...In the early seventies, Ed Whitchurch ran "his game," and one of the participants was Eric Sorenson. Eric plays something like a computer. When he games he methodically considers each possibility before choosing his preferred option. If given time, he will invariably pick the optimal solution. It has been known to take weeks. He is otherwise, in all respects, a superior gamer.

Eric was playing a Neutral Paladin in Ed's game. He was on some lord's lands when the following exchange occurred:

ED: You see a well groomed garden. In the middle, on a small hill, you
see a gazebo.
ERIC: A gazebo? What color is it?
ED: (Pause) It's white, Eric.
ERIC: How far away is it?
ED: About 50 yards.
ERIC: How big is it?
ED: (Pause) It's about 30 ft across, 15 ft high, with a pointed top.
ERIC: I use my sword to detect good on it.
ED: It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo.
ERIC: (Pause) I call out to it.
ED: It won't answer. It's a gazebo.
ERIC: (Pause) I sheathe my sword and draw my bow and arrows. Does it
respond in any way?
ED: No, Eric, it's a gazebo!
ERIC: I shoot it with my bow (roll to hit). What happened?
ED: There is now a gazebo with an arrow sticking out of it.
ERIC: (Pause) Wasn't it wounded?
ED: OF COURSE NOT, ERIC! IT'S A GAZEBO!
ERIC: (Whimper) But that was a +3 arrow!
ED: It's a gazebo, Eric, a GAZEBO! If you really want to try to
destroy it, you could try to chop it with an axe, I suppose, or you
could try to burn it, but I don't know why anybody would even try.
It's a @#$%!! gazebo!
ERIC: (Long pause. He has no axe or fire spells.) I run away.
ED: (Thoroughly frustrated) It's too late. You've awakened the gazebo.
It catches you and eats you.
ERIC: (Reaching for his dice) Maybe I'll roll up a fire-using mage so
I can avenge my Paladin.

At this point, the increasingly amused fellow party members restored a modicum of order by explaining to Eric what a gazebo is. Thus ends the tale of Eric and the Dread Gazebo. It could have been worse; at least the gazebo wasn't on a grassy gnoll.

1. Document what you are responding to regularly. *journal/sketchbook, blog, listmaking, photo journal, bulletin board collage, internet bookmarks, Allow yourself to go deeper into an idea. Find influence outside of your field. Consider that you are ALWAYS working for yourself.

2. Start to challenge yourself on a regular basis to try new things, (not just for work. *i.e. new foods, colors, processes, classes, travel, become a guerilla artist, etc. Your hobbies are your greatest source of play.)

3. Go back to your childhood, (the formative years). What were your favourite things to do? In this lies some clues as to where you want to focus your energy as an adult. What makes you burst with energy?

4. Do something that is not for money. For your own enjoyment. (Your greatest work will come from here!)
*examples…
-newsletter
-zine
-website
-x-mas card
-product concept
-toys
-gifts for friends.
Design for yourself. *See handout on guerilla art.

5. Use sources that are based on your daily life. Your life IS your art. What are the things that are most important in your current life?

6. Become a collector. Collecting allows us to look at one thing in a contemplative & mindful way. Giving you new insights and perceptions. Examples: Maria Kalman -purse contents, Steven Guarnaccia -shoe sole
rubbings, Ian Phillips & Grant Heaps -Lost & Found pet posters, Mark Ulriksen (former art director) -misspellings of his name, Charles & Rae Eames -toys from other countries

7. "Pay no attention to the man behind that curtain." Ignore what other people are doing. It has no bearing on your existence or vision of the world. The times we feel the most discouraged are usually due to the fact we are comparing ourselves to others. Most times reading awards annuals, and industry mags only serves to make us feel inadequate. Try cutting it out entirely. Designer Bruce Mau recommends not entering awards competitions. His reasoning, “Just don’t do it, it’s not good for you.”

8. Don't promote to target your audience. By all means send things out into the world, but don't think in terms of "promoting to get work". Send stuff out because -you're proud of it, -you want to share something with the world, -it's fun to get mail, -to have good karma, -you want to spread your germs, -you like licking stamps. Try sending a postcard of something you made for fun, (i.e. directions on how to make a finger puppet). When thinking of subject matter for promotions look to your current life. If you deal with topics that are important to you a piece will have much more life to it.

9. Take a lighthearted approach (Don't take yourself too seriously). If you feel stuck, you can always reinvent yourself, (re: try something else).

10. Study other artists or creators who followed their own vision. Research.

It seems that my ambition levels wax and wane alot. I started several projects this summer and am just about finished with the little ones but my big pin-up shoot is coming up next weekend and I am starting to freak out.

I am stressed because so many people are involved. I am shooting in two (maybe three) locations. it turns out that one of my models' sister has a completely retro 50's style home, it is more than perfect! I am so lucky to be able to shoot there. The sister wants to be a model too, this is fine except now I have a third person to shoot that day and I think it is going to make for a very long day. I don't want to say no because it is her home.

I have a friend coming from Denver to do make up. Which is awesome and beyond anything I ever expected. I have people willing to help with photoshop, since I have never really messed with it and don't think anything I will do will look good enough for a show by October. My biggest fear is that since I have so many people involved I want everything to be perfect, because if my photography isn't good I feel like I am disappointing everyone involved. My other fear is that with depending on so many others for their talents my vision will be lost. I have a very specific imagery I am trying to achieve and I have to sort of put that in other artist's hands. The perfectionist control freak in me is pulling her hair out.

I spent the afternoon with a friend who does stuff like this all the time. After talking with him I was both excited and terrified. I learned a lot and took some notes on tips and tricks. I also realized that there is much I don't know and I think I am in way over my head.

I have one model to shoot Saturday and three on Sunday. My first day of shooting for work is that following Monday. After that its back to the constant on the move sort of lifestyle that goes with my job until Christmas. I have also agreed to do some props for a production of Cannibal the Musical that is being put on by some former Cabaret people. Why would I do this to myself? I think I am crazy. Maybe I love the stress. I don't know.

Meme, stolen from </a></b></a>rabidline

1) Post ten of any pictures currently on your hard drive that you think are self-expressive.
2) NO CAPTIONS!!! It must be like we're speaking with images and we have to interpret your visual language just like we have to interpret your words.
3) They must ALREADY be on your hard drive - no googling or flickr! They have to have been saved to your folders sometime in the past. They must be something you've saved there because it resonated with you for some reason.
4) You do NOT have to answer any questions about any of your pictures if you don't want to. You can make them as mysterious as you like. Or you can explain them away as much as you like.

Today is Nikola Tesla's 154th Birthday! So, if you enjoy all of your electricity, radios, robots, and computer science he's the man to thank!

I know that there hasn't been much from me in the way of posts for a while but in truth there hasn't been much to tell. I am working a shitty summer job to cover bills until I go back to MJT for the fall. I have nothing but contempt for the job so I choose not to dwell on it. l

But here is something post worthy, cuz I am super excited. This year I have decided to enter "The Dark Show" which is a Halloween art show here in GJ at one of our "galleries". I'm looking at it as a foot in the door so-to-speak. I am finally sorta confidant in my work to try to publicize it and hopeful sell a bit. If my work is popular enough at the dark show I could be awarded my own show at the gallery sometime next year.

I am bursting with ideas and am getting some amazing people together for my first project. It's been an exciting process. Today I had a surprise when I was dragged along to a car show. (Somewhere spunky REALLY didn't wanna be) I found this beauty...







I know she's a bit strange and totally ratty looking but believe me when I say she is absolutely perfect for my project. I have contact info from a friend of the owner who was very optimistic about my plans and said the owner would probably love the idea. I am going to contact him on Monday and see if he would let me come out and take some photos.  Wish me luck. I always talk myself out of doing stuff like this because of many stupid neuroses but I think I may just have enough guts and enthusiasm to make this one happen. :) 

Had a strange dream last night. It was so vivid that I'm still weirded out a bit so I'm sharing with you! :)

I am in a desert town, the sun is high, and all is lit as bright as day. The houses are old and clean, built of mud and stucco. Some are brightly colored. It feels like Morocco or an African town.

I hold a brass sword in my right hand and am looking for a certain person to kill. I walk around the town until I reach a largish house and walk in. Here is the man I came to kill. I walk up to him, we exchange a few words, cannot remember what was said, and I plunge the sword at an upward angle under his ribcage. He does not struggle or scream, he simply falls and I take my sword back; it is clean.

The sword is shiny brass or bronze and it is shaped like an elongated wedge, like an ancient Phoenician or Egyptian sword. There is a slight curvature on one side.

Then I am off, finding more victims to murder. The next guy I find on a rooftop. He knows me, what I am here for, and does not run or beg. He gives me advice on how to strike more efficiently with the sword and I apply his advice on him.

I kill a few more people, and no one comes to arrest or slay me. The whole town is devoid of people except those I came to slay.