Currently Browsing: Backstory 935 articles
Roz and Her Library of Books
I have been greedy for books my whole life! As early as two years of age I remember coveting books. Adults had books. Adults could peer into a book and pull something out of it. I didn’t yet know what reading was called, but I saw the results—people communicating by deriving messages from the pages […]
Roz’s Preoccupation with Villainy
If you’ve spent any time with me in the past year you’ll know that I’m preoccupied with villains. In the waiting room at the eye doctor recently I jotted down this conversation I had with Dick. His response was inflected like a question…
Sketching at the New Bell Museum
I have to be honest, even if I had not had the year I’ve had (which has kept me rather immobile) I wouldn’t have gone to the new Bell Museum much this year. I’ve been spoiled my entire adult life to live a 10 minute walk from the OLD Bell Museum on the […]
My Friend Tom Won’t Stand Next to Me in an Electrical Storm…
It’s official, after Sunday’s event my friend Tom said “You have the most awful luck! Remind me not to stand next to you when lightning is threatening!” I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t stand next to me in that situation either. And recommend that you don’t as well. Sunday Dick and I went house hunting. […]
Notes to Yourself in Your Journal
I find the practice of making even brief notes during or at the end of a sketching session help me focus where I want to go next. If something turns out too elongated I try again, often with a different pen or tool, as I did here. And I might even make a small diagram […]
In Context: A Show, a Sketch, a Note
I hate it when a show has only a season. I don’t seem to stop myself from watching. Then when there are no more episodes I’m hooked, but bereft. This happened was going to happen with this show, so I stopped early. One of the many wonky sketches I did in April when I […]
Sketching in Family Situations: Creating New Family Contracts
If you desire to sketch at family gatherings and visits but it seems impossible this post is for you. If you already have sketching integrated into your life I suggest you stop reading and go sketch. Recently a blog reader wrote the following to me I love your posts and your portraits! How do you […]
Keeping Your Mind in the Present Moment
Seems like you can’t turn around these days without someone telling you to keep your mind in the present moment. I tell my students that all the time. I have told students for 30 years that being able to keep your mind in the present moment is one of the main benefits of journaling. I’m […]
The Property Brothers Make Change Seem Easy (with Hard Work)
I’m probably the only person on the planet who sees “Property Brothers” as a show about change, adaptation, and living in the present moment. (As I write this I’m also including “Property Brothers: Buying and Selling,” as I watched them all simultaneously; and I have since started watching the new, “Property Brothers: Forever Home.”) While […]