Creative Calamities

I resisted YouTube for years because I thought of it as a place to kill time looking at silly videos of people doing silly things.  But once I opened myself up to it, I discovered that YouTube held so much more. I went through a bit of a personal Renaissance studying and learning tons of new things through what I like to call, “YouTube University.” I have watch countless lectures that if not for YouTube I would have not been privy to. I have seen clever video art, countless performances and even video tutorials from how to fix a leaky faucet to how to use the latest and greatest software.

I was spoiled by my free lectures and resisted paying for anything. But recently I discovered Lynda.com when I tried out a free promotion. And now Lynda is my new best friend!

Lynda.com has tons and tons of video tutorials for just about every software you can think of. Once I finally tried the service, which is only $25 a month, I found these little gems called Creative Inspiration. They create these short documentaries on professional artists, design firms, etc. I loved  learning how a Ron Crabb started in news graphics and is now doing digital matt painting for major feature films while working out of his home on Bainbridge Island, WA. I also loved learning about the inner workings of Trigger, an interactive firm in LA and Shanghai. I thought I would only be learning the ins and outs of every piece of software out there but to my surprise I am gaining a greater insight into the business side of art. And I am being inspired all at the same time.

Below is a link to a couple  of videos from “YouTube University.” The first was actually done by a Kansas State University professor, Michael Wesch that I found inspiring and informative, the second is a podcast from Lynda.com’s YouTube channel.