Writing the Book

Put a Nice Bow on it

Pure Drivel Drives Out Ordinary Drivel

 

A Twinkie is satisfying, it tastes good and it gets the dopamine popping but it has virtually no nutritional value and will only serve to make a person fat and unhealthy. In fact, there is so much processed food on the market that many times, as consumers, we may think we are eating healthy food when a closer look will reveal it's actually not what we thought it was. It's quite common that non-food products are put into the food we eat.

It's much like the information we are fed on a regular basis by TV, entertainment, news, social media etc. It comes under the guise of being important and the producers are very skilled at pitching it as "must see" and various other descriptors like "breaking news" to makes us feel un-informed by not watching it. However, a very high percentage of the drivel that proceeds from the media has little to do with us, no affect on our day and they're compelling us to watch lengthy news reports and tragedies that mean little to us as individuals and about which we can do nothing about.

It takes intention to quit eating unhealthy food and the results will be better physical health and if we eliminate the "junk food" of media we may become healthier mentally.

So You Think You Can Draw?

 I love to teach others how to draw and one of the benefits I espouse about drawing is how it levels the playing field. Anyone can learn. It doesn't matter about their physical prowess, their income level, their popularity, looks, social status or age. It doesn't matter who they know, who their parents are or were, their education level or where they went to school. 

It's true. It's a way for the unnoticeable to make an impact.  

What's the Difference

 So often in the world of the self-employed and advertising, people and companies claim to be "the best" at what they do. "I'm the best realtor", they say or "We're the best car dealership", "I'm the best insurance salesman" and on and on. It gives rise to the question of  determining the meaning of "the best". If I have a leaking pipe and I need a plumber, can one plumber fix the leak "better" than another one can?

Most people in my environment will agree that when it comes to chicken, Chic-fil-a is most favored not because they have the best chicken necessarily but because they differentiate themselves not just in the chicken fast food industry but from every other fast food restaurant out there.  

In light of this, what makes what I do preferable over all the others who do what I do? I think it's all in presentation and attention to detail. It means I have to stand out, do what others can't or are unwilling to do.

Let the Tools do the Work

Upon reflection of all my desires and aspirations, I find myself frequently and way too often "planning" for my success when this morning it hit me; I already have everything I need. Further planning is a waste of time.

General George B. McClellan was general of the Union forces early in the American civil war who had several golden opportunities to gain strategical advantages and shorten the war but was reluctant to engage the enemy because of an unreasonable fear of the enemies strength. He always requested from President Lincoln more troops, more horses, more cannons or a better plan. He rarely attacked.

I, myself, have all the tools and planning I need at my disposal. I have the skills to use said tools and the maps and strategy to locate and uncover the treasure.  

 

Catagorized

It was a neighborhood party and all but two of  my drawings were of children which is fine. It's work, right? However, as thankful as I am for the job, I felt a bit under appreciated not only by the children, too young to appreciate art, but more so by the ungrateful and at times rude parents. I couldn't help but get the sense that so many of the parents were angry. I was just stuck by what appeared to be an angry demeaner. 

I also felt a bit under utilized as I was next to a balloon clown and a face painter. The event was booked by Twist it up Balloons, an event planner I've worked with for several years, and this is her major clientele so I should expect this flavor. Twist it Up is the only event planner providing me with gigs since the start of the pandemic as the others have either gone out of business or started a new line of work. 

This event plays into my desire to seek out clients who have deeper pocketbooks and are willing to pay for a higher quality of art as well as the outfitting of me as a digital caricaturist. 

 

Do You See the Light!

Short of re-hashing the rhetoric I've expressed over the past months and years, the situation is as follows: over the past nearly 10 years, Dollhouse Windows has met our financial needs enough to keep us fed and with a roof over our heads but the reasons for starting are not the same reasons to justify its continuation under these circumstances. 

I've hired another helper, a kid named Kameron and so far so good but I've resolved that if he doesn't work out then he will go the way of an ever increasing list of helpers and so will DHW. Needless to say I've commitments to customers and at this point it would be foolish to turn down money from anywhere but my intentions are such that my only fulltime vocation is BDI.