Let Go of Your Creations
For the first time ever, I am using a theme that is of my own creation, both this journal, and the main domain. Prior to this current incarnation I’ve always used someone else’s theme, or tweaked someone else’s theme, but now I’m sporting one that’s all my own, across the board. This makes me proud. Aesthetic matters aside, beauty being a subjective concept, I am proud because I finally felt courageous and learned enough to accomplish a design. I set out to do it, and I did it. There’s a nice glow there.
As is the case with most of my site fiddling, I hacked and slashed until something started to look appealing, and then went with it, fine tuning and tucking in all the corners. For this journal, I wanted a home page, and I began working with a grid. Honestly, I don’t even know if this design adheres to a grid because after reading a bunch about grid design my head starts to hurt; I think fuck it, and I set out on my own. So a sturdy guess is this site does not adhere to anything, but that’s besides the point really. I’m proud of myself, and won’t be suckered into marginalizing, or adding footnotes to the feeling.
As for the main domain, it was inspired by an index card business card I saw somewhere a few weeks ago. I couldn’t retrace my steps, so I went ahead and made something up. It’s not going to win any awards, but I’m not out to win any awards, and, again, I’m not going to marginalize my endeavor.
So I’m proud of myself. It feels good to create something of your own. We should all strive to create something tangible everyday. It doesn’t have to be a website of course. It could be something small, and simple like a card, or a whittled piece of wood, but I think there’s a raw power in creation that feeds upon itself. Create something tangible everyday, and look at your creation with pride, not with the relative eyes of ego, which will judge the thing based upon all else, but with a hermit’s pride.
And once you’ve looked at your creation, and melted in your pride, offer it up. Share it. I think this may be the key ingredient, sharing it, or giving it away. Create something, and let it go. Create something, and let it go. A mystic tide, getting to the bone: create something, and give it away.
Very nice theme and post about it.
How did you learn to do this? I too have tweeked other’s themes but would prefer to create my own.
You have struck a truth chord about creating something new everyday. I believe we’re becoming a nation of spectators rather than participants in creative and other aspects of living.
Keep up the good thoughts and work!
May 25th 2007 - 3:05pmMatt, my apologies to you Sir. It shouldn’t have taken me four days to respond. I need to get into the habit of replying right after approving, or run the risk of letting it slip my mind. Letting comments dangle is not very good host behavior, so sorry on that front.
As for the learning, it is a story of molasses and curiosity. Being around Wordpress for two years or so you just start picking up on the way things work. Eventually, I got to the point where I wanted to be more knowledgeable about all the internal mechanics, so I started playing around, porting designs in an attempt to learn more. The biggest help was the decision to port a few themes, and looking at the source of some Wordpress weblogs I admire, just to see how they put it together. Once I got more comfortable with how html and css interact I went ahead and created this design.
I think a good place to start is to look around at some open source designs, pick one, and try to port it to Wordpress. Some people have offered “blank” Wordpress templates/files. Download one of them and then try to fit a Wordpress skeleton around the design. That was a huge help to me. A few of my attempts never saw the light of day, but were instructive nonetheless.
And I agree Matt, I think there can be a tendency to relinquish our creative selves to others. I find this especially pronounced in civics, or as citizens. I think maybe people feel barriers, and hierarchy, which may confuse and inhibit them. You know, a creative work does not have to be admired or emulated, it just has to be.
May 29th 2007 - 8:03am