The Lardner Report

Unleash your creative superpowers!

Just Take A Spin — Find Unexpected Art

by

(Pic #1) Facing South, Westlake Village, Cali. (Photo by Josh Kaplan)

(Pic #2) Facing North, Westlake Village, Cali. (Photo by Josh Kaplan)

These two shots were taken from exactly the same spot: in the middle of a field in Westlake Village. Josh stopped to grab the image of the sprawling bougainvillea, and when doing an about face, discovered the wispy tendrils of the dry brush. Kind of a double gift: twice the art — with the effort of one.

So I’m making it a point to take my 180 and find the opposing view. A bonus for staying open to all angles. The life lesson metaphor is not lost on me.

A Kind Of Beauty I Can’t Explain

by

(Pic #1) Oceanfront property in Santa Barbara County — worth millions.

Shore vs: Street

The views are unspeakably stunning. It’s why the Santa Barbara coast is known as the American Riviera. I get kind of giddy when we drive through its lush landscaped back roads, and get to walk barefoot on the beach. But nothing sends me spinning like the raw, painterly improvisations by local graffiti artists. On this day, less than 50 yards from the crashing waves — I spied a full city block of impromptu abstractions on an abandoned property in Summerland.    (Pics #2 #3 below)

It’s a rush I have trouble explaining to others.

For most, visiting this big bucks zip code, the breathtaking vistas, and sprawling homes are the attraction. For me, it’s the spirit of freedom (and admittedly defiance) that gets my heart pumping.

(Pic #2) Street art on an abandoned property in Summerland.  MY kind of view.

Art: The Power of Distraction

by

(Pic #1) “Top Knot” by Josh Kaplan

No spouse ever wants to hear, “Stop what you’re doing! Don’t move” — especially me — saddled with a serious case of life-long Defiance Disorder. (Yes, it’s a thing.)

Even after a 15-hour day at work, Josh drops everything when he sees a moment — a moment to capture wild art in the camera that never leaves his sight. Today, as I stood in the hallway about to make breakfast, he saw some sweet light and creamy colors behind my top knot, and had to shoot it. No hesitation, no question. Documented in an instant. And it’s a beauty.

The New Me

It’s why I’m making (albeit tardy) a New Year’s Resolution to embrace the distraction. I’m committing to acknowledge the art in front of me. Appreciate it and document it. I can’t count the number of times I get distracted during the day — in the middle of a writing project — and I’ll suddenly feel compelled to dive deep into a completely irrelevant, meaningless rabbit hole. Minutes ago, the original Godfather was streaming on our TV, and I was writing THIS — I just had to know Al Pacino’s actual height. I saw him walking down the street with Diane Keaton, and she was way taller. I had to know.

Well, Pacino is 5-foot 7-inches. And I’m still sitting here.