Ignorant, but curious

In this week's newsletter: getting through the summer, avoiding creative block, and more… 

In this week's newsletter: getting through the summer, avoiding creative block, and more… View this email in your browser Hey y'all, It feels like everyone is on vacation, so I was going to take it easy this week, but then my brain said, "Hey Austin, here's a half dozen ideas for blog posts!" Here's what I thought was worth sharing:  "What if you played an ignorant guy who was actually curious?" (Remember: Attention is a form of love.)   Some advice for creative block: "Skip the boring parts."   Tales of marginalia, or, what happens when people write in books.   The soothing (or not-so-soothing) effects of thinking about geologic time.   The folks at GQ have been on a roll with their interviews: Esther Perel on the "tyranny of positivity," Wes Studi on his acting career, and some jerk named Austin Kleon on making art that soothes the soul. (I want to try some origami next!)   Eye candy: the family diaries of architect Carlo Aymonino, vintage matchbooks, the notebook of Lydia Davis, and the photography of Sergio Larrain.   Dreadful days in Texas: the plague is raging, the sun is hot, and one-third of ZZ Top is gone. I highly recommend the documentary ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band From Texas on Netflix and this Spotify playlist of my favorite songs.   One bright spot in deep summer: The bear cam is lit! (Some highlight reels: 38 bears in one night and 2 full hours of bears catching the big fish.)   It's normal to feel like everything's been done, but there's more life to get. (Inspiration: the latest entry in the NYTimes' "It's Never Too Late" series.)   When things are upside down, it can be very dangerous to continue on as usual.   Okay, take care, y'all. I'm going to take the week off to listen to music and read books and make art, but I'll still check in on Friday, like I always do...  Thanks for reading. This newsletter is free, but not cheap. You can help it keep going: forward it to someone who'd like it, read my books, shop for some of my favorite gear (I get a cut), buy a t-shirt, or hire me to speak. If you're seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can read previous issues and subscribe here. xoxo,  Austin Austin Kleon is the author of Steal Like An Artist and other books. Subscribe to this newsletter   Copyright © 2021 Austin Kleon, All rights reserved. My mailing address is: Austin Kleon 1101 W 34th St Box #102 Austin, TX 78705 Please read this before sending me snail mail! You're getting this email because you signed up for it at austinkleon.com. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Amazon Affiliate links offset the cost of sending these missives. Support your local bookstore if you have one.