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Category Archives: art

Christoph Niemann on practice

In his episode of Abstract: The Art of Design, Illustrator Christoph Niemann has this to say about showing up for work: “You have to practice and become better. Every athlete, every musician practices every day. Why should it be different for artists?” His Sunday Sketches are a perfect example.

Posted byjoshua chamberlainMarch 3, 2021March 3, 2021Posted inart, creativity, television

why I quit

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m not great at letting things go. Despite this fact, yesterday I decided to call it quits on a novel I’ve been tinkering with for close to eight years. There were many reasons to do so. The project was an attempt at self-preservation. It was anContinue reading “why I quit”

Posted byjoshua chamberlainMarch 2, 2021March 2, 2021Posted inart, creativity, writing

doors to nowhere

I read recently that when interviewed about his classic painting, Nighthawks, Edward Hopper was asked about the lack of visible exit. “Dammit,” he responded. “I did it again…” I have no way of knowing if this is true, as I’ve been unable to corroborate the story. Regardless, I love the way this illustrates how muchContinue reading “doors to nowhere”

Posted byjoshua chamberlainFebruary 27, 2021February 25, 2021Posted inart, creativity

late night seeing

I couldn’t sleep last night, so I poured a drink, put on a record, and opened my notebook. This happens every so often–I sit straight up in bed and feel compelled to make art. A few years back, I’d make collages or write poems. Stranded in the Midwest though, drawing has become the go-to form.Continue reading “late night seeing”

Posted byjoshua chamberlainFebruary 25, 2021February 23, 2021Posted inart, creativity, life, music

hustlin’

Austin Kleon on the hustle: “I made poetry at night not because it was a side hustle, but because it was keeping me alive, ya know? It was keeping me from hating my life.” This video is a fun companion piece to John Cragie’s “Hustlin‘” off his new record, Asterisk The Universe. The point though?Continue reading “hustlin’”

Posted byjoshua chamberlainFebruary 10, 2021February 9, 2021Posted inart, creativity

where we come from

In her episode of Abstract: The Art of Design, Es Devlin makes the claim that, “the systems and influences of one’s childhood are inescapable.” While peering down on a model of her hometown, she says, “My work is as much a reaction against this as it is continuing to perpetuate the influence of this.” ThisContinue reading “where we come from”

Posted byjoshua chamberlainFebruary 2, 2021February 2, 2021Posted inart, creativity, life, television, writing

nothing personal

I’ve been writing a lot recently. It’s going better than usual and here’s why: I’m not being precious. I don’t throw a parade when I’m happy with the work and I don’t fall on my sword when I’m not. I show up each morning and tell a story–sometimes it’s good and sometimes it isn’t. MyContinue reading “nothing personal”

Posted byjoshua chamberlainJanuary 28, 2021January 27, 2021Posted inart, creativity, life, writing

the shape of things

I spent a while at the art museum the other day, studying Saul Steinberg’s Mural of Cincinnati. While trying to recreate select bits and pieces in my notebook, I remembered a drawing teacher I met once who was fond of saying “Everything is made of simple shapes.” It’s easy to believe this, looking at Steinberg’sContinue reading “the shape of things”

Posted byjoshua chamberlainJanuary 25, 2021January 25, 2021Posted inart, life, music

drawing as seeing

I went to the museum yesterday. Instead of using my phone to photograph the things that struck me, I took out my notebook and tried to draw them. It allowed me to really focus on what I was seeing, to absorb every detail. Have an afternoon to kill? Go to the museum. Take a notebookContinue reading “drawing as seeing”

Posted byjoshua chamberlainJanuary 24, 2021January 23, 2021Posted inart, creativity, life

swimming upstream

I’m currently reading Alan Jacobs’ Breaking Bread with the Dead. It’s a tough read, but absolutely worthwhile. In one passage, he advocates for “reading upstream,” which is to say looking to those who influenced your influences: I took a couple of classes in medieval literature but I came to adore the anonymous masterpiece Sir GawainContinue reading “swimming upstream”

Posted byjoshua chamberlainJanuary 23, 2021Posted inart, creativity, reading

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