Stories from the son of a veterinarian, behind the scenes sneak peeks into my studio, and first access to fresh oddball animal art
The Joy of the Mailbox at the End of the Driveway
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Hey Reader, The arrival. Something new and exciting. You’ve been saving and waiting patiently. That commitment and patience has paid off. I used to save Bazooka Joe comic wrappers. I must have chewed a thousand lbs of Bazooka Joe gum. The wrappers painstakingly, yet crudely stacked and kept together by a wide rubber band were sent off to a mysterious P.O. Box in Brooklyn, NY. 6-8 weeks later I would receive the precious prize (gold-plated ring with my initial on it) in the mailbox at the end of our drive! Oh the joy! I love shipping. I honestly do. I am truly fascinated by it. Imagining all of the hands and trucks all of these packages pass through. What an invention! When I was old enough to drive, I enjoyed driving my grandfather to the post office on a regular basis so he could check his P. O. Box for mail (He had the same box from his 30s into his 80s). While in college, it was always a treasured surprise to receive handwritten letters and notecards from friends or family occasionally. I would exchange art and mixtapes with close friends. The awe-inspiring and rare “care package" was the ultimate. I received a couple of care packages from some dear friends in Savannah after having moved to San Francisco back then. Complete with Scotch taped cutout magazine photos, letters, and drawings all plastered on the outside. I still have it in my memory bin. I sent plenty of treasures out across the country with souvenirs from the city by the bay, mix tapes with hand crafted linear notes, and equally hand decorated outside packaging. Add stamps and sprinkles, Will THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOWThe first documented use of an organized courier service for the dissemination of written documents dates back to Egypt around 2400 BCE. Upcoming In-Person EventsMay 2nd, 2:00 p.m. - Live Painting at Creature Comforts’ 12th Anniversary Party, Athens, GA |
Oddball Animal Artist
Stories from the son of a veterinarian, behind the scenes sneak peeks into my studio, and first access to fresh oddball animal art
Hey Reader, I turned 50 earlier this month. As with any birthday, it’s always a time of reflection and introspection. I have this deep-seeded need to make people laugh (or at least smile). I think it comes from my dad? He was a jokester in a very thought-provoking way. You would slap your knee while pondering the absurdities of life. Clearly that stuck with me. Through my paintings, I like to weave a bit of a yarn: A screaming bat being blessed by a donut as a halo surrounded in gold leaf. An...
Hello Reader, Dad famously didn’t care for chocolate. “It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just not my go-to.” This drove Mom crazy of course because she loves chocolate. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, molten lava chocolate cake (with a scoop of ice cream) and of course death by chocolate cake are absolute heaven for mom. Us kids definitely got Mom’s side gene when it comes to this versatile culinary creation. However, one of my favorite quotes from Dad when confronted with this chocolate...
Hey Reader, His compressed and hunched body may seem grotesque to some. His cryptic scurry might seem like some horrible monster in a scary movie. To me, there was beauty and inspiration. He knows no different. It is all he has known. And after it all, he is simply a playful, fun-loving creature of the world. No more, no less. By now, you may have heard of Jimothy, the sweet raccoon hanging in the neighborhood streets of Seattle. Jimothy lives with short-spine syndrome. With some backyard...