Art and ADHD 

It's not that you have a problem with concentration. It's that you have a problem with concentrating on bullshit. Hats off your work is beautiful.

For me, Drawing unlocks my superpower *Hyperfocus* It might be bad, since i forget to take rests or drink water. That's why I stick to small Art, like A4 size. Procrastinating happens (a lot) , but when you finally start, hyperfocus kicks in. Thank you for sharing this. You are a HUGE INSPIRATION. but *ADHD isn't all bad you know, your creativity comes from that mind that never settles.* ❤❤

My mind is always wandering from the past to the future, like my mind never rest. Even when I'm working on drawings. But the difference, I don't feel frustrated with all this wandering when I'm doing drawing, I'm at peace though my mind is time traveling. But it is very frustrating when you can't get to sleep because of all this thoughts.

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you'll ever know"- winnie the pooh

I hope you read this, sorry if my English is a bit bad, hehe, I'm an unruly ADHD kid, I always thought, with what I'm going through, I can't do anything and have no talent, but I admire you sir, i like all your drawing videos, and sorry i just found out sir it turns out to be adhd, i am amazed by you sir for being able to focus on drawing

Thank you for this video ❤️ I lost hope when adhd drugs weren’t working… I know how to draw but my add disorder was a nightmare (especially when I studied fashion for two years) I was depressed and I had complexes I couldn't create anything for my art studies even though I really wanted to.. But when I see your artworks I know that is better to never give up although is hard ❤️

Thanks Jono, I just shared this with my two children who are Creatives and diagnosed with ADHD. They mean the world to me, so I want to do all I can to help them through understanding & support. Take Care

I have severe ADHD-PI. I found the best way to improve my focus is to maintain a work/hobby routine. Being in autopilot for those things allows me to recharge my focus in other things. They're the easiest things to maintain a routine with.

Jono I know how difficult it is to deal with anxiety and adha but thanks to you you help me not to feel alone in this

Thank you. I am an artist about a generation older than you. We didn’t have labels for ADHD yet… I guess putting a label on helps in some ways but it also tends to minimize the struggle sufferers endure… Drugs aren’t usually a solution. They are like throwing a blanket over something… they may keep you warm but they tangle you up in their own effects… Growing up, I used to say my art was like having a baby… creating it, hurt… horribly. There were stages in every picture I simply hated the struggle so badly… but the end result came across as a victory to me over all the struggles. More than anything else those struggles were me fighting to keep the focus I needed… it’s as simple as that. Hearing you talk about your battles, gives me hope. Some interesting tips I hope will prove helpful… but more than that, comfort in finally knowing I am not the only one with these kinds of issues.

Thanks for this Jono. I totally related to not being able to focus or getting frustrated because of some argument or scenario that plays out in your head. I remember your last ADHD video, I appreciate how much more in-depth you went with this one!

As I get older (now in my 40s) I have naturally started to become more self-aware and have started to suspect that I may have lived my life with undiagnosed ADHD. A lot of the people with ADHD that I have listen to while they talk about their struggles I find really relatable as well as it brings back memories of struggles as a child that now make sense if I look at it through this lens. Thank you for sharing your story.

I don’t know why but doing art is very easy while watching your videos, maybe because they are so calming.

You did a great job explaining it. Because of you I use that same technique when I draw. I'll set a timer then break for 5 mins then start and repeat, so thank you for that. I love hearing about the journey you're on and how some things I can relate to, and hearing about what helps you.

I am so glad you created this video. This is huge. You've given me a new purpose for content in relation to the mindfulness techniques (tools) that I can share with others. Great for my blogs, I never thought of blending art and mindfulness techniques for the two audiences. Will let you know when I post, look here or through Patreon messages. There will be new tools for you soon.

So totally agree & relate to your vision & thoughts, as an artist myself, I found meditation, calming music relaxed my mind , tension & concentration in life as in my artwork.. I’m really grateful for you to share this , and your artwork shows your soulful work .. you are an inspiration, ❤️ the passion in your heart shows

Thank you for being so open. I know this will help others who struggle with concentrating on a task. Your art is amazing.

Was really worth a watch, there's' always challenges we need to break through, me, I'm currently trying to find time between work as a AnE doctor to focus on my art career too.

I could so relate to everything you said here - thank you very, very much for putting this into words and sharing it. Featured this on my blog.

Your art is amazing... Thankz for being so open and you are so talented and inspiring ❤️

I find being grounded in nature is important also - I spend time floating in a local lake or walking and attending to small things

I am so glad I stumpled upon your channel - and especially on this video. This is such an inspiration and helpful, too of course. So, thanks for putting the effort into this video. Greetings from 🇩🇪

Thank you for sharing this part of yourself with us ❤️ some extremely useful tips as well, make sure you look after you and thank you for sharing your wonderful artwork as well xxx

Thank you so much for sharing, it makes me feel better knowing that we can improve this condition. I particularly find it difficult to shake off thoughts that bother me, like if something bad happens during the day my mind keeps on playing that scene over and over again, sometimes for days, like a echo, and I just can't find a way to concentrate and push away that ugly feeling. There are days I feel hopeless.

I really appreciate the down to earth way you share your experience. You don't candy coat it, or try to cover things you aren't proud of up. Stay real. I meditate too, and sometimes I just go for a hike through a nature trail or a really long bike ride, nothing like nature to help you get past the little things we needlessly tend to put so much energy into.

Thank you for posting this. I also have ADHD so can totally relate to the procrastination and zombie states. So refreshing listening to your story. Your work is incredible and an inspiration to many aspiring artists.

Andrew Huberman over at Huberman Labs did a great piece related to this topic, about neuromodulators. One neuromodulator, acetylcholine, is associated with focus. He covers some holistic things we can do to increase acetylcholine. But Jono, you've really approached this from a wider perspective, of which we all need to be reminded. Even those who do not have ADHD need adequate sleep, the right nutrition and fitness to continue being effective as humans, but especially when our life's work is creating.

Thank you Jono! This video really spoke volumes to me i too have dealt with ADHD and would focus on art then find myself out in La La Land so i will practice you are an amazing artist with great talent 🎉

Thank you very much Jono. It is so hard to speak about something like this and you doing it to help others is really commendable. Mental health is such an important facet of life, which is often ignored. I hope whoever watches this video gets enlightened and finds some support in garnering betterment for themselves. My love, respect, admiration and adoration for you has increased manifold love. May God bless you.

Thanks for sharing. I can relate to your experience. You videos give me a lot of hope in my drawing potential.

Thank you for posting this. I've been really struggling with my concentration for the last 6 months, which has been driving me mad, when my happy place is my usual state of hyperfocus on my art or other interests. You're very inspiring!

Thank you so much for sharing this!

Omg! Yayyyyy I'm early, I love your art , you're so talented Jono, big fan of yours, love you so much ❤️❤️❤️

You are so amazing for sharing this ❤

It's very nice that you decided to share this with us, we love you and your artwork Jono💙. This was very inspiring, I wish more people can be open about it and feel safe. Sending you love and warmth!💜💚

Thank you for making this video and for putting your personal struggles out here

Thank you for being open! This video gives me hope that I can reach my at goals, even with adhd. Exercise and diet are my weakness xD

Thank you so much! I’m always struggling with finishing Hobby project likes painting.

Thanks for sharing! I too have struggled all my life with concentration issues. It's not easy. However I think it goes hand in hand with creativity.

I suffer from anxiety and panic, and a lot of your story is interchangeable with my own. Thanks for the tips and also for saying that it's o.k. to use medication to get through a rough patch.

As one who has struggled with ADD all my life Jono, I completely understand as a fellow artist myself. Thank you for your inspiration Sir you have helped me more than you know with your wisdom!!!!

Pre-workout has always helped me.

Wow. You painting is really fantastic. That a win for sure.

Thanks for sharing, Jono! Cheers from Brazil!

It’s absolutely painful to work as a person with anxiety and pOCD(intrusive thoughts). The stress is just aweful. I always feel like the painting will never be done, which is absolutely absurd and illogical when I KNOW it's gonna be done, but I cannot relax. I am so glad Jono Dry shares his struggles with ADHD, he also struggles with concentration. That way it's a huge huge huge support ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank you for having the courage to share your personal challenges. You inspire me to both creatively with your art and also with overcoming what life throws at me which currently is a significant challenge for me, so a very big thank you from me. Can you share more detail on the tools that helped (name of the app perhaps?) - I did not catch what they were.

Favorite artist💜PLEASE post more tutorials!

Thank you @Jonodry to express your feelings and thoughts on your personal problems.. That's really sad to know, but keep doing the job, NEVER KILL YOUR PASSION FOR ART TO DIE... It's because of you that I too follow your steps to improve my art... Keep up your good health..🙂

Great talk thank you

I've never seen such a talented artist like you.

This video was huge help for me. Thank you

Super helpful. Thank you.

So helpful, thank you❤

I was on concerta is was absolutely horrendous, had the same symptoms, now I am on Adderall and I love it so much, I barely have any side effects they aren't debilitating and very much worth having my life back

This is so amazing and helpful! Thank you for sharing this. Really helpful to see how other people manage ADHD.

very interesting to listen to but love love your art

1st comment ❤️, love from India 🇮🇳

Having had a (very) late diagnosis of ADHD just 3 months ago, I’m just getting settled on medication. I’ve been pretty lucky in that the first meds I’ve tried, concerta, is actually working well with little to no side affects. For the first time in my life I’m able to focus for extended periods of time and not get so easily distracted at work. I’m aware that this may change over time, so don’t want to rely solely on medication and I have started an exercise regime…but diet wise I’m struggling. I will get there eventually, I’m sure, but hearing other people open up about their struggles and giving information on their strategies is so helpful. It was only because of people willing to share their experiences that I fell across content that switched on that lightbulb for me, so thank you for sharing this 🙏

wow! such a talented artist you are, my son too loves to draw. I hope one day he will also have the courage to show his talent.

This is good to hear. I never could see why everyone could sitt and study at the university. I understood everything but couldnt sit and study... but im kickass in talking and drive things to the goal 👊🏻👍🏻🙂

this helped a bunch thanks

Thanks for sharing your art and thoughts…

Hey Jono, as always thank you for this. This hits so hard cuz I do like one intense drawing a year and I want to be able to reach that flow state! It’s hard!

Jono.. Today at work I got notification of this video and I kept it in background (didn't close RU-vid app) just to not forget to see it at evening.. and also I mark it to see it later in the case I do forget.. The reason I'm leaving this comment is I want to tell you my story I only figured out today, thanks to your video.. I'll be as short as I can be.. I knew about ADHD before what exactly is because one girl before told me about her son have it.. But I never knew exactly what ALL symptoms REALLY are or it could be.. So today at work I obviously couldn't see your video, but on my launch time I did google it so I can better understand YOUR problem you dealing with just to figure out one thing ...... I just found out I HAVE the same 😳😳 I never understood what in the world is wrong with me in some moments when I felt I did some good things people was like "don't do that".. In team work I feel like I need a lot of more space and I work like that for years.. I can't help myself of putting myself for others because I can't concentrate easly if I didn't "put my nose in someone else problem to help" .. I have sleeping problems and also waking up over night multiple times.. I feel hyperactive and I feel restless too.. I can't help myself sometimes but interrupt others in their talk, but only because I feel I have to say it RIGHT NOW before I forget.. I also talk to much and everyone tells me that LOL.. And cetera.. To make it "short" as I promissed lol.. I just want to say one big THAK YOU Jono.. Maybe I'm wrong, but if I really suffer from this I didn't felt disappointed or mad.. I actually felt I learned finally what is wrong with me and why I am like that.. We are not bad people and this is not illness.. This is I would rather say energy we cannot burn that easly, and once that suddenly happen it probably make us feel restless.. At least for me is the case (there are two versions of ADHD and also mixed version which supposed to be me LOL) I just want to say to keep doing what you doing and do not give up.. Also for all your fans here I hope they will also learn something from this and from my words too, and wish you all good luck in you art lifes and keep your head UP.. I will try from now on to concentrate more when doing my art on my free time😉 Wish you all the best in the future work 😊

I am an artist and has an ADHD too... I lack focus and I am impulsive. Thank you for the inspiration!

Your voice is calming too

You're my hero sir!

Your are the most Powerful Perfection Artist JONO

fantastic .

I should get back on the Pomodoro technique! It does work well!

Just a thought, consider this life is like art without contrast its pretty flat. Be easy with yourself whenever you are not performing at what you believe is your top/best, its ok sometimes our best is not as good as the day before or even the moment before. You are doing so well though so even when you are not feeling good give yourself a pat on the back and look for the things that are working and take a breath. Meditation/mindful practices are good to simply calm your mind without having to produce anything. Life is not a race, life is journey, an experience.

Inspiration🖤🖤🖤

Thanks for that. As an artist with ADD, I can relate. Maintaining a daily routine, is very hard, but much needed to create. I am also sceptical about Ritalin and other such things as I don't want to be dependent on them. For now I just figure things out as I go.

I love your work so much. Jono could you please do a bts of planning artworks ??

when i do art as i struggle too with adhd it really helps to listen to something about history and religion. i like listening to the bible, book of enoch, norse mythology, greek gods, sumerian texts and other stuff as it all falls in line with christianity and tells you more about the fallen ones too.

Really you drawing is so realistic..........

Interesting topic ...❤️ Thanks jono.. vishnu from India ,

Ur such a great artist 😍

Keep going jono

Great video👍

Eres grande, artista!

Headspace helped me with this

Super sir ❤

Inspired by you, I have begun to learn to sketch.😆

For me, ADHD works as a great gift because my ability to hyperfocus allows me to get indulged and shut everything else off. The concept of time goes away when I do something I love and I'll sometimes even forget that I'm hungry or that I am cooking. It only works with projects I like though. I suck at commissions because ADHD is a nightmare when you're working on random stuff you don't see as interesting or important.

Thank you so much for that Jono. I totally understand the struggle with ADD I was told at a young age that I have it and trying to work on an art piece is hard to stay focused. But after watching your video and applying what you said that helps you to my process helps so much, btw love your work your doing AMAZING. Thank you!

your art is ❤🌼✨

you're doing great. better than most. brilliant art! probably shouldn't take any drugs if your mind thinks you have it under control tho.. not sure if that's a bad sign or not, you should probably look into that.

U got a thorough hyperrealism tutorial ? Maybe on some apps ? I’d pay for your course to cure my own ADHD, definitely.

I just go in thoughtless state for a 1/2 hour or so and don’t even realise it. Can you believe I just went in that state for 2 times while watching this vdo. The only time I have entire focus is when There is a music playing of my taste with my hands working on paper.

Hopefully I achieve greatness like you with my talents one day.

Hey jono can you please redraw the mona lisa big painting please

Thank you it is useful

me too..im struggling to.finish especially portrait..i do portrait before but i stop..for now i switched to play guitar...

Where can I find a wall mount drawing system similar to yours?

I had to find a style of art that would appease my brain. I like digital painting but my brain doesn't, so i had to just draw without colours and only lines.

Jono any chance you could do a skill share course? Or offer a course from your website? Will buy!,,

Brilliant... what songs did you play in the background?

I am struggling with strong mental health i start making an artwork and after almost completeing it I fell like to tear it although my friends says it good but I don't feel like to complete it .please help me sr jono with thise problem

The title is screaming my name 😅 edit after watching: I appreciate that you were open to trying medication again. I feel like a lot of people have bad experiences as children and then swear it off forever. I wasn’t diagnosed until last year, age 32, so I was much more able to notice what does and doesn’t work for me - children can’t always do that and I think that plays a big role. For me, what I think helps best (and is my continuing battle) is finding the right balance between pushing myself and resting. The biggest struggle is how much that can change depending on other situations but it helps to remember that balance isn’t about staying perfectly centered, it’s about having the flexibility to lose balance without breaking. The more flexible a tree is, the less likely it is to snap in a storm because it’s not as rigid. I’ve been reminding myself this a lot this month. My family is trying to move, we’ve found people ready to buy our current property but are waiting to hear back on the one we want (and this is all happening after I had my gallbladder removed on the 4th!) - so I’ve been trying to stay busy going through old books and such. But today I couldn’t get out of bed until 1pm! Between the heat and the stress, I’ve been pushing too hard and my body has made that clear. tldr; If I can be okay with the times I have to recalibrate then I can see what I need to bounce back more quickly. Right now I need more rest.