This week, I’m reminded of a quote from the brilliant mind of John Hughes, spoken through the sage Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast.” Even in the Age of COVID-19, I feel like we have rocketed from March to August in a sheltered-at-home, face-masked, hand-sanitizer cloud. Our whole world has changed over the last few months.
Now, as autumn approaches, like so many other people, I am getting ready to go back to school — but as a teacher at a local college. I’ll be teaching graphic design. Since the pandemic has affected how classes will be taught, I am not only having to get a handle on my new job and curriculum but also how to teach a studio design class over Zoom. I do get to select supplies for a whole class of students though. I feel particularly qualified for this part of my job.
What are you looking forward to in the next few months?
Pens:
- Platinum Curidas Fountain Pen Review (via The Pen Addict)
- These Just In: Benu Scepter II & Grand Scepter X (via Fountain Pen Quest)
- Benu Grand Scepter A Pen that Sparkles and Glows For The Kids In Us! Also for Proper Adults. (via Gourmet Pens)
- Review: Kaweco Supra Stainless Steel Fountain Pen (via The Pencilcase Blog)
- The Narwhal Original is a great budget piston filler (via UK fountain pens)
- Video-Review: Lamy cp1 (via Scrively)
Ink:
- Redux: Diamine Solstice (via Mountain of Ink)
- Troublemaker Inks Kelp Tea (via Ink Sharks)
- Diamine Inkvent Blue Edition Jack Frost Ink (via The Pen Addict)
- Diamine 150th Anniversary Lilac Night (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
- Vinta Inks Collection Violet Maskara 1890 (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
Pencils:
- Vintage Colored Pencils: Two Curious Bicolors (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
- Pencil Font. (via Present&Correct)
Notebooks & Paper:
- Shooting for the Moon with the Endless Storyboard Pocket Notebook (via Penquisition)
- We ❤️ stationery (via Present&Correct)
- My Personal Journaling Setup (via The Gentleman Stationer)
- Personal Journaling Setup Part 2: Revisiting the Commonplace Book (via The Gentleman Stationer)
- Daily Carry Notebooks: July 2020 (via Notebook Stories)
- Lockdown Diaries (via Notebook Stories)
- Notebooks over chaos. (via The Finer Point)
- How to Stay Productive by Bullet Journaling with Piece of Mind Journal (via Cath Kidston)
Art & Creativity:
- My Bookshelf: Books about Sketchbooks (via Notebook Stories)
- Cel Castellá’s Mixed Media Embroidery Combines Paint and Thread (via Brown PApeer Bag)
- PR102 Comparison (via Parka Blogs)
- Artist Reimagines Disney Princesses With Realistic Faces (via My Modern Met)
- Get Arty with Cath Kidston: How to Paint Sweet Strawberries (via Cath Kidston)
- Greens Frustrate Me (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
- Using grey markers for value studies (via Liz Steel)
- On Location with Traditional Colored Pencils (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
- Albrecht Durer Watercolour Markers Faber-Castell Review (via Doodlewash)
- Gorgeous Sketchbook Paintings Invite You to Explore Lush Lands (via Brown Paper Bag)
- Charming Risograph prints of food and drink packaging from around the world (via Creative Boom)
- How to get a job in design after graduation (and what you definitely mustn’t do) (via Creative Boom)
Other Interesting Things:
- Taiwanese Elderly Couple In Their 80 Pose With Clothes Left Behind At Their Laundry Shop (via Design You Trust)
- Fascinating Photos Of Neil, The Pet Lion Of Tippi Hedren And Melanie Griffith (via Design You Trust)
- Henna. (via Present&Correct)
- Elgato “Cam Link 4K” Video Capture Device (via Tools and Toys)
- A word on handwriting (via The Typewriter Revolution blog)
Black Lives Matter:
- The Black creatives behind Bernardine Evaristo’s guest-edited Sunday Times Style issue (via It’s Nice That)
- How to Make Our Communities Safer by Reducing Our Reliance on Policing (via Kottke.org)
- Dancer Misty Copeland Recreates Degas Ballet Paintings & Sculpture (via Kottke.org)
- Calligraphers of Color Spotlight: Amanda Reid (via The Pen Addict)
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Congratulations on the new job Ana.
Hello, I discovered your blog via Philofaxy, and I do so enjoy it. Especially the extra items, BLM posts and artsy-stuff. thank you.
Ooh, teaching graphic design. You’re going to be great at that — I mean, granted, I only “know” you from here and your various podcasts, but you’ve demonstrated time and again that you’re smart, creative, and engaging. Your students are lucky to have you. Congratulations!
Thanks so much! Teaching plus the online teaching component is going to be the biggest challenge during the pandemic. Making sure we don’t have to sacrifice too much in teaching remotely.
I have confidence in you. I’ve met Ana at pen club. You do a great job there explaining say how inks were made in the past, how to make ink circles with the open bottle, why a pen or nib is good or whatever topic.
I’m sure it will be odd, since you can’t see the whole class. That would help to gauge their comprehension. But you’ll get the hang of it. Most teachers are new to teaching this way.
Keep us posted on what it’s like if you want to.