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What’s the Story?
A discovery engine for meaningful knowledge, fueled by cross-disciplinary curiosity.
A Brain Pickings project edited by Maria Popova in partnership with Noodle.
Twitter: @explorer
art and design
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Maurice Sendak illustrates Tolstoy

Maurice Sendak illustrates Tolstoy

Vintage illustrated anatomy of a horse race trotter, spotted at New York’s Monticello Raceway.

Vintage illustrated anatomy of a horse race trotter, spotted at New York’s Monticello Raceway.

There are two very clear indications of real science and real art: the first inner sign is that a scholar or an artist works not for profit, but for sacrifice, for his calling; the second, outer sign is that his works are understandable to all people. Real science studies and makes accessible that knowledge which people at that period of history think important, and real art transfers this truth from the domain of knowledge to the domain of feelings.

Creating art is not as elevated a thing as many people guess, but certainly it is a useful and kind thing to do, especially if it brings people together and arouses kind feelings in them.

A Calendar of Wisdom - Leo Tolstoy on the meaning of life
Barthes’s dislikes, illustrated
Barthes’s likes, illustrated
How to Make a Ricky Board – a creative exercise from David Lynch

How to Make a Ricky Board – a creative exercise from David Lynch

Absolutely stunning book paintings by Russian-born, Rome-based artist Ekaterina Panikanova, a fine addition to this showcase of exceptional book art.
(↬ this isn’t happiness)

Absolutely stunning book paintings by Russian-born, Rome-based artist Ekaterina Panikanova, a fine addition to this showcase of exceptional book art.

( this isn’t happiness)

The lovely handwritten love letter in which iconic designer Charles Eames, born on June 17, 1907, proposed to his future wife and creative partner Ray.

The lovely handwritten love letter in which iconic designer Charles Eames, born on June 17, 1907, proposed to his future wife and creative partner Ray.

The true novelist, poet, musician, or artist is really a discoverer.

Designer Federico Mauro distills the likeness of cultural icons down to their eyewear. Pair with these minimalist infographic summaries of famous lives.

( Visual News)

Background noise creates a distraction, but balance is key. A moderate level of background noise creates just enough distraction to break people out of their patterns of thinking and nudge them to let their imagination wander, while still keeping them from losing their focus on the project all together. This distracted focus helps enhance your creativity. The study’s authors explain that “getting into a relatively noisy environment may trigger the brain to think abstractly, and thus generate creative ideas.
Eventually everything connects — people, ideas, objects… the quality of the connections is the key to quality per se.

So lovely: For her daughter Emma’s fifth birthday, Canadian photographer Jaiime C. Moore styles her in the likeness of powerful female role models – Amelia Earhart, Jane Goodall, Coco Chanel, Susan B. Anthony, and Helen Keller.

A visual anthropology of the world’s last living nomads
Wonderfully enchanted vintage illustrations accompanying Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poems for young people.

Wonderfully enchanted vintage illustrations accompanying Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poems for young people.