A candid look behind the scenes of Jason’s studio, through the eyes of his biggest fan... …
Archives for November 2019
Time For S’Mores
The background of this painting comes from a photograph I took during a family trip to the Pacific Northwest. It captured a holy moment. You see, in our family, when the sun has taken its final bow for the day, and the moon is set to take the stage, it’s time for s’mores. I suppose you could have s’mores during afternoon tea, and of course there’s no rule against having them for breakfast, but it just doesn’t seem right. You may disagree with me on the proper time for s’mores, one thing is certain: making s'mores demands that you make time for s’mores. It’s not …
Studio Sneak Peek #92: Post Wondernite Pillow Talk
A candid look behind the scenes of Jason’s studio, through the eyes of his biggest fan... …
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Cathy Rose Monaghan, November 2019 Adultitis Fighter of the Month
An Adultitis Fighter is someone who rallies against rules that don't exist and engages in ruthless, senseless acts of silliness that undermine Adultitis and its unadventurous version of adulthood. Once a month, we shine a light upon the most remarkable among us, holding them up as a dazzling example of what we should strive for in this epic battle against a formidable enemy. Cathy Rose Monaghan is a wonderful example of the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” Being around her is inspiring! Immediately you’ll notice her warm infectious smile that fills your heart, then it’s her …
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How Old Were You When…
I remember one day when my son Ben signed a piece of his art with a big number 5, informing me it was “so you’ll know how old I was.” I chuckled at the time, imagining myself adding a “40” next to my signature on each of my paintings. But I actually think it's a good idea. Maybe if we saw a drawing from a five-year-old Leonardo da Vinci, we’d be surprised to see that it wasn’t very good. But it wouldn’t surprise us that a drawing from when he was nine showed considerable improvement, and perhaps even contain a spark of his genius. And maybe if we lined up all of his paintings by age, …
Studio Sneak Peek #91: Walter, Jesse, and Willy, Oh My!
A candid look behind the scenes of Jason’s studio, through the eyes of his biggest fan... …
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Purposeful Unpredictability
The best parts of life aren’t always planned.But they can happen on purpose. I recently spoke at a nursing conference in Honolulu. My family was put up in a room with a breathtaking view in a huge Hilton resort on Waikiki Beach. It had five pools, twenty restaurants, oodles of neat shops, and all kinds of organized activities you could sign up for. For us, it was…meh. It was a lovely property, but Kim and I have come to learn that massive hotels, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts are not our thing. Places that cater to tourists are often missing the authentic sense of culture that come …
Studio Sneak Peek #90: Wondernite Countdown
A candid look behind the scenes of Jason’s studio, through the eyes of his biggest fan... …
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Are You Bad or Just Busy?
All of our technological advancements are supposed to give us more time. Instead, we fall for the temptation of trying to pack more tasks into the time we’ve saved. Last month I was booked to speak in Hawaii. I was able to take Kim and the kids along, and the week before the engagement, we played in the sun and surf of Lanikai Beach. I made a special point – a very concerted effort, indeed – to refrain from checking email, surf the internet, or scan my social media feeds. Somehow, the world continued to rotate on its 23-degree axis. The sun rose and set on a regular basis, and my …
Insight Springs Forth From Ugliness
Things got pretty ugly at one of my recent speaking programs. I was invited to help the staff at one of Madison's most treasured landmarks adopt a mindset of creativity and innovation. As part of the workshop, the attendees got an opportunity to decorate cookies together. But the goal wasn’t to make Martha Stewart jealous. The goal was to make them as ugly as possible, as a callback to a story I often tell. Mission accomplished. Underneath this seemingly innocuous activity, a number of powerful elements were at play. Chief among them was, well, play. It’s not every day that …