tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post7808816015508792367..comments2024-03-27T09:27:33.931+00:00Comments on Idiotic Hat: The Idiotic Hat Guide to Unleashing Your CreativityMike C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-10040416476596560902018-01-11T19:51:06.963+00:002018-01-11T19:51:06.963+00:00Thomas,
Incredible. I won't reply to this, as...Thomas,<br /><br />Incredible. I won't reply to this, as your previous comment has generated a new post which I'm going to start writing straight after I've eaten this evening...<br /><br />I'm quite a practised wood/linocutter myself -- it was something I enjoyed doing for many years.<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-55851738933835287582018-01-11T19:31:58.421+00:002018-01-11T19:31:58.421+00:00Mike,
yes, the Art lessons were project-based at ...Mike,<br /><br />yes, the Art lessons were project-based at least for the older students (from 8th grade IIRC). I remember that the first print-related project was linocut and that they taught us to always use a cutting direction away from our body. That was actually good advice since still having all your fingers when you're 50 is nothing to sneeze at.<br /><br />Best, ThomasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-27358597144993626332018-01-11T18:03:38.884+00:002018-01-11T18:03:38.884+00:00Andrew,
It always amazes me when people say, &quo...Andrew,<br /><br />It always amazes me when people say, "Americans do not get irony". Have they never watched "Cheers", or "Friends", or "The Daily Show"? Or maybe most of our visitors are from those "flyover" states, where I believe a facade of earnest sincerity is a legal requirement, and public displays of irony incur a spot fine (but again, "Fargo"??).<br /><br />What about us pretty idiots, though?<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-53150769653723405582018-01-11T17:57:04.363+00:002018-01-11T17:57:04.363+00:00Thomas,
You did *woodcuts* at Gymnasium?? Good Go...Thomas,<br /><br />You did *woodcuts* at Gymnasium?? Good God... At my grammar school, we had to choose between Art and German in the 3rd year, which was not a tough choice, as "art" had mostly consisted of sitting round a large table for 40 minutes using those awful tinned powder paints and brushes resembling chewed sticks. The British school system has always regarded anything involving actual hand-eye coordination (art, metalwork, woodwork, cookery, etc.) as suitable only for the less able pupils. Hence the global triumph that is the British car industry...<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-48864724215315218982018-01-11T17:45:13.121+00:002018-01-11T17:45:13.121+00:00I have no problem with British irony. When you'...I have no problem with British irony. When you're saying something I agree with, you are obviously being deadly serious, and when you're saying something I disagree with (i.e. something wrong) I know you are joking.<br /><br />Unless you are an idiot and also not pretty, then, the opposite.amolitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743439184763617516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-91835746146910743602018-01-11T17:35:52.395+00:002018-01-11T17:35:52.395+00:00Reminiscing especially my Art teachers at the Gymn...Reminiscing especially my Art teachers at the <i>Gymnasium</i> (somewhat akin to a Grammar School?), there was only one who was actually inspiring in a way that I looked forward to his Art lessons. Interestingly, he later quit his employment as a teacher and became a freelance artist.<br />In the context with a particular unpleasant Art teacher I still remember an anecdote which took place when I was about 17. The latest project in her lesson was woodcutting; we were free to bring a template picture of our choice. I decided to bring a photograph I took, developed and printed myself. She wasn't happy with the finished woodcut, though. Her argument was that a particular part of the woodcut was not worked out well. Pointing at my picture, she told me that this region was what made the picture beautiful in the first place and that I was too ignorant to recognize this. For the record: This woman (who had the wit and charisma of an overturned turtle, by the way) explained my own picture to me since I was too ignorant. I remember that I found this so totally way off that I was virtually dumbstruck (in hindsight, when I consider the replies which crossed my mind later, this was a blessing).<br />Take-home-message for me: Ignore the opinion of negative people and just do your work. Or, as the British say: Keep calm and carry on!<br /><br />Best, ThomasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-66699946079308802612018-01-11T11:20:42.507+00:002018-01-11T11:20:42.507+00:00Thanks, Paul, I'm suitably pathetically gratef...Thanks, Paul, I'm suitably pathetically grateful for these words of encouragement...<br /><br />MikeMike C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11279776665185060446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6096844366367766843.post-54309223988782360702018-01-11T10:00:07.195+00:002018-01-11T10:00:07.195+00:00Very droll. Perhaps this is your true hidden geniu...Very droll. Perhaps this is your true hidden genius. Forget the snaps and concentrate on the wit.<br /><br />Also, treat this as a fan letterPaul Mc Cannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05839588218540865473noreply@blogger.com