By participating in Seth Godin's The Icarus Deception: Why Make Art? Kickstarter project, I secured a limited edition, BIG ASS book titled This Might Work. The twenty pound behemoth is a collection of Seth's online posts. This is not the kind of book that one grabs and flies off to the bathroom with. I had to put some thought and care into how I was going to tackle reading it. If I placed it on my lap while sitting in my reading chair, it would cut off circulation to my lower extremities. And overall, I'm not very comfortable sitting at my writing desk to read books.
So I placed it on our kitchen table and propped it up with a cookie tin. I began to read, make notes and highlight text. As the western sun made its way across the pond, through the window and down upon my face, I began to feel like, well, like an artist.
Now truth be told, I already felt like an artist. Especially as Seth outlines in We Are All Artists Now, a Change This manifesto. I feel my writing is an attitude, it's human, it (and I) strive to connect with those who matter and it's very personal. But sitting at the kitchen table I felt like the bloke who is in front of a blank canvass with a paint brush and paint. My inscriptions and markings into the behemoth reflected the backsplash of Seth's wisdom. I was feeling wise, spiritual and inspired. And I was really looking forward to sitting down once more to paint.
Pick up a copy of Seth's new book The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? today.
Yes. I artist.
Thanks Seth.
Reading this Dave, you've reminded me of the delicious pleasure to be found with the in-depth study of a non-fiction book (though I don't think I'm of the mood to tackle this one by Seth Godin at the moment). And a printed one - this kind of love affair with studied learning is what I don't think e-books have been able to duplicate.
And I heartily agree that you are an artist my friend!
Posted by: Rosa Say | January 10, 2013 at 02:13 PM
Yeah Rosa, I'm not feeling it with the ebooks. We have a Kindle and I try but it isn't clicking for me.
Posted by: Dave Rothacker | January 10, 2013 at 05:02 PM