creativity

Numpurrs 0, 1, 2, 3

August 17, 2020

Here’s this weeks progress on my new artist book for children to be titled Numpurrs. On Storyberries.com I had done a counting book titled “The Crow and the Water Jug” and it’s been popular with readers so Storyberries wants another book related to numbers and math from me. As I wrote in my last post…

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Beginning Numpurrs

August 10, 2020

I’m starting a new artist book for children to be titled Numpurrs. On Storyberries.com I had done a counting book titled “The Crow and the Water Jug” and it’s been popular with readers so Storyberries wants another book related to numbers and math from me. So here goes… As I mentioned in my last post…

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the eggplant technique of creativity

September 17, 2019

“Feelings are guides not gods” is a phrase from “Dr. Bob’s Emotional Repair Program First Aid Kit”, the new print version I’m currently working on. The concept is illustrated by this story: Here’s some text from the book related to the artwork: “Do you think that feelings keep you from doing things? More good news…

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on sustaining creativity

May 9, 2019

Especially when I’m super busy working on a one-person art exhibit I rely even more on my sustainable creativity technique of “running around loose”. I define “running around loose” as going about my nearby surroundings like a child or a dog in a park; poking about and exploring as if there are no time constraints…

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illustrated poetry dominos and books

March 5, 2019

I’ve been thinking about how reading books is similar to playing dominos or sharing a meal with friends. In all of these activities we practice cooperating with others and peaceably bringing forth the world together. Here’s a limerick poem I wrote and illustrated that playfully reflects my thoughts: This poem and illustration somewhat relates to…

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illustrated poetry about food

January 31, 2019

Last weekend I spent some time looking through my cookbook collection which sits on the shelves next to my poetry collection. Since I’ve been practicing both cooking and writing I look to my favorite “masters” in each genre for inspiration. It’s nice to have them all in one spot. Mollie Katzen, Aliza Green, Rick Bayless…

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art snacks

January 23, 2019

Some time back I read an article in my local newspaper about teaching kids to snack healthy and to learn to trust their body’s cues about food. Since then I’ve been thinking of similarities between healthy snacking habits and developing a healthy creative life. Teach yourself how to recognize aesthetic cues/desires – and practice responding…

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libation label list line

December 8, 2018

Around the edges of doing a cat portrait commission and Chef Carosi’s illustrated recipe I’ve done some wine label artwork to be used by Burnt Bridge Cellars for their 2018 Holiday Wine. To meet the winery’s request for art that was “festive but not religious” I used 5 writing techniques along these lines to generate…

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books and creativity

November 3, 2018

It’s been my experience that one’s reading is the fertile soil from which all other creativity grows. So I find books like this one, “1000 Books To Read Before You Die” by James Mustich, an essential art studio tool. The Mustich title is especially useful as it’s more like a restaurant guide than most “read-this”…

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four topic sketchbook keeping

February 4, 2018

Oh I’ve had an excellent question asked of me! Here’s the question: “Do you keep separate sketchbooks for different subjects/projects/media or do you use one sketchbook for all sorts of art experiments and ideas?” My answer: I used to keep one sketchbook but I found it hard to find the bit of research I needed…

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