Articles

  • Echo Base Dispatch #003 – The Art of Seeing

    Echo Base Dispatch #003 – The Art of Seeing

    This is a video series from my studio overlooking Lake Michigan. It’s where I slow down, listen, and make art that brings light into the world. This is Echo Base Dispatch—a brief transmission from here to wherever you are—where I share what I’m working on, what I’m wrestling with, and the lessons I’m learning along the Read more

  • Play Ball!

    Play Ball!

    For me, the start of baseball season is one of the most wonderful times of the year. It means winter is over, and hope springs eternal for each team. Even long-suffering fans know that every season brings with it favorites who falter and long shots who shock the world.  I saw a tweet in a Read more

  • Doubt Your Doubts

    Doubt Your Doubts

    My art studio is where the magic happens. Magic that has nothing to do with how the pretty pictures are made. My studio serves many purposes – it’s my favorite place to sketch, brainstorm, write, paint, and design cool things – but basically, it’s where I go to slow down, get silent, and listen to Read more

  • The Boring Road to a Magical Life

    The Boring Road to a Magical Life

    I am not a natural-born rule breaker. This may come as a surprise, coming from someone who wrote a book about breaking rules.  The obvious question for anyone who knew me as a child is, “How did you go from being a shy boy who was afraid of new situations and spent an eternity in swimming lessons to a guy Read more

  • Echo Base Dispatch #002 – Start Loose

    Echo Base Dispatch #002 – Start Loose

    This is a new video series from my studio overlooking Lake Michigan. It’s where I slow down, listen, and make art that brings light into the world. This is Echo Base Dispatch—a brief transmission from here to wherever you are—where I share what I’m working on, what I’m wrestling with, and the lessons I’m learning along Read more

  • Fixing the Olympics

    Fixing the Olympics

    The Winter Olympics are broken. My family has been looking forward to them. We love the pageantry, the drama, and the vignettes about the athletes’ backgrounds. I just wish they’d implement one idea I believe would enhance the experience for everyone. Before each event, they should hold an exhibition match or heat with regular people Read more

  • Echo Base Dispatch #001 – Just Four Colors

    Echo Base Dispatch #001 – Just Four Colors

    This is a new video series from my studio overlooking Lake Michigan. It’s where I slow down, listen, and make art that brings light into the world. This is Echo Base Dispatch—a brief transmission from here to wherever you are—where I share what I’m working on, what I’m wrestling with, and the lessons I’m learning along Read more

  • Serving Up Signed Copies of Humble Pie

    Serving Up Signed Copies of Humble Pie

    Every book has a typo. I don’t care how prestigious the publisher, how persnickety the author, or how many editors looked it over; there will always be at least one typo.  It’s a law of nature, like gravity, and how whatever line you choose to stand in always becomes the slowest. Ok, maybe it’s not Read more

  • 15 Frozen Hearts

    15 Frozen Hearts

    Kim and I spent the first few days of this new year together, alone. The kids were with grandparents while we enjoyed our annual respite to reflect on the year that was and dream about what might be next.  After breakfast one day, we strolled along a pier that juts into Lake Michigan. The air Read more

  • The Best Investment Advice

    The Best Investment Advice

    Many Januarys ago, as the ho ho hos of the holiday season abruptly transitioned to the ho ho hums of winter, I came across this abandoned television on a walk around the neighborhood. (Sad face added by me.) I’m sure this one-time technological marvel was the highlight of some Christmas past, but there it sat Read more