One of the interesting things I’ve discovered since I started painting is how similar the process is to writing fiction. Well, at least to my way of writing fiction. Every writer has a method for their madness, and I’m no different. I prefer for my fiction to be improvisational, spur-of-the-moment,…
Creativity
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A Little Abstract Expressionism II – Bold Outlines
As I learn more about acrylic painting, I feel the urge to experiment with different styles. Part of this is my attempt to find my niche, if I have one. Many artists seem to find the style and subject matter that suits them and they stick with that. Some are…
Review – Family Album
Yes, I’ve been reading a lot of books lately. The hot weather is keeping in indoors, so I’m making the best of it and working through the stack of unread books on my nightstand. This latest read, Family Album, by Gabriela Aleman, was definitely worth my time. It was an…
Review – The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
Everyone is familiar with Vincent van Gogh. Not only his great paintings like Starry Night, but also the mythos of the man. We’ve all heard about him cutting his ear off in a manic passion or that he never sold any of his art while he was alive. And yes,…
My Love of Vinyl Albums
Albums hold a special place in my heart. It’s a love affair that began when I was a wee lad and has continued unabated for nearly fifty years. What’s not to love about them? Okay, scratches and skipping needles. I’ll give you that. But outside of poor album care, there…
Review – Novelist as a Vocation
Yes, I’m reviewing another book by Haruki Murakami. This time it’s one of his non-fiction books, Novelist as a Vocation. It’s no secret I’m a fan of his fiction, but this is the first of his non-fiction books I’ve taken the time to read. I picked up this copy from StrandBook.com,…
Is Artificial Intelligence Killing Creativity?
I have mixed feelings about artificial intelligence (AI). On one hand, it’s the cutting edge of technology, computers that can think, reason, and make decisions. There are amazing implications for how that can help to advance healthcare, science, and technology. But on the other hand, I’m concerned about the implications…
Virtual Reality Reading Experience
So, apparently, there are virtual reality devices being developed for the sole purpose of reading books. They are akin to headsets like the Meta Quest and Valve Index, but instead of playing games, you read virtual books. I’m not sure what the developers are trying to accomplish with this. We…
Review – The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg is an author who shouldn’t need an introduction. But, for those who aren’t regular readers of science fiction, I’ll give you a very brief rundown. All you need to know is that he’s been writing professionally for over sixty years, he’s won the Hugo Award four times, the…
Fear Mongering and Art
I tend to shy away from politically-themed content. However, there’s a growing trend here in the U.S. where book banning and censorship of artistic self-expression is becoming the norm. Every day I read about another book title or another author’s works being pulled from library shelves. And it’s not just…