Adam J. Kurtz is a graphic designer, artist, & serious person. He is primarily concerned with creating honest, accessible work, including a range of small products & the self-published “Unsolicited Advice” calendar series.
My Definition Of Success | Success is being able to create what you want to see in your world. It may not be changing the course of history, but finding a way to be content, to navigate life generally happy, and help some others on your way. Success can be tied to fame and wealth, but I don’t think it needs to be. Success is defined by each of us individually. I feel successful already, and hope that the feeling continues with me. I’m hardly done yet.
I Am Driven By | I am driven by an intense desire to share and create, to make tangible reminders and tokens out of most experiences, and to never forget anything. It’s important for me to hold onto the memories that matter to me, to learn and grow, and maybe make something that others can relate to. I want to help people in a small, quiet way. I don’t want to tell anyone what to think or how to act, but I know that other people process the world similarly to how I do, and by sharing my own coping mechanisms, I allow them to join me.
My Highlights | My life is just beginning! I am proud of where I am now, that I have been lucky enough to share my personal thoughts and output with people around the world who have stumbled across me and the world I live in. My creative journal, “1 Page at a Time,” is a highlight, a pleasant surprise resulting from just putting myself and my work out into the universe. I am proud that I was able to make something published in many countries that is so personal, honest, and me.
Principles I Live By | Realize that ultimately there is very little that you can control. Life will always surprise you, no matter what you may have planned. Keep making plans and moving forward, because intention matters, but know that there will always be some new obstacle, experience, or lesson. That is the wonderful thing about life, and why happiness is a journey, not a destination. You will never be done until the day you die. Be a good person, try to put positive energy into the world in whatever way you do, and hey, hang in there.
How I Use My Mind | I can have a lot of trouble balancing my feelings. It is easy for me to be caught up by fear or anxiety, and so I work to calm myself, remember what matters and what is important to me. I live a life filled with personal mantras and ideas, reminders to myself that I often share with others. NEVER FORGET THAT 1 THING, the deep, driving force that keeps you moving forward. It is a private drive, a mission you feel is yours on this earth. Hold onto that if you can.
Lessons I Have Learnt | THINGS ARE WHAT YOU MAKE OF THEM. Use whatever resources you have to create what you need from this world, whether it be to share your spirit, to build your nest, or make others happy. We are all tools, a sack of flesh and bone with the incredible power to create what we need. Like a pencil, we can become dull at times, but you can keep sharpening and making until you hit the eraser.
Performing At My Peak | I don’t! I hope to never “always” perform at my peak, because that means it’s a plateau. We are human beings. We need to rest, relax, refresh and recharge. We are not machines, and that is the great beauty of it all. Sometimes what you really need is to be around people you love, to do something unrelated to your work or your primary responsibilities. People who put too much pressure on themselves are often disappointed. Reach your peak, then reach your next peak, and maybe sit down for a minute. It sounds trite, but you could very well die tomorrow. I don’t want to be alone on a mountain. I hope that I die with a full heart and maybe a full stomach!
My Future Dreams And Ambitions | I didn’t know that I would be a published author. It was never a goal or even something I considered, but now I’d like to do some more. I’d like to keep making personal projects that I handle personally, delivering directly to the people who will get them, “FROM MY BRAIN TO YOURS.” I’d like to travel more, meet people, and eat a lot of bread. I’d like to remain creative and satisfied and perhaps be able to make a living (earn enough to cover the essentials, not necessarily rich) from my creative work, or someday find new passions that I am able to pursue with some success. Whatever that is.
The Meaning Of Life | BE A GOOD PERSON. THAT’S IT.
I Am Inspired By | I am greatly inspired by people who lead creative lives, with space to grow and make, regardless of whether or not this is their “career.” My role models include musician Michelle Branch, artist David Shrigley, as well as kind and tireless people I’ve met in life so far.
