News: They can’t all be winners

Friday, November 26, 2021

They can’t all be winners

10 things worth sharing: street art, writing tips, typewriters making a comeback, ear and eye candy, and more...

Austin Kleon

Nov 26

Hey y’all,

I was delighted seeing all your gratitude zines! A quick heads up: Fridays will always be free, but Tuesdays and comment threads from here on out are for paid subscribers. (I am grateful for your support!)

Here are 10 things I thought were worth sharing this week:

I wrote about finding art out on the street.
Gary Shteyngart’s tips for writing fast: “Walk, Nap, Write.” (More inspiration: Robert Caro’s planning calendar.)
Typewriters are making a comeback during the pandemic. (If you haven’t seen California Typewriter, it’s pretty delightful.)
The Folio Society has released a glorious edition of Tristram Shandy, designed and illustrated by Tom Phillips.
My son loves to read on my wife’s ancient Kindle, so we’re getting him one of the new Kindle Paperwhite Kids for Christmas. (More gift ideas in my studio gift guide.)
Podcast: PBS American Masters’ Creative Spark shares “interviews that go in-depth with an iconic artist about the creation of a single work.” The most recent features one of my favorite animators, Don Hertzfeldt.
Ear candy: I discovered Theremin pioneer Clara Rockmore in this great playlist of David Byrne’s favorite instrumentals.
Eye candy: A nice batch of photographer’s contact sheets; mending sidewards with mosaics, brick walls with legos, and potholes with gardens and more mosaics (even more in this thread); and a collection of ancient Japanese wave illustrations.
Director Hayao Miyazaki is coming out of retirement with another movie. (We watched Kiki’s Delivery Service recently and it was really wonderful.) My watchlist for this weekend: more episodes of The Great, the Peter Jackson Beatles documentary, and for pizza night with the family tonight, Aardman Animation’s latest, Robin Robin. (Check out @mattforsythe’s twitter feed for some great concept art.)
RIP writer and art critic Dave Hickey. (If you never read any of his work, I love Air Guitar, and his idea that all people can be divided into pirates and farmers.) RIP NPR books editor Petra Mayer. (The most recent NPR Books We Love is dedicated to her memory.) RIP poet Robert Bly. RIP photographer Mick Rock, who shot some of my favorite musicians.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter is kept going by kind readers such as yourself. To show your support, become a paid subscriber:

xoxo,

Austin

PS. My books fit nicely in most stockings! If you buy them directly from Workman, you can get 30% off with the code CYBER2021 at checkout. (If you want them signed and personalized and shipped anywhere, Bookpeople has you covered.)