A perfect question to jump out of bed with, or ask anytime of the day… …though we might add to it…
Read Morerules for living: just one from pablo picasso
Sometimes, we have so much to do, so many things pulling at us, that we don’t know what to do first. We’ve been trying out a new very simple guideline that we read recently; It’s a quote from Pablo Picasso: “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.” We…
Read MoreThe Art of Collage and Assemblage: ‘Everyday, Non-Art materials…Provoke Imaginative, Even Visionary, Thoughts and Associations’.
In the images from The Art of Collage and Assemblage on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, it was the ordinariness of many of the materials used that we found both moving and inspiring…
Read MoreWhen An Artist Fails as a Person, Is Their Work Invalid?
When I was young, I thought that an artwork reflected the values of the person who made it. Over time, I learned that this was very often not the case…
Read MoreThe Heartening Museum of Failures
(Video link here.) Dr. Samuel West, Director of the Museum of Failures in Helsingborg, Sweden collects innovation fails made by big companies. Through them, he hopes to share an essential lesson.
Read MoreInstant Diary for Capturing Essential Memories
On the last night of 2016, we found this list on Kottke, a blog we’ve loved for years. It is just notations, really, almost stream of consciousness, of public and private experiences that powerfully sum up the year. It gave us an idea for simple way of keeping a diary, which we, like so many people we know, are too busy to do. We’re going to try it while the year is young.
Read MoreLil Buck Dances with Modern Masterpieces + Yo-Yo Ma
Wondrous to watch, Memphis-born jookin’ dancer Lil Buck took us right OUT of our momentary cocnerns. Check out his utterly expressive dances to works of modern art AND in collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma,
Read MoreChuck Close: ‘Ideas come out of the work itself’
The Mysterious Metamorphosis of Chuck Close is a must-read for the MANY illuminating and original questions and viewpoints it presents about making art in 2016, aging, the need for personal change. Of particular interest to us was the advice Close gave his friend Paul Simon, who recently announced that he’s going to retire.
Read MoreAllen Ginsberg’s Distracted Tai Chi Meditation + House Tour
(Video link here.) Tai Chi is not only a martial art but a form of moving meditation, where the practioner is meant to be “present” and aware of each move. Like all forms of meditation, that part is difficult; the mind loves to wander. In 1984, the great poet Allen Ginsberg wrote a poem about himself practicing tai chi…
Read Moremaira kalman’s real apartment and her fantasy one
In the new Spring Design Issue of New York Magazine, artist Maira Kalman talks to longtime neighbor and friend Isaac Mizrahi about how Tel Aviv has influenced her New York apartment. The two images of Kalman’s apartment shows a warm, personal, comfortable, loose space, very different from the stark interiors of so many other designer’s…
Read Moreevolution of a matisse in 13 drawings
This sketch made by Henri Matisse January 7, 1940 is the first of thirteen he did in preparation for a wondrous painting The Dream completed in September 1940. Scroll down to see great artist’s process…as the painting emerges…
Read Morespace voyeurs: studios of 10 brilliant artists
We recently stumbled on Flavorwire’s tour of 10 famous artist’s studios, a welcome break from cleaned-up interiors pictures that are everywhere. These spaces are interesting because they’re fluid, unconcerned with conventional notions of stylishness, yet uniquely beautiful in surprising ways. Often they reveal important elements of the work process — like taping a nap, resting…
Read Morefind ‘improvised life’ posts on facebook while we’re away
We’re taking some unscheduled, unexpected time off due to a family matter. Although we hope to back by August 20th or SOONER, we’re not exactly sure how long we’ll be gone due to many unknowns. For sure we won’t have the where-with-all to write our regular extensive posts. Instead, we’re going to try an experiment:…
Read Moreosb: cool, cheap material for furniture, walls, lights, art
Lately, we’ve come across some extraordinary uses for OSB – oriented strand board (also known as waferboard) – a cheap, strong, durable building material made from pressed tree chippings and resin. It’s generally been viewed as garbage, something to use for structure and hide, until open-minded designers started to explore its potential and beauty. Architect…
Read Moreblaise cendrars: art from easter ashes
The Henry Miller video we posted on Friday has led us to an Eastertime revelation. It can be summed up in two words: Blaise Cendrars. Miller praised the French writer as “my idol,” and says, “what a writer learns from Cendrars is to follow his nose, to obey life’s commands, to worship no other god…
Read Morehenry miller’s eleven commandments
In the early thirties, as he was writing Tropic of Cancer his first published novel that was to become a classic of twentieth century fiction- Henry Miller wrote himself this list of 11 commandments. We find them really useful – some more than others – applicable to many creative pursuits: Work on one thing at…
Read Morethe organic commandment of frank lloyd wright
While looking at images of Taliesin West for our string light post, we came across this sign of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “The Organic Commandment”. We’re not sure if it’s one or four, or ‘commandment’ rather than principles, but we find it worth mulling… Related posts: string lights as everyday indoor lighting a dance lesson from…
Read Morea dance lesson from zorba + anthony quinn
(Video link here.) In 1964, the great Anthony Quinn, then 49, knocked everyone out with the famous scene in the movie Zorba the Greek where he teaches an uptight Englishman how to dance after his business enterprise goes bust. It remains one of the most life-affirming moments in screen history. You can feel the sun…
Read Morekid’s book we love: joel henrique’s ‘made to play’
We’ve written before about how much we love Made By Joel’s, Joel Henrique’s website that features his charming handmade children’s toys. This October 11th will mark the release of Joel’s first book, Made to Play!: Handmade Toys and Crafts for Growing Imaginations.The book compiles a number of great toy-making and craft projects for children and…
Read Morethe role of magic in the creative process
We are smitten with this short, illuminating online slideshow in which Marco Leona, chief scientist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, talks about the role of magic in the creation of art. It is so delightful and illuminating, we’ve watched it several times: a rich 4 minutes. “Magic traditionally was about transformation: taking something baser, less refined, less…
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