Blog
5¢ (What Old Faded Dreams Are Made Of)
Nostalgia is a loaded concept. And, I suspect, not much more than an illusion. Handle with care.
Humanitou Podcast
Revisiting ‘Chop Wood, Carry Water’
Overview: Based on a listener’s timely and meaningful email, this episode (Ep 143) revisits a focus of building a path of purpose one step at a time by applying the Zen philosophy of chopping wood and carrying water. Originally from Ep 101: Humanitou creator Adam Williams digs into some thoughts, Read more…
Blog
Lunch
“Lunch” A sandwich: One slice of Italian white bread An almost liberal application of mayonnaise Four thin slices of smoked turkey, edges interlaced in the center of the sandwich Abundant mustard spread unevenly Eight round dill pickle slices in a single layer Seven Fritos Scoops! corn chips in a single Read more…
Blog
It Takes Practice to Own Being an Artist
As my wife, Becca, and I sat down at the brewery in Gunnison, Colo., the college-aged kid who would serve us our lunch asked if we were local or passing through. We were part way home after having picked up some photographs from my latest art show. Becca told him Read more…
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The Weight of Fear (Courage Is a Practice)
As a teenager in high school, I’d occasionally poke my head into the art classroom or look through the window of the door. I was curious. I’d look at the drawing tables and potter’s wheels, and the students’ artwork hanging along the walls. And I’d wonder what it was like. Read more…
Blog
Thoughts On: Audience
Random thoughts pop to my mind from time to time, inspired by a brief experience in the world: a song lyric, a line in a book, a fleeting sound or sight on a walk, or any of the above in a film or TV show. Or from anything else. Ideas Read more…
Humanitou Podcast
Thoughts On: Hourly vs. Value-Based Pay
Overview: In this solo episode (ep 154), Adam Williams makes the case for artists/creators being valued for their work as mystic builders of worlds rather than widget-makers on the clock. (Released on podcast on August 8, 2023) Also on Apple, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, YouTube, Google and other players. EP 154 SHOW NOTES, LINKS & TRANSCRIPT Connect with Read more…
Blog
Condiments
A whimsical idea. A practice of simplicity at its simplest. Six condiments: mayo, pickles, ketchup, yellow mustard, sriracha, hot sauce. Creativity comes at all times. I no longer make the mistake of self-censoring or denying it when it arrives. Let it flow, receive it, have fun with it. No idea Read more…
Humanitou Podcast
(General Baron Jacques)
Overview: In this solo episode (ep 153), Adam Williams talks about the building blocks of the creative process, using the intuitive flow of his “scrawl abstracts” artwork, like his digital painting “Don’t be fucking ridiculous … I just wear stars! (General Baron Jacques),” as an example. (Released on podcast on Read more…
Humanitou Podcast
‘Catch’ Revisited, & a Book Project
Overview: In this solo episode (ep 152), Adam Williams connects the dots of two creative works he made years apart. And he shares “Catch,” his poem of nostalgia and wondering about his last game of catch with “good ‘ol Dad.” (Released on podcast on July 25, 2023) Also on Apple, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, YouTube, Google and other Read more…
Humanitou Podcast
‘I Could Do That’
Overview: In this solo episode (ep 151), Adam Williams speaks to the misconception non-artists have who walk into galleries and dismiss artists’ work with a flippant, “I could do that” with the help of musician Jack White. He talks about the difference between “I could do that” and “I did Read more…
Blog
‘What You Can Plan Is Too Small For You to Live’
The Irish poet David Whyte surely speaks to countless souls with his poem, “What to Remember When Waking.” He posted only a small piece of it on social media yesterday, the first stanza plus the opening line of the second. It drew me in to search for the whole of Read more…
Humanitou Podcast
A Reflection of Who I Am (We Are) in This Moment
Overview: In this solo episode (ep 150), Adam Williams takes a look around and reflects on who he is in this moment, with the aid of legendary music producer Rick Rubin. (Released on podcast on July 11, 2023) Also on Apple, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, YouTube, Google and other players. EP 150 SHOW NOTES, LINKS & TRANSCRIPT Connect Read more…
Blog
This Week’s Roundup of Doings (2/24/23)
These weekly roundups are an extension of “The Log Book of Doings,” which I keep daily in a handmade journal gifted to me by my wife, Becca. I use the Log Book of Doings for recognition of creative accomplishments and as motivation to keep going in the various facets of Read more…
Humanitou Podcast
The Terrible Price We Pay for Our Unsung Songs
Overview: In this solo episode (ep 149), Adam Williams cites psychotherapist Barry Michels’ line, “It is a tragedy to die with our song unsung.” He then lays out the simple and meaningful questions we all owe it to ourselves to ask to keep that tragedy from happening. (Released on podcast on Read more…
Blog
& Vulnerability Is The Point
I recently wrote that self-study is the point. True. And at the heart of self-study, and so much else, is vulnerability. So now I am saying, vulnerability is the point. And that’s true too. Vulnerability is the point and, through that vulnerability, we are constantly becoming, learning ourselves and going Read more…
Blog
This Week’s Roundup of Doings (2/17/23)
As I keep saying, I’ve been using a practice, “The Log Book of Doings,” as recognition of daily creative accomplishments and motivation to keep going in the various facets of my work. These weekly roundups are an experimental extension of the Log Book of Doings. It’s useful to me to Read more…
Blog
“Husks,” A Poem from the Trail
As I’ve written before, in “What Sets a Poem in Motion,” poetry often starts flowing in my mind when I’m present and open to it. It doesn’t take much to set it off. On hikes, in the shower, meditating. Anywhere, anytime. As long as I’m not brain-deep into spinning on Read more…
Humanitou Podcast
‘San Agustinillo,’ the Not Quite Forgotten Chapbook
Overview: In this solo episode (ep 148), Adam Williams talks about his not-quite-forgotten chapbook of poetry and photography, San Agustinillo. He shares two very short poems — “The Palm” and “The Moon” — from that project several years still in the making. (Released on podcast on June 27, 2023) Also on Apple, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, YouTube, Google and Read more…
Blog
This Week’s Roundup of Doings (2/10/23)
As I said in the previous weekly roundups, I’ve been using a practice, “The Log Book of Doings,” as recognition of daily creative accomplishments and motivation to keep going in the various facets of my work. I like and use lists. Functionally and creatively. These weekly roundups are an experimental Read more…