Austin Kleon – Page 535

AT BREAKFAST, THIS MORNING

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

It’s my opinion that every couple should go out to breakfast at least once a week, if they can afford it. (The breakfast special at the Inn on Coventry is $3.35 or something.)

SAUL STEINBERG’S CINCINNATI MURAL

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

The Enquirer has a long article about the restoration of Saul Steinberg’s 75-foot-long “Mural of Cincinnati” owned by the Cincinnati Art Museum. The piece was commissioned in 1948 for a restaurant at the top of a downtown hotel. When the hotel sold in 1965, it was donated to the museum, but it hasn’t been seen since 1982. The mural will be displayed as part of the fabulous Illuminations exhibit that’s coming on July 21st.

I’d love to go see it, but I don’t know when we’ll get down to Cincinnati before the big Austin move. Here’s a decent (at least it’s large) black and white detail:

If you live anywhere near Cincinnati, I really urge you to see this show.

NO, I WOULDN’T GO A-LONE INTO AMERICA

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

We went to see The National at the Beachland Ballroom last night. They sounded great…

…but boy do I get sick of standing around at rock shows. Especially on a Monday night. You pay your $15, you show up at the show time, and then you have to sit through 2 crappy opening acts before the band you paid to see goes on, by which time you’re either a) too tired or b) too drunk to care what’s going on. Can’t we do away with opening acts or keep them down to one? Can’t we show some kind of movie or have some kind of reading/standup/entertainment while all these lame sound guys and roadies test the drum kits and set out bottled water? For now, the rule is: show up two hours past the start time, and you’ll be okay.

Anyways, check out the National. Good dudes from Cincinnati, who studied design at UC (you can tell–their album covers are beautiful). Their new album is streaming on their Myspace page.

DO WHAT YOU ARE

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

A friend of a friend, Jeff Johannigman, of People Type Consulting, recommended this little gem of a book.

Do What You Are uses the Myers-Briggs system to give career advice based on your personality type. My dad and stepmom have taught Myers-Briggs for years, and it really is a helpful system to start thinking about “what makes you tick, and what ticks you off” (my stepmom’s words). I’m usually skeptical of this kind of stuff, but I have to say, the listings for my specific personality type in Do What You Are were spot-on. (Information Graphics Designer was right at the top of the list.)

You can learn more about Myers-Briggs at the foundation’s website. If you dig Jung, you might dig Myers-Briggs. They also have an online test to determine your type.

I’m an ENTP. Meg is an INFJ.

If you’re looking for a new career or just looking for a new job, Do What You Are — combined with the old standard, What Color Is Your Parachute? — is a great starting point.

A BUSINESS MODEL FOR CARTOONISTS: SELL YOUR ORIGINALS!

Monday, June 18, 2007

As a cartoonist, one advantage you have over prose writers is that after you publish your book, you can sell your original artwork in a gallery show for hundreds of dollars. This works out great financially for the artists, and at the same time works out great for the fans.

David Heatley recently posted an awesome concept diagram of a multi-media show he has in mind to do for his upcoming memoir:

Heatley’s memoir seems particularly suited to this kind of presentation — dig the home videos his father singing.

So anyways: sell your originals. Although few prose writers have taken advantage of the business model, I can see it working, especially for people who write first drafts in longhand. (Lynda Barry sells pages of her original calligraphic manuscript for Cruddy at very reasonable prices over ebay.) Who would mind this hanging on your wall?