No one is safe from Adultitis. Not even the American entertainment company that was built on, and is synonymous with, the carefree and hope-filled spirit of childhood. An essay on SaveDisney.com sheds some light on Walt Disney and his original vision for his movies and his company: "I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty...In my work I try to reach and speak to that innocence, showing it the fun and joy of living; showing it that laughter is healthy; showing it that the human species, although happily ridiculous at times, …
Dream Big
NASA Has Adultitis
In my last post, I commented on Mr. Buzz Aldrin, one of the first (and only) guys to walk on the moon. In 1962, in a speech given at Rice University in Texas, President John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to put a man on the moon: We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to …
And That’s One to Grow On
Whether you’re waiting for those sweet strawberries in your garden or those equally sweet abs after months of sit-ups, waiting for something to grow can be hard and sometimes frustrating. When I was little I longed to grow up. I am the youngest of 4 daughters and much of my life has consisted of wishing I was as old as one of my sisters so I could do the things they could do- taking piano lessons, writing in cursive, making a 3 pointer, driving a car, etc. Wanting to be bigger is just part of being little. Unlike my childhood, I pray that today I can “enjoy the journey.” Instead of always …
The Problem With Speaking
I have had the wonderful opportunity to spend an increasing amount of time speaking professionally. If you would have told me I'd be doing this 15 years ago, I probably would have died right on the spot. I was an insanely introverted kid, paralyzed by just the thought of a new situation. I believe it was Jerry Seinfeld who observed that, at a funeral, most people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy. Well, it's been by the grace and strength of God that I've been able to overcome some of my insecurities to experience a bunch exciting and tremendously fulfilling things. Like …
Speaking of Superheroes…
No, this is not a photograph of the late great Christopher Reeve...it's a flippin' statue! Yes, a painstaking recreation by Robert Causey and Robert Dullam. Funny, but I don't remember "Superhero Sculptor" being on the career survey my counselor made me fill out in high school...I bet these guys wish they wouldn't have wasted their time pursuing art and went into something safe and secure...like business school. Check out more photos of the Man of Steel and Causey and Dullam's other super creations. …
Ode To Mrs. Smith
When I look back on my long 23-year journey as an artist (I'm leaving out the first three years of life unless you want to count the abstract works I created in my diaper), there are many reasons for how I got here. I've had a lot of influences, took a lot of classes, and observed many, many works of art. I think one of the most influential reasons for my decision to pursue art and try and get good at it was Mrs. Smith. …