Action is the foundational key to success ~ Pablo Picasso

As you notice my quote on the picture is filled with mistakes. I am trying to learn calligraphy and I have a long way to go. But, our journey continues.  Also, that paper, pencil, and eraser in the upper left is a slightly modified copy of the believed fourth grader's drawing. A remarkable piece that is my inspiration for these posts.

Starting the Journey with Supplies

So, what does it take to start drawing? Surprisingly very little. Art can be just another way of making a diary. As you grow and develop your unique style more and higher quality material will be needed and as I mentioned previously, there are many resources that explain all the different tools. However, learning the fundamentals and gaining experience requires a low investment in supplies. When I entered art school, I was given a list of supplies that I would need. Most were unused until much later.

Most art is started with a HB pencil. Many standard "school supply" pencils are rated HB or #2 and can be used to start, but do not have consistent quality. Art pencils are rated by hardness or softness. Numbers 1,2, 3...9. H's are hard (lighter) while B's are soft (darker). HB is the middle point. I found that starting my training, a HB is the most used and versatile for the beginner. A 2B is not needed in the beginning, but makes darkening lines and basic shading easier. Later, you may want a 2H for lighter lines. A pencil sharpener is a must. Investing in a cheap ruler helps immensely with many things (proportion, lines, perspective etc.). Trying to draw a straight line freehand is difficult, but like most things, it gets easier with practice. For now any paper will work. Later you will discover that the type of paper creates different effects. I recommend a sketch pad about 9 by 12 of medium weight. Most stores carry a selection in the school supplies section. It provides support for your drawing paper and accepts many different mediums (Ink,pencil,charcoal,crayon etc.) most state these facts on the cover.  

Now we have two pencils, a sharpener, paper and ruler. We all make mistakes or create helpful marks as guidelines. A great eraser is needed to negate these from the finished picture. Erasers are erasers right? Wrong, a good plastic eraser, found in art stores and some stores in the school supplies or office section (it will have plastic eraser written on it), is a good all purpose erasure that removes unwanted marks better with less chance of destroying the paper. I prefer the Mars plastic erasure. Of course you can use a basic soft school eraser carefully to start. The eraser on a pencil is a definite no.

My picture shows a strange shape in the left hand corner. What is that, a snail? It is my kneaded rubber eraser,not to be confused with a gum rubber eraser, it will say "kneaded" on the package. The kneaded erasure is very helpful. Ever try to remove a small mistake with a fat eraser and find that half of the material is missing? The pliable kneaded eraser can be formed to any shape to clean small areas or to touch up highlights in your shading. Here is a link that shows a picture of some common erasures and tests them http://www.penciltalk.org/2008/03/erasers-the-pink-pearl-the-staedtler-mars-plastic-and-others

In conclusion, the supplies consist of two pencils, a HB and a 2B. A ruler, pencil sharpener, paper, and two erasers (plastic and kneaded rubber). I drew this picture with the basic supplies mentioned on a standard grade of school supplies paper (except the lettering). Finally, an art book (from the store or library) or search on the Internet will present much information on the different types of art paper (weight, tooth,cold-press, hot-press,etc.) and other supplies (pencils,paints, brushes,etc.). Quality and attributes do differ between products. It is well worth the time to know, especially later, but for now, Let's draw!!!                  

Inspiration to draw

Learning to Draw

In the last post I promised myself to focus my blog content. I started some articles on different subjects, but could not make a decision. Recently something happened that inspired me, a picture drawn by a Fourth Grader.

I had the usual basic public school art classes and remember when I saved money from my paper route to buy my first art book. There was a farm picture in there that I drew 200 + times. To this day I could probably draw it with my eyes closed. In high school I took an art course and a drafting course. Trust me when I say that drafting will teach you strict discipline in drawing. It wasn’t until a few years later when I enrolled in an Art School that I developed further as an artist. There I was, part time, building a portfolio, a couple of submissions to neighborhood art festivals and some work for friends. I enjoyed it off and on for years, then I wandered astray and when I came back, I realized that art is like many things in life; use it or lose it. It is somewhat like riding a bike, some things remain. However, when I tried to draw, I noticed that certain things where eluding me and I had lost the edge. So, I decided to review the basics, and relearn to draw.

I went through my collection of art and school books and searched the Internet. Nothing moved me and a voice inside my head kept repeating to go to the library. I went and started sorting through the titles. “Yes, I own this one and oh, I have already read that.” Then suddenly a book on light and shadow caught my eye. I have never had any major problems with tones and shadows, but I grabbed it anyway. Pulling it from the shelf, two papers fell from the back of the book folded neatly together. One was a report card from a fourth grader and the other a drawing. The picture had mistakes, but was actually very, very good. I used the picture as an inspiration for my drawing. I should have taken a picture of the work to publish on my blog for comparison. Was it the fourth grader’s picture? I do not know for sure, but it is very possible.

A page from my sketchbook

People have approached me in restaurants, the  park etc. because they noticed I was drawing and were interested. Many times I heard "You can draw? I have always wanted to." When I tried to explain that it was actually simple they would reply; "I can't draw anything but a stick man." I would show them some of my simple sketchbook art. They would then mention the cost of all the stuff needed.

As a result, I started thinking that there are many mistaken beliefs about basic art, one being that it is some special gift given to a few. As children we created art in one form or another automatically. Later it seems we just pushed this gift back deep into our minds and forgot about it. Humankind has had the gift of art for centuries. Even the caveman created cave art. There are great professional resources and information on art (books, schools, Internet) available, presenting valuable knowledge, techniques and tips (for example; the art of perspective drawing was unknown for centuries). Yet few have presented it from a student’s (beginner's) personal perspective. Starting out takes little time and money.

Do not get me wrong; a strong knowledgeable understanding of the basics will help immensely. Practice and experience are the key. I have a couple of self-taught artist friends who are great artists and are discovering some previously unknown information (tips, techniques) that they wish they had known sooner. However, starting out on the journey does not have to begin with a multitude of information and homework. It can be a fulfilling and fun learning experience.

The hardest part is starting , building self-confidence, developing that childhood gift, the rest will come later. Okay, some seem to be better at art than others, but isn't this something that happens with most things in life. It does not mean you can not be great.You just may have to take a bit more time. Hopefully, sharing my experiences and mistakes will make this easier and more enjoyable, so you will not have to learn the hard way. I will leave the major knowledge to the professionals, but correlate that information to my real world experiences. This is a basic beginner’s resource to help begin the journey. After you start to enjoy art, you may want to expand your horizons and learn more from professional resources.     

A Little About Me and My Changed Blog Perspective

As promised, I am devoting more time to my blog. Although I do not have a following or many views, I consider keeping this promise as remaining true to myself. You may have noticed that my first posts jumped around. An earlier post dealt with my entry into social media. I admit I knew nothing at first, and my blog posts show I was just floundering in the sea with no direction or purpose. As I gain more experience and knowledge, I have noticed that at times social media can be chaotic, but also has a focus.

Blogs and other social media are often specific, but can also be general. Some examples; family and friends, funny photos, business information, arts and crafts, inspirational, etc. and I mustn’t forget ‘You Tube’ with video in many categories. There is also the promotional part of numbers. The numbers of followers, page clicks, SEO influence rating, likes, shares, and more.

The Dreaded Internet Troll ~ by Garron Longfield

Of course, there is the seedy side. Our friends the trolls, chaos lovers, hackers, virus generators, and assorted others that seem to be a little out of phase with reality. Yes, they do make the experience ‘interesting’ and at the same time frustrating. It is easier to understand when one views this negative aspect as; people who live in a bubble called the twilight zone and others who are just outright criminals. Pepper that with the few egomaniacs that believe they are never wrong and tend to twist a word or sentence to reinforce their beliefs.  Most of the time it is taken out of context and the logic flawed. 

I will start by mentioning that my blog will become more focused, but still retain the flexibility to journey into other categories. Why? I do not promote this blog and am not concerned with the popularity numbers and potential income that focusing on ‘what is popular’ would create. If just one person discovers a different perspective or alternative to consider, then I have accomplished a remarkable goal that money cannot replace. Many have told me over the years that when they thought they understood me; the rules seemed to change. This led to many calling me unusual or different, and they just couldn't figure me out.

I have had many diverse jobs, experiences and schooling in my life. Analyzing and researching my failures, successes and acquired knowledge to understand and also discover why something worked or didn't  There are many variables that can affect the outcome of a decision. I do not have a PhD or renowned reputation. These are the people I research for their knowledge to support and add to MY knowledge, experiences and perspectives. However, there are great people that did not have extensive schooling either, and influenced the beliefs and perspectives of many. Benjamin Franklin (diplomat, politician, scientist, philosopher, etc.) and Thomas Edison an inventor who did not invent the light bulb, but improved it (inventions include phonograph, movies, etc.) are just two examples that achieved notoriety by utilizing the accepted knowledge and developing it with a different perspective.

   

Therefore, in my blog, I do not have the answers, but maybe I can present some alternative ideas and share experiences. Hopefully, to make the viewer say, “H-m, I never thought of that.” This blog has become my diary to help and remind me. However, I choose to share it with the desire that it may help another.   

The Final Computer Countdown

It has been awhile since my last post. Many things have happened and I have learned much during that time. I will try to cover them in future posts. However, I will finish my computer saga and hopefully all is now well.

I finally completed the recovery of my computer. It was working like a new machine, awesome, and then; another cloud suddenly appeared. Odd how things can be great and then problems suddenly arise out of nowhere. Not one or two, but it seems it comes in large groups. I used to have three computers with different Windows software. I now have one. First the oldest one went ‘kaput’ and soon afterwards the second one. All that time spent for nothing. In spite of this, I had learned much and applied this to upgrading my last resort, the laptop.  I now had a working idea of what was needed and what was an unnecessary burden on my limited laptop.

I carefully wiped off the accumulated dust. It is Windows 7, but I had not used it in years. Well, not much work to get up and running, I thought. Wow, was I wrong, it was completely out of date. The first thing I did was to update everything. The Microsoft website was some help but limited. I do not care for Internet Explorer. It is flashy, but filled with many security loopholes. It seems Microsoft loves resource eating bells and whistles over basic real world functionality. I tried Google Chrome. It does have a language translating application which is helpful, but the user interface is a bit hard to get used to.

I kept Google but decided on Mozilla Firefox as my default browser. This was a fortunate decision as previously mentioned, they have a tool to help a person upgrade other software, such as Java and updated security measures. With all the deleting and upgrading of software, my registry was a confusing mess to my computer and it moved like a slug. I wanted a free application that would help. It had to be good and simple. I am not a computer savvy person and did not want to hit the clean button, only to discover that my computer was inoperable.  The CCleaner free download was the choice and has performed well.

Finally, Windows 7 comes with installed security software that is basically useless. My previous purchased security software was not installing. Most security companies are so paranoid that someone may install the software and they would miss out on additional income. After many tries with customer service I gave up and found something just as good for free.  The free software detects 90% of viruses and provides other security measures. No security software is perfect, but it worked so well I eventually paid for the premium upgrade.  The free AVG anti-virus download is strong basic protection.

Well my laptop is working great and fully functional. I hope it lasts while I save up for an 'Alien' computer. A power house and lean, mean, fighting machine, Yes! 

The Computer Experience Continues

"Computer chips" courtesy of PDPhoto.org /public domain

My knowledge and experience continue to grow. It is slow and frustrating at times, but recovering from the computer crash is expanding my understanding of hardware, software, drivers, apps and more. I even risked an exploration into the inside of the computer. Once a person figures out how to get into the case, without inadvertently loosening a device, it becomes a surreal world of wires, boards, cards, chips and fans. Luckily, Dell provided a diagram and instructions for my machine which I downloaded on my laptop.   

So why take the chance. In the last article, I mentioned that after taking my computer to a service center after the first crash, I had only two speakers working. My surround sound was useless. This last crash resulted in the speakers suddenly disappearing completely. They worked for awhile and then I heard a pop and nothing. The Windows device manager could not find a driver. Running the troubleshooter was little help. It was almost the same as talking to a service tech. Check to make sure speakers are plugged in (duh). Make sure drivers are enabled in device manager, improving but not the help I needed.  

I decided to run the Direct X diagnostic tool. The tool is not obvious, and you must hit start, find run in your menu and type in dxdiag to access it. It suggested removing and reinstalling my sound card. H-m-m, now this is something to try. Actually, it wasn’t as difficult as I first thought. However, that was not the problem. I did double-check the device manager page and the drivers. Wait, I should check to make sure the speakers are plugged in. I gave up hope of trying to retrieve my sound.    

During the chaos of trying to upgrade to Windows 7, Internet Explorer was giving problems. The tech suggested downloading Firefox. This was a blessing in disguise. One day Mozilla Firefox suggested their site that checks plug-ins. It found that my Java program was obsolete and created an unstable platform.  What the heck is a Java program? It is basically a programming language and computer platform that is used for many applications and also the Internet.

Java offers a free upgrade. However, they suggest uninstalling the old Java before installing the update. This would delete the original program permanently. Making it nearly impossible to find, and I saved everything to an external hard drive (HDD). I had nothing to lose and went for it.   

I now have sound and more. The 5.1 surround sound with all the extras has returned. With the upgrades and changes, my XP is performing well and I notice better performance and extras that I never had before the crash. However, my next challenge is to get my DVD player to play movies and load games. It does the first install game disc fine, the second freezes the computer. This may take some time. :-(   

A Computer Calamity

"My little world" courtesy of PDPhoto.org / public domain

I have somewhat recovered from my recent computer crash and have learned a few things the hard way.  A computer to some is much like a car. You never miss it until it is gone.  As with most things, many feel that everything is fine and things happen to other people but not us, right? Surprise, welcome to the wake- up call.

A few years ago my computer crashed and I took it to a store to be serviced. However, the problem was not fixed and it crashed again in less than a month. Also, they had lost the Windows disc and I never replaced it. The original OEM (original equipment manufacturer) told me to push certain keys and the system would flash from the hard drive. It worked.  It did not work like the day I bought it but was sufficient. For example; I did not have surround sound speakers. However, I did have stereo speakers. 

For a few years the system was acceptable and then the nightmare began. I did not heed warnings to back-up my important files on DVD or external drive or create a recovery disk.  The computer crashed and I recovered the original set up. No problem, except it was out of date. All my files and updates were gone.  The operating system was service pack 2 (SP2) and everything was dependent on SP3.  I slowly reloaded files, updates and drivers that would not work.
 

Okay, easy fix, go to Microsoft (MS) and download SP3. However, it would not download and after consulting with telephone techs, I discovered that support for SP2 stopped in 2010 and SP3 would cost $99 dollars.  Later I discovered that SP3 support ends in 2014. Here is the catch, support is also sales and suggested that a windows 7 upgrade was the answer for a few dollars more. They assured me my computer was compatible after running tests.

After many days and hours trying support tech suggestions, surfing the web, numerous downloads, and more, I still do not have windows 7 installed (which I purchased). I had a constant error code that they seemed to know nothing about and after I searched the web for a possible answer, I discovered it was a frequent problem with upgrades, especially for my operating system (OS). The diverse support suggestions and computer control trials have degraded my system further. 

In conclusion, I own windows 7 (not installed) and my system is adequate (although no audio driver and other minor problems). I have backed up my system and upgraded most apps. Luckily theWindows 7 purchase allowed me to download SP3. I will cross my fingers for 2 years. I am in the process of looking for a new OEM computer.

 With my recent calamity, I have discovered that most store bought computers offer limited upgrades and support. They offer few upgrades, if any, and they usually do not apply to your configuration. Also, watch for changes in your order. Example, I ordered Windows 7 pro premium and discovered afterwards, the order stated; Windows 7 premium media edition. Media edition offers very few upgrades. Going to the original parts hardware or software manufacture for upgrades produces little results.  Most suggest contacting the computer OEM. Their software upgrades do not work with parts supplied to OEM’s. 

  I guess the idea is to make the computer obsolete in a few years so the consumer will buy another one. H-m-m-m, sounds good to me, but what about customer service? Oh yeah, buy the extended warranty for tech and customer support (LOL). They will read off a basic troubleshooting list that is supplied in your purchase and suggest that it is something you are doing wrong. I had one support person admit that I seemed to know more about the system than he did. Wow! problem solved, it was me the whole time. I guess I feel better.

 

                 Testing the Waters of Social Networking

They say it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks and many times this holds true. However, I decided to test the social networking waters. At first it was very confusing and I decided that you have to start somewhere. For months I experimented and tried to fathom all the different rules and applications. As you probaly noticed, I am still treading water and the learning experience continues to evolve. But, I have made progress.


 I have some old cantankerous friends that think I am crazy to pursue this. Yet they all own cell phones, with texting and other apps. I have to smile when I mention the hypocrisy in there beliefs and the excuses they present. "Oh I need this for my job" or "I have this in case of emergencies" also "I only have this in case my children try to get in touch". 


How does one explain the old driver in front of you, sitting at a stop sign while traffic backs up, only to realize that they are indexing? Oh, they are probably checking to make sure there are no family emergencies. On the other hand, the younger generation abuses this also. I remember a young employee that constantly stopped working and focused on the cell phone. It became a problem and I finally asked what the problem was. They replied that it was family trying to get in touch. 


Why are you texting and not using the phone I asked? Well they like to text was the reply. I curiously grabbed the phone and read the important message. "I am sitting at home and bored so  what  are you doing?" I did not realize it was a dire call for help. :-). I told the worker to reply that they were supposed to be working and to turn the cell phone off. The young worker looked at me wild eyed and replied "What if someone wants to get a hold of me? "Well I am sure they can wait until you get home and log unto Facebook or chat."


 On the flip side, it does have advantages. It brings lost or distant friends together, promotes a cooperating comaderie between people of similar pursuits and beliefs. It seems that social networking is here to stay and although there are many positives, we must also endure the negatives. Therefore, my quest continues, to learn and become proficient, in the well known secrets of social networking.