Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

Keep a fire burning in your eyePay attention to the open skyYou never know what will be coming down -Jackson Browne, “For A Dancer” Former NBA player, now turned writer Paul Shirley, just wrote a fantastic book called “The Process Is The Product.” Readers of this blog know how obsessed I am with process–I believeContinue reading “Jackson Browne Makes A Lot Of Tea”

A jet engine contains a massive amount of energy. But if the runway isn’t long enough, the plane can’t take off. Similarly, no matter how much passion and enthusiasm you have, if you don’t give yourself enough time to do it right–a long enough runway–you got no shot of making something excellent.

For whatever the venture, whatever the project, know that you have three powerful allies by your side. Use them on your journey. Introducing!…. C = Confidence. Be confident that you can deal with any challenge, overcome any obstacle. You can and you will. P = Pride. Take pride in your work. Demand excellence from yourself.Continue reading “Your Three Allies – C, P & E.”

Stop waiting for a sign, some external event, a person or Zoltar machine to tell you what to do. To affirm what’s in your head and heart. YOU must DECIDE first.  YOU and only YOU. Then from that decision, all the signs, events and people will follow.

“I’m givin’ you that money so I don’t have to kill your ass. You read the Bible, Ringo?…Well, there’s this passage I got memorized. Ezekiel 25:17. ‘The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in theContinue reading “Write Cool S–t”

“You can rob me, you can starve me, you can beat me and you can kill me…Just don’t bore me.” -Gunny Highway, Heartbreak Ridge “Improvise, adapt, overcome” is the unofficial slogan of the United States Marine Corps. It was popularized by Clint Eastwood’s character Sergeant Thomas “Gunny” Highway in the movie Heartbreak Ridge. ( AContinue reading “Improvise, Adapt, Overcome”

Stop worrying if your visionIs new.Let others make that decision —They usually do.You keep moving on. -Lyrics from the musical “Sunday In The Park With George” by Stephen Sondheim The theatre world lost a giant last week, Stephen Sondheim. I’ve been reading numerous articles about his life and work the last few days, including thisContinue reading “The Seurat Seven”

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” -John Lennon “The essence of philosophy is that a [person] should so live that their happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.” -Epictetus Routines and plans are great. They’re necessary. They keep us disciplined and focused. But then there are mornings likeContinue reading “Flexible”

“Walk A Mile In My Shoes” by singer-songwriter Joe South (1970) encapsulates what it means to have empathy. It’s a tremendous song. Give it a listen Here. Lyrics reprinted below. If I could be you, if you could be meFor just one hour, if we could find a wayTo get inside each others mindIf youContinue reading “Walk A Mile In Their Shoes”

Milestones are always fun to celebrate and today I’m celebrating one with all of you. Post number 500. When I first started this blog nearly two years ago, I had no idea how long it would go. I had some things to say about making art that I thought were worth sharing. I was alsoContinue reading “500”