Looking for a new home for my pictures, scribbles and stories. Can sometimes be found loitering on Twitter: twitter.com/eatmypixel
With the new layout change in coil I discovered Cinnamon and am thinking about ways around how I can incorporate it into these articles and vice versa.
Thought I would quickly experiment using an old video of my little dinosaur Nosy
Seeing if I can get the most out of this Coil ecosystem
https://www.cinnamon.video/watch?v=308363869842048674
Previously in the series…
⇦ The Little Yellow Envelope – Introduction
(In my head when I just typed that I had a voiceover artist say it like in a series. Cue the last episode montage.. then fade to black)
Too bloody right.. I found myself staring at a blank page for what seemed like an eternity. Half of me generally not knowing what to write down, the other half scared to put anything down on paper for fear of fucking it up.
Let me start again..
A nice little takeaway from Mark Manson’s book “How not to give a f*ck” is that “Action isn’t just the effect of motivation, but also the cause of it.” So whilst sitting there twiddling my thumbs thinking about what I should do, waiting for something to motivate or inspire me absolutely nothing was getting done.
I decided to create the outline of the sketchbook onto blank pieces of paper, a test run. If by just doing something, anything can bring about motivation then, if I can get the ball rolling the sketch is already in the right size and its just a case of copying what I previously did. If I mess up I can just throw it away and try again. Win-Win.
I roughly sketched out an outline of me and my son walking hand in hand. On first viewing it feels quite insignificant, just a father holding his son’s hand taking a stroll in the park. Look past the lines and you will see a father who had to fight tooth and nail through a contact and custody battle just to be able to hold this perfect little hand.
Did I just go a little dark? Let me turn back on the lights
Once the outline was finished I decided to test coloring it in using watercolors which I feel gives it that “illustration from a children’s book” look and feel. At a certain point I had to determine whether to sketch and paint the background or not. But I chose to not to.
I think having an ambiguous point of reference adds to the image. We may not know where we are, or how to get to where we are going.. but we will do it together.
Copying over the illustration into the book turned out quite well and I got to blow the dust off my beautiful Olivetti Valentine and type in the name of the sketchbook
It may not be my finest illustration, but I think it invites the reader in, to come with us and see our journey.. the good and the bad.
⇦ The Little Yellow Envelope – Introduction
⇨ The Sketchbook Series: Snapshots of a Single Father Pt 2
Here is a little activity handed down to me from my Father.
Making “Old Paper” then using it to make a Treasure Map for Treasure Hunts, or Quests.
**
Take a sheet of ordinary A4 paper and place it in a baking tray big enough for it to lay in and deep enough to hold a cm or so of water. Put the kettle on and get yourself a couple of tea bags with black tea.
Place the tea bags in the baking tray and pour in the boiling water until the paper is completely covered. Use a wooden spoon to stop the paper from floating and once it is wet enough it should settle on the bottom of the tray. I stir around the tea bags effectively making a tea that I cant drink (who would have thought).
Leave everything to cool down to room temperature. I find that if I leave the tea bags on top of the paper this can make nice stained patterns on the paper which adds to the ageing effect.
When everything has cooled down I carefully remove the paper and hang it up to dry using some string and two small clothes pegs directly on the paper. Leave this till the paper is completely dry.
WARNING: Keep them away from it! It rips so easily and giving in to the request of “Can i just touch it” can lead to the ripping of the paper, sitting on the kitchen floor drinking paper soaked tea and wondering “Why do I bother?”
Once the paper is dry turn on the oven and let it warm up to 200°C. I used the same baking tray I used to soak it in tea, (minus the tea of course) and put it on the top shelf of the oven.
Keep an eye on it until the paper has the texture that you want, slightly ridged, a little browned and not too crispy! All done!
With our new ancient paper, I used a fine liner to draw a map of our apartment using the blueprints of the flat.
I created a separate “X” marks the spot using another piece of paper which I cut out and then place on different parts of the map using White-Tack. This lets you use the same map again and again.
Finally I added a few finishing touches using a lighter to burn a few edges and a few holes in the paper.
Voila
I hid some chocolate gold coins and presented the treasure map to him rolled up with a ribbon tied around it.
I didn't have a pirate hat but a large oven glove works just the same
Happy Hunting
With the current Coronavirus Lockdown here in Austria, I am struggling to find the balance between looking after my four year old and trying to work from home.
Being able to work from home first consisted of re-establishing naps during the day which we just transitioned out of, and then fitting in work while he sleeps in the day and the night.
However, that doesn't cover times in the day where I need to work or have a work video meeting and he is struggling to play or do an activity on his own.
Being around each other 24/7 you would think he would be tired of my moaning and want to be as far away from me as possible, but it seems to be having the opposite effect. He is a little more clingy, which is lovely if you want a cuddle, but if you are trying to have a video conference with work and he is climbing all over you like a mountain goat, it’s a little stressful to say the least.
I have been trying to come up with little creative projects which will keep him busy: some work, some don’t.
“We” (I say we in the sense that I did most of it and he watched and asked if I was finished every 5 minutes) built a fully cardboard version of the Code-a-pillar which looks great on Instagram but he barely played with it.
I thought I would post my attempts at these projects, give you an idea of how long it took to make and how long he was immersed in playing with it.. if in fact he did at all. If I can give you a break for half an hour it will put a smile on my face.
The original concept came from a Gruffalo activity book, there was a paper twirler in the form of the Snake, you colour him in, cut him out, hang him up.. brings instant joy.
So first I drew the snake with him and he watched and attempted to draw one too. Then I made as many triangles as I could and told him he had to colour each one a different colour. Thor’s impossible Trials comes to mind.
In the beginning after using every coloured felt tip we owned he gave up and said it was impossible. Fear not I found a solution.. we made a game of the recycling of felt tips. With two containers either side of the drawing he took one out, coloured in a triangle then put it in the used container, ensuring he didn’t use the same colour twice. When the “used” container was full he then shouted “Reload” like a two man machine gun and I had to run around and refill the “To Use” container.
The colouring alone managed to keep his attention I think for at least an hour in around two half an hour stages. For my boy that’s pretty incredible.
He loves working with scissors and my idea was to let him cut it out.. but after witnessing how long he spent making it I decided it needed a little more care and did it for him.
We hung it up on our living room light and it stretched out all the way to the floor. I think it’s a little too big and the paper not rigid enough but it looks nice.
It now lives on a little plant hanger screwed to our 3m high ceiling above my work space and constantly flicks me in the face while on my computer.
I thought I would create a pdf version of the same snake (but a little smaller) that anyone can can download and let their little monkeys give it a go!
If you do please feel free to send me the results, i'd love to see them!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kVaO_3QnoD4aCNQeVTmHV-8hWCv6VXUR/view?usp=sharing
Just after Christmas a little bulging yellow envelope found its way into my postbox.
Origin Post: US Postal Service
Category of Item: Other: Merchandise
Detailed descriptions of contents: Blank book, 5 Art supplies + Pouch
From: Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn NY 11211
This was my Christmas present from my sister. A blank sketchbook that you can fill out with whatever you want, send it back to the States, it is scanned, catalogued and then placed on the shelves in the Brooklyn Art library. A project called the “The Sketchbook Project.”
A scene from the film “The Intouchables” comes to mind
*“Tell me, Driss, why do you think people are interested in art?”
*
*“I don’t know, it’s a business?”
*
*“No. That’s because it’s the only thing one leaves behind”
*
With the weight of leaving something behind for the rest of eternity on my shoulders (hopefully something that doesn’t look like I painted a chicken’s feet and let it run across the paper) I promptly pushed it aside as something I will do “later.” As with all things that are left in the later pile, I soon forgot all about it.
It wasn’t until the Coronavirus started to ravage the world and I found myself locked indoors alone with a 4 year old monster that I looked for things to try and keep my sanity. Cue the “later” pile. I re-opened the Manila envelope and took the sketchbook out. While looking everything over again I noticed a deadline
.
August 15th 2020…. SHIT
I only had a few months to come up with a concept, figure out a style and get this made and sent off.
I thumbed through the pages: 32 sides.. FUCK
I started to try and figure out something that I could use to fill the pages…
*DADDY…
*
I leave my scribbled notes to tend to my little boy who wants to make water experiments in the bathroom. After a while I return and try and rack my head around it again… (5 minutes later)
DADDY… THERE'S WATER EVERYWHERE”
I slowly exhale and leave the Sketchbook as something to do while he is asleep. As I leave the table again it comes to mind that I have all the content I need right there, the life and struggle of a single father.
And so it begins…
⇨ The Sketchbook Series: Snapshots of a Single Father Pt 1
⇨ The Sketchbook Series: Snapshots of a Single Father Pt 2
I discovered Coil Creator from watching a Youtube video from CryptoEri . Loving the clean look and feel of the website and hope to slowly find a new home for my pictures, scribbles, stories and just general ramblings :D
Here's to a New Year and New Beginnings
When I park my car in Museumsquartier, on the walk to work I pass a little charming cafe called “un petit Café.” Sometimes if I am not in a rush or I am a little more stressed than usual I will pop in. I ask for my London normal which is a “Flat white” which is not so common in Vienna, only in the hipster cafés.
Last time I asked him for a flat white he mentioned that his coffee is good and strong and so his cappuccino is very much like a double flat white but cheaper. I stood by my original choice and said “next time” I come in (the default response when you want to stick by your choice but not want to offend anyone.) The flat white was great by the way.
Today was that “next time”. When he saw me, he gave me a smile, and said “hey, you're back, do you want that cappuccino?” Now I really wanted a flat white, but he asked in such a way that I went with it. Not forced, but intrigued “what’s so good about this cappuccino?” I wondered to myself. Then whilst making the cappuccino he said do you know the code?
“What code?” I replied.
Here I will show you. I leaned forward intently looking around as though I was being let on in a secret only for me. After he poured the milk froth, he sprinkled brown sugar all over the top. He then took out a kitchen blowtorch and carefully caramelised all of the sugar. He gave me a spoon and said first you slowly eat the sugar and then when you are ready you drink the coffee.
I took a step back from the counter and slowly ate spoonful’s of caramelised goodness as I looked around the small cafe. I saw homemade cookies, freshly made bulgur salad, a selection of Deli meats waiting to be cut for a sandwich of my choice. He was hitting my hipster buttons all at once. I added the place to my little mental map for lunch options. After I carefully savored the caramelised topping I gave him back his spoon, told him “das schmeckt sehr lecker”, told him I would be back and took the rest of the coffee with me.
As I walked the rest of the way to work, enjoying my coffee in the sun it became apparent to me. I only planned to quickly grab a flat white and drink it on my way to work.
The last conversation we had he made me aware that he had a good cappuccino on offer. Upon welcoming me the next time, he treated me as a valued customer, who he knew already, and offered a recommendation of what I might like.
When I went with his choice, he didn’t just slam it down on the counter and let me go on my merry way but offered an experience whilst making my coffee with a dash of exclusivity. I enjoyed the process of my coffee being made and was happy to purchase.
The caramelised sugar and the spoon kept me engaged and physically in his café, leading to conversion opportunities and again making me aware of what else is on sale. I already know I will be back for that Bulhur salad!
With a great user experience this little café has now instilled loyalty (I will be back) and here I am telling you fine people about my experience (advocacy)
Well done sir! You get today’s “Great UX” star of approval!
p.s. Is this caramelised sugar cappuccino even a thing? #takemymoney
