Darling, Want to See My Etchings?

My creative juices need some inspiration so I've signed up for an Introduction to Etching course at the London Print Studio. The course began last Wednesday and I knew instantly that it was a good fit as the studio is located on the Canal that I love so much. Doors open out onto a patio and we can stand out over the water and watch the wildlife.

I'm finding etching to be very exciting. It is one of my favorite art forms because it is so moody. Yesterday Stephen and I went to the London Original Print Fair at the Royal Academy of Arts to view classic and contemporary prints. What I realized - and this is very opinionated of course - is that prints are so much better than contemporary painting. Most likely its because you have to take your time to prepare the etching plate, work long and hard to create the image and then spend a good amount of time printing. The press is something that you have to share with others since they are so large and expensive and not something you can do in your own home. You have to really love your image and believe it is worth printing.

We made two practice plates and started printing in the first evening. The works are drying. I'll scan them in and post to the web later this week.

Take the Lead

After giving the new blog's name a good nights thought I woke up this morning and realized it needs to be a call to action - for me and others.

A description of Take the Lead (formerly My Leadership Coach):

Exploring leadership development through a collection of resources and thoughts that I am collecting for my personal growth and to advance the field of Nonprofit Management. A heavy focus on arts management and the question of leadership transition as baby boomers reach retirement. How do GenXers, a sliver of the work force, Take the Lead, as GenY and others fill the gap? This exploration looks at ways to develop the leadership pipeline both organizationally and individually.

Another Blog is Born

Speaking of addiction to blogs I have launched a new one called My Leadership Coach. It is a place for posting resources, research and thoughts on leadership development.

Thoughts on the name? Still open for discussion.