I lifted the axe high in the air and took a swing at the log. I swung again and again. With each new chunk of wood that went flying, I could feel the anger seep out of my pores. I would be a college sophomore in the fall and was working the summer, helping a … More Learning to dream
By the end of my birthday this past weekend, I was exhausted. I know I’m not alone in this. When I hand the reins over to others, let’s call them the less experienced members of the household, so that they can give me a “break,” it almost breaks me. This used to happen with my … More Please (Don’t) Give Me a Break
I tried to sprint the final 20 yards, but my legs felt like slabs of concrete. I straightened up my posture, but I was instantly back to being hunched over like an old man. My breaths came in deep gulps. I turned a corner in the trail, hit my stopwatch and shuffled my feet to … More Better . . . stronger . . . faster!
Kids love to play dress-up. Educators tell us that imaginative play boosts problem-solving skills, creative thinking, and helps manage emotions. Kids create situations and scenes and then act them out. In the long run, they become well-adjusted adults. When I was a kid, I was pretty typical, I loved to play policeman, soldier, cowboys, and mimic … More Playing dress-up
I’m taking the opportunity this month to shamelessly share with you some of my new art. This body of work that I’ve just begun feels a lot more topical than much of my work, which tends to be very personal and can perhaps exclude my audience at times. I don’t ever mean it to exclude anyone, I just make what wants to be made, and often times, the work that wants to be made is just for me. This new work is quite personal as well, however, I believe it’s touching on themes that may also reach a broader audience, like you! … More How Safe Do You Feel At Home?
My wife had several children’s books sprayed across our kitchen table this week. Of course, I had to look at them. In that moment, I was nine- or ten-years-old again getting ready for elementary school and wolfing down my soggy cereal, while reading from whatever book gripped my attention that week. One of the books … More An open book
In my newest Art Talk with Libby Saylor podcast episode, I talk all about taking risks in the studio. In this episode, I go deep and try to uncover what really holds us back from taking chances in our studio. Ultimately, I think it comes down to getting comfortable with our imperfections, as well as getting comfortable with taking risks outside of the studio. I also share with you a super vulnerable whoops moment that I experienced from taking a chance, and how it’s all part of the beautiful process of learning how to be braver, so we can show up as the courageous artists this world so desperately needs. … More Taking Risks in the Studio
A number of years ago, my wife gave me a wave goodbye and left for work. I couldn’t help but feel the cold chill. Her goodbye felt as cold as a frigid nor’easter. I looked out the window to see her car lights pull away in the morning light and I half expected to see … More ‘Here I come to save the day’
An overview of creativity and the soft job skills necessary to work with AI. … More AI and Creativity
We’ve all heard certain sayings like, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears,” or “When you take one step towards to gods, they will take ten steps towards you.” I really love both of these sayings and really experience them in my life on a regular basis. And wow, has this been happening for me lately. … More Humility Is This Thing I’m Still Working On
The Heart of the Matter 