New Mexico beckons, graduate school inspires...

After a strenuous 30+ hour drive, what seemed like an insurmountable journey, we reached Santa Fe, New Mexico. Quickly transitioning from vast desert expanses of brush to elegant mountains and red faced rock, we descended into the valley at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. This land is amazing. The school is just as exciting. I can't wait to attend. Check out their outstanding comments:

http://collegeprowler.com/southwestern-college----new-mexico/campus-strictness/

Summer Conference

This weekend I will experience LA for the first time at the SCBWI summer conference. New people, places, artistic insights, and hopefully memorable moments are imminent. It's been a while since my last epic adventure, and I can't wait to explore again...

The Difference

What is the real difference between success and failure, a fruitful fascinating career and a dead end job, a published picture book and illustration as a hobby? One word....settling. After the spring conference and an insightful conversation over lunch with another attendee with similar aspirations, it became apparent through his life occurrences that we have either of two options-to endlessly pursue our dreams envisioning them as attainable goals or stop short of achievement to stabilize our lifestyle in preparation for future opportunity. I dread the latter...

The After Effects...

What better for a gloomy rain packed day than to be fully immersed in inspiring art and writing...needless to say the spring conference was great. I met many awesome people, editors, agents and the like in addition to learning first hand the daily life of an illustrator. Tim Bowers break out session was the best of the day. After explaining his own claim to fame, he talked about many relevant topics in the field of illustration while showing useful techniques for dummy books and final paintings. Even though this conference was relatively small, I see it being the first of many that I attend. Thank you to everyone who put it together and participated!! It was highly motivational.

Spring Conference!

Tomorrow the Scarlet and Gray Spring Conference, my first major book illustration event, will comprise the majority of my day. Despite my extreme exhaustion at awakening early all week and fervently preparing, I can not wait to get up again! Putting myself to bed early is the only option tonight...

Gallery Hop

I went to the gallery hop last night. It was very exciting, since I have been in attendance only one other time. After the brief burst of sunshine with rain, I wandered the streets in search of galleries. To my surprise there were not many still open. I blame myself for not leaving my house sooner. Still thoroughly enjoyable though, the best art of the hop seemed to be located in the organic pizza shop on the return up the street. Interesting collages of acrylic and pasted paper, combinations of resin with oil paint, and even fabric tapestries covered in color. The contemporary techniques astounded me and I had no choice but to stop for awhile. This just proves that innovative things might be found in the most unconventional of places.

Infinite Possibilities

For years I have reveled in my childlike personality, playing and enjoying the simplicity of life. For me, art reawakens my true nature and young spirit. It draws from deep within the soul and brings out those initial hopes and dreams where anything is possible. Art energizes me and counteracts the draining presence of adult reality. I still hold on to the dreams of my youth and continually inspire my imagination.

It disheartens me when I hear of those who lost this lofty thinking and settled for more "realistic" expectations. One of the main reasons I teach art to elementary kids is to glimpse that fresh and limitless ingenuity, as well as promote it through creativity and fabrication. Children don't know how lucky they are that the world has not yet suppressed their ideals. They have virtually no limitations.

I am a firm believer in the fact that anything is possible, you just have to try. So many people are afraid to take risks and explore the possibilities. I have struggled with this concept myself over the years since my college graduation. Thoughts of settling into a steady routine with a stable job have crossed my mind, but allude to restriction and lifelessness. Never give up on yourself and ignore those that say what you can and can't do. Some of the best things my parents gave me were the encouragement to pursue my expansive thinking and the belief that I can succeed with hard work. For that I am truly thankful.