Today is the one-year anniversary of the “One with Clay, Image and Text” blog. In the first year of the blog there were 321 posts, which missed the mark of a post per day but not by much. People in more than 70 different countries had a look at the blog, and one memorable day, thanks to the late, great and much lamented Roger Ebert, a single post received more than 1,500 views.

“Well, Isaac, what has you loined?” is what Judah Asimov would ask his son Isaac after they had just finished going to the theater and seeing a movie. Isaac’s father, who took the Asimov family to America from Russia when Isaac was three years old, valued his son’s inquiring mind, and was always encouraging him in his learning. I’ve found his question of great value whenever I do something, or have been through something, that was difficult yet rewarding. So now I ask: what have I learned from this blog of mine?

1) If I live to be 300, I will still be learning how to draw.

Most of my posts include at least one drawing, usually including calligraphy of an acrostic poem of mine, with the drawing serving as illustration. This is a constant challenge, and it reveals certain terrible defects I have as an illustrator, the chief of which is lack of patience. When I take my time I do far better than when I rush things. Here is an example of me not taking my time–from a weekly feature I do for the Facebook poetry group “Poets All Call”:

And here is an example of a work in progress wherein I am taking my time:

2) The social media may save the world.

Anyone with computer access and time on their hands has access to immense knowledge, not just of facts but the contents of their fellow world citizens’ hearts. We are in the mid-dawn of a new stage of civilization, and we “ain’t seen nothin’ yet” as far as its potential goes.

3) I sure love checkerboard patterns, spoons, and a soapbox to preach on.

‘Nuff said for now–I’m going to celebrate!