Passion and Puropse

I had the opportunity to speak to about 45-50 high school kids at a retreat a few weekends ago.

It’s been a long while since I’ve been in an environment like that. Once upon a time, into my late twenties, I spent 10 years in youth ministry with my local church’s youth group.

To add to my sense of nostalgia, it was hosted at a retreat center where I spent many formative years myself attending youth retreats and camps. It’s a place of life change for me. Although the grounds and buildings have been updated, I can still reminisce at every turn.

My topic for this informal talk was was “Passion and Purpose”.

I opened by asking a few questions.

“How many of you know what they were passionate about?”

Lots of hands went up with answers like - dancing, photography, sports, baking, fixing things, and so on.

“How many of you aren’t sure” A few hand shot up.

“How many of you wish I would stop asking people to raise their hands?” A brave snarky few raised their hands.  “You, my friends”, I countered, “might just have the gift of critical thinking.”

When I asked how many people knew their purpose, two hands went up. And I’d say that’s probably pretty spot on. Purpose is more slippery especially in our high school years. After all, we're still trying to figure out who we are. (Let’s be honest, many adults are still wrestling with these issues as well.)

So many times students hear the word potential.

“You have potential to be great at this. Keep it up.”

“One day, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”

But my challenge to them on this day was to identify something they considered a passion, and pair it with helping someone. Forget someday potential. You can do something TODAY. RIght where you are, with what you have.

Passionate about baking? Perhaps there’s a family near you that can’t even begin to think about food due to a new baby, or an illness in the family that keeps them busy with hospital visits.

Passionate about fixing things? Find that elderly neighbor who might need assistance with some household items that need fixing.

When we our passions collide with serving people, bringing them value, we can find a greater purpose. We get to use our gifts and talents, and other people get to be blessed by them. Everyone wins.

The thing is, it takes intentionality. We have to look beyond our own issues, hangups, hurts – all the self-centered things that can keep us preoccupied so that we don’t even notice the needs of those around us, let alone try to creatively serve them.

My hope is that if even a few of those students walked out of there with a different perspective, perhaps there could be a huge impact on their lives, and the ones they serve. A ripple effect of passion and purpose.

What about you? What are you passionate about? Do you have a sense of purpose?

Are there things that are causing you to not see the needs of the people around you? Who could you serve with your talents and passions?

Inside Look: Commissioning Custom Pet Portraits

I recently set up shop at a local pet expo to sell my pet art and receive custom commissions. I love doing these shows because I get to interact with people and their pets. It also helps me to explain some of the process in commissioning a pet portrait and often uncovers many questions people have.

Do I create the art live in the booth or need to do a home visit? (No. I use photo reference). Do they need the photo available in order to complete the purchase? (no. you can email me a photo or two and we can talk about what works best for your needs). After all, this is a big decision, and one doesn’t want to feel the pressure to choose the best photo on the spot to have their custom art created from.

So I thought I would walk through a little bit of the process to bring some insight and perhaps answer some questions you might have.

The first thing may seem obvious, but ask yourself “why do I want a custom pet portrait?” We have such special relationships with our pets. They love us unconditionally. They greet us when we come home from a bad day at work. They snuggle with us as we watch tv or read our favorite book. They make life sweeter. And the idea of creating portraits comes from the desire of wanting to celebrate an important relationship in our life. It might even be to help remember and memorialize a beloved pet who has passed on. These portraits become visual markers, that help us celebrate and remember. This is why I create custom, one of a kind pet portraits that capture your pet’s unique personality– so you can treasure them for years to come.

OK, so now that you’ve decided a custom pet portrait is right for you, it’s time to decide on the right size and options. If you have limited wall space, or already have some previous pet portraits you intend to hang this new one with, you might consider an 8x10 print. Do you have large wall space? Maybe a 30x40 inch canvas is the best fit for you. I currently offer 6 sizes: Standard- 8x10 & 11x17 (on a high quality luster photo paper with archival inks), Premium- 16x20 & 20x30 inch museum quality gallery wrapped canvas prints, and Platinum- 30x40 & 36x52 inch museum quality gallery wrapped canvas prints. Custom sizes also available.

This is really all you need to finalize your order through my website’s shop. I have created a page to help walk you through options and all you need to do is add the desired option to your shopping cart and check out.

What about customizations?

One option that is unique to my pet portraits is the choice of natural coloring of your pet, or you can choose what I call the “Rockstar” treatment, vibrant colors. Choose what fits your pet’s personality, or yours. Or what you feel will work given the colors on your walls.

"Rockstar" color treatment

Natural coloring option

Next up - do you want a headshot or full body portrait? If you’re not sure, you can send me your photo reference and we can talk about what might suit your needs best.

I also get asked is if I can include more that one pet in the portrait. The answer is yes! There’s even an add-on to place in your shopping cart for each additional pet. One note: I do not recommend more than 2 pets in the same portrait in smaller sizes. You won’t be able to appreciate each pet due to the size.

Are there certain colors you would like in the background? No problem. We can talk about what would work with the options you have chosen and get you the right fit.

Once you have check out, emailed your photo(s) along with your custom options of coloring and headshot / full body, I start creating your custom portrait. When ready, I then send you a digital proof for approval. Upon approval, I create the final art and print. For canvas options there is an additional 7-14 days for manufacturing.

That’s it!.

My goal is to make this process as simple and personal as possible.

So are you ready to get your custom pet portrait? Click here and let’s get started today!

Do you have more questions? Feel free to use the contact form at the bottom of this page and I’ll get right back to you!

3 Ways to Battle the Winter Blues

Winter blues are a very real thing. The days are shorter, darker and grayer. As you look across the landscape in where I live in the North East, it's dormant and bare. It can be quite depressing. 

The internal landscape can be challenging as well. For me when things are quiet, and there's seemingly a lack of opportunity, that all makes for a discouraging outlook. Being an artist, who feels deeply, makes this worse. These feelings of despair grab a hold and won't let go. It's like being trapped in quicksand (or at least from what i've seen in movies). The more you struggle, the more it pulls you down.

If you weren't depressed at the beginning of reading this post, you might be now. Aside from clinical depression, which is another matter entirely, how can we shake off these winter blues? Is there any hope? 

Here's a 3 things that I've found helpful in my own battle with the blues.
 

1. Dress for success

Get up. Shower. Shave. Do your hair & makeup (If you're a lady... or if you're in an 80's glam metal band). Put on nice clothes even if you don't have to. As someone who works from home, pursuing my art and entrepreneurial endeavors, it's way to easy to just stay in pajama's or comfy clothes. But pushing yourself to get dressed up forces you to look different, feel different and eventually act different. What does that look like for you in your context? Do you already work in an office where you have to dress up? Take it up a notch. Dress up even nicer. But be warned. You might have to field some “Nice outfit. Job interview today?” Comments.

2. Lean into the hustle

Start moving. All you might feel like doing is sitting on the couch and binge watching Netflix shows, but this is a slippery spiral down. And you never actually feel any better (probably worse, truth fully). Instead, as hard as it might seem to get motivated, get moving. Pick the smallest item on your do list and conquer it. (And don't start with something you already did, adding it to the list just to feel the satisfaction of crossing something out. Yup, busted.) Once you've done that first small task, do another small thing. Let the power of momentum carry you. Work you're way up to something you might have been avoiding for a long while. When you conquer that, you will probably have a pretty good feeling. Like you slayed a dragon. Or watched too much Game of Thrones.

3. Surround yourself with the stories

Again, I'm not talking about stories in the form of Netflix episodes where we're looking escape or be entertained. I'm talking about stories that can inspire us. Stories about others who have endured great hardship and came through victorious. A funny thing happens when we encounter someone who has, or is facing unbelievable circumstances. Suddenly our own woes seem small. The feelings lose their power. We just might find some points of identification that can inspire us. Maybe your own story can then go on to inspire someone else. But it can't do that while you're got your face in that gallon of ice cream, while your hiding under the blanket. In the dark. Listening to Johnny Cash sing "Hurt". There's only one story there, and it's sad. Pick up a book. Talk to a friend. The stories are out there. Go get them!

Bonus round: Travel

This has always fallen into the "must be nice" category for me. Seeing other people pick up and travel to sunny, warm places while I'm stuck in the cold elicits other not so nice feelings. Bust try to that aside for a minute. Focus on what you CAN do. Where you CAN go. Even if it's local. Get out of your surroundings & the monotony of your routine. Go to a park. Take a "mental health day" and go to a nearby city, a museum, or theater to see a play. Take that day trip to that place you've been talking about for years. Go exploring. It's not so important where. It's more putting yourself in a place that's new or different and letting your surroundings speak to you. It can do wonders to change your outlook. 

That's by no means a complete list but just a few ideas that have and do help me when I'm battling the winter blues.

What about you? How do you battle the winter blues or times of discouragement & depression? Leave a comment below. It might be just the thing someone else needs today!

Kindness Conspiracy Challenge

The old saying (not that old really) is that everything lives forever on the internet. This is absolutely true. I just stumbled upon an old Wordpress blog I had from a number of years ago.

As I scroll, and occasionally winced, I did come across some things that still hold true today, or I can see the germ of an idea that has now come to fruition. (Then there's all the old photo and such that makes it feel like a full on nostalgia fest)

One of the posts still holds very true to the core of who I am, so I figured I'd repost it. It's really what is behind every piece of art I create and my desire to bring value and benefit to your world. Enjoy!

When I was a kid, my mom used to drag me out to stores. Not toy stores, but stores where she would go clothes shopping. Bored out of my mind, one day I decided that I would start holding the door open for people entering the store. (Obviously in this day and age, a kid by himself by the door would be an easy target to snatch – but let’s hold onto the innocence of another time for the moment). What I encountered was pretty interesting. People smiled and said thank you. And I felt pretty good doing something kind for people that was pretty easy. In an otherwise hurried existence (and maybe holding doors open in a non-hurried culture is more of where you may be from, but probably not) a simple act like holding open a door could brighten someone’s day.

Ever since then, I have made it a habit to hold doors open for people, and say thank you to people (Instilled by my grandma too). Try it today. For one whole day, go out of your way to hold open doors & say thank you. See what happens. You just might brighten someone’s day. And you’ll also be acting according to the “golden rule”  – Do for others what you would want them to do for you.

If you try this, I’d love to hear any stories that might come from your experiences. Feel free to post below. Let’s start a kindness conspiracy!

Sharing my "Heart"

Earlier this week I shared about how I'm taking part in a fundraiser for cancer research with proceeds going to Lungevity. The fundraiser is being organized by Cut Artisan Hair Design in Flemington, NJ, with over 20 local artists lending their talents to create art on a heart. The art will be on display the entire month of February (at Cut) and available for sale.

I asked many of you what you would do given this opportunity. What kind of art would you create? I received a lot great answers. In the end, I opted to recreate art from the "Worship (Sensate)" painting I created last year.

I'm titling this one "Surrender". Sometimes, especially in light of our troubles and difficulties, we have to come to a place of surrender in our hearts. It's often hard to come to a place where we can confess that God is good, even when our circumstances are far from it. There's a song Called "Blessed Be Your Name" that speaks about offering praise to God, even when there is pain in the offering. My hope is that this art can help bring comfort to someone who may find themselves trapped between what they believe to be true and what their current reality is telling them.

I'd Like to Do Something For You

Art inspired by @jujusart on Instagram

The other night, I was sitting in a Shake Shack (sucking down a delicious chocolate shake), waiting for my daughter’s dance class to be finished. It feels like one of those moments, where you finally find yourself sitting still.

It’s catching up in the margins, wherever we can. You know what I mean? In between appointments, at red lights, in line at the grocery store… And on the front of my brain is the reminder of all that I'm behind in accomplishing. Even getting a bit behind in my blogging.

Can I be honest? It makes me pause. I don’t want to create more content just because that's what you're supposed to do in today's culture. I don't want to send out another email to my PACK that clogs up their inbox. Another post or one of "those" emails, the ones that just creates more noise in your world. Or something else to make you scroll on by.

Our attention is precious these days, so I want you to know that I greatly appreciate that you are reading this. My hope, since you’ve come to my site, that my art has added value to your life at some point (or if you're new, welcome!) . Maybe It was during a pet show and our mutual love of animals brought us together, or we geeked out together a Walker Stalker Con or FanFest, or you clicked on a social media link, visited my website and saw art that resonated with you.

However you came upon my art, we’re connected. And to be honest, that’s a big part of why I do what I do. CONNECTION.

I want to create art that adds benefit, beauty, and value to your life. And I highly value our connection in the process.

The art I create might take different forms - a custom pet portrait, Star Wars | The Walking Dead | Pop Culture fan art, Yoga art, and so on - but I hope the end result is the same - something I create touching your life.

I hope I can bring more of that in 2017.

So how can I bring value to your world through my art?

Are you looking for a unique Valentine’s Day gift? Maybe a custom pet portrait would be perfect.

Do you practice yoga? Would you like to commemorate a special pose achievement by having me create some art to encourage you on your fitness journey?

Recently, I even created a custom portrait of a home for a real estate agent whose client sold their home of over 30 years. He wanted them to have a special remembrance they could hang in their new home that would remind them of all the special moments they shared as a family.

So may I ask -  how can we connect so i can serve you through my art this year? Would you take 2 seconds right now, leave me a comment and let me know?

Whatever form it takes, I hope I can create some more meaningful art for you this year. Thanks for traveling with me and I look forward to the connections we make soon!
 

An Unresolved Idea: The Art of Storytelling

This is going to be one of those blog posts that doesn't have a bow on top. It's not going to resolve nicely, or present a complete narrative, or 5 ways to do such and such. No, this post is just me sharing an idea. Sharing something incomplete. Who knows, maybe you’ll help play a part in helping complete it.

Last year, I came to the realization that there just might be more opportunity in this thing I “just do”, namely drawing. Out of that and a trip to a conference called Tribe, was born a new service I now provide - event sketching. You can read more about that here.

This year, i’m feeling prompted to take that idea further. I need to tell more stories in my art - on location and in the moment drawings of people and places, events and stories. A kind of experiencing and then reporting with the art that is created.

I’ve done a little of this in the past. A few years ago, I was able to go on a missions trip with my church, partnering with Living Water International, an organization that helps bring clean water to those most in need of it. We were sent to help build a well, and teach the village about hygiene and the importance of clean water.

While on this trip to Nicaragua, I brought along a sketchbook and chronicled the trip. I drew and painted everything from the travel, to the teammates, to the activities we did and the people we met. At the time I didn’t realize how important this act of creating art in the moment would actually be. It’s been a few years, but I can open that sketchbook and vividly remember details that not even a photograph could help capture. The stories I encountered are forever linked with the art I created.

“The stories I encountered are forever linked with the art I created.”

Fast forward to today. I’ve been intentionally taking more time out to be quiet, listen and pray. This idea returns to me. How can I tell more stories through my art this year? How can I leverage it for the benefit and service of others, especially those without a voice, those who need to have their story told? What could that look like?

These are the questions i’m pondering. I don’t know what that looks like yet. I don’t have opportunity, connections, resources, money…. or anything really, except this idea. Maybe something happens, maybe it doesn't. I really don't know to be honest. But perhaps you have a thought to contribute, or another piece of the puzzle. If you do, I'd love to hear it.

So that's all I’ve got for now. This embryo of an idea. Maybe it's premature to bring out into the light, but the thing is, this idea feels bigger than me. So it's not about me keeping it under wraps until I figure it out, it's about releasing this and seeing if it resonates with more people too. And grows.

Whatever happens, I hope to create more art that tells stories that honor people, and glorify God.

What story would you tell through art?

Basement Blues: Beginning with the End in Mind

This past weekend I spent a great deal of time in my basement. Things had gotten a bit unruly down there (as things tend to do in basements). And I’ve been putting off dealing with it for some time now, but I really need the space. I wouldn’t be able to pursue a few new goals without it.

What I wanted to do was just plow ahead with my goals. But in reality, I had to go back and undo some things first. I had to deal with the mess before I could move forward. The ol’ “sometimes we have to take a step backwards before taking two steps forward.”

“I had to deal with the mess before I could move forward.”

It was a bit daunting at first. There was so much to sort through that I wasn’t sure where to begin. It was tempting to quit before I even began (just turn away slowly, back up the stairs and click the light off…). But I knew that this is where I had to start.

This goes deeper than a New Year’s resolution. And this has less to do with the new year and more to do with the fact I’m involved with some artist coaching that presented the challenge to “begin with the end in mind” at this point in time. In other words, the challenge is to take a look at where you want to be at the end of the year and begin to schedule specific blocks of time to get things accomplished (and with these blocks, the space needed to work).

The real shift for me (as a self proclaimed night owl) was to get myself to bed at a decent hour and to rise earlier. And along with that, I set up my exercise bike for a daily 20 minutes first thing in the morning. (Yes, even before coffee... ~ gasp ~). And of course, it’s hard to use said exercise bike when it’s being used as a clothes rack. (Don’t judge. You know you've done that too…).

I powered through my cleaning frenzy like the Tasmanian Devil, and managed to clear things out. Now a different kind of hard work began.

I’m only a few days into these changes but I’m feeling pretty optimistic. After all, this April will be my 6th year of doing 365 consecutive days of daily art making, so I know that there is a part of me that can be disciplined.

I also think having to put in several hours into cleaning up my basement upped the stakes for me. I not only set up my bike, but I assembled my new easel and rearranged my painting area. At the end of 2017, I want to have put in at roughly 20 minutes of exercise a day, and to have painted at least 24 new (physical / non-digital) paintings (along with my usual work).

Have you ever considered what you want the end of your 2017 to look like? What would be at the top of your end game?

When You Suck at Celebrating

I have a hard time stopping and celebrating the good things that have just passed. I'm not talking about birthdays or special occasions. I'm talking about celebrating those milestone moments in personal achievements. To put it plainly, I suck at celebrating.

Part of this, I think, is due to working in environments where deadlines were fast and furious, within organizations that were always striving to take more ground. That’s not a critique of those organizations, rather just a by-product sometimes. Do that for a number of years, and you get programmed to just keep your eye to the horizon. 

As a culture, we gather around us ideas of “never looking back” or “the past is behind us. What’s done is done.” The problem I have with that idea is that when you don’t celebrate your wins, it’s easy to lose sight of how far you’ve come, and what you have accomplished.  

Someone sent me an email the other day asking about highlights from 2016. It took me a long while to think about how to answer. I knew I had “done stuff”, I just couldn’t really remember anything specific. I had to go back to my calendar, and think long and hard. Finally, I started to remember, and I felt a reason to celebrate rising in me.

Now, I hesitate to share these things, as I don’t want to appear boastful. Hopefully, you know me enough, or can understand my heart from this post, to know that’s not my purpose. I just have the feeling I’ll need this reminder, when things seem slow, and opportunity scarce, that good things have happened, and will happen again. So would you allow me the indulgence, and even join in my celebration?

Here’s a few 2016 highlights:

- I was a vendor at many Artist Alley’s this year, including Walker Stalker and Heroes and Villains events. While a lot of these shows weren’t very financially successful for me, they did provide some moments to celebrate like getting to meet & interact with a few celebrities (& even give them my art!)

- Having my art chosen to be on Talking Dead with Chris Hardwick, as the fan art of the week!

- Getting hired to create art by Kweku Mandela (Nelson Mandela's Grandson) who is an activist involved in Global Citizen events. He had me create art for five of the headlining acts - Kendrick Lamar, Major Lazer, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, and Metallica. He personally handed my art to each artist the day of the event. And I even got to be his special guest at an invitation only event prior to the main event. I blogged about it here. 

- Creating art of "Chewbacca Mom" (AKA Candace Payne) on Instagram, then 24 hours into all the viral video stuff, having her call me to ask if she could use it for free stickers at a Dallas ComicCon. How does that even happen?

- I launched my very first online teaching course “Your Artists’ Journey” 

- And of course, in a last minute effort, submitted my video for The Abundant Artist scholarship and won. And I never win anything! 

In August, I was let go from my full-time position due to financial reasons. I decided it was time to go all in on my own art career. And while I’m still in startup mode, working towards financial stability, I’m thankful for the many of you who have commissioned me to create art and/or bought prints and paintings, especially during this holiday season. I’ve met so many wonderful people along the way this year at various events, shows, conferences, and online communities. I'm thankful for you all!

I hope 2017 is filled with many more moments to celebrate wonderful opportunities like these (and more!). Thanks so much for being a part of my journey!

What are some highlights from your 2016? I’d love to know! Leave me a comment and let’s keep the celebration going.

'Tis the Season... For Sadness and Hope

"Undone" Acrylic on 20x20 canvas. Original painting available for purchase.

I was planning on posting something different today, but I'm following my heart on this one. 

I posted the following on Facebook earlier today and it seems to have resinated with a lot of people, so I'm reposting it here. Someone (maybe you) might need to read this today.

I'm in Starbucks. One woman greets another as they pass. One of the women breaks down crying, delivering sad news to her friend.

I'm reminded once again.

As we walk around this Christmas season, there are people who are doing their best to hold it all together. Every so often, the smiling exterior cracks, as they break down to cry.
It's right there behind their eyes. You might be reading this, tearing up because I just described you. You are carrying the hurt with you always, and can feel invisible.

I see you. You are loved. And not to get all "churchy" - but this season is for you - Christmas. The season when God came to Earth in the form of a little baby. Immanuel means "God with us". He's with you in your brokenness, in your pain, in your sorrow. You are not alone.

Most days I'm just as guilty as anyone of rushing around, not dialed in to those around me. There's stuff to get done. Hurry pushes me along. And I miss those who are hurting right in front of me. And the Christmas season usually just amps things up even more. 

What if we were more intentional about looking and seeing the people right in front of us?

We might just be the answer to someone's prayer. A shoulder to cry on. A helping hand. Even a moment of acknowledging someone else's pain. Entering it for a few moments in time. It just might make all the difference.  

The thing is, we all know that when we've been in that dark hurting place, what a lifeline it was when people around us cared for us. Really cared. What happens to those who don't have close friends or family? Or those who stuff their emotions because they were taught that you just don't share them with others. The silent suffering.

I found myself praying today "God, give me eyes to see those who are hurting. And if you want, use me to bring some hope, even if it's just for a moment."

Even if you're not the praying kind, may I challenge you to take a moment out and look around you for someone who is hurting?

Portrait of Emily

I had the privilege of creating this portrait of Emily as a Christmas present for Ryan's wife. Unfortunately, the surprise got leaked but she loved it!

Here's what Ryan had to say "I have been a fan of Mike's work for a long time and after our Christmas shoot with our daughter Emily I felt like I had the perfect picture to be made into a portrait in his amazing style. While I spilled the beans on the Christmas present early, my wife loves the portrait. Mike was able to capture both the physical details of Emily, but also her joyful disposition. We are thrilled to have this keepsake marking Emily's first birthday and second Christmas".

 - Ryan 

Christmas cats in the mail

Way back in the day, long before email and the internet, people wrote letters. By hand. I had a few "pen pals" back in high school / college and used to draw all over the envelopes for people. It was a fun little surprise for them.

Serving people with art can take many forms. Today, I'm mailing out a card with a little Christmas cat drawing. I hope it brings smiles 😸!

What is one simple way you can use your gifts to bring someone a smile this holiday season?

If it's just "something you do" - it might be closer at hand than you think!

When You Need Thanksgiving to Keep Giving

Thanksgiving was last week. Most of us have moved on to thinking about Christmas / Hanukkah / the New Year. But I have a confession to make. I need Thanksgiving to hang around.

I'm not talking about the holiday traditions - the incredible food, extended time with family, watching the NBC Thanksgiving Day Parade and the National Dog Show (along with sneaking in some March of the Wooden Soldiers). Those are all wonderful, and I love them. But what I need to hang around is actually the THANKS in Thanksgiving.

Another confession: it's easy to go through the motions of Thanksgiving and not really be thankful. That happens with things you get too familiar with. After all, Thanksgiving is every year.

I found myself struggling with thinking about all the lack in my life lately. (And yes, I know that I am incredibly blessed compared to most of the world.) But it's difficult to shake a perspective that locks you in on what you don't have, the needs that are pressing in all around you despite your best efforts. The more you focus on the lack, the bigger it becomes.

I was reading a book the other day with daily readings called "Jesus Calling". That days reading had to do with giving thanks, most challenging to let "thankfulness rule in your heart..."

“Let thankfulness rule in your heart. As you thank Me for blessings in your life, a marvelous thing happens. It is as if scales fall off your eyes, enabling you to see more and more of My glorious riches. With your eyes thus opened, you can help yourself to whatever you need from My treasure house. Each time you receive one of My golden gifts, let your thankfulness sing out praises to My Name. “Hallelujahs” are the language of heaven, and they can become the language of your heart. A life of praise and thankfulness becomes a life filled with miracles. Instead of trying to be in control, you focus on Me and what I am doing. This is the power of praise: centering your entire being in Me. This is how I created you to live, for I made you in My own image. Enjoy abundant life by overflowing with praise and thankfulness.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. . . . And be thankful.”

— Jesus Calling

The truth is, trying to create your own business is extremely hard when it comes to striving. There's always more to do. More to create. Lack stares you in the face. And the whisper that if you hit things that much harder, get more ambitious and HUSTLE more, then you'll be on track. But it's a vicious cycle void of any thanksgiving, or celebration.

So prompted by my reading, I decided to write in my daily journal all the things I was thankful for. At first it felt forced and clumsy, but that soon broke way to actual thanks. I poured out as much as I could, thanking God for who He is in my life, all He has and is doing, and all He has blessed me with - even the LACK. The lack actually is more opportunity to trust Him, His provision and leading in my life. I thanked him for my wonderful wife and children, the opportunity to pursue my art, a home, my dogs, clean water, food... four pages later, I had to stop because I had to move on to an appointment. But it fixed my attention and perspective. At least for a little while. That's why I want to keep Thanksgiving close by.

What about you? What are you truly thankful for today?

Yoga art inspired by @karidane #art #yoga #digitalart #fitness #wellness #health

World Domination Begins... Meow.

Ok, so not to leave my cat loving friends out. Here's a new shirt "World Domination Begins.. Meow." only available on my Teepublic shop - ONLY $14

Tag a cat lover. or Megalomaniac.

http://tee.pub/lic/PyJq4qbRqLQ or MikeBrennanAD on teepublic.com

#cat #catlover #catshirt #worlddomination #catlady #tee #shirt #pet #catsofinstagram #catlove #catstagram #catworld #tee #giftideas #giftsforher #giftsforhim

People often ask me if I can do portraits other than pet portraits (or yoga art)

People often ask me if I can do portraits other than pet portraits (or yoga art). The answer is yes! Here's a portrait I did this past Father's Day. What special occasion or relationship would you capture in a portrait? #art #portrait #artist #digitalpainting #commission #custom #customart #giftideas

When an Idea Won't Let You Go

A digital sketch of tourists seated in Times Square, NYC. 11/30/14

Have you ever gotten caught in the tractor beam of an idea that just won't let you go?

I had such an experience at a recent conference I was attending. But more on that in a minute...

It's no secret that I love to draw. I always have. And in recent years, I have been know to carry a sketchbook around with me. Waiting in line at a six flags theme park? No problem. Sketch. Stuck in an airport? Sketch. Out at a museum? Sketch. 

It's more than passing the time. It's capturing it. I can recall ordinary moments with clarity when I've taken the time to look – really see – and sketch. Whether or not the moment may be worthy, isn't the point, but rather to be fully present and find inspiration all around. 

Sketches of my Daughter's cheerleading competition, my other daughter's Tae Kwon Do competition and my mom's belly dancing recital. 

I've even sketched during my mothers belly dancing recital (yes, you read that right…another story for another time.) and my daughters Tae Kwon Do completion. I sketched during a clean water missions trip to Nicaragua. Moments and feelings get interpreted into art made live in the moment. And now I have a visual record that penetrates so much more than snapshot photos.

Ironically, there are times we’re so close to things that we just don't see them. We can't recognize the value in something we “just do" – something that comes naturally to us, but others are amazed at. It's at this intersection that an idea started to beckon.

“We can’t recognize the value in something we “just do” – something that comes naturally to us, but others are amazed at. It’s at this intersection that an idea started to beckon.”

And here is where we come back to that conference I mentioned.  During the conference, someone posed the question to me: "What would it look like to take that thing you "just do" and offer it as a valuable service to others?" The more we spoke, and I spoke with others, the more apparent it became to me that none of us had ever seen anything like this before. 

I started to ask a few questions of my own.

What if there was a unique way to capture the events and special moments of your conference or special event?

A way that made you stand out from other events?

Drumroll please... I'm proud to say that’s exactly what you get when you book me to live sketch your event. As a Visual Artist, I'll create live digital sketches of your conference or event in real time. These are not mass produced images, but rather, Art that is created from carefully curated moments that tell stories from your event in a one-of-a-kind way.

The professional term for this is Reportage Illustration, or sometimes Urban Sketching. Think of it as a form of storytelling and journalism, only with digital sketches (in my case). There’s actually a term for it called “Reportage Art”.  Artist Veronica Lawlor defines it as “..Reportage [art] or documentary drawing… means to go out into the world and carry back what we experience behind our pen or brush.”

Do you host events or know people who would benefit from my service?

Visit my Event Sketches page for more info and examples. 

Today, I quit.

At least once a month I get overcome with discouragement and want to quit. 

I've been working harder on pursuing my dream of being an ARTrepreneur than anything else I've ever done. I show up every day to do the work. I put in long hours. I plan the best I know how. I'm leaning into those areas where I am weak or need knowledge and guidance. I'm doing all the things that those blog posts, websites and online courses say to do. 

The part of chasing your dream that not many people talk about is the intensity of emotion that can wash over you like a title wave. What happens when you're doing all the "right" things and you still don't seem to have the traction or results you desire?

On days like that where opportunities seem scarce, sales are low and the proverbial phone isn't ringing, this voice comes, and whispers in my ear. “Quit. This is too hard. No one cares about you or your art. Why put yourself through this? Why put your family through this?”

And then the voice plays real dirty. It reminds me of the pain of the past. Past failures. Depression. It reminds me of the pain of loosing finances, loosing jobs, loosing a community, having had to sell our house, wondering what to do next, and if this was what life would look like from now on... Experiences so painful that they still have sting to them years later. 

The voice tries to tell me that if it happened once, it could happen again. And I just can't bear to go through that again. I wouldn't survive.

And there it is. The predisposition to let the past dictate the future.

In his book, Shut Your Monkey, Danny Gregory talks about the inner critic as being a monkey. The monkey likes to keep us from becoming who we’re meant to become, and tries to prevent us from doing the work we are meant to do. His advice is to acknowledge the monkey but then tell him to shut it! Don't let him convince you to quit.

Truthfully, sometimes we do need to quit. But we need to learn to quit the right things. So instead of giving up on your dream, quit something else.

Quit the self doubt. Quit listening to that negative voice. Quit the "What If’s". Quit feeding the fear. Quit living out of past experiences. Quit the scarcity mentality. Quit complaining. Quit feeling sorry for yourself. 

But DON'T quit on YOU. 

“Quitting is not giving up, it’s choosing to focus your attention on something more important. Quitting is not losing confidence, it’s realizing that there are more valuable ways you can spend your time. Quitting is not making excuses, it’s learning to be more productive, efficient and effective instead. Quitting is letting go of things (or people) that are sucking the life out of you so you can do more things that will bring you strength.”

— Osayi Emokpae Lasisi, Impossible Is Stupid

On dark days, it's easy to lose hope. It's easy to get tired and get tempted to give up. But we might be right around the bend of something revolutionary. 

So today, instead of quitting my dream, i’m quitting the belief that my past will dictate my future. I have to keep pursuing the very thing that comes from deep with in me. I am, and always will be an Artist.

What about you? When are you tempted to quit? How do you battle your inner critic?
 

My Secrets to Creating Mixed Media Art

Have you ever wished you could peek over an artists shoulder to watch them work? Ever wondered about the process or tools & supplies used? Or wished for a peek into an artist's working studio space? Lean in closer for some secrets!

Well, I recently had the opportunity to participate in a Facebook Live broadcast where I did just that, as well as completed a live demonstration finishing a mixed media pet portrait. 

See how it went from this...

...to this! Watch the video below!

And although it will live on in the archives over at the Vango Art Facebook page, I thought it would be great to share with all of you who frequent my blog.

While you might not have the benefit of watching it live, you can still ask me any questions you might have. Just leave your questions in the comment section below!

Like the final piece? It's called "Van Gogh's Dog" and is a mixed media piece on 11 x 9 paper. It's available for purchase.

The Birth of a Digital Artist in the Midst of Nuns and Video Games

My parents were big believers in education, and specifically staying up on technology. Perhaps they saw how the ever-evolving technology surrounding computers was effecting their world even in the early 1980's. So they made sure their kids had opportunity to learn.

My first computer class was in the basement of a convent. No joke. It was on an Apple II computer. This all makes sense to me now, as it solidified my pursuit of my beliefs, established me as a die hard Apple user, and drew me into loving technology. I just left the nun part alone. (although I was a Pastor for a number of years, so there's that.)

Fast forward to around 1983, and my parents got me my very own computer, a Commodore 64. I used it mostly for trying to copy code from the Compute! Gazette magazine (which mostly failed. No bouncing ball for me) or playing video games (Rambo, Bruce Lee and Spy Hunter to name a few). I had proudly graduated from my Atari 2600. Now I was living the dream, compete with my newly found information of using both sides of a floppy disc and pirating software with friends (This went downhill fast, didn't it?)

I remember vividly, when I was in the 8th grade, and my parents had bought me a KoalaPad touch tablet (it's pretty crude by today's standards, but revolutionary for 1984.) and an Okidata Okimate 10 color printer (color, oh my!) for my Commodore 64.

Okidata Okimate 10 Printer. State of the art for it's time!

The KoalaPad was a drawing tablet that consisted of a 4″x4″ drawing area and two buttons, and was released by Koala Technologies for multiple 8-bit computers The KoalaPad also came with KoalaPainter, a pretty basic drawing program that allowed useres to draw basic shapes, colors, and load and save their creations. I know this sounds like stone tablets to todays users, but there was no PhotoShop. This was it!

KoalaPad - the original "Pad"

This opened up a new world for me. I already loved drawing, but the thought of drawing using the computer, fusing together two things I loved? Now, that was where it was at. 

I knew that my 8th grade English teacher shared a love of Opus from the comic strip Bloom County, so I drew her an Opus and gave her a color printout. She treasured it, and my desire to use art with technology to bring people joy was solidified. Even that early age, I understood the importance of serving others through my art and bringing them value.

Ever since I was a kid, my art has always been connected to helping people. My first memories of creating were centered around drawing pictures and creating my own greeting cards for family and friends. I loved the way my art made an impact on them and brought them joy. So all of this just made sense to me.

Today, I do a wide variety of types of art – graphic design, pet portraits, pop culture art, faith based and more. It is still creating art that connects with the heart around shared experiences. And a lot of my art is digital, a medium some feel lacks heart ironically. The tools have changed (thankfully!) but MY heart hasn't. 

I'm so thankful for those humble beginnings. They laid the foundation for today. I had no idea back in the basement of that convent that I would one day be pursuing art and technology, leveraging them for the benefit of others. 

So what about you?

What past experiences of yours have contributed to what you are doing today?

Leave me a comment. I'd love to know!