Meet Angelov

We were lucky to catch up with Angelov recently and have shared our conversation below.

Angelov, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?

As with all things worth noting, my self-discipline comes from life experience. I left home when I was 14 years old, to go to a specialized high school in a different city. Once there, I had to quickly learn independence and self reliance, which by default requires a good deal of discipline.
With no one around to tell us what to do or how to act, me and my new classmates had to figure out most life lessons through trial and error. It was the best of times.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am an animation artist by profession, and an abstract painter by passion. I like to say that I draw cartoons during the day, and I paint my dreams at night;)
It is hard to explain what’s exciting and special about painting, because for the most part it’s non-material.
It is not about what you end up with on the canvas, it’s about the way you feel during the act of creation.
Artists compare it to meditation, flow state, sacred time. They all ring true, but for me it’s the rewarding process of making something appear in the world, that was not there before. And never would have been without you. Something non-utilitarian that has the potential to make someone else feel that elusive feeling as well. It’s a kind of magic, really.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I believe there’s something to be said about learning one thing right. Not two or three, but one. If you do something every day, eventually you will be better at that thing than most people. Now you’ve turned your “thing” into a valuable commodity, which can open many doors.
Also, when you need a break, don’t look at a screen. Ha! Is anyone even capable of that anymore? Screens are the biggest thieves of time and creativity. I guess I’m just old, but I believe we were better off smoking cigarettes and staring into the horizon during our breaks. That’s how the best ideas are born.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

I read Irving Stone’s “The Agony and the Ecstasy” as a teenager, and it pretty much charted the path of my life. It made me understand early that pursuing a passion comes with struggles and sacrifices, but it’s vastly worth it in the end.
It also taught me that achieving a balance between your career and domestic life is a crucial component of creative longevity. The other option is madness. I highly recommend the book.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artofangelov.com
• Instagram: @art.of.angelov