Sally Lloyd-Jones's Blog, page 9
July 11, 2011
Privacy and Popularity
I've been thinking lately--how do you keep perspective as a writer or an artist? How do you guard your wonder, openness, vision--how do you stay true to your voice--in the face of the obstacles that want to squelch it. And you.
What obstacles? Oh pesky little things like sales figures, amazon rankings, bestseller charts, finding not one single book of yours in a bookstore... buzzing biting flies that distract you from the main thing, the first thing, the one thing--writing. And if you focus on them, can leave you feeling defeated and despairing. Squelched. Silenced. And then I read this article about Cy Twombly who died last week. One of my favorite artists. And am reminded where my focus should only ever be.When asked about reputation and artistic acclaim, he said: "It's something I don't think about. If it happens, it happens, but don't bother me with it. I couldn't care less." The article says something else: "He seemed to welcome the privacy that came with unpopularity." Food for thought when next you look at sales figures or amazon rankings. "I couldn't care less." Would you rather be thinking about your art--or what everyone else is saying or doing? Are you following someone else's path or blazing your own unique one?
July 8, 2011
PW like How To Get A Job
and we like PW!
(thank you) "as funny as ever"
July 6, 2011
JSB curriculum
It's ground breaking. It's fun. And best of all... it's coming! (And every single lesson has a brief commentary for the teacher from Tim Keller.) More here.
July 5, 2011
July 4, 2011
musical haircuts
via Jago
via popchartlab.com
June 20, 2011
crimes against design
via Alice Rawsthornvia NYT Arts Section
"Bad design comes in many forms. Things that are unsafe. Things that don't work properly, or are unnecessarily complicated. Things that are ethically or environmentally unsound. Crimes against design are different. They deprive us of the joy of great design, by wrecking or replacing it." Alice Rawsthorn
Two examples. Citroen and UPS.
UPS logo--that wonderful "present" tied with string--was designed by Paul Rand in 1961--now it's gone, replaced by a shiny slick nothing. The "golden comb-over".
Citroen had their logo since 1919.The old logo: a pair of upturned Vs modeled on the herringbone gears invented by the company's founder, Andre-Gustave Citroen. It reminded you that the car was rooted in design and innovation.
Gone, replaced by a bland corporate nothing logo.
What were they thinking?
June 17, 2011
Running Away
latest vid for father's day--happy father's day!
Running Away
latest vid for father's day--happy father's day!
June 13, 2011
hooray for Teachers
teachers teachers hooray for teachers! OK so my sister is one--and yes I am biased but what would we do where would we be without them? they are unsung heroes... aritcle on this very thing here Who was the teacher in your life that made all the difference? 
