The irony of being an artist: while we freely experiment with conceptual approaches to our ideas, we tend to bond so deeply with our workflow tools we will overlook new tools that might change our workflow consequently changing our work. For that reason, it is deeply rewarding for me to read David Alison's column. He entertains all apps he stumbles across candidly, unburdened by old school mac snobbery. It is because of him I found Pixelmator. And because of him, I found Skitch. I probably … [Read more...]
Understanding Seth Godin Laterally
January 30, 2009 By 1 Comment
I admit it. I am a malcontent, an outsider, and, as a result, a snob. It may be a result of my nomadic childhood, or maybe it is a result of ADHD addled brain, but I embrace my space. I am not agoraphobic but rather, misanthropic. After years of struggling with my better nature, I can finally confess that my belief system is best triangulated by the Buddha, a samurai, and Harry Lockhart. I don’t play well with others. I fake it fairly well though, but hate myself for it later. I just … [Read more...]
Virtual Networking in a Brave New World
January 22, 2009 By 2 Comments
The Social Network As It Was. Remember when networking was something that was accomplished at blazer-wearing cocktail parties and on the golf course followed by a cocktail? Even if you don’t remember that, one must realize historically there was such a thing. Leaving the house and beating the streets socially was absolutely the only way possible to network in the community and create a name, credibility and resource. It was an era of creating importance amongst people … [Read more...]
How To Hang A Picture
January 15, 2009 By 1 Comment
Picture this: The wall in your den or dining room just begs to display your extensive collection of movie posters, music memorabilia or family photos... but you don't want your wall to look like an old pub's dartboard by the time you're satisfied with the layout. 1. Make measurements of your wall, making note of any details such as switches, receptacle covers, and molding. 2. Transfer your wall's dimensions to the floor, using strips of masking tape. 3. Arrange your framed pieces on the … [Read more...]
Requiem for The Polaroid
January 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The days of the in your face - no touch-up's - crappy lighting - crappy paper - instant photograph have come to a close, as Polaroid ascends to the big darkroom in the sky.I could write about the history of Polaroid, but then you could Google it if you were really interested. And you should because it's pretty good reading. Instead, today, I'm going to tell you the story of Amelia. Amelia was just ten years old when I was a volunteer at the Bancroft School in Haddonfield NJ, a … [Read more...]
Power To The Poster
January 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Nobody in their right mind becomes an artist for purpose of making a sensible living. And most artists will tell you that one doesn't become an artist, an artist is born and merely polishes his or her skills and knowledge over the years in hopes of people noticing what they do. Garnering a following is a notch better and causing conversation and intelligent debate, two notches. Dead presidents are the cherry on the pallet. Introducing Power to the Poster, a somewhat user generated yet … [Read more...]
Simplicity In A Box
December 17, 2008 By
Last year, I asked my husband for a radio for Christmas. Something for my kitchen counter. Something that would allow me to listen to NPR while I cooked. Nothing fancy, I didn't even really want anything digital, as I grew up in the day of the radio dial. I'll even go so far as to admit that in my preteen years, all the cool stations were still on AM. In recent years, I had a boombox, one that had a CD player on the top and looked like a WMD with an antenna. Big and oblong and obnoxious … [Read more...]
Virtual Prostitute Wrecks Marriage
December 15, 2008 By 2 Comments
Considering all the recent news about people getting in trouble for virtual crimes committed while playing online games involving virtual people, virtual places and virtual things, it seems to me that there is probably a valid and tangible market for a virtual legal profession. In a recent divorce case involving a British couple and the internet game Second Life, his avatar was found cheating on her avatar with a virtual prostitute. Suspicious, her avatar hired a virtual … [Read more...]
Online Hoax = Computer Fraud
December 11, 2008 By 2 Comments
Alright. Now maybe we're getting somewhere. The last time I wrote about an alleged cyber crime I debated the efficacy of the Japanese police regarding a woman who had logged into a friend's internet game account (with the login info he himself had given to her) and killed off his beloved avatar. A "crime" for which she was arrested and jailed. (See Murder On The Avatar Express) Recently, a federal jury in Los Angeles handed down what legal experts say is the country’s … [Read more...]
A Different Look at Creativity Part II: the social media mix
December 10, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Before we go any further… I want to point out that what I am describing here is a process, a way of looking at how we create whether it involves groups of people or individuals and what we need in the way of tools and environments to support us along the way. The concepts and processes are not linear or pretty and admittedly leave lots of room for further exploration and development. Let’s get going.. Now that we have the creative spectrum somewhat sketched out let’s see how … [Read more...]
A different look at creativity
December 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment
In previous articles I discussed some of the broader issues and benefits related to Social Media/Networking and how this new tool could benefit artists. The first article “What’s up with Social media” I introduced the concept of “ambient intimacy” and how the growth of social networking via the Internet has increased our ability to build relationships with our buyers. In “How to use Social Media”I talked about how social media gives us the ability to engage our buyers, build … [Read more...]
How to use your winter to help your sales
December 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Marketing Monday begins today, born from conversations with a couple of artists over the weekend. They asked me if I had an thoughts about how they could use the winter down time to help build their businesses and their sales. The consesus was a winter long series focused on different aspects of marketing would be helpful. Here is a tentative list of subjects we came up with: Beginning the branding process- a brief outline to help give direction to the process along with some … [Read more...]
