Even If They’re Wrong Decisions (Wisdom From Touching The Void)

“You gotta make decisions. You gotta keep making decisions, even if they’re wrong decisions. If you don’t make decisions, you’re stuffed.”

- Joe Simpson, in Touching The Void, talking about his decision to lower himself deeper into the crevasse he has fallen into, alone, with a broken leg, in the Peruvian Andes.

I highly highly highly recommend this movie. Not only is it an arresting account of the triumph of the human spirit, it is a brilliantly actualized film enhanced by outstanding reenactments of these unbelievable events.

No F’n Regrets! & Bathroom Pics (Destroy, Challenge)

While researching RAID 1 NAS options, I was browsing Chase Jarvis’ amazing site of helpful photography ideas and tips (I think it was on his site that I 1st found out about G-Tech products, which seem AMAZING but are hella expensive).

Today I stumbled upon his interview with REI brand manager Jason Sutherland. I especially like that he said this:

F it all and f-n no regrets. Bottom line, get pissed, destroy. And by destroy, I mean tear it all down so you create something new and wonderful out of the strange parts that are left over. Make stuff. Cool stuff. Move on. Make more. Don’t dwell in the past. (It’s over.)

To read the rest of his advice on how to approach creative directors, go here.

In a related matter, as I was brushing my teeth in my bathroom last night, preparing for a much-needed sleep after a 12+ hour day of work, I challenged myself to shoot some abstract still lives. Seems all I’ve been doing is shooting live music, which ain’t bad, but some variety needs to be throw in the mix!
Here is one of my results:

Have a great day my friends,
and remember: “F it all and no regrets!!!”

The Fortune Cookie Says…

THE FORTUNE COOKIE

Functioning superbly will come automatically to you

Why, thank you, cookie. You are such a charmer.

The nice thing about receiving this message was that the timing was wonderful, as I was at a business meeting.

I am learning all I can about working for myself, to promote myself, and psyche myself up to do the stuff I love more than anything, which is make art. Sometimes I don’t believe that I function superbly. But now a cookie has told me I do. So I will.

THE POSTER ART

Vincent Parker!

I’ve really been enjoying this guy’s poster art for the Biltmore Cabaret over recent months. Turns out there’s a lot more to him than just a really great, loose drawing style. Check him out at: www.vincentparker.ca

THE RULES

Rule #3 – Always, ALWAYS take time out to read. A little news, a little nonfiction, and a lot a fiction. Get out of your head and into another’s.

THE QUOTE

An artist is a person first. He is an individual. If there is no person, there is no artist. It is of no importance to me whether you wear your payos behind your ears or whether you cut off your hair entirely and go around bald. I am not a defender of payos. Great artists will not give a damn about your payos; they will only give a damn about your art. The artists who will care about your payos are not worth caring about. You want to cut off your payos, go ahead. But do not do it because you think it will make you more acceptable as an artist.

- Jacob Kahn, artist and mentor, speaking to his student in Chaim Potok’s amazing novel “My Name Is Asher Lev” (pg 257)

Start The Rules and Let Tank Girl Lead Me

At times, I feel lost. Very lost in this world.

When I stop to look at myself and what I’m doing with my time, with my life, I sometimes end up with a big question mark. It’s at times like these that I need some rules to depend on.

I am going to start a list of rules.

They might be general, they might be specific. They might seem hyper-practical, they might seem flighty. But fuck it, really. Cuz what’s this blog, my blog, about anyway? That’s right – staying in THE MOMENT. Doing whatever I can to stay in THE MOMENT.

So here we go, rules #1 and #2:

THE RULES

#1 – Always call everyone by their name. No “Hi buddy,” instead, “Hi Rob” or “Hi Dr.Koelink”

#2 – Always respond immediately to people’s calls, emails, and texts. Otherwise, they are forgotten. Also, people like immediate response – it shows that you care.

THE TANK GIRL

Wow. I was researching images of tanks (for a series of posters I’m working on), and I come across one of Tank Girl. That attitude-filled kick ass comic chick. Originally drawn by Gorillaz guy Jamie Hewlett.

Now I find out that since Hewlett’s dedication to Gorillaz, other artists have continued to keep Tank Girl alive. Most notably, Ashley Wood. Somehow, I hadn’t heard of this award-winning artist. Wow. His stuff is amazing. I love the expression in his work, how he can hide elements in the shadows, how he can exaggerate body parts (his women remind me of Bill Sienkiewicz‘s) and make it all flow into one gorgeous landscape.

My original love for visual art came through comic books. Sometimes I question why I didn’t follow that love. Once I hit my teens, I thought comic books were only for kids. But it’s adults writing and drawing them! I’d love to draw comics…

At times, I felt like I’ve missed the boat. Like I’ve dipped my toes in a lot of waters over my 34 years of life, and haven’t actually plunged in. Is it too late?

Hell no! you say.

Yeah, you’re right! I say, Of course it’s not too late!