Category Archives: My Blog / Diary

Journals as Story Bibles

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When I’m not working on art, I’m usually researching and writing books.  Well, that or baking bread or cookies… or indulging in a movie or a TV series like Downton Abbey. 

Anyway, as I was cruising through some Google+ communities I’m in, I saw a link to journaling as a way to build a book.  (Specifically, she’s talking about a novel, but I’m sure this could be adapted to nonfiction, as well.)

If this idea interests you, the best place to start is here:

Writing in a journalCreating a Story Bible: The Basics

“Writing a novel isn’t easy. Tracking your world, your characters, and other important events can save you time and save you from plot holes before you even write them into existence.” …click here to read more at that website.

I’m experimenting with writing-related software that will catalogue details similar to what she describes in that journaling approach.

However, there’s something rich and juicy about using pen-and-paper as much as possible, when writing.

Oh, I’m still using my keyboard to compile my books.  The ease of working with voice recognition software — so I don’t have to type anything, if I don’t want to — is a time-saver and avoids ye olde carpal tunnel issues.

But, anyway, I’m always interested in diverse ways to use journals for creative purposes.  And, this might be a great starting point for a journal about an imaginary realm for artistamps.

Tuning Forks and Resonance

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Wine glass - resonance testsSeveral people commented — here and at social media — about my tuning fork story.

I’ve seen the same thing demonstrated since, in real life, so I went looking for videos about it… and found some.

The first video shows the basic concept.  Tap one tuning fork, and a second one — with the same natural frequency — will vibrate, as well.  That’s sympathetic resonance.

Resonance

It also works with other sounds, and other materials.  The classic is a wine glass, broken by someone singing.

Here’s a kid breaking a wine glass with his voice. (I love his excitement when he actually does it… but it’s also a reminder to take safety precautions if you try this.)

Breaking A Wine Glass With Voice Like Mythbusters

And, if you’d like to see the Mythbusters episode with the glass breaking, you can either skip down to the third video in this sequence, for the result of the tests, or watch all three videos to learn a lot more about resonance.

Here’s part one of three:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJuoLkRyCyupDlqzFngDlA?feature=mhee

Here’s part two of three:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJuoLkRyCyupDlqzFngDlA?feature=mhee

Here’s part three of three:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJuoLkRyCyupDlqzFngDlA?feature=mhee

And, here’s a science experiment — with an explanation of resonance — in a college classroom. You may want to turn your speakers down, for this:

Resonance Experiment

Finally, here’s one art application for this phenomenon.

If you’ve never seen how sand (or other particles) form patterns from sound, here’s an experiment you can see at the Boston Museum of Science (MA), and probably a lot of other science museums.

Warning: For this, you’ll definitely want to turn down the volume on your speakers.

Resonance Phenomena in 2D on a Plane

Start with Why – Simon Sinek

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Swing set, emptyYes, this site is resuming its original purpose, as an online diary.  After all, that’s where this all started, back around 1995 before the word “blog” was even in use.

Anyway…

Last night, I watched the Simon Sinek interview on Fresh Take (BYU-TV).  It was probably the fifth time I’d seen it. [Link to video.]

On previous viewings, I just couldn’t seem to find a single, illuminated, happy childhood memory.  I could look at times when I was generally happy.  I could recall incidents in which I started out happy, but they ended Very Badly. (Like the time I went out with my little notebook, deciding to be a poet.  And, lost in thought, a few blocks from home, I was attacked by a dog. Seriously.)

But… a single, early, happy memory…?  Nope. I kept coming up with nothing.  It was kind of depressing.

After that, I watched Simon Sinek’s TED talk.  That added even more clarity to the process.

That’s when I took out a lined, yellow pad of paper.  It’s what I like to journal on, when I just need to write and vent, and write some more.

I started writing down every happy childhood memory I could think of.  And, along the way, I remembered my grandfather showing me how striking one tuning fork could make another one hum.  It was a moment of awe, mystery, and delight.

I remember sitting at the back row of the movie theatre with my mother, watching Fantasia for the third or fifth or eighth time, and getting caught up in the fantasy and magic of it. (Mum was sketching ideas for her upcoming Fantasyland board game design.)

I uncovered several more, happy memories, and I found myself writing:

“Wonderful, magical things are everywhere, if you just look for them… and believe.”

Then I wrote:

“Magic and delight as a path, not a destination.”

Wow.  That was absolutely illuminating.

I thought about magic — Disney magic, that is — and how it influenced my childhood and my adult life.  I thought about faith: the belief and trust in things unseen.  I thought about optimism and happiness, and how important that is.

And, I realized that I was pretty far off-course.

Mr. Sinek talks about one “why”… one thing that connects everything that gives your life meaning… everything you do, and love.  Mine is about creativity, personal magic & delight, and miracles and beauty.

When I look at what I enjoy most, and what I want to share with others, it all comes down to that.  Everything else is just noise.  It takes me off my path.

I made a list of the things that can restore that happy, wonder-full vision of life… visual cues, music, books and movies, and even fragrances, that remind me of childlike delight and fantasy.

Along the way, I found myself getting a little sniffly. It’s like I found something that’s been lost (and badly missed), for years.

Site Reorganized

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Today, I’ve reorganized the topics (categories) of some of my posts.  In fact, I did a lot of housekeeping, behind the scenes.  In most cases, you probably won’t notice any difference.

Generally, I wanted to make it easier to find articles here.  I’ll continue this work over the next couple of weeks.  That includes moving most of the “old version” articles to this part of the website.

I’ve also changed the theme of the site (how it looks), and I may change it again in a few days.  I’m not sure… yet.  I just wanted something more me, and I think it’s getting there.  Well… maybe.

This website will remain part how-to art instruction, and part diary.  It’s an odd mix, but that’s how this website began, back in 1995: It was about my life as an artist, and I generally talked about creative ideas & techniques, as I discovered them.

Earlier this week, I transformed Santa Flamingo so it’s now a site with lots of fun videos and articles.  Expect to see fresh videos added there, regularly.  When I find a video that’s quirky or creative, but it won’t fit anywhere else, I’ll add it to SantaFlamingo.com.

After I feel like this website is at a good point, I’m going to be expanding Artists Journals.  That’s been a “someday” project for too long.  I keep putting it off for a week when I have more time… and that doesn’t seem to happen.  I have wonderful ideas and resources to share with you.  It’s time for me to get to that, preferably before the end of 2012.

All of this is moving in the right direction, and this week’s changes are just the beginning.

Groceries in Your Backyard – Back to the Future?

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1917 article about raising hens, from Olympia Washington newspaper

Frugal and healthy ideas from 1917.

I’m about to swing wildly off-topic here.  Blame it on my addiction to old newspapers and magazines.  I cruise through them for cool images for collage, and — the next thing I know — I’m suddenly learning about handmade lace, pea soup recipes, or raising chickens.

When I was a kid, I was convinced I’d grow up, buy a farm, have six wonderful children, and live a very domestic life.

That’s not quite the way things worked out.

However, I find myself saving newspaper clippings.  Lately, they’ve been about gardening and self-sufficient living.  We’re going to need a house for this, of course.  The hens wouldn’t be happy in my apartment, and the balcony is a little small for birds too large for a birdcage.

Still, I read the article at right, and it makes sense to me.  We’re throwing food down the disposal (or into the trash or the compost heap) that could feed hens that would produce eggs… nice healthy eggs that could be a major part of our daily diet.

In my opinion, there’s a lot of logic missing in daily life.  What began as convenience in the early 1950s (or earlier) has wandered down a weird path.  Food my grandmother grew in her backyard, and tasted fresh and delicious, is now shipped to us over thousands of miles.  It costs a ridiculous amount to buy, it’s not as fresh or delicious, and it comes packaged in plastic that contributes to the landfill, big time.

Worse, the cost of shipping food cross-country is climbing due to soaring gas prices, and those plastic containers — which originate as petroleum products — are going to be more expensive, too.

*blink*

Yes, eat your veggies, but — more importantly — grow your own veggies. 

And, as I re-read this 1917 newspaper clipping, maybe hens are worth considering.