ASK Design

I came across this Debbie Millman TED talk yesterday. She's a well-known writer, designer, educator, artist and interviewer. So much of what she says resonates with me, and I'd like to share it with you. Let me know your thoughts. Here are my fave snippets:
"03:09
We're living in a culture now obsessed with achievement, and we measure that success with metrics, likes, views, followers, awards, trophies, sales and we celebrate the hustle. We glorify the grind, and we equate visibility with value.

04:09
When I look at the creative people I admire most, I see people answering a calling... What if the actual reward is not accomplishment but the act of creating?

04:44
You see, I believe that the act of making is like oxygen. When the making stops, it becomes hard to breathe.

05:21
.. making is the actual abundance."

The fleeting euphoria of success Over two decades of interviewing countless creative people, Debbie Millman (host of the iconic "Design Matters" podcast) had a realization: the pride and joy of accomplishing something often evaporates almost instantly. She explains how to stop chasing external validation for your achievements and i...

[new blog post with video] Redesigning My Bootstrap Website - A Fresh Start: It had been at least 10 years since I last redesigned my website. I try to keep up with the ever-changing web landscape by using Bootstrap for my main site and WordPress for my blog. A fresh start was needed for both, so I decided to do for my own site what I do for my clients’ sites: create a unique design using the most current aesthetic and technical protocols. In this post, I share my process and the tools used as I tackled the main site.

https://www.askdesign.biz/blog/2026/07/redesigning-my-bootstrap-website/

Redesigning My Bootstrap Website - ASK Design Blog In my redesigned website, I use the most current aesthetic and technical protocols. In this post, I share my process and tools.

Birds & Words - Mary Oliver Words (2503). The last class was a culmination of everything we had learned. We drew an adorable hummingbird sitting in its nest. The quote we used was written by Mary Oliver, one of my favorite poets.

Next, Jean showed us a nifty tip: write the quote on tracing paper, then move it around on top of the drawing until you find the “sweet spot”. Once you’ve found a good place for the quote, transfer the text onto the drawing paper.

There are various ways to transfer. Jean used a very soft pencil on the backside of the tracing paper to replicate the words. Turning it over to the correct side, she then used a hard pencil to trace it onto the drawing paper. It’s extra work, but well worth it. I sometimes refine a sketch in preparation for a final rendering, then transfer the sketch to good quality paper.

I’ve also used other tools:
• graphite – rub the entire backside with graphite; flip to the front again and use a pen or pencil to transfer the words.
• transfer paper – this type of paper has carbon on the backside for transferring. It’s typically found in stores that carry sewing or craft supplies.

Birds & Words - Perched on Single Word (2502). I loved crafting a single, large word and placing birds on it. Finding a good spot on the word for the bird to perch was part of the fun. You can draw the word first, then place the bird(s), or draw the birds first and then experiment with the lettering.

Birds & Words - Aesop (2501) - Took an online class “Birds & Words” with Jean Mackay to celebrate my completion of breast cancer treatment (Feb. 2025). Week 2: we explored layouts with bird sketches and used a classic Aesop quote for the words. I liked practicing the Posture Line with pencil. Gradually, I became confident enough to use pen while sketching. In my final pieces, I still block in with pencil, then refine in pen before adding color.

I practiced at home, redoing the piece a couple of times and incorporating things I learned from my mistakes. I’m posting the final version here.

A few weeks ago, I spent the morning painting at Willlow Pond, Mt. Auburn Cemetery. It was quiet, relaxing, glorious! As I was finishing up, I saw 3 people enter the path and one looked very familiar. When they came near me, I looked up and asked “Are you Jean Knox?” Indeed, it was! A wonderful colleague from my Houghton Mifflin days. We had a nice few minutes catching up. You never know who may cross your path.

Allerton Harbor (2412) - A serene sailboat glides across a tranquil turquoise sea under a sky filled with fluffy clouds. Gentle hills in the background add depth to the peaceful seascape.

• Price - $250 • Dimensions - 10x8” • Pastel
• Reproduced on cards, prints, masks, tees, mugs, and more.
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/allerton-harbor-anne-katzeff.html

Allerton Harbor by Anne Katzeff Allerton Harbor Painting by Anne Katzeff

Our Wedding Spot (2411) - We like to visit our wedding spot at Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Lush greenery fills the scene, with vibrant purple flowers and dense bushes surrounding a central grassy area. The composition showcases a peaceful, natural landscape in soft, harmonious colors.

• Price - $130 • Dimensions - 9x4” • Pastel
• Reproduced on cards, prints, masks, tees, mugs, and more.
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/our-wedding-spot-anne-katzeff.html

Our Wedding Spot by Anne Katzeff Our Wedding Spot Painting by Anne Katzeff