There was a wonderful site, 20x200, which I used to prowl. It's in limbo now and I hope it returns. It showcased art that I characterize as "with a shrug." It has some meaning and discipline and doesn't (present tense, hoping for the best) take itself too seriously. I found Austin Kleon there a while ago and began to check his blog during dull phone calls. His holiday wish list was filled with good ideas and his sketches amuse. And I do like art that plays with language.

Kleon published a book a year ago (Steal like an Artist!) and as a stealth fan I ordered it early. It was such an easy wealth of information that I gave them out like candy at Christmas. Later, of course, I realized that people might have taken my offering in the wrong light - I was neither recommending theft as a way of life nor criticizing the recipient's lifestyle modus operandi. But, with apologies, I really love the book. And he is working on a new one - covered in a morning talk he gave called Show Your Work! - which I enjoyed enough to think about moving to Texas. To be watched with a cup of coffee and feet on the table.

Playing with a copy of one of Kleon's pithy thoughts and some clear resin for a different project....