Yoga is Good For Artists (And Jedi Masters Too)

After my trip to India in December, I decided to enroll in Yoga Teachers Training. I've practiced Yoga off and on for 15 years and I like the 'on' better than 'off'. I'm looking forward to teaching it here in my community eventually, maybe even a class just for artists. As an artist (duh), one thing I always noticed is that I become incredibly creative after Yoga class and feel about a thousand times better than I did when I walked in. It's just plain ol' good for you. As artists, we spend a lot time sitting on uncomfortable drawing stools or ergonomically-challenged chairs, and awkwardly hunched over the drawing table. Since social networking, maintaining our online presence, and constantly updating our online portfolio is a must, we definitely spend a ton of time glued to the 'puter (I mean, here you are, right?:). All this sitting, and hunching, and computer-ing generates a serious case of the yuks - fatigue, back ache, neck ache, and the list goes on. Not good for painting pretty pictures. So here's a few ways Yoga can help you feel better and be more productive.

1. Artist tends to suffer from back/neck pain because of how we sit (or stand) all day while drawing, painting, and working on the computer. In Yoga, you do a lot of stretching of the back, neck, and shoulders which will help reduce those awful aches which interfere with creativity and enthusiasm for your work.

2. Yoga promotes a sense of calm in the mind and body. You'll notice you won't be as frustrated or frazzled when deadlines get shortened, or work piles up, or your sketches aren't coming along as well as you (or the clients) would like, or when you're dealing with the demands of freelancing.

3. Yoga strengthens your back muscles! You'll be able to sit without pain or with less pain and for longer periods of time. If you travel a lot for conventions or conferences, like I do, you can practice Yoga in your hotel room, and you'll feel better sitting at your booth all day on those awful folding chairs. Or maybe you prefer to stand, in which case, you'll be able to do that for longer periods of time too.

4. When we sit at the computer all day, or the drawing table, we tense up and tend to breath very shallowly. This creates stress in the body which can lead to illness. Ack! Yoga focuses on breath and in most classes you'll learn how to breath deeply and with awareness in each pose. The benefit is that this will help you feel better, stay healthier, and be more relaxed when you're drawing (especially at the computer).

5. In most yoga classes, you'll do some kind of meditation or visualization which when done over time will expand your creativity and imagination. And who doesn't want more of that?

If you're interested in finding a yoga class near you, here's a really cool yoga class finder. http://www.yoga.com/ydc/connect/studio_search.asp

I hope you find these tips useful. I'd love to hear your thoughts about Yoga if you're an artist who practices. Has Yoga improved your creativity? In what ways? How often do you practice? What style of yoga do you?

Thanks for being here! And I hope you enjoy my Yoda illustrations. Yoga doing Yoda was too tempting to resist.

Five ArtFire Sellers Who Rock!

I started using Artfire.com recently as a place to sell my original illustrations, prints, trading cards, and other assorted handmade goodies. I really love it so far. It's easy to use, buyers don't have to log in to purchase, and it's a really supportive community of artists and crafters. Here are five I think you should know about. I hope you take a look at their amazing creations (and maybe treat yourself to a little somethin'!).


Sticks and Stones
I purchased a pair of earrings from this seller, and I love them!


Crafts Design by Shaheerah
Elegant, handmade greeting cards. Every time I see her store, I want to grab my scissors, an exacto knife, and some colorful paper and start making cards!


She's Batty Designs
Paper goodies galore! A REALLY fun store with spooky, silly, whimsical fun greeting cards, gift tags, and more. I smile every time I stop by.


Christy DeKoning
Beautiful portraits of pets and people from Christy De Koning.


Canadian Rockies Art
Handmade jewelry with inspiring messages and lots of positive vibes. One of my favorites!

And if you want to see my Artfire store, it's here! CLICK!

Trading Card Trade!

Recently I was fortunate enough to nab this adorable trading card from artist Bob Ostrom. In exchange, he chose one of my piggy cards. If you haven't seen Bob's art, definitely go check it out. Quite a talent, and super nice guy as well! BOB'S STUDIO (CLICK HERE!)


I'm always up for a trade and will be posting some cards for trade soon! If you're interested in a trade, send me an email or leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for the awesome card, Bob!

Daily Sketch 01/25/10

I have a growing interest in those goofy things called Chakras. Once again, thank you India! Today, early in the morning before I headed off to 6 hours of Yoga teachers training, I just HAD to get in a quick sketch. This took me all of about 20 minutes, and I enjoyed every minute. And it inspired the concept for my next print based on the seven main chakras which I will reveal soon! It's going to be fun, even if you don't know what chakras are. Maybe I'll even do a print related to Yoga postures, featuring of course, Bunny (who else:).

Illustration Friday - WILDERNESS (& Daily Sketch for 1/18)

UPDATE: 1/20/10 Ok, here's the final color art for Illustration Friday- Wilderness! Woohoo! Finished! This was one of the first paintings I've done in a while wherein I felt completely grounded, centered, focused. Albeit there were a few minor distractions, both necessary and unintentional, but for the most part, I felt very peaceful painting this. In India, the challenge was put to me to radiate bliss in 2010, including in my art. I think it was very good advice, and I think the happy grins here say it all!



India is definitely creeping into my art. This is loosely based on Ganesh (veryloosely). But I'm feeling some influences, and will enjoy as I trust them to evolve through my art. This is also my Daily Sketch for today, January 18th. I will begin painting tomorrow, hopefully!

Sketch Victims In A Starbucks

Remember the other day when I talked about needing to get to the nearest coffee shop just for the sound of a human voice? Well, today I found myself at a Starbucks saying "With whip, please." It was the best peppermint hot chocolate I may have had all year, which can really only be attributed to the fact that I was sipping and sketching. I carefully selected my unknowing sketch victims and enjoyed some art downtime. That is, no worries about putting together packets of art samples, designing my new 2010 postcard (oh wait! I haven't done that), or finishing that darn book that keeps calling out to me (sorry book-I've been jetlagged, then there were the holidays, I had a bit of a cold, blah blah...). Anyway, I doodled for a little over an hour, daydreamed a bit, doodled some more, then went to the bookstore to read up on Chakras (another post, one day, maybe). So here's what I came up with, and I'm rather pleased at the results. I think there's a nice quality to the line in the loose drawing of the guy in the cap. By the way, this also qualifies as my daily sketch for today, January 15, 2010.

Oh, and let me say that there's a MUCH better coffee shop in Evanston called Wild Tree Cafe. It was just I was in the vicinity of a Starburcks. When are we not these days.

Hopefully you had some downtime today, or you're planning some downtime this weekend. Relax. Enjoy. Be Blissful.

6 Things To Do When You Feel Like Doing Nothing

Every now and again while you're trying to draw (or write or make music, whatever you do) that ugly little monster called Zero Motivation sneaks up on you. It's always when you're not expecting it. It strikes without warning. Thankfully, with a little encouragement, we can send it away. Here's how.

1. Write it a letter. Something like this:
Dear Zero,
Just wanted to say so long. It's been great. Thanks for giving me a break from my busy schedule. I guess you weren't so bad after all. I did manage to just sit still and do nothing for a while, which is pretty unbelievable considering I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. But seriously, thanks. See ya. You're outta here.

Love, me

2. Play with the cats.
They've been bugging you for the better part of the day anyway. Get off yer butt and go play with your cats.

3. Get out of the house (or studio). Now.
I work from home in my studio like many of you. Often the lack of human interaction causes some disturbing need run to the nearest coffee shop just for the sound of a human voice asking, "Do you want skim or regular?" You really don't want either. But it sure sounds nice to hear someone else's vocal chords in action. Go now. It will help.

4. Watch a Three Stooges clip, like this one.



5.Be silly. Seriously.
Remember when you were a kid and you used to whirl around til you were re-tasting your pb&j, then you whirled some more, and you suddenly found yourself face up (or down) in the grass? Go do that. You'll feel better in a really weird I-wish-I-hadn't-just-done-that kind of way. You'll forget all about being unmotivated.

6. Believe this one truth: It'll pass.
Feeling unmotivated happens to us all. Let experience remind you that it'll pass, because it will. You might feel a bit tortured in the meantime, but that's ok. It'll make you appreciate your energized moments of brilliance all the more!

What do you do to distract yourself when you're feeling unmotivated to draw, paint, write, or work?

Daily Sketch 01/13/10

Ok, so this isn't a sketch as much as a finished painting, but who said I had to follow my rules?

And one other thing I realized tonight. It seems as though my colors are getting much brighter and have a more energized feel or quality. I wonder if this could be the influence of my December trip to India seeping into my work. I always tend to show influences of my travels in my art. Not only has meditating every day since returning from India helped me on in my personal life, but I'm also feeling more grounded within my art. I feel as though I'm letting myself really just paint and draw whatever the heck makes me happy. If it makes me happy, it's bound to have a positive influence on parents and children and whoever else sees it. That's one of my goals. I hope the transformation in my art continues. I'm sure that it will.

Daily Sketch 01/11/10

Daily Sketch 01/10/10

Today I give you "Happy Yoda"! Enjoy!

Also, here's my Daily Sketch from yesterday...

And oops - from Friday!

Quite Possibly The Creepiest Critter On Earth - Star Nosed Mole

This HAS to be one of the most intriguing little critters currently inhabiting planet Earth! I am utterly fascinated by him/her/it. It's called a Star-Nosed mole. Who the heck knew they made 'em this creepy? Check out the video below and watch him action! I kind of love this ugly little fellow!

Daily Sketch 01/07/10

"Look What I Drew!"

She's quite proud of herself. All it was took was a piece of sidewalk chalk! Life should always be this simple:) Enjoy!

Daily Sketch 01/06/10 - Just Bee

There's something I really enjoy about these quick doodles, especially doing the ink washes. She's a cutie, isn't she. I'm not sure why I decided to draw this little lady in a Bee costume but I went with it. Then I heard a little whisper, and it made sense. "Just bee."

Daily Sketch 01/05/09- The Happy Couple

One simply cannot be crabby, pouty, or poopy when drawing these silly grins every day!I decided to turn this daily sketch into an ACEO. If you'd like to purchase the original, it's in my Artfire.com store here.

10 Reasons You Should Be An Artist (If You Aren't One Already)

1. The longer you wait to scratch the itch, the worse the rash will get! You've wanted to be an artist since you were a little kid. Parents or teachers or both said no way, it's not feasible, you won't make a living, don't do it. Unfortunately, you might've believed them. Hog wash! You're a grown up now. That desire to scribble, doodle, and paint ain't going away, is it. One way or another, it'll keep bugging you. Give in now. It's your only hope.

2. The world needs more artists. Be one of them! Scribble, paint, sketch, sculpt, etch, and mold the world into something beautiful!

3. It's true - a sketch a day keeps the doctor away.

4. Also true- if you work at home you can spend the day scribbling away in your pj's. Once you experience a day of that, you won't go back.

5. It's one of the greatest feelings to load up on paints and pencils the same way you loaded up on gum and candy when you were a kid. Go art shopping now! Your inner child will love it.

6. You'll inspire other people to be artists too! You could set someone onto their path of art. Or you could be responsible for creating a million little art monsters! That's a very, very good thing.

7. It'll be the perfect excuse to travel. You always wanted to study art in Rome, and you always wanted to see the Coliseum, right? Two bird with one stone, I say!

8. It's like therapy, only cheaper.

9. You'll get to turn your cluttered, barely used, third 'bedroom' into a colorful, paint splattered studio! Slap a sign on the door that says 'No Kids/No Spouse' and you've got yourself a sanctuary too!


10. An 80's new-wave icon called Howard Jones once said in a song, "Get to 60 and feel no regrets." I'm not sure why that line from "Things Can Only Get Better" popped into my brain as I was writing this (I'm listening to the Beatles now so you'd think I'd maybe be quoting Paul or George or John). Anyway, it's a perfect line from a really great 80's song so there it is. Don't regret never having painted or sketched or danced or learned how to play guitar. Whether it becomes an extreme hobby, a career, or just a bit of fun on the side, I hope you make room for art in your life, or MORE room for MORE art in your life!

Happy 2010!

Daily Sketch - Blissful Mouse

This little guy is delighted as can be that the sun is rising.

I drew this in my sketchbook on a cold, cloudy day here in Chicago. This is Day 2 of my Daily Sketch project. No washes this time. Took me about 20 minutes or so. I used a Copic Fine Liner. Tomorrow I'll have a new sketch so please stop by once more!

Happy Sketch-a-Day -Blissful Piggy

My goal is at least one happy sketch a day this year. It may be a quick doodle, it may be a finished work. Either way, it's gonna be happy! ! So here's my first one, which I call Blissful Piggy! Enjoy!

Blissful Artwork in 2010!!

Happy New Year Everyone! I've been away from my blog for a while. I spent 3 amazing weeks in India with my husband. We came home on Christmas Eve and it's been a whirlwind of holiday madness every day since! I plan to blog about it very soon! In the meantime....

With 2009 behind us by a couple of days already, I'm not feeling much like reminiscing about the highs and lows of the year as much as I'm completely excited about the endless, boundless, limitless possibilities that lay ahead! What I look forward to is a year of bliss like no other. I want to feel it in every area of my life - family, friendships, career, you name it. That's what we all want, when you really think about it. It's the underlying reason for just about everything we do - we want that happiness, that peace, a piece of the happiness. Bliss. I want to walk around with a shit eating grin on my mug that reflects a whole lot of good stuff going on in the inside. Bliss is addictive and it's contagious! And the world so desperately needs as much of it as possible. Which got me thinking about how I haven't depicted enough of that good stuff in my art over the years.

Let me reflect here for a moment. As an artist, I've spent a lifetime (literally) drawing a whole lot of pictures based on my interpretations of my emotions and experiences and all the so-called crap I've been dealt (woe is me). Often it was simply my form of therapy and it definitely got me through the rough spots. But time and again those sad, forlorn images have appeared in various portraits, gestures, colors, and landscapes that I've painted or sketched. I believe that while it was definitely an honest and sincere approach to expressing myself, I was spending too much time reinforcing the 'negative' emotions through my artwork. Here's a few examples from the past few years.



Ok, to be fair, there were lots of other illustrations reflecting happier moods, but I'm just using these as an example of how I might have been consciously or unconsciously reinforcing a serious case of the sads with my artwork a little more than necessary (ok, a lot). If I want bliss, that simply can't be an option (unless I'm hired by a publisher to illustrate such emotions;). So I'm starting off the New Year with some Happy!! I mean, if my art is going to be seen by people around the globe, I'd like to be a little more socially responsible, a little more giving of the good stuff, a little less focused on the drama (the world has enough of it's own already). Plus, painting a big old smiley face feels sooooo much better than an unhappy mug. Don't you think?

So here's my promise to myself and to you. Every day, I'm going to paint a ferociously, obnoxiously, authentically happy critter, creature, person, alien, vegetable, rock, or whatnot, and post it here. Like it or not! Of course, you'll like it! And I'll start with this happy octopus, which I painted yesterday! Ta-da!!!




I'm wishing you all the bliss you can handle in 2010!!!!! Let it come through in all you do, every day, every minute, in every way!