seeking nothing in particular

Sometimes it is better to remain still in order to see what scurries by. Why is that so difficult?

idle thoughts

I am nearly done with the art for my 2nd self-authored book Hugs From Pearl. It is always a frantic rush towards the finish line, making endless last-minute changes and adjustments.

As hard as it is to let go of the art, (I could tweak things for another 6 months,) I will be glad to send the last one off and take a bit of a breather before I dive into the final art for my next book, Petunia Goes Wild.

I find the best opportunity for creative thinking is when I am not focused on being productive. When my brain is idle ideas tend to pop up. Generally a thing rushes in to fill the nothing.

It makes sense that I should incorporate some brain-meandering time in my daily schedule. Sort of a mental flaneur period.

Yet even though I know it is usually wonderfully productive, who could put "2:00 - 3:30: Nothing." on their calendar?

Seems un-American somehow.

Mole had been working

The thing about E. H. Shepard is. 

Not that he wields exquisite compositions like Heath Robinson. He does not stun us with genius color like Zwerger or knock us dead with impossible technique like Spirin. No hypnotic hatchings like Gorey, no oddly irresistible charm like Delphine Durand.

No. What Shepard’s drawings have are Character. Honest, believable character. Not Hilary Knight’s winning excesses, not Mo Willem’s hilarious theatrics. The real thing. Characters with emotions every child and adult can relate to. 

The drawings Shepard did for Wind In The Willows and the Pooh books are timeless. No, that’s not exactly right. They are TIMELESS. 

Why? Because the emotions that Shepard drew are timeless. His pen deftly portrays the things that unite all of us. Our humanity. That means everyone: innocent children, cynical adults, extremist nuts, numb taoists, crazy-busy illustrators. We all have the same things in common: Vanity. Curiosity. Pride. Arrogance. Innocence. Courage. Wonder. Generosity. Friendship. Doubt.

And then there is his lovely linework.

to fly or not to fly?

We (myself included), spend so much time looking for answers, when it is the questions we should be embracing.

Answers are confines. Questions are wings.

but not as cute as Amy

Hilariousness from Bookie Woogie!

knock, knock

I’ve noticed through the years how few opportunities are convenient. They don’t come at the perfect time, or with a path you can follow blithely. Most of the time opportunities ask as much from you as they give. 

One could almost render this equation as a formula: Opportunity equals pain in the neck, or: O=PIN. Yes, of course you have to keep yourself open to opportunities. Not a free lunch though.

I suppose it is a good time to blame the balance of life. That colossal slacker Lao Tzu warns us redundantly about avoiding high aspirations: “Those who stride cannot maintain the pace.” “Keep stretching the bow, you repent the pull.” “Do enough without vying, Be living, not dying.” Yadda, yadda.

And yet, the regrets I do have are the opportunities I have not pursued.

I yearn for a calm, peaceful, easy life, but I’ve also hounded myself by a pursuit of Excellence. A thing unattainable because it is a target constantly moving two steps ahead of oneself.  A perpetual frustration machine. A perpetual fascination.

is this not happiness?

Inspired by Chin Shengt'an's Thirty-three Happy Moments, 
I present to you one of mine. What a great way to begin 
my morning!