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One Thing I've Learned

One Thing I've Learned

Things I've learned, from inconsequential to practical to bigger-picture. Also see: Debbieohi.com/links

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Heads-up for artists: Translating a photo into art may still violate copyright laws (which is one reason I am loving TrueRef.io)

I used to think that any photo I found online was fair game when it came to using it as reference when I was drawing. What I've learned, however: that translating a photo into another medium (e.g. pencil sketch, digital illustration, etc) may still be classified as an unauthorized derivative work, in terms of copyright laws. Artists shouldn't rely on Fair Use as a free pass. See my list of resources below for more info about this, and how to make sure you're not violating copyright. I also recom...

I love making DIY watercolor kits (& used one in my art demo at the NY Times)

I'm a longtime fan of DIY (Do-It-Yourself) art kits that I can take with me when on the road. Yes, I do still have commercial travel art kits as well....but I find that just like expensive art supplies, I tend to put these aside to save them for special occasions, to not waste them for casual drawing. As years pass, I've been trying to change that habit, but I'll save for that for another post. Here's one of the photos I took when working on various types of DIY watercolor travel kits: I ended u...

Taking a walk outside almost always helps

It's amazing how much a walk outside can help me regain perspective, especially when I've been spending a little too much time on my computer. It doesn't have to be an autumnal forest - it can just be around the block. What I also find helps: sometimes purposely NOT taking my headphones (for listening to audiobooks and podcasts). This gives my brain space to do whatever it wants to. If I find myself spiralling into anxiety-churn, then I focus on concrete things around me. Sometimes giving myself...

Italian Progrock: Great workmusic to drown out noisy neighbours

Everyone has their own preference for work music. Some writer friends prefer silence. If I'm writing, I can't listen to any music that has English lyrics because I get too distracted. If I'm illustrating, anything is fine. And when I'm trying to write in a rented apartment when it sounds like someone in the apartment directly above my office is hammering and drilling (drilling into my brain), I find that my usual mellow atmospheric music doesn't cut it. I pull out the big guns, e.g. Italian prog...

workproductivity

Taking the "what advice would I give my younger self" exercise a step further

What would advice would my future self give me now? And will I take that advice? It's always an interesting exercise to answer the question: I would tell my younger self a LOT of things, though I'm not sure how much of it I'd pay attention to (shut up, old lady! you don't know what you're talking about etc).

Before I invest time in learning a new app, I look under the hood

I used to be much more spontaneous in jumping into new apps because they just looked too cool or useful or amazing. Now I tend to be more cautious and try to look under the hood first. Why? Because I've been burned way too often, spending a lot of energy and time learning how to use an app and integrate it into my life....only to have the developer abandon it after just a short time, find out that it doesn't live up to the shiny window dressing, find out that the company is just luring in as man...

Sometimes it's better to be kind than prove I'm right

On being kind to yourself as well to the other person

mental healthrelationships

Take the time to verify "facts" before sharing

And why I no longer believe that covering banana stems makes bananas last longer

foodsocial media

I use Handbrake for converting my WAV video files to MP4

Open-source video transcoder available for Linux, Mac, and Windows.

By embracing multiple formats, I can read more books

Also, physical limitations helped me learn how NOT to be a format snob.

physical healthhobbies

There is no magic shortcut. You need to do the work.

I have learned that pushing through the tough bits often helps me build skills that will come in handy for other projects or goals...including perseverance when I make mistakes or missteps.

A "sprue" is the cardboard sheet from which you punch out game pieces

Also has meanings in model-making, cooking/gardening, manufacturing, and medicine!