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June 10, 2006

There's no Bullet List like Stalin's Bullet List

This may only appeal to a rather narrow slice of my own small readership.

Edward Tufte - author of books such as Envisioning Information, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, and the essay The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint - is embarking on something of a tour. He'll be teaching a one-day course entitled Presenting Data and Information in, among other places, Seattle and Portland.

I got the mailer today. I've already asked my company to pay for the $360 registration. If they won't, I'll probably do it out-of-pocket.

I was surprised by my enthusiasm at the prospect of attending this course. Obviously, this says something about what really interests me...

Posted by jim at 10:54 AM

June 08, 2006

Blame the Stick

I find myself telling this story a lot more recently:

Spring of my freshman year at university, I took a 100-level art course. Black and white, charcoal and ink and collage, very basic stuff. The instructor tried - with varying success - to inspire his students. Admirable for a survey course at a state school.

One fine day, we were working with brush and ink. Our teacher became more and more frustrated as we hunched over the paper and tried to make fine, controlled movements when he wanted broad, bold strokes. Finally, he'd had enough.

"Everyone! Put down your brush. Pick up your pad and your ink bottle, and come outside!"

He marched us out to the front of the building, which faced the tree-lined quad. "Find a stick about as long as your arm," we were instructed.

Once everyone had their stick, he nodded and gave us our orders. "Hold the stick by one end. Now, dip the other end in your ink. This is what you're painting with."

Our dismay must have been obvious. His glee came through in his voice, "Anything that you don't like, blame the stick. Now paint."

* * *

This story comes back to me when I find myself, or others, getting hung up on perfection. When the desire to be Insanely Great on the very first iteration prevents me from getting a single thing done. When nothing seems as good or creative or elegant as what inspired me.

That's when I'm reminded of a spring day, painting with crufty twigs.

Blame the stick. Now paint.

Posted by jim at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)