8 Comments

Have you read The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green? The book “reviews” facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale (in a way to show how reductive the scale is). He has a little review on the copyright page of the typeface Bembo.

I love when authors mess with the copyright page, especially knowing it’s only freaks like you and me who read them 😁

Expand full comment

I have not but now I'm going to check it out! Finding little hidden gems like that makes me feel like I'm part of an inside joke.

Expand full comment

I forgot to mention! Green was also friends with Amy Krouse Rosenthal and his essay “Auld Lang Syne” features her heavily and is really beautiful.

Expand full comment

Full-time tomato season over here as well! I love the way you designed this piece and I hope you're getting to enjoy the tomatoes.

I really have grown to love the combination of drawing on paper and using digital color. It always feels like a much better balance.

I also have always loved the period of time when working on a project where it's been so planned that really I'm just going on auto-pilot. It's a bit different than repetitive but close. The passage you shared DID remind me of when I worked at a Mr.Gatti's Pizza Buffet and the first part of the morning was just weighing, rolling, and shaping pizza dough. It was extremely repetitive but we always worked with someone else and the repetitive nature brought about some great conversations.

Thank you for sharing as always!

Expand full comment

I think there's something to doing a repetitive and somewhat menial action that allows the mind to wander. It's like brain autopilot or something. Flip it on and your mind can finally get up and stretch its legs.

We are for sure enjoying the tomatoes and I hope you are, too!

Expand full comment

I love finding hidden details on copyright pages. 🥰

Expand full comment

Me too! Now I can't stop looking for them.

Expand full comment

The tomato graphic is so good, I can almost taste them! 🍅

I like the pen drawing & you have inspired me to attempt this during my morning coffee! I’m curious, do you drink your coffee black or with creamer?

I think the blind contour drawing exercise should be done at the next Volk gathering!

I love the thoughts on repetitive tasks. Did you see the US gymnast prior to his pommel horse routine in the team finals? He closed his eyes & touched the apparatus as he mentally walked through the routine he has repeated many times. It’s why massage therapists close their eyes as they massage, for they have done it so often & it’s so relaxing for them. You can often see an athlete with eyes closed, mentally walking through the course, race, mountain, track, etc. as the repetition guides them.

I do think repetition eases the mind into a state of relaxation.

Expand full comment