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The below link to an article (print and audio) on NPR (National Public Radio) is worth a special mention …

Check it out: How Hollywood Makes Noise.

It’s about one more on the long list of fascinating jobs (you rarely hear about) in the entertainment business – Foley artists. You’d really miss them if they weren’t there!

I’ve always enjoyed learning just how they make those incredible sound effects that contribute so much “life” to films and TV shows.

One of my favorites mentioned is how to make the sound of stomping through the snow. Just fill a sock with cornstarch, tie a knot to keep it closed, and squeeze. Crunch, crunch. A good microphone helps!

Enjoy!

Hello all,

I’ve been invited to be interviewed — including a question/answer session that YOU can participate in — “live” online, on Career Opportunities — which is a weekly online column created/written by our good friend, computer wizard, author/teacher Douglas E. Welch.

Douglas is a true Renaissance human being … exploring all areas of the computer world (to help connect us all better, or connect us to helpful tools and info) … and is an avid podcaster and enjoyer of others’ podcasts. (He also cooks, plays music, sketches a lot, is a photographer, and more …)

Here’s my first opportunity to participate in one of these … by just talking. I actually do remember when we first started with the Internet, sitting and furiously typing everything everyone said in an interview (including my own comments), as none of us had online audio capability yet …

The topic (loosely) will be about Building Your Creative Career.
Tune in (on your computer) Wednesday, February 28th, 2007, at 6pm (Los Angeles time). That’s 9pm for our East Coast friends … we’ll be on for about an hour!

In Doug’s words:
“Much like I believe that every career is a high-tech career, every career is also becoming a creative career. I’ll discuss this topic and more with JoAnn Braheny.”

The link below allows you to get “on the phone” to ask questions, make comments, with us at TalkShoe via telephone, cell or online software. Just follow the steps…

http://welchwrite.com/techiq/2007/01/how-to-join-in-our-live-shows.html

Of course, if you do happen to miss this “live” interview, you can still go back to listen or download it after it happens … just click here:

http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=7338

Look forward to talking with you ONLINE!!

To continue, if you love the Blues, then you’ve got to check out BluePower.com, where you’ll hear entertaining stories, interviews, music from all the world’s greats … both new and archived. This site is created and powered by our dear friend, John Rhys (record producer, musician, songwriter) who has deep history in the music biz and draws a devoted international audience.

You’ll want to bookmark this one for sure.

[My photo of John Rhys in Santa Monica, 2006]

Enjoy!

Optical Illusions are great exercises for the right/left brain.

Very quick to do … and fun to see how they work.

Enjoy!

Photos from the gift shop at the Victoria, BC (Canada) Art Gallery.

When I came across this excellent, brief article…
What 50 Pounds of Clay Can Teach You About Design
I realized immediately how it applies to each of us, whether we work in clay, or as a writer, or artist in any area…

It talks specifically about quantity vs. quality…check it out.

Enjoy!

Here’s a photo from last year’s Arizona Songwriters Gathering in Phoenix (Encanto Park), where we’ll be this Saturday, January 27, 2007, listening to lots of new material from beginners to very accomplished songwriters/performers.

Songwriters come from as far away as Denver, Salt Lake City, and beyond, to share their songs, get critiques and attend classes taught by music industry pros who come there from Nashville and Los Angeles. John Braheny will be there too … including opportunities on the following day (Sun. Jan. 28th) to have a one-hour private consultation with John about your songs. Email to get on the schedule: john@johnbraheny.com.

It’s a nice relaxing day in the park … (classes and critique sessions are indoors) and it’s FREE!!!

Every now and then, I need to indulge in one of these quick online drawing games.

Click & drag backgrounds, stencils (easy to re-size), colors, patterns … to place your graffiti on to various surfaces, like a wall, a floor, a skateboard ramp, etc.

In one scenario, I designed a tattoo on someone’s arm. Never thought I’d ever do that!

Have a try… at The Refreshing Wall. Click on the basketball to get started. It may take one or two tries, but you’ll get there.

Enjoy!