JOURNALS

This Wednesday started with a focus on plotting the to-do list for the day. I always enjoy tasking the machine and watching it come to life with my plans. After plotting, I grabbed lunch, having spent the morning completing updates to my book journal pages and doing a few small pen plots. The afternoon was dedicated to delving back into the handwriting project. It's a challenge but essential for future work and efficiency.

Once lunch was sorted, I finally managed to start properly on the handwriting code. The goal was to get my code to handle joined-up handwriting, a long-standing task that I've been keen to push forward. It's not the simplest thing, but it’s such a crucial aspect of making the plotting sled easier. If I can get it to work smoothly with cursive, it'll be a single stroke except for the t's and i's. I did a bit of font stuff which was fun and experimental. While working on that, I felt creatively charged. It's good to mix up the technical with the creative every now and then.

A particular challenge I faced today was managing my time between various tasks. There's always the risk of getting distracted, but using 50 minutes of focused work followed by a 10-minute break has been helping. I also used the standing desk which seems to channel my energy into what's in front of me, allowing for a bit of movement which helps focus.

By the end of the afternoon, I was still on the handwriting project. The code to join it all up was becoming more streamlined. Significant progress was made in getting the letters to link better. It's gratifying when stuff starts to work after hours of coding and problem-solving. It’s definitely one of the upsides of working with code and machines; the feedback loop feels immediate and tangible.

Later, I attended the ArtBlocks Open Office hour, which provided some fresh insights. It’s always helpful to get external advice and perspectives, especially from a community that understands the intricacies of what we all do. After that session, it was about wrapping up the studio work and heading home. Being able to plan better around these sessions is invaluable.

On a slightly different note, today was dotted with rain, making the day feel a bit grim, especially since an early start to Coventry is on tomorrow's agenda. Hopefully, that goes smoothly, and I manage to get decent rest tonight. Yesterday's headache gave an added edge to that thought, possibly triggered by mistakenly drinking sugary soda. Avoiding added sugar is now even more firmly on my list.

Reflecting on today, the most challenging part has been aligning the handwriting code. However, seeing how close the solution now is has been immensely rewarding. We made immense progress, and although the road ahead is dotted with smaller challenges, the major hurdle feels much more manageable now.

Overall, managing time effectively between different tasks while maintaining productivity has been a win today. Though still juggling various tasks and projects, having a structured approach and the motivation to tick things off one by one is helpful.

The evening now calls for winding down, ensuring a good night's sleep ahead of an early start. Here’s to another productive day tomorrow, harnessing today’s gains and pushing the needle forward.