"I am not one who was born in the custody of wisdom. I am one who is fond of olden times and intense in quest of the sacred knowing of the ancients." Gustave Courbet

11 September 2010

Look closely.


[Leonardo] was a master artist (painter, sculptor) because he spent so much time understanding the underlying structure of his subject. He studied anatomy, 2d/ 3d geometry, physics, and architecture, the understanding of which gives his work so much realism.

Interpretation: Prep and prime your mind by studying the theory and structure behind your subject. Understand what makes up the building blocks of your subject, and how the blocks interact together.


Read the rest here.

I use Leonardo's tenants frequently. The philosophy of looking closer, from new perspectives, and with dispassionate eyes and hearts can be helpful in discovering insight.

In my personal experience, the idea of multi-tasking is one that invariably leads to the increased potential for confusion and a spreading-too-thin of conceptual awareness. The obsessive need for keeping 15 plates spinning just because it is a "skill" that we have decided is required in order to "compete" (?) is utter madness. Given the choice between a Blackberry and iPhone, I'll take a rowboat every time.

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