art

Artistic, musical, creative, and entertaining topics in Journal's workplace sphere.

The Great Craft Debate
In the last post, I mentioned how much I love writing spells and ceremonies and rituals. I've always loved wordsmithery. However, present me with a selection of physical materials and ask me to produce something even vaguely serviceable and I'm afraid you're going to be left thoroughly disappointed (or at least highly amused - my high school tech and home economics teachers always were!) It's created a bit of a predicament for me over the years, particularly when met with the muted horror from certain corners at the proposition that you bought something you could have just made for yourself. Or, more to the point, should have made for yourself.
By Claire Proctor9 years ago in Journal
The Secret City Manifesto
When you've come to a point of inertia, a dead end, or walked a path that has led to failure, the only real option left is some kind of action. Inertia is the opposite of action so one must believe in kinetic force. Kinetic force is moving, active energy, but where and what it will accomplish in the end is not the goal. The goal is to simply get the boulder moving. So what is the motivation? To echo some of the words from a famous manifesto: "The price of existence is eternal warfare." In this case it's a spiritual warfare; warfare against those who oppose experimentation, freedom of expression and the taste of the unknown. This shall be their clarion call and their impetus to move forward without fear.
By Ryan Madej9 years ago in Journal
Art & Fear
We live in such influential times, we are often molded by what we witness on a day to day basis. With modern technology, there's definitely a sensory overload that I know I experience. The world is becoming so overpopulated as well, everybody's doing everything and anything. You can be a witness from thousands of miles away by a simple click of a button. It's undeniable that the options of self-expression are damn near infinite. I think that's mainly why we scrutinize our snap and Insta stories more often than the people who actually look at them. Perhaps sometimes, we become too sensitive to our own flaws. And maybe we can thank filters for that. Painting a view through rose-colored lenses for people to see us.
By Heidi9 years ago in Journal
The Digital Renaissance and What It Means to Me
Greetings to all who may read this, whether you're in my lifetime or not. As I write, we are approaching the second half of 2017, and preparing for a new decade, the 2020s. With that being said, as most children (now adults) of the 1980s can understand....WOW!!! We are nearly 20 years removed from the 20th century. Next year, I will have lived as long in the 21st century as I had in the 20th century. So when 2019 comes, would I then consider myself a man of the 21st century? Never! Read up and I'll tell you why....
By Slim Jim Longfoot9 years ago in Journal
The Way of the Scribe
All great writing is prophetic. Why? Because most readers don't know exactly what they're looking to read until it's already been written.
By Joshua Evans9 years ago in Journal
What the Heck Is a Vector File?
One of the more confusing aspects of the computer world has always been the wide variety of file formats. You create the perfect document and half the people you send it to can’t open it. How frustrating! Or you design an awesome logo in Word and the sign shop or newspaper say they can’t use it. They tell you they need a vector file. Why are these things so complicated and
By Jude Goodwin9 years ago in Journal
The Story of Your Life
I’m about to expose the realities behind taking your dream of becoming an author and actually making it happen. First, the reality check...have you ever considered how much time and effort goes into writing a book? As an author of seven books I know how time consuming, brain-aching and testing it can be to develop your story line, weave twists and turns into your story to keep readers engaged so they want to keep turning pages, make your characters believable, likable, and lovable. That said, when you’ve done it successfully, the rewards are unsurpassed, so keep reading if you’re an aspiring author, or a person who sincerely believes you have a book inside you. Even if you don’t feel you have the ability to write a book, but feel your idea for a book is good enough, there are people who'll write it for you.
By Lee John9 years ago in Journal
'La La Land' is an Artist's Life
The ending of "La La Land", a recent film directed by Damien Chapelle, had some people crying out in angst. It seems a tragedy for Mia and Sebastian to go on living separate lives.
By Lauren Marzolla9 years ago in Journal
The Success Behind 'Funko'
Funko LLC sells over $30 million worth of Pop action figures a year. Funko CEO Brian Mariotti believes that the company's success is largely due to its versatility. "Whether it's the X-men or Breaking Bad, we're going to find some pop culture phenomenon to get you into the hobby." With big heads and little eyes, it’s not hard to see how adorable Funko Pop! toys are. With characters from Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, the DC Universe, and many others, it’s not hard to find a character that you like. At New York Comic Con 2015, they were selling exclusive figures. A line was formed to get a ticket to have the chance to get the exclusive toys. The tickets for the day were claimed very early in the day. Tickets were given in one location and the Funko Pop! booth is in another. It was nearly impossible to get a ticket. So, why are disproportioned plastic toys the hot item? Why is Funko Pop! such a success?
By Stephen Hamilton9 years ago in Journal