• Art,  coffee shops,  People/Portraits,  quotes,  street photography

    Time in Old Town

    Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.

    Steven Pressfield

    I took my camera for a walk today in Old Town. After a bit of wandering the streets for a while I impulsively decided to stop at Starry Night and splurged on one of their sandwiches for lunch. I sat in one of the old chairs near the front window. That way I had a view of people in the coffee shop and people walking by in the street. I had forgotten how old those chairs were as I felt myself bottom out when I sat down. A moment of panic came over me as I wondered whether I could get up out of the thing. Plus I was about to indulge in a turkey and havarti sandwich.

    I was surprised it was not busy since it was close to lunch time. When I entered there was a table of about six people who were laughing and enjoying their time together and two other people at different tables. None of them were on their electronic devices. But it wasn’t long before people began to come in bringing their electronic devices and wearing headsets or earbuds. The one exception was a woman who brought a notebook, colored pencils, crayons, and sat at a table next to me. She was there to create her art and enjoy her drink of choice.

    I was glad I went in because I was able to have some good journaling time and in a different place than I normally write. I did make it out of the chair and as I was leaving I asked the artist if I could take a photo of her hands at work. After a short conversation I took a couple photos, thanked her, and then left. She did tell me she was enjoying her art now that she has more time in life. I hope you had a wonderful Friday and enjoy this upcoming weekend!

  • Art,  quotes

    Creative Work

    Mary’s Lake

    ”Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.” ~Steven Pressfield

  • Art,  quotes

    Appear from nowhere

    Shadows of blinds on tile flooer at my parents home

    “This is the other secret that real artists know and wannabe writers don’t. When we sit down each day and do our work, power concentrates around us. The Muse takes note of our dedication. She approves. We have earned favor in her sight. When we sit down and work, we become like a magnetized rod that attracts iron filings. Ideas come. Insights accrete.”

    Steven Pressfield

    Sometimes patterns seem to appear from nowhere. What inspired me to see these shadows? Was my muse walking beside me offering vision?

  • Photography

    A quick read but …

    A book and a coffee

    …  it’s one I will want to read more than once. I’ve heard about this book from David duChemin. He mentions it in his books and on his blog. I finally bought it and enjoyed reading it. I read it in one afternoon and have gone back over it a couple times since. It’s got small bits and pieces to chew on. It has the ability to help us look at ourselves with newer eyes. No book will fix us but this one strikes a chord for me. I’m not sure I can say what it means to me. It may be more of how it affects my creativity. Anyway I will write more on it later. Has anyone else read it? Hope everyone has a good week!