On Confucian Steps and Gladwellian Hours

A journey of a thousand miles, said Confucius, begins with one step. What he didn't add - or didn't think it necessary to add - were the innumerable little steps one has to take after that first one. In more modern times, Malcolm Gladwell said it took about 10,000 hours to get good at something. Mr. Gladwell didn't say count the hours and stop when you reach 10,000 and expect perfection to flower thereafter.

Yet there are some Confucian and Gladwellian readers that take it rather badly when one has to trudge on and on and on, hour after hour after hour, with no sign of journey end, and no visible growth of talent. It is rather like the story of the well-meaning tourist who came to the East on a spiritual quest and enrolled in a one-month course to attain enlightenment. The venture proved more profitable for the Easterners than for the Westerner.

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Sunday Trip–It Is Warranted

I just read ‘Seven Rules for Managing Creative-But-Difficult People’ on the Harvard Business Review. It left me with the same impression I received after reading ‘The Communist Manifesto’ - not that I’m comparing the two - that the writer hadn’t spent too much time with actual humans.

It is a silly article and the only reason I’m mentioning it is that many of the comments are excellent and worth reading.

Should You Work for Free?

I just came across yet another discussion on LinkedIn about whether an artist should work for free, be it for exposure or on spec. There is no dearth of these kind of discussions, because there are always people who think it’s fine for artists to ‘contribute’ for free, either because they don’t understand that art-making is work or because they want something for nothing. The interesting – and sad – part is that some artists are actually willing to play along with this and to their own detriment.

You could explain why it is not right and not to your benefit to work for free or on spec, how it harms your career and your self-respect, how it negatively affects the whole industry in the long run, and you will still come across some fellow artist who will raise a dissenting voice and repeat all the schlock about ‘exposure’ and ‘prestige’. I'm not sure if they really believe it or if they simply want to be contrary, and, of course, what someone wants to do in their life is their own concern, but it is not a career-enhancing strategy. Except for doing things for your family, close ones, and any cause really important to you, which is a totally different matter, there really is no professional benefit to spreading yourself thin for nothing in return.

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Three New Articles on Maysun In C

How to Stay Motivated as an Artist

Staying motivated as an artist is essential if you want to have a long and interesting art career. There is no set mantra, what works for one person may not necessarily work for another, and, moreover, what you find motivating at one given time may not inspire you at another. There may also be various dampening issues and circumstances quite beyond our control. That said, let us look at some of the basic ways that can help us stay refreshed…. Read more

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How to Hire an Illustrator

Illustrators are creative consultants who specialize in visual problem-solving. Publications and businesses hire illustrators to create specific images to attract attention, to impart information, to balance written content, and to entertain. Think of the number of times you've noticed, better understood, liked, or purchased an item because you found it visually appealing. Do you see? Illustration is really an excellent way of getting your point across, and you may want to consider it for your business…. Read more

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Tips for Effective Online Content Writing

'Content is King' has become a big online cliché, but it is true, very true. The main reason people will visit and continue to visit your website is because you have content that interests them or is useful to them in some manner. Unless the visitors have your exact web address, their usual way of finding you is through the auspices of a web search engine, and it is the quality of the content and keywords - search engine optimization (SEO) - you use on your site that will give you a high or low level of visibility in the search listings. Since a higher ranking is desirable, excellent content is necessary, and, as the online world has its own etiquette, the writing also has to be presented in a certain way to be effective…. Read more

Writers’ Rights and the Disney Pitchkiaow Contest

Harlan Ellison venting his spleen

 

I came across this video way back and thought it was pretty amusing.

And it seems really apt today, because I just got an email about Disney India’s Pitchkiaow contest.  They are looking for ‘original’ story scripts.

It’s supposed to be an ‘amazing’ opportunity for us Indian writers – until you read the contest terms (PDF file), and particularly the  ‘11. Ownership/Rights’ section. 

This paragraph in particular is entrancing -

“Each entrant unconditionally assigns and transfers all ideas, concepts, copyrighted materials and trademarks contained in his/her/its Participation and any and all rights including without limitation “moral rights” in his/her/its Participation. Disney shall be entitled to make use of the Participation or any part thereof in such manner as it shall in its sole discretion think fit, including without limitation the right to make changes, alterations, substitutions and additions thereto, deletions therefrom and adaptations and rearrangements thereof and translations into any and all languages for any use, or not used at all. Disney shall also be entitled to use and exploit the Participation in whatever manner, media and format without incurring any liability to any entrant (including without limitation the requirement to pay any compensation in respect of any use or exploitation of the Participation) or making any acknowledgement of the Participation.”

So, unless I’ve got it wrong,  you give up ‘all rights’, including ‘moral rights’, for perpetuity by just participating in this fabulous contest.

They can take your story and use it, without compensating you in any way.

And even if you win, think about it, Rs. 50,000 (about $1162) is peanuts for conferring Disney with all the rights.

No respect for creative people, that’s what this amounts to.

And the sad part is they could have so easily turned this into a win-win opportunity for everyone involved.

Morals from this Story:

• Don’t be swayed by a ‘Big Name’, unless that Big Name is willing to warm your bank account.
• Don’t give up all rights, unless you are very adequately compensated.
• Don’t enter such contests, unless you happen to have scant respect for both your creativity and your time.

How to Become an Artist

How To Become an Artist.  New article on Maysun In C.

Sometimes I like getting up on the soapbox. Besides it’s only advice I give myself all the time. I wouldn’t dream of dosing anyone with medicine I didn't personally take.

Basic Things to Consider When Planning a Website Design

Basic Things to Consider When Planning a Website Design

New article on Maysun In C.  And with lovely illustrations, if I say so myself. :-)

How to Create a Picture Book

I've posted a new article on Maysun In C. Here's the link -

How to Create a Picture Book

The above illustration was done for Scholastic India.

Kuttan The Cat Reviews

Time Out Delhi
"Kuttan, the little kitten, is – and will grow up to be – a dreamer. In Kuttan Follows a Butterfly – the first in a series of four Kuttan books that Katha is launching this fortnight – Kuttan is thinking of his long-lost brother Appu. He also observes and marvels at the fluffy clouds, butterflies, trees and the glint of the sun. In Kuttan Meets a Furry Friend, he dreams up an entire adventure with Appu and Gopu, the mongoose, and a nameless snake. A slightly grown up Kuttan finds happiness among sunflowers, and is intrigued by fireflies in the other two books in the series.
Children are likely to identify with the simple adventures and the mysteries of nature that unfold in these books. The writer Serene Kasim uses fun phrases – “the funnest” and “tell us puhleeez” – that will appeal to kids. But as a read-alone book for 10-year-olds (as the publishers recommend), the text and the story are too elementary, even somewhat staid. But it works very well as a read-along book for kids younger than five. The illustrations are a delight, though. Sonal Panse’s colourful panoramic spreads of blue or black skies or green grass linger in your mind long after you’ve put the book down. Richa Jha
Kuttan Follows a Butterfly, Kuttan Meets a Furry Friend, Kuttan Finds Happiness, Kuttan and the Shooting Stars; Katha. Each book Rs 55; set of four books Rs 175. Age 5 to 10."
The Telegraph - Calcutta
"The latest offering from the Katha stable, a non-profit organisation working in the area of storytelling, is the Kuttan Series for children. The series includes four books on the adventures of Kuttan, the cat. Colourfully illustrated and simply written, the books are light and easy to read. They trace the growing up years of Kuttan, introducing him to an unexplored world. Serene Kasim’s prose is direct and lucid and Sonal Panse’s artwork is arresting. Priced at just Rs 55 each, the books are a lot of fun."

Kuttan The Cat Series - Katha Publishers

The four books I illustrated for Katha Publishers arrived on Monday. Written by Serene Kasim, they are a series about the adventures of Kuttan the Cat.

They've been a long time coming. I posted some of the illustrations previously at OrangeMellon.

Back Again

The past couple of months have been very hectic in a very good way, but I couldn't keep up with the blogging.

The home renovation project is still on-going - it's going to be a couple of months yet before it's all done - most of the major work is done, but plenty minor stuff still remains. Then we begin designing for the next one -I've already have a few ideas for that.

I've also begun storyboard work for 'My Ancestor was a Vampire' - I'll post the images here shortly.

Meanwhile, I have a new blog entry on Worthpoint -

Art and Antiques Auctions—A Brief History

Worthpoint Blog

I have a new blog at Worthpoint -

http://www.worthpoint.com/blog/sonal-panse

I'll be writing about collecting Toys - and, hopefully, also on Fine Art.

What Women Were Good For....

According to Walt Disney.

Once Upon a Time, that is.

See larger image on Flickr.

This reminded me of the time I started art college. There was always a long waiting line for the Applied Arts section - Applied Arts, most people assumed, was the only sure meal ticket for a career in art. You could count on a job in an advertising agency later on. With Fine Art, on the other hand, there seemed to be so much you could do, nobody knew exactly what they could do, and that led to a lot of uncertainty. 'What next' was a very big issue.

I remember a chap telling his girlfriend, "Go for Applied Arts. I don't fancy both of us starving together in the future."

He was a disgruntled, talentless member of the Fine Art section, of course. And with no ideas or imagination about forging his own career, he was grasping at the future economic straws offered by his future wife's future prospects. Still, whatever his motivation, it puts him, in the enlightenment stakes, a bit above our Walt.

And way above our College Principal, who was in the habit of 'encouraging' girls to take up Fine Art - and leave Applied Arts well alone - as "'you are only going to get married and have children after all".

I nearly went for Applied Arts, just to show the chauvinist, but better sense prevailed.