Accidental Art

Photo of Mark Braccos's Accidental Art.

My husband told me he had created "accidental art," and showed me a paintbrush that had gotten stuck in resin. Its gravity defying position did inspire awe.

I loved the idea of accidental art, where you are aware and open enough to notice when a mistake has created value.

When I told my husband I was going to blog about this, he brought out more pieces of his accidental art. He had a collection of it.

When I went to photograph the art, I realized they needed placards to take them to the next level. With the series name of "Stuck," the art started to work on a metaphorical level. The placards made me realize how packaging and presentation can add to the value of a product.

Close up photo of the placards

Are you overlooking the value of what a mistake created?

Can you package yourself or your product so that it commands more respect?

Osprey Metaphor

Watching the osprey trying to master the task of balancing on a wire reminds me of starting a new task. It can seem so easy when others do it but actually doing it is so much harder.

It reminds me to go easy on myself when I try some new venture or as technology roils around me. The osprey will soon master this because he will keep at it. It motivates me to do the same. Images, visual, and stories have power to change us.

Doodling Alone with Feedback

Draw a blank

If you want to develop your doodling skills in private but with feedback, the online game from Google can help. It tests you to draw something within 20 seconds. After six items, it tells you how you did and let’s you see what other people drew.

Your doodles will help Google's neural network become better at recognizing drawings. It will help you simplify your drawings. However, whether your drawing is accurate is best left up to you. For example, the prompt "paint brush" did not recognize an artist's paint brush; it was weighted towards ones used to paint walls.

The danger is this game can become a time suck There is something pleasant about doodling and bring told, "Yes, I recognize that."

The benefit is that you can develop the courage to share your doodles with real people. Simple doodles are even more easily understood and appreciated by humans.