"Once upon a time there was an innocent young fellow who got a dose of graphite, was lead astray and became a lead junkie, with way too many pencils."
....davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.com
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Artist Challenged by Depression
Drawing, Creativity, and Depression
By crosinski
"I have been able to work on a small piece that I’m drawing from a photo reference during this time, but sketching from life requires more oomph than I was able to muster. Sketching requires an energetic and spontaneous connection with ..."
By crosinski
"I have been able to work on a small piece that I’m drawing from a photo reference during this time, but sketching from life requires more oomph than I was able to muster. Sketching requires an energetic and spontaneous connection with ..."
Friday, August 29, 2008
Synesthesia - Overlapping of Senses
Last night, the girls and I watched a documentary about Synesthesia, a neurological condition in which the senses get sort of mixed up. There is an overlapping of the senses. For example, some people taste names, words, letters, or colors and other people hear lights. For some people, the color blue might mean the letter 'M.'
As people in the program related their synesthetic experiences, of course I couldn't relate for the most part. However, when one lady listened to some jazz music, she described it as "That's deep purple velvet, it couldn't be anything else." To my surprise, I nodded in agreement, that yes, that was a lovely deep purple velvet! It made me realize that I do feel/"see"colors when I listen to music. If you asked me to listen to a song and paint it, that would be a very easy assignment for me. I thought that everyone could do that. Perhaps not.
This morning, I realized that I probably had a synesthetic experience when I was a teenager. It has stuck with me, because it was weird. My mom was watching TV in the living room, and I was in the kitchen. I could not see the TV. I heard a woman's voice on TV that immediately struck me as the color red. I rationalized that maybe it was some sort of psychic thing, and maybe the lady had red hair. I was driven to look at the woman and see what color hair she had. But I found that she didn't have red hair. Her hair was blond. I told my mom about the experience, and I think she thought I was joking. I still didn't understand that weird feeling that the woman on TV had red hair. I thought, "If I'm psychic, I'm a lousy psychic!"
If these are truly real experiences of Synesthesia, then it would mean that I find colors in sounds and words.
I don't think a few isolated experiences make me a Synesthete, but it is interesting. I created a Squidoo page about Synesthesia that you should check out if you are interested in it. There's a great video on the page by a photographer and musician who explains how he realized he had Synesthesia and how it helps him with his art and music.
As people in the program related their synesthetic experiences, of course I couldn't relate for the most part. However, when one lady listened to some jazz music, she described it as "That's deep purple velvet, it couldn't be anything else." To my surprise, I nodded in agreement, that yes, that was a lovely deep purple velvet! It made me realize that I do feel/"see"colors when I listen to music. If you asked me to listen to a song and paint it, that would be a very easy assignment for me. I thought that everyone could do that. Perhaps not.
This morning, I realized that I probably had a synesthetic experience when I was a teenager. It has stuck with me, because it was weird. My mom was watching TV in the living room, and I was in the kitchen. I could not see the TV. I heard a woman's voice on TV that immediately struck me as the color red. I rationalized that maybe it was some sort of psychic thing, and maybe the lady had red hair. I was driven to look at the woman and see what color hair she had. But I found that she didn't have red hair. Her hair was blond. I told my mom about the experience, and I think she thought I was joking. I still didn't understand that weird feeling that the woman on TV had red hair. I thought, "If I'm psychic, I'm a lousy psychic!"
If these are truly real experiences of Synesthesia, then it would mean that I find colors in sounds and words.
I don't think a few isolated experiences make me a Synesthete, but it is interesting. I created a Squidoo page about Synesthesia that you should check out if you are interested in it. There's a great video on the page by a photographer and musician who explains how he realized he had Synesthesia and how it helps him with his art and music.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Enter for Chance To Win Beautiful Custom Note Cards
I'm very excited to announce my first giveaway on this blog! Vertical Printing and Graphics is offering readers of this blog a special chance to win -- offering a set of 50 custom note cards to one lucky reader!
TO ENTER:
Simply post a comment on this blog. You may enter once per day through Midnight, EST, September 12, 2008. Please include your email address so that I can contact you if you win! Sorry, this is for USA residents only this time.
You don't have to be an artist to enter...but, if you are an artist, you can have one of your works of art on the cards, or Vertical Printing can create a neat design with your name, make them into Thank You cards, or even just blank if you wish! Visit their website to see some samples of all the beautiful products!
The cards would be a traditional A2 card which is 4.25 x 5.5" when folded and will include blank envelopes as well.
Retail value of the cards is $112.50
Here's more about Vertical Printing and Graphics!
Laura started her company in 2002 (working out of her garage) after building her experience in the printing/graphic arts industry. Now she balances being a business-owner and mom to a 2-year old. Laura told me that "being a mom has made me a better business woman in the sense that my patience has changed and I think that maternal instinct is so important and it really comes to light with customer service as well. I think through a schedule more in detail now just because I know how valuable time is."
Vertical Printing & Graphics is a full service printing & design company that is committed to raising the bar. VPG is proud to offer a full range of services. When good just isn't enough. Exciting, impressive & top-of-the-line products gives your professional reputation the image it deserves. We at VPG are committed to providing the highest in quality and craftsmanship. Whether you are looking for a simple business card, business stationery, postcard, or a multi-page brochure; we offer an array of printing options allowing us to meet all your needs.
TO ENTER:
Simply post a comment on this blog. You may enter once per day through Midnight, EST, September 12, 2008. Please include your email address so that I can contact you if you win! Sorry, this is for USA residents only this time.
You don't have to be an artist to enter...but, if you are an artist, you can have one of your works of art on the cards, or Vertical Printing can create a neat design with your name, make them into Thank You cards, or even just blank if you wish! Visit their website to see some samples of all the beautiful products!
The cards would be a traditional A2 card which is 4.25 x 5.5" when folded and will include blank envelopes as well.
Retail value of the cards is $112.50
Here's more about Vertical Printing and Graphics!
Laura started her company in 2002 (working out of her garage) after building her experience in the printing/graphic arts industry. Now she balances being a business-owner and mom to a 2-year old. Laura told me that "being a mom has made me a better business woman in the sense that my patience has changed and I think that maternal instinct is so important and it really comes to light with customer service as well. I think through a schedule more in detail now just because I know how valuable time is."
Vertical Printing & Graphics is a full service printing & design company that is committed to raising the bar. VPG is proud to offer a full range of services. When good just isn't enough. Exciting, impressive & top-of-the-line products gives your professional reputation the image it deserves. We at VPG are committed to providing the highest in quality and craftsmanship. Whether you are looking for a simple business card, business stationery, postcard, or a multi-page brochure; we offer an array of printing options allowing us to meet all your needs.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Google Makes Me Feel Like a Bigshot...ha!
Have you ever Googled yourself? It's when you look up your own name in Google.com's search engine and see what you can find.
I remember a few years ago, I'd look up 'Darla Dixon' and the first listings were always for an art teacher in Texas named Darla Dixon, and I think there was also a lady who sold real estate named Darla Dixon. I decided I would work to get my name to come up first.
I checked today, and not only does my name come up first, it comes up for 24 whole pages of Google before other Darla Dixons and assorted Darlas are listed.
Today Google, tomorrow, da woild! ;-)
I remember a few years ago, I'd look up 'Darla Dixon' and the first listings were always for an art teacher in Texas named Darla Dixon, and I think there was also a lady who sold real estate named Darla Dixon. I decided I would work to get my name to come up first.
I checked today, and not only does my name come up first, it comes up for 24 whole pages of Google before other Darla Dixons and assorted Darlas are listed.
Today Google, tomorrow, da woild! ;-)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Pepperjam Among Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in US
I try to always encourage other artists to join at least one affiliate program. I've even written a Squidoo page about how artists can earn extra money by adding affiliate links to their art websites and art blogs.
An affiliate program gives artists (or anyone with a website or blog, really!) to share links to other companies and get a percentage of a sale that may occur when someone clicks through that link to the merchant's site.
One of the newer affiliate marketing networks is
Pepperjam Network. I'm pretty sure I've written about them before. Pepperjam also provides search-engine marketing and online-media-buying services. I have really enjoyed being a member of the Pepperjam affiliate network.
Pepperjam Network is free to join, and they have been so helpful to me. That's why I am so happy for them that Pepperjam has just been inducted into the Inc. 500 List. Pepperjam is the #1 fastest growing affiliate network.
Pepperjam CEO Kristopher Jones exemplifies the positive attitude that has made Pepperjam successful when he says,
"It’s a funny thing about life. Sometimes you end up with a great idea, hire a bunch of smart people and get out of their way,and persist while others say you shouldn’t or can’t."
If you have been interested in joining an affiliate program, I would recommend Pepperjam, because it's very easy for a "newbie" to use. The website is pretty intuitive, and you can very easily see the selection of links to cut and paste them into your blog or website after joining the programs.
Most artists are busy, so they say they just don't have time to do this. But for most artists, there's almost always a "down time" -- certain weeks or months that are not as busy. That's the perfect time to work on affiliate programs, as well as work to improve other aspects of your website and/or art blog. Oh my gosh, I also seem to have a page with helpful links and advice for websites here. Okay, get to work and have fun!
Related Links:
Pepperjam Recognized by Inc. Magazine for Second Straight Year as One of America’s Fastest Growing Companies
An affiliate program gives artists (or anyone with a website or blog, really!) to share links to other companies and get a percentage of a sale that may occur when someone clicks through that link to the merchant's site.
One of the newer affiliate marketing networks is
Pepperjam Network. I'm pretty sure I've written about them before. Pepperjam also provides search-engine marketing and online-media-buying services. I have really enjoyed being a member of the Pepperjam affiliate network.
Pepperjam Network is free to join, and they have been so helpful to me. That's why I am so happy for them that Pepperjam has just been inducted into the Inc. 500 List. Pepperjam is the #1 fastest growing affiliate network.
Pepperjam CEO Kristopher Jones exemplifies the positive attitude that has made Pepperjam successful when he says,
"It’s a funny thing about life. Sometimes you end up with a great idea, hire a bunch of smart people and get out of their way,and persist while others say you shouldn’t or can’t."
If you have been interested in joining an affiliate program, I would recommend Pepperjam, because it's very easy for a "newbie" to use. The website is pretty intuitive, and you can very easily see the selection of links to cut and paste them into your blog or website after joining the programs.
Most artists are busy, so they say they just don't have time to do this. But for most artists, there's almost always a "down time" -- certain weeks or months that are not as busy. That's the perfect time to work on affiliate programs, as well as work to improve other aspects of your website and/or art blog. Oh my gosh, I also seem to have a page with helpful links and advice for websites here. Okay, get to work and have fun!
Related Links:
Pepperjam Recognized by Inc. Magazine for Second Straight Year as One of America’s Fastest Growing Companies
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Digital Thieves at Art Shows
Excerpt from a Detroit Free Press article (find a link to full article at end of this post)
"......"In Grayling, I watched parents walk through my booth with their early teenage children," he says. "Then, after leaving, they handed the children a pocket size digital camera. The children then walked back in my booth and started taking pictures of my work.
I say started because I stopped them by putting my hand between the camera and the art. I walked them out to their parents and told them to stay out of my booth. First the father said that he and his wife didn’t know that the children were copying my work.
I informed him that I watched he and his wife give the camera to the children, point back at my booth and watch the children walk directly back into my booth. The parents stayed in front of my booth watching the children get caught.
Then the father informed me that they liked the images but didn’t want to pay that much for them. I told them that it was illegal and if I caught them again, I would press charges. At that the Father started yelling that as a grown man, I must feel good picking on children. I responded with; at least I don’t teach my children to steal."..."
...More....Digital thieves are plaguing artists at Michigan art shows
Detroit Free Press - United States
"......"In Grayling, I watched parents walk through my booth with their early teenage children," he says. "Then, after leaving, they handed the children a pocket size digital camera. The children then walked back in my booth and started taking pictures of my work.
I say started because I stopped them by putting my hand between the camera and the art. I walked them out to their parents and told them to stay out of my booth. First the father said that he and his wife didn’t know that the children were copying my work.
I informed him that I watched he and his wife give the camera to the children, point back at my booth and watch the children walk directly back into my booth. The parents stayed in front of my booth watching the children get caught.
Then the father informed me that they liked the images but didn’t want to pay that much for them. I told them that it was illegal and if I caught them again, I would press charges. At that the Father started yelling that as a grown man, I must feel good picking on children. I responded with; at least I don’t teach my children to steal."..."
...More....Digital thieves are plaguing artists at Michigan art shows
Detroit Free Press - United States
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