How many crayons do you need to make a masterpiece? If you are judging by how many they give you with the kid's menu at a restaurant, apparently the answer is often...two. Back in the day, a box of 64 Crayola crayons — complete with a sharpener in the back — was as valuable as anything on earth. It contained every color known to mankind (who even knew there was such a color as periwinkle?!), including silver and gold, which I'm convinced was made with real bits of the precious metals. A box of 64 crayons turned anyone into an artist. Everything was possible; there was nothing you …
You & Improved
The Silly Things We Believe
Where does strawberry milk come from? Pink cows, of course. It's a silly thing that some children believe; something grandparents tell grandchildren when pulling their leg. I created this painting for an art fair we exhibited at in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a land filled with dairy cows. I was pleased that so many people who saw it got the joke, reminiscing nostalgically about the "fact" that strawberry milk comes from pink cows. Part of the humor comes from considering the silly logic of children, and the outlandish things they are prone to believe. I, for one, used to believe I was …
Waiting for Answers
Have you ever texted someone a question and then those three little dots pop up as they formulate their reply? You know the three dots. Depending on how consequential their response is, that delay can feel like an eternity, right? We want answers now, but sometimes they take a while to come. From the very beginning of our relationship, Kim and I talked about living in a lake home one day, surrounded by tall pine trees. It took over twenty years to come true, which was approximately nineteen more than I expected. Over that prolongated waiting period, I asked God what was …
Alligators & Adultitis: Why We Need More Laughter in Life
An alligator can live up to 100 years... which is why there's an increased chance they will see you later. One of the midwives who helped Kim on her journey into motherhood had experience working with the Navajo people. She told us about a custom of theirs in which the first person to make a newborn laugh is obligated to throw the family a huge party to celebrate the occasion. According to their tradition, it’s considered the moment in which the baby is fully present and “in the world.” I think that’s pretty cool. You often see people rejoicing over baby’s first words, first steps, …
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Good Tidings or Dark Intentions?
Quick! You're on the beach with a friend and you spot something approaching on the horizon. To your amazement, you make out an armada of giant rubber ducks coming to shore. What is your reaction? Are you excited? Overjoyed? Concerned? Skeptical? Worried? Afraid? Are they visitors or invaders? Do they bring good tidings or dark intentions? Sometimes a painting can just be a fun picture that makes you smile. And sometimes it contains a deeper meaning. I asked people on social media to share their perceptions of this painting, and it may or may not surprise you that their responses …
How to Be a Great Surfer (Or Anything Else)
I've watched surfers in Hawaii, San Diego, and yes, even here in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, which is also known as "The Malibu of the Midwest." The majority of a surfer's time seems to be spent paddling, floating, and waiting. From what I hear, it's all worth it, because the feeling you experience when you're in the middle of a great wave, having timed it just right, is a moment of euphoria. I feel like I have some sense of this as an artist. There are moments when I'm in the zone at my easel, when time stands still, every brush stroke feels pre-ordained, and the joy of creating fills my …
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A Message in a Bottle
On our very first date, Kim and I agreed to live on a lake. As we began the process of getting to know each other, we got talking about our ideal place to live. For some reason, Idaho was mentioned. (When you grow up in a small town in Illinois surrounded by cornfields, almost everywhere feels more exotic.) We talked of mountains and potatoes (obviously), but pine trees and lakes took precedence. We both agreed that living on a lake surrounded by tall pine trees would be an ideal place to settle down. (We didn't necessarily know it would be together.) The two of us dated for …
How To Survive Election Season
Everybody I run into is so excited about being in election season! Not. We've only just begun, and the weariness and dread is palpable. In the United States, this is the most important election in our lifetime. Pay no mind that this is said every four years; maybe they're right this time? Of course, the issues at stake matter, but is there any way to make a difference without being sucked into the division and negativity that's become so prevalent? As a professional reminder-er, allow me to share some insights that you probably already know, but are easy to forget when emotions run …
Things That Aren’t Supposed to Happen
Things that aren't supposed to happen are happening all the time. One such happening was the construction of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, which my family had the chance to visit this summer. Its very existence was considered an impossibility by some very smart people. The Arch was dreamed up by architect Eero Saarinen in 1947 as part of a design competition to build a monument to the westward expansion of the United States. Although his design won unanimously, construction did not begin until 16 years later, in 1963. There were many reasons for the delay, including funding …
How Many Seeds in a Watermelon?
What do motivational posters, charismatic preachers, and embroidered pillows have in common? They regularly tell us to count our blessings. If we're in the midst of a good day, we'd probably admit it would take a long time to count all our blessings. Maybe even longer than it would take to count all the seeds in a watermelon. But theoretically, both could be done. This painting was inspired by the saying "Anyone can count the number of seeds in a watermelon, but only God can count the number of watermelons in a seed." Today is the second anniversary of the day I needed a …