Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World

3. Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A quick enjoyable read. Some of Neil Gaiman's words were familiar to me pulled from speeches and other previously published works, but I enjoyed seeing them paired with Chris Riddell's pencil drawings.


13 years ago on TTaT: Did you say something?

Time Warp

"I thought you might like this," Mom said as she handed me a strip of paper that felt like it'd been cut out of a magazine.

I figured it was a real estate listing for a house we'd talked about yesterday. I looked at the photo of a house at night with all its lights on for a good minute before saying, "That's our house!"

"Yes," she smiled.

In this case, by "our house" I meant a house we lived in decades ago during my formative years.

"I really like what they did with the kitchen," she said.

There were two smaller photos below the text on the right side of the strip.

"If I'd looked at those first, I wouldn't have recognized it at all. I'm not sure I even understand what they did to the kitchen because it looks like it has doors out to a porch now" (where they had been no porch before).

The front hall was not that different but the photograph was shot with a wide angle lens and from a higher vantage than I'd had when we lived there.

"I never photographed it much... which I regret," I commented. "But I wouldn't have had the same eye anyway," I consoled myself, before Mom could make some comment about not dwelling on what couldn't be changed.

I read out some of the features in the listing and laughed and marveled at the renovations and upgrades that have been made over the years.

Damn, I miss that house.


10 years ago on TTaT: The Sleeper Must Awaken

Life of Art SitRep #467 iPhone Glitter Cases and More

This week I spent more time creating products. I'm excited to have some new silver or pink glitter iPhone cases in my shop. Here are a few:

Pink Glitter Mermaid Scale Pattern Script Name Speck iPhone Case

by RocklawnArts

Silver Glitter Chic Hello Script and Your Name Speck iPhone Case

by RocklawnArts

Monogram Silver Glitter Black Checkered Pattern Speck iPhone Case

by RocklawnArts

See all the latest products I've created here.

Also created an I've Moved Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco Moving Announcement Postcard. You can customize it to say "we've moved" if that's what you need along with adding your new address to it:

I've Moved Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco Moving Announcement Postcard

by RocklawnArts

Thinking ahead to St. Patrick's Day, I added some flasks, shot glasses, pint glasses, and party supplies featuring shamrocks:

St. Patrick's Day Green Shamrock Leaf Shot Glass

by RocklawnArts

Green Shamrock Leaf St. Patrick's Day Glass

by RocklawnArts

Green Shamrock Happy St. Patrick's Day Party Napkin

by RocklawnArts

Happy St. Patrick's Day Green Shamrock Leaf Cake Stand

by RocklawnArts

Created Irish Lad collection:

Irish Lad St. Patrick's Day Shamrock

by Claire E. Skinner of Rocklawn Arts

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

Read "7 Things You Need to Know About Taking Photos in the Snow & Rain."

Read "Productivity hacks for entrepreneurs with an eCommerce store."

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: Year of the Ox

Life of Art SitRep #466 Business Stamp, Wrapping, Leggings, and Bag Tags

Despite being a more behind the scenes week, I created a variety of new items for my shop.

Created a Custom Company Business Logo Return Address Self-inking Stamp. 9 ink colors and 7 housing colors are available. Click to personalize it with your own logo and address:

Custom Company Business Logo Return Address Self-inking Stamp

by RocklawnArts

Created Plaid Pattern Wrapping Paper, Ribbon, Tissue Paper, Gift Bags, and Monogrammed Stickers in several colors:

Diagonal Coral Orange and White Plaid Pattern Wrapping Paper

by RocklawnArts

Monogrammed Red and White Plaid Pattern Square Sticker

by RocklawnArts

Light Blue and White Plaid Pattern Medium Gift Bag

by RocklawnArts

Modern Navy Blue and White Plaid Pattern Wrapping Paper

by RocklawnArts

Classic Red and White Plaid Pattern Tissue Paper

by RocklawnArts

Classic Light Blue and White Plaid Pattern Satin Ribbon

by RocklawnArts

Created Plaid Pattern Leggings in several colors. Click through to see the variety by clicking the colored dots under "Design Theme" in the sidebar of the product page.

Blue Green and White Plaid Pattern Leggings

by RocklawnArts

Also created several luggage tags:

Monogrammed Navy Blue and White Plaid Pattern Bag Tag

by RocklawnArts

Monogrammed Blue Green and Navy Geometric Stripe Bag Tag

by RocklawnArts

See all the latest products I've created here.

Created Monogrammed Golf Balls and Accessories collection:

Monogrammed Golf Balls and Accessories

by Claire E. Skinner of Rocklawn Arts

Also shot 29 photographs, culled 10.

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest. Created Travel Tips, Gear, and Destinations board.

Watched "How to get better at the things you care about" by Eduardo Briceño. Basically we all need to be more like Beyoncé, no joke. She has the learning zone vs. performance zone cycle nailed.

Read "How to Change the background in Photoshop, quick, easy tutorial" by Colin Smith.

Made monthly backups. Have you backed up lately?


10 years ago on TTaT: Winter wonderland, again

Life of Art SitRep #465 File Folders

Created my first File Folders this week. They come in sets of three which I made in buffalo check and plaid patterns of various colors.

Modern Navy Blue White Buffalo Check Pattern File Folder

by RocklawnArts

Modern Coral Orange White Buffalo Check Pattern File Folder

by RocklawnArts

Chic Black and White Plaid Pattern File Folder

by RocklawnArts

Chic Dark Red and White Plaid Pattern File Folder

by RocklawnArts

Created a series of monogrammed golf balls, markers, and divot tools in black, red, and blue:

Simple Black Monogram with Circle Border Golf Balls

by RocklawnArts

Modern Red White Monogram with Circle Border Golf Ball Marker

by RocklawnArts

Modern Navy Blue White Monogram with Circle Border Divot Tool

by RocklawnArts

Created wrapping supplies in Black and White Plaid and Navy Blue and White Plaid:

Chic Diagonal Black and White Plaid Pattern Wrapping Paper

by RocklawnArts

Classic Black White Plaid Pattern Tissue Paper

by RocklawnArts

Bold Navy Blue White Plaid Pattern Medium Gift Bag

by RocklawnArts

Classic Navy Blue and White Plaid Pattern Satin Ribbon

by RocklawnArts

Monogrammed Navy Blue and White Plaid Pattern Square Sticker

by RocklawnArts

See all the latest products I've created here.

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

Created Golf Tips, Gear, and Destinations board.

How was your week?


12 years and a day ago on TTaT: Decisions and anti-decisions

Furries

The temperature got to 41 F (5 C) yesterday while also fairly sunny so I decided to get a haircut. I knew my mom wanted one also so I offered to take her.

On the drive up she started telling me about a show she'd seen on CNN called "This if Life with Lisa Ling" and an episode Ling had done about furries.

"They said they'd gotten a bad rap because people said they were perverts."

I wasn't surprised. The only way we'd come to know about them was on crime shows where they were portrayed as fetishists.

Mom described the people interviewed, those with debilitating shyness, PTSD, physical ailments and how putting on a costume freed them to assume personas filled with joy.

"You were shy as a kid, you still are," Mom said.

"I'm introverted," I said. "Shyness often gets linked to feelings of embarrassment and that's not it."

"No," Mom agreed.

Looking it up now shy is defined as "being reserved or having or showing nervousness or timidity in the company of other people." (OK, that's fair.)

Some of the people Mom described from the episode couldn't cope with going to the grocery store or out at all really. "You can go to the library," she said.

"Yeah, that kind of stuff doesn't bother me," I said. "But it's not like I haven't gone over in my head a thousand times what I'm going to say to try to describe how I want my hair cut."

"That's different," Mom said, "I'm doing that too."

"Yeah, I guess so."

She described kids who were also getting into being furries and wondered what had made them so withdrawn but got emotional when describing a Dad who was tearing up describing how it had made his daughter so much happier.

The recurring theme was therapeutic transformation. Being furries freed them to be joyful.

"I don't think I have that much creativity," Mom said.

"I love stuffed animals but I've never wanted to be one. I don't think wearing a mask would have the same effect for me."

I just want to be myself. Well, a better version of myself but one that doesn't have to wear anything uncomfortable.


10 years ago on TTaT: Begin anyway

Life of Art SitRep #464 Finding the Groove

Happy New Year! I hope your 2019 is filled with health, happiness, security, success (however you measure it), and some adventure.

It's only been three days since the start of the year and I'm easing back into the work groove, so there's not a lot to report.

Did a variety of end of month and year updates, research, and analyses. Still some more to go.

Created a Light Coral Orange Plaid Pattern Throw Pillow:

Light Coral Orange Plaid Pattern Throw Pillow

by RocklawnArts

Updated several elements of my Rocklawn Arts store's home page including the category order, banner, featured collection (Popular Customizable 2019 Calendar Products) and product folder (Home).

Also did some other store organization work.

Pinned to boards at Rocklawn Arts on Pinterest.

Created Colorful Home Decor board on Pinterest.

Watched "Behind the Art: The Path to Becoming A Working Artist with Lisa Congdon | CreativeLive."

Updated © notices here and on Rocklawn Arts blogs. Don't forget to do yours if it doesn't auto-update.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: Saying it well

2018 Book Report

In 2018, I read over 8,000 pages across 61 books.

Lots of graphic novels with good doses of art, meditation, and some nonfiction.

Click here to see GoodReads' fancy chart display of all but one the books I read. The missing book was an epic bit of fan fiction which is actually the longest book I read at 444 pages.


10 years ago on TTaT: Note to self, vol. XV