Advice on Turning Pro
Or, better put, why to think twice about turning pro. This is a painting by John Baldessari made between 1966-1968, informing artists on what sells (via Signal vs. Noise [http://37signals.com/svn/posts/3405-john-baldessari-american-b-1931-tips]).
It's All for Rent
Seth Godin [http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/01/owning-vs-renting.html] reminds us of something we all know; but you’d never know it from our actions: > “It’s all for rent, with a cancellation clause that can kick in at any time.” Sure, that goes for the
John Jay on Creativity
It’s a simple message: don’t get silo’d. Creativity abounds when you step outside your comfort zone and away from your comfort people. When a photographer tells me they “specialize” in a certain process, I have to think there’s entire worlds of ideas they’ve chosen to
A Deeper Look at Constraints and Creativity
Harvard Business Review [http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/01/how_intelligent_constraints_dr.html] weighs in on the link between constraints and creativity: > A study conducted at the University of Amsterdam’s Department of Social Psychology proved that tough obstacles can prompt people to open their minds, look
Evan Calkins on Constraints
Another great example of constraints from a successful artist today…Blaine Hogan interviews Evan Calkins [http://blainehogan.com/post/1067/hoban-press-calling-card-giveaway-and-interview/] : > “I’m a big fan of designing within constraints. A letterpress printed business card has some pretty serious constraints.” Evan creates beautiful calling cards using very old (some
"Authenticity is the New Bullshit"
Hugh MacLeod posts [http://gapingvoid.com/authenticity/] what could be a new book, but is instead a living, evolving blog post about everything he’s learned as a successful artist in the past decade or so: > “15. We are ready for the third age of education: The
Introverts Unite! (just for a while - don't freak out)
Yesterday, I had the pleasure to attend a Q&A with Susan Cain, author of Quiet [http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/about-the-book/], my favorite book of 2012, at 37Signals headquarters [http://37signals.com/]. The book is about the advantages of the introverted personality in a world geared towards rewarding extraversion.
Happy Accidents
From Patrick Rhone [http://patrickrhone.com/2013/01/05/happy-accidents/]: > “Action shots should have action. They shouldn’t be perfect. They shouldn’t be still. They should be blurry and full of energy…The lesson I have learned here is to not be so quick to judge. These judgments
The Enemy Of Art Is The Absence Of Limitations
> “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” — Orson Welles [http://books.google.com/books?id=VtY5lQS29YgC&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq=%E2%80%9CThe+enemy+of+art+is+the+absence+of+limitations.%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%93+Orson+Welles&source=bl&
Why Your Photo Blog May Be Failing
I love this classic post [http://gapingvoid.com/2010/06/14/wmabf/] from Hugh MacLeod. The mantra I always repeat to myself is “your blog is not about you.” It’s about what your readers are after. Hugh agrees in his own words: > “Nobody’s reading your blog