Kwanzaa begins with Unity. Is there any value that should resonate more with all of us? Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration of African American strengths and values. I’m not Black, so I can’t presume to speak for Black people (other than as an ally against racism). But no American of any ethnic background can afford to spurn the idea that unity is a paramount value, and sadly lacking in the USA right now. In this…
The Artdog Quote(s) of the Week If you’ve been following my blog this month, you know I’ve been struggling to balance a range of unusually urgent demands on my time. As January draws to an end, I can close the book on several of those tasks, but the underlying challenge persists. I always have a lot to do. Don’t get me wrong. I like it that way. But it makes me vulnerable to overload, if I need to take on extra stuff. Whenever I can, I try to anticipate when I’ll be most…
Yes, you remember correctly. I did have a really short post last week, too. Then as now, it’s a symptom of the (annual review) season. And I’m afraid that “the hurrier I go the behinder I get” is my current life, for real! This is not exactly a complaint. In general, I like being busy. My Beloved and I realized several decades ago that if we don’t have anything to do, we’ll soon dream up new projects. This can have its downside, of course! Results of a…
My son and I (with occasional help from my Beloved) have embarked upon a project we’ve long dreamed about. We call it the Library Liberation Project. When we moved into our current home (30 years ago come June 1), I declared that a back room addition the previous owners had used as a rec room was to be the Library. Some of the family couldn’t imagine what we’d do with a whole room just for books, but others laughed and said, “It’s perfect!” And for…
The Artdog Image of Interest Will you or won’t you? Here’s one more thought as we approach National Novel-Writing Month, AKA Na-No-Wri-Mo. Remember: one week from today, it starts! Some of my friends enjoy the challenge and find it motivating. But I have to admit that this cartoon character’s response is usually my strategy: This is because I write slowly. The “will you or won’t you” writer who answers “yes” writes fast. Na-No-Wri-Mo is for people who prefer to get it all…
The Artdog Image of Interest Are you ready? Each year in November, it’s National Novel-Writing Month, AKA Na-No-Wri-Mo. Each year in October, I consider participating. Will this be the year? For those who do plan to leap in, It’s a good idea to plan ahead. It’s not “cheating” to think about the project in October (or earlier). Do some research. Get thoughts about worldbuilding, character-creation, and other aspects of the story well in mind before the writing starts. It’s not even cheating…
The Artdog Image of Interest Because who doesn’t love a great mountain picture in mid-July, this is an image from National Geographic. Do you recognize the mountain? If you said “Everest!” you’re right. This actually isn’t one picture, however. It’s 26. And it’s no casual snapshot. Photographer Renan Ozturk prepared for eight months. Then he and his team trekked high into “bring your own oxygen or you will die” territory to launch a specially-modified drone. This high-altitude photog and his even-higher-altitude drone achieved the amazing feat of a 360-degree…
Some reports come from me as the Author Ascendant; this is a report from the Swamp Thing. On normal weeks, I like to write a thoughtful post about something that’s caught my attention or is part of a series, on Wednesdays. I think of it as my “main” post of the week. This has not been a normal week. Becoming a Swamp Thing The past two days have felt like wading through a metaphorical swamp. In the fullness of time, this’ll be “old…
The Artdog Quote of the Week Angelou had good reason to know this truth. Like love, like generosity, like any attitude, discipline, or craft that you practice, the more you practice it, the richer your store. IMAGE: Many thanks to Brain Pickings, via The Fox is Black, for this image and Maya Angelou quote, featuring artwork by Lisa Congdon.
The Artdog Quote of the Week Creativity requires a certain measure of boldness. Any time you put your original creation out there in the world, you put a part of yourself on the line. Doesn’t matter whether it’s a thought, a dance, a story, a piece of artwork, an invention, your own performance skill, or what. That takes courage. It takes faith. It takes believing in yourself, and being willing to publicly fail. Publicly failing sucks. It hurts. But it doesn’t inevitably happen. You take a risk. And when it doesn’t…