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Tag: Art

Beat to Hell

writer underwater in SCUBA gear
November 16, 2025November 18, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 10 Comments

It's only natural that most of us try to keep most of our possessions in unspoiled and "like-new" condition for as long as possible. We don't like it when our phone-screens get webbed with cracks, or the paint chips off our cars, or the knees go out in our jeans (well, maybe that's still fashionable … Continue reading Beat to Hell

Avoiding “Sketcher’s Block”

an open book of drawing prompt, with watercolor paintings for each prompt, and the open watercolor box
November 10, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 10 Comments

I have a weird relationship with drawing and painting. I'm utterly ignorant, have never taken so much as a weekend workshop, couldn't tell you if that Italian word describes a painting technique or a musical instruction. I've figured out some stuff, just playing---some stuff about light and shadow and perspective, at least. You can generally … Continue reading Avoiding “Sketcher’s Block”

Cross My Heart

photo of the writer's wall with cross-stitch pictures pinned to it
November 8, 2025November 13, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 6 Comments

When I was a kid, I loved paint-by-number kits. I remember they always came in three-packs (three paintings of horses, three paintings of lighthouses), and I loved everything about them. I loved the tiny paint-pots, all connected in a little plastic row. I loved stirring up the oil paints with a toothpick, watching the sludgy-looking … Continue reading Cross My Heart

The User’s Manual: 13 Rules

AI-generated cartoon of the writer's desk, with a thick manual labeled "Kana" beside her typewriter
November 7, 2025November 7, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 17 Comments

Joshua Pantalleresco, who recently had me as a guest on his podcast, "Just Joshing," has ten Life Rules he tries to live by. I asked, after we went off the air, and he rattled them off for me. Number One is "Show up;" Number Ten is choose the option that's more fun (all other things … Continue reading The User’s Manual: 13 Rules

Poetry Ambush

AI-generated image of poet Walt Whitman with his hand over his mouth like a mischievous boy
November 6, 2025November 13, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 17 Comments

I used to hate poetry. Really hate it. Like its-existence-made-me-angry hated it. So you'll laugh when I tell you I have a Master's degree in Creative Writing, Poetry. How was that turn-around effected? Two words, from my undergrad years. Walt Whitman. I had a flashback to my old way of thinking, recently, when I bought … Continue reading Poetry Ambush

A Ramble, and An Ode to my Frameo

drawing of a breakfast table on a patio on Maui at sunrise
November 5, 2025November 13, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 7 Comments

GoodReads tells me I'm "behind" by 9 books. It's measuring against the pace I have to average, in order to meet my reading goal of 310 books this year. I've spent the year playing leapfrog with that number---sometimes I'm a number of books ahead-of-pace, obviously sometimes the opposite. But we're coming up on that time … Continue reading A Ramble, and An Ode to my Frameo

In Which Kana is Delighted by a New Toy

AI-generated picture of a cat zooming around a room with a bonkers expression on his face
October 22, 2025October 23, 2025 ~ Kana Smith ~ 8 Comments

I've been playing. It was another blogger, The AI Grandad, whose post about "falling down the AI rabbit hole" led me to exploring MidJourney, an AI program that produces images from the written prompts you give it. This rabbit hole runs deep! For a start, I managed to create a pretty good approximation of Yoda-cat's … Continue reading In Which Kana is Delighted by a New Toy

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"As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts."

~ Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

  1. Katherine Mary's avatar
    Katherine Mary on What is WRONG With People?June 9, 2026

    Okay, this post made me laugh and feel sorry for you at the same time. I'm also one of those…

  2. Katherine Mary's avatar
    Katherine Mary on In Which We Don’t Sail Into the SunsetJune 9, 2026

    Whoa, I absolutely love this post! (And that last photo is amazing — I love your nails, by the way.)…

  3. Bridget Malone's avatar
    Bridget Malone on If the Present is a Gift, so is the PastMay 28, 2026

    The past is left behind. But some people get stuck in the past.

  4. benmunya12's avatar
    benmunya12 on In Which We Don’t Sail Into the SunsetMay 19, 2026

    A Father’s Humble Appeal to My Readers and Friends Around the World Dear Readers, Friends, and Fellow Authors, I write…

  5. William's avatar
    William on In Which We Don’t Sail Into the SunsetMay 7, 2026

    I used to sail. Seemingly a long, long time ago. 20+ years ago since I last hoisted a sail, but…

"It is not down on any map; true places never are"

~ Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

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"Not all those who wander are lost."

~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

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