. what i learned as a wannabe professional artist after 20 YEARS was that marketing is everything. Thanks for sharing & keep it up.

[@westy229]

This one got me a little misty eyed, really feel for this guy. Phenomenal artist.

[@HarshLoomba]

very nice! being an artist I can relate to what you have said and shared. But.. one thing is.. that I do not have a backup profession to fall upon. Maybe, that makes me stubborn to keep doing my 'own thing' lol. :) Thnx for speaking it out.

[@zakUSDedelman]

seek out feedback from your biggest fan..insist on having them tell you what you are most conservative about, or what theyd like to see you do different :)

[@bohdandete8705]

one of the most emotional talks. for me at least

[@percorb]

I can certainly relate to your journey through multiple miscarriages. We went through 7 ourselves. Congrats on being able to express what you went through and in your own way.

[@jennyhughes4474]

Thank you for this and huge congratulations on the book - plus keeping your relationship going strong and now having a son. I think people can feel it when we do work that is from our hearts. I make art and sometimes also dread getting started but often when I do (even if only silly scribbles or doing edges on a canvas) then I can get into it a bit - I've got a brain injury and it feels every day as though I have sort of forgotten how to do it, how to make art. As artists we often don't know if others feel the emotions we put into our art, sometimes I fail to feel any emotion in others' art, I think (hope) that each of us has something to 'say' that will be meaningful to somebody somewhere because it isn't always quite enough to enjoy the processes and results ourselves (not always of course!) - we often also hope to communicate something, to connect with others.

[@FlowersinFebruary]

Shoutout to my therapist, who sent me this link. Thanks Mona

[@foxlarssonart]

Thank you for this wonderful story!

[@phantom4759]

crying right now

[@testchannelctg]

One of the most beautiful talks ever

[@nyrethepoet9852]

Reality for us ' trying Artists ' 🏆

[@AntoineDennison]

Great Talk, Zander. Very touching and inspirational.

[@correctopinion4708]

absolutely love the video, that's why it's so sad that the audio cuts out, even at the most important moments

[@shivranjanarathore7898]

THANK YOU for this!

[@DoctorCroe]

that was fantastic Zander Cannon

[@bake_free_nl8749]

amazing, just amazing

[@khalidsafir]

mm... thank you, inspiring me to do my crazy maths books.

[@LEONARDORODRIGUEZArt]

I love it!!!

[@SirAlex0014]

very nice

[@miltonwelch4177]

In Rand's book "Fountainhead" the only part that I liked was a full page of a sculptor's drunken rant of "how one should hire an artist", which is in tune with this presentation.

[@JulieHiltbrunner]

The first miscarriage is not as hard as as the third. From experience. I guess I need to paint faster. And yeah, I won’t work for free and “exposure” anymore.

[@hulonthesurvivor5884]

Slapping it all together... (some how, some way).

[@arhalimi5883]

.. he looks good ..

[@melissasue19681]

💜

[@INDIANXxhgpp9907]

Winter, 2022

[@asaltnado5168]

I understand how hard it can be what you went through, but this video made me sick to my stomach. I accidentally clicked on this video wont ever happens again. We all struggle!

[@66tmarch]

?

[@mamascorpio]

6:27 mark when if you were only half-paying attention, you went to 100% . So sorry.

[@LazlosPlane]

Why can't they allow the speakers to have a podium? They all look so uncomfortable.

[@eightji2116]

说一说给自己说哭了

[@st.michaelthearchangel7774]

Eight miscarriages?! That's so sad. God bless him.

[@mmosagaa]

Nobody laughed at his jokes... feels bad

[@daniilkoliesnikov4985]

Noone laughed ehh

[@Audiofreund2]

eight miscarriages?

[@leonardodalongisland]

Misleading title. And, as far as his "baby" story: It's sad but here's the cold-hard truth, Mother Nature, more than humans, knows what she's doing. She, again, unlike humans, knows the BALANCE is the most important thing on this planet. That's why there are the right number of predators-to keep the prey from overpopulating themselves and causing havoc on the environment. And, she designed the creatures on this planet so that the number of off spring is in concert with their environment; fish lay hundreds (some more) of eggs , elephants have one at a time-four to five years apart, If they had a calf every year, it would overburden the heard. If every human female had a baby when ever she (and husband) wanted, they'd be overburdening the "heard." Ergo, some women are designed to not have children. It's the way it is designed-not a "problem." Humans are so egotistic that we think we "should be able to do what ever we want-when we want. NO. And to show you how really F-up it is, look what happens when one of these women use artificial means to get pregnant; not only do they go from zero children (they way they are designed to be) they almost always pump out several children-totally screwing up the balance. Women/couples who do this are the worst offenders. In their selfish greed they wind up doing harm...Accept what nature has given (or not given) you. Perhaps take a load off the planet and system and do what this guy and his wife finally did: adopt? )