I’ve read about Luis von Ahn before, but I saw this video through Digital Inspiration. I find this guy to be very inspiring…he’s not an artist, but an…inventor? Researcher? Computer nerd? Regardless, he is the one who invented the CAPTCHA system that can tell the difference from a computer and human when buying things like tickets or signing up for email address. I just love how he wants to take millions of people, think about the mundane tasks they do on the computer, and use that power to “get things done” like translating scanned in books or appropriately tagging photographs. What a concept! It’s worth the few minutes to watch.
Sold Some Artwork…Scary…
A few weeks ago, I donated two of my pieces to a charity auction for an organization that I have done a lot of research for in my classroom. To my surprise, both of my pieces sold. So, I was even MORE surprised when I was contacted a couple days later by someone who was at the auction that also wanted to buy the same pieces. This was the first time I had actually sold artwork for my own profit, and while I was obviously happy, the other emotion that hit me was not expected…fear. Not that I’m trying to exhibit some kind of false modesty, but I just could not believe that someone wanted to buy MY artwork. I got scared because now my artwork was going to be part of someone else’s collection, and possibly…criticized… I know it is inevitable that not everyone will like your work, but it is one thing when it is just some stuff that you do as hobby…it is entirely different when someone actually purchases your work and is going to put it on their wall (possibly). I’d like to think I could make a career out of selling my artwork, but I’m realizing it is a lot more difficult than just making some great work and selling it…my emotions get in the way…




