20 Years Ago Today

I am sharing this post as a reminder to myself (and anyone else that might need to hear it) that dreaming big and not being afraid to go for it can lead to some pretty amazing adventures.

Today marks the 20 year anniversary of that time this mural (and my friend & business partner, Zoë, and I) were on the Oprah show after a whirlwind trip to Racine Wisconsin (and Chicago!) to paint a surprise mural for one of Oprah’s angels, Julia Burney (now Witherspoon).

In April 2001, our mural and decorative painting business was still just a fledgling company... I was a young, wide-eyed dreamer who was only a few months away from getting married. When Zoë and I saw Julia’s inspiring (and close to our hearts) story, I had no doubts about what I wanted to to. I wanted to volunteer to paint a mural for her new reading center, so I immediately emailed Oprah... No second guessing, no hesitation, no questioning whether or not it was a crazy idea.

Looking back, there is a lot that I can learn from my younger self. So, to celebrate this special day, I thought it would be fun to share some of the things that I knew then (without even realizing it!!), but need a reminder of now:

1. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. So, you might as well PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE.

2. POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS, if you...

3. DREAM BIG, WORK HARD, and GO FOR IT!

4. It’s okay to be nervous... Feel the fear, but DO IT ANYWAY! And, finally...

5. FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD.

If you’re interested in reading more about my time on Oprah, you can find the whole story on my website HERE.

I would love to hear about what big dreams YOU are dreaming today!

(Please share them with me in the comments!)

2018: 132-138/365

(Smiley face emoji courtesy of Tyler.)

As an artist, I love to tackle projects that take me out of my comfort zone.  So, when my sister asked if I would help her paint her car ("Major Tom"), I was very excited.  If you know me, then it should be no surprise that I will paint on just about anything... Stevie's car was just an oddly shaped, mobile canvas.  From far away, it looks like it's been tie-dyed, when you get up close it looks like a galaxy, and from every which way it looks like fun on wheels!

If you're interested in reading more about my amazing sister, Stevie, you can check out some older posts HERE, HERE, and HERE.

(And, here is a portrait I drew/painted of her.)

2018: 110-116/365

This past weekend, I went to the New England SCBWI Conference in Springfield Massachusetts.  My days were jam-packed with learning, inspiration, and fun.  I am still processing all of the information I received from the incredible workshops I took (I will definitely post some highlights next week).  But...

In the meantime, I wanted to share some photos from a trip my friend Dee and I took to The Dr. Seuss Museum.

It was so much fun to get a glimpse into the life of Theodor Geisel... I really enjoyed looking at his work space, seeing his original art, and reading letters he wrote to family and friends.  It seems pretty obvious that the man known as

Dr. Seuss would be funny, but I never knew just how clever and fun he really was!

(More from my trip next week...)

2018: 107/365

(And, the snow keeps on falling...)

I don't think whoever coined the phrase,

"April showers bring May flowers."

meant snow showers.

Ugh.

2018: 106/365

Cinderelephant

I'm back!!!

It's hard to believe that it was a Spring break.  Snow and ice would definitely suggest otherwise... But that's a story for another day.

The illustration that I was working on before my blogging break reminded me of a Cinderelephant painting I did (shown at the top of this post).  And, since today is also "Save the Elephant Day", I would like to share a variety of elephant art that I've created over the years...

(See the start to finish process pics here.)

(Find out about this painting's unusual inspiration and see the process here.)

I hope you found this post as fun as I did...

(I didn't remember how many elephants I've created over the years!)

You might think that I've had my fill, but seeing this actually makes me want to make more elephant art in the future!

2018: 62 & 63

While doing some cleaning this weekend, I came across the very first picture book I ever made!  It was only as big as a quarter, but it was the perfect size for the Sesame Street characters that I made it for!

2018: 50/365

I spent my day working on a project I can't share yet,

so I thought I would share a handy "life hack"

that I only found out about a couple of years ago

(and that I was just talking to a friend about)...

Did you know that there is a little arrow

next to the picture of the gas pump on your dashboard 

that lets you know what side of the car your gas tank is on?!?

This blew my mind!

(It is a BIG help when you're driving a rental car.)

2018: 45/365

Mushy...

I can't think of many things mushier than a slug eating oatmeal.
(I hope your Valentine's Day is a different kind of mushy.)

This post was inspired by Michael MacVean's Scribble Picnic theme:
Mushy.

2018: 36/365

Some days things get away from you...

Today was one of those days.

2018: 32/365

I’m trying to figure out how to post from my phone...

It isn’t going very well.

I’m having difficulty adding a new image,
so here’s an old one...

I’ll be back tomorrow...

Posting from my laptop!

2018: 25/365

I think I must still have produce on my mind, because today 

I was messing around with the idea of anthropomorphizing an apple!

2018: 21/365

Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day!

I've had squirrels on my mind a lot these days!
I even "saw" a squirrel in the very first 
@3yroldscribble #finishthescribble I did...

And, I bought a squirrel messenger bag from Bolsa Bonita 
(one of my favorite Etsy shops)...

It appears I'm a bit "nuts" about them... Don't be surprised if more squirrel characters make their way onto the blog this year!

2018: 18/365

I often joke that if brushes could talk, mine would scream!  Sometimes they sit in water for weeks, some of them sit in water that eventually dries up, they get crusty...  To say that I am hard on them is quite an understatement.  Today, I'd like to let you in on a brush-saving secret...

I have been using this brush cleaner since art school, and it is amazing... Brushes that I thought were goners are miraculously transformed!  Because of this product, I still use a few brushes that I bought almost 20 years ago!
(I am not getting paid to say this, I just wanted to share.)

Do you have any products you can't live without?

2018: 16/365

Mr.Sketch Pinata

I love Mr.Sketch scented markers!  (Playing with them always reminds me of the best parts of my childhood.)  Today, while I was taking a break from the project I'm currently working on, I decided to have some fun and create a super sweet smelling pinata.

I've found that placing limits (like only using a certain type of marker)
can really help push my creativity and set the scene for
new inspiration and fresh ideas.  The markers bled through the cheap paper in the sketchbook I drew it in.  But...

Sometimes the things that aren't planned can provide the nicest surprises.

2018: 11/365

I spent most of my day working on a project that I can't share yet.  But, even when I'm busy working on one thing in particular, I always try to keep my eyes open for new and different things that might be a source of inspiration for a "rainy day".  Some say I'm easily distra... ooh, something shiny! ...cted,

but I say I'm just gathering resources.

While taking a break this afternoon, I looked out the window and saw the ice formation pictured above.  I was fascinated by the warped landscape created within the curves of the ice.  And, although I'm not sure what this photo will inspire, I know there is possibility trapped in that ice just waiting to be let out.  So, for now I will put it in a folder I keep on my computer labeled "inspiration".  Then, when the time is right and the icy idea has had time to thaw and percolate, I'll be ready.

2018: 5/365

Today I'd like to introduce you to...

Rhonda!

She arrived on Christmas morning and has been a huge help ever since.
She works tirelessly so that instead of sweeping and vacuuming, I can spend more time drawing, painting, writing...

And in today's case, researching picture book agents!

How did you spend your day?

2018: 2/365

Sometimes you just need to see things with fresh frozen eyes...

Yesterday, my uncle sent me a link to an article in The Washington Post about how spectacular Niagara Falls looks right now.
I have lived a short car ride away from the falls my entire life, and like many things that are in our own backyard, I have come to take the magnificence of this natural wonder for granted.  Reading a national news article about it was just the wake-up call I needed.  So, late yesterday afternoon the boys and I bundled up and headed north...

Now, I think I need to express how intensely I dislike cold weather... So much so, that when I asked Bob if we could go check out the frozen falls he said, "Who are you?!?"  But, there is something about the start of a new year that makes me want to shake things up and get out of my comfort zone.  
And, I'm so glad I did... The view was breathtaking!  
(Literally.  Record low temperatures combined with mist that freezes in the air and turns to mini-ice-daggers-that-stab-at-your-face will actually take your breath away!  Hahaha!)

It turns out that once I got past the extreme cold,
I was left with some pretty remarkable inspiration...
Today I played with textures based on yesterday's view.

Things I experimented with:
- Scratching into the paper before applying a watercolor wash
- Using a glue stick, and white crayon as a resist (to keep white areas) before applying a watercolor wash
- Torn paper as relief
- Using torn paper edges as a "stencil" for pastel application
- Applying paint with plastic wrap
- Layering all of the different techniques

2018: 1/365

Happy New Year, Friends!

Whaaat? The subject line from an email I received today. (My name is not Jeff.) Hahaha!

It is probably no surprise that I've been doing some reflection the past few days.  I love beginnings (especially the start of a new year)... but, as a recovering perfectionist I also have a tendency to put a lot of pressure on myself.  This year, I've decided to approach 2018 a little differently...

My (very well-timed) fortune!

The new year is usually about putting your best foot forward and trying to fix imperfections...  But now I'm wondering what if...

I decide to accept that life doesn't have to be perfect to be good?
I find a way to accept the wonky bits & maybe even enjoy them?
I share more?  (Even the not-so-pretty stuff.)

Pulling back the curtain...

This is scary for me, folks.  In a carefully curated internet world, it can appear that you're the only one who doesn't have it all together.  As I write this and commit myself to sharing more, I feel nervous.  But... I'm hoping that you can relate to my desire for authenticity, and that you'll join me as I journey into 2018 (messy parts, and all)!

p.s.  I have decided to *try* and share something about what I'm up to every day (Creative Every Day style).  In order to take some of the pressure off and set myself up for success, I've decided to keep my post titles simple to reduce "decision fatigue".

p.p.s.  You can click here for an article I found very interesting about "decision fatigue" and "the science of simplicity" 

Random Thoughts On A Thursday

Tyler's note

I found this little message yesterday on a scrap sheet of paper... I love nine year old wisdom.

My heart sings every time I receive an email about my "Take What You Need" poster... It is so fun for me to hear about where in the world they end up! (If you'd like to download and/or print it, click here for a high-res. pdf version.)

I am trying to take some of my own advice and be kinder to myself.

One of the ways I've been trying to banish the negativity gremlins and self-doubt monsters from my studio is by listening to audio books that promote positive thinking while I paint.  (As a bonus, I have found that I am more productive when I do.)

I am a big fan of Kind bars... And not just because I love the name (although, I think that's pretty great too)!

I watched the movie "Wild", and now I'm thinking about reading the book.  Usually I read the book before I watch the movie, so that I can create my own images in my head... Do you read the book or watch the movie first?

A collaboration with Tyler.

It is supposed to snow this weekend.

I'm not ready for winter.

Seeing my "Tea and Cake with Gracie" interview is like a ray of sunshine on a chilly day...

I'm so excited to be offering a free art tutorial, a free downloadable print, and giving away the ORIGINAL Frida painting (in the photo above) to one lucky Willowing reader!  To read the interview and enter the Giveaway, please click here.

Random Thoughts On A Wednesday

The new "Peanuts Movie" comes out on November 6th.  I'm not sure how the movie will be, but I had a great time turning my family into Peanuts characters on their website: peanutizeme.com.  (They didn't have a goatee option for Bob, so I added that in PicMonkey.)

Tyler has suddenly become very interested in cooking, and as a result has been helping me out in the kitchen a lot more.

I love my Scrub Daddy.

Snail mail makes me happy.  I received the most amazing package with the most adorable gnome socks and a super cute gnome magnet from a wonderful and generous friend... 
She gnomes me so well!

I love puns.

I just finished reading The Bell Jar by, Sylvia Plath, and am currently reading The Alchemist by, Paulo Coelho.  I am going to the library to pick up my reserved  copy of Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic today.  Tyler is reading Wonder by, R.J. Palacio... I read it too and highly recommend it.  (Our copy had a bonus "Julian Chapter" - If you can find a copy that has the extra chapter in it, get that one... The different perspective definitely added something to the book.)

I'm always looking for book recommendations, so I would love to hear what you're reading (or have read and loved).

The countdown clock from october212015.com

The boys and I had a "Back To The Future" marathon this past weekend.  And, as an amazing coincidence, the "future date" in the second movie is coming up on October 21st, 2015! 

I am currently working on a children's book, and really need to get back in the studio...

I hope you'll share some random thoughts with me!