Jason

- - - | written by Jason on 7/23/2017 | - - -

That Time My Painting Got Ruined Right After I Sold It

"Monkey Business" by Jason Kotecki. Oil on canvas. 16x20 inches. Prints available here. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The scene was the Escape Adulthood Summit and I had just sold one of my new oil paintings. I was elated. It had been only a year since I first offered originals for sale, and this was the first of three I'd sell in one day! I proudly added a "sold" sign to the canvas, a badge of honor that would be on display for the rest of the event. Later that day, I heard a disturbance in the Force. Someone had inadvertently knocked over a few of the …

- - - | written by Jason on 7/20/2017 | - - -

2017 Escape Adulthood Summit Recap

Adventure. That’s what the fifth Escape Adulthood Summit was all about. But not the kind of adventure you encounter when you google the word “adventure." You know, like scenes of people hanging precipitously from a cliff’s edge with one hand. We talked more about everyday adventures; the opportunities to try something for the first time and see the magic in seemingly ordinary moments. Nothing against mountain climbing or sky diving, but we wanted to challenge attendees to embrace adventure on an even wider scale. Once again, this year’s shindig was held at the beautiful Barn at …

- - - | written by Jason on 7/9/2017 | - - -

Why Your Superpower Might Be Hidden in Plain Sight

Superman doesn’t have to think about flying in order to soar above the clouds. Spiderman doesn't have to practice sticking to a ceiling. The Flash doesn't have to put in any extra effort in order to run really, really fast. While the rest of us marvel at their extraordinary abilities, these heroes are merely doing what comes naturally. Which begs the question: What are your superpowers? Everyone has at least a few, even though they may not feel particularly talented or special. The problem is that they're often hidden before our eyes. We overlook our own superpowers because …

- - - | written by Jason on 6/19/2017 | - - -

Danny Donuts, June 2017 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. Our first experience with Danny Donuts was at an Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) conference. He was leading a group of people sporting red clown noses who went to O'Hare International Airport in …

- - - | written by Jason on 6/18/2017 | - - -

Living a More Adventurous Life is as Easy as ABC

My friend Dave (a recent Adultitis Fighter of the Month) has Mondays off. They started becoming a little stale, so he decided to shake things up. Although he's an avid traveler, Dave realized that he actually explored very little of his home state of Wisconsin. One day, he pulled out a map, landed on a city named Amherst and set out to make a day of exploring this unfamiliar town. Next week, he went to a city that started with the letter "B" (Babcock), followed by Columbus, and has continued his quest through the alphabet. (He's currently on "H".) Most of the towns are quite small, but they …

- - - | written by Jason on 6/4/2017 | - - -

What if You Knew The Numbers?

Kim and I recently took the kids to their first Cubs game. It was a beautiful day, Wrigley Field was as friendly as usual, and we reveled in singing "Go Cubs, Go" after they sealed the win against the Giants. We often see first times coming. We prepare for them and anticipate them with the excitement of a little kid on Christmas Eve. The last times have a habit of sneaking up on us, though. We have a digital frame in our kitchen that rotates old family photographs. I find myself regularly spying an old snapshot of one of my kids and thinking to myself, "She was never that little, was she?" …

- - - | written by Jason on 5/31/2017 | - - -

How to Ensure Your Next Event Stands Out and the Message Sticks

I've always respected the idea that Native Americans who hunted bison would put every inch of it to good use. Meat, bones, hide, everything. As a speaker who just so happens to be an artist (or is that an artist who happens to be a speaker?), I love it when someone makes the most of everything we have to offer. Oftentimes, my art gets used in the printed program and marketing materials that promote the event. Other clients give products featuring my art as thank you gifts to sponsors and volunteers. Sometimes it’s even incorporated into the stage design! A recent client went next level …

- - - | written by Jason on 5/30/2017 | - - -

Jill Fleming, May 2017 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. Jill Fleming is a joy magnet! Like all good Adultitis Fighters, she is SUCH a positive influence on all of those around her. People with Adultitis suck the life right out of you, but Jill is the exact opposite! Her free …

- - - | written by Jason on 5/28/2017 | - - -

The Power of Turning Things Upside Down

Whenever I draw a portrait, I always do something that my wife thinks is weird. After I get the major shapes and outlines blocked in, I turn my reference photos and artwork upside down. Then I keep drawing. The reason I do this I because inevitably, during the course of a portrait, I get to a point where something seems "off." Because I think I know what a nose is "supposed" to look like, I get lazy, and draw what I "know," not what I see. Turning my paper upside down tricks my brain into forgetting this is a "nose" so I can see it for what it really is: areas of shape and form. In order …

- - - | written by Jason on 5/23/2017 | - - -

You Might Be an Art Collector If…

If I have extra time when I am traveling for speaking engagements, one of my favorite things to do is visit art galleries. I love discovering new artists who inspire me. What I don't usually love is the vibe of the galleries themselves, and the so-called "art world" as a whole. Quiet as a museum and serious as a heart atttack, they often ooze pretension and feature prices that only an elite few could afford. Sometimes artists themselves contribute to this snobby, holier-than-thou aura. I believe that art is for everyone, whether it comes to making it or owning it. Art can address serious …

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