Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” -Picasso “We think, ‘I’m good because I obey this commandment, because I do this kind of work, or because I belong to this group.’ That’s the calculus the ego understands. The human psyche, all organizations, and governments need thisContinue reading “Know The Rules So You Can Break The Rules”

“My whole life has been nothing more than a continuous struggle against Reaction and the death of art.” -Pablo Picasso I highly encourage you to read George Bothamley’s recent post on Picasso’s Guernica painting which you can do Here. As well as subscribe to his “Art Every Day” Substack. (I’ve recommended it prior.) One sublimeContinue reading “Guernica”

“Our comforting conviction that the world makes sense rests on a secure foundation: our almost unlimited ability to ignore our ignorance.” -Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow We’re not as rational as we think. Just look back on all your past decisions and actions, and the thinking (or lack of it) behind them. Some wereContinue reading “We’re Not As Rational As We Think”

Speaking of meditating and being still, one idea that might help (my good friend Z passed this on to me)… Picture your monkey mind and anxious thoughts as just foam. To get to the good stuff, to get to the beer, you’ve first got to pour out the foam. So let those thoughts just pourContinue reading “The Foam and The Beer”

“All of humanity’s problems stem from a person’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” -Blaise Pascal “I have so much to accomplish today that I must meditate for two hours instead of one.” -Mahatma Gandhi “Be still and know that I am God.” -Psalm 46:10 “Stillness is what aims the archer’s arrow. ItContinue reading “Be Still”

“There’s no shame in failing. The only shame is not giving things your best shot.” -Robin Williams “Heads I win, tails I don’t lose much.” -Mohnish Pabrai You’re right, it might not work. But it also might work.  Bigger and better than you ever could have imagined. It’s 50/50. A coin toss. You won’t knowContinue reading “Coin Toss”

If you sit down to write something after you get an idea (a zig), and as you’re writing it, you hear a little voice telling you to move in “this direction” (a zag)… …Listen and follow it. It’s your subconscious calling. Don’t be married to your original idea. Let it go with gratitude. For itContinue reading “Zig, Then Zag”

“You don’t need more time, you just need to decide.” -Seth Godin “To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.” -Leonard Bernstein (1) The Pareto Principle: 80% of the results you seek will come from 20% of your actions. (2) Parkinson’s law: Work expands so as to fillContinue reading “Get The Two “P’s” Working For You”

In the pursuit of your goal or dream, there will be many days you just go through the motions. And when you do, you’ll feel like crap. Like you didn’t do much. You didn’t accomplish anything. You didn’t give your best. You’ll berate yourself. You’ll be tempted to quit your pursuit. Please don’t. Keep going.Continue reading “Going Through The Motions”

One more post about feedback (sorry, I couldn’t help myself). This one’s culled from personal experience… When I was a younger actor and directors would give the cast notes after rehearsals, I’d sit there and silently hope I wouldn’t receive any. Or that I’d be the exception and get praise…”Johnny, I have no notes. ThatContinue reading “The Notes Are A Gift”