Raising Money for Charity, One Pet Portrait at a Time I participated in a fundraising event for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa called Poorly Drawn Pets. For $25, charitable pet-owners could submit a photo of their pet to be drawn by a team of volunteer pet portrait artists. I…

An update on my plants, plus some new arrivals. It’s been over 10 weeks since I brought home my very first carnivorous plant — a Drosera capensis, or Cape sundew — and caring for it has been a much easier experience than I had anticipated. I wanted to put this…

The silly habit that has made me (slightly) richer. — It all started in April of 2014. I had always picked up the loose change I found on the ground (because hey, free money!), but April 11, 2014 was the moment I began collecting it with a specific intent. I had been to CVS recently and noticed that they sold…

Take a tour of my oddly specific art gallery featuring everybody’s favorite 80s TV alien. — If you’ve read my story on my current portrait challenge for 2022, you already know I enjoy a repetitive theme when it comes to my art. What you likely don’t know is that my longest running art theme has been going on for 8 years now. …

Tales from a beginner carnivorous plant hobbyist When last I left you — at the end of my first tale of my foray into growing carnivorous plants — I was looking forward to the arrival of my Drosera binata. I had ordered it from the same supplier as my first…

You can use the moon for more than just lighting your path at night. I like to use the moon as sort of a celestial timer for any goals I might have. …

My personal art challenge for 2022 — I made a New Year’s resolution to paint 100 portraits in 2022. Recently I have become focused on digital art, using the Procreate app on my iPad. Creating art digitally requires thinking in layers — it’s as if each part of the painting is on its own sheet of acetate…

Taking art lessons from a Friesian horse Once I attended an art class hosted by a horse. His name was Justin. I managed to convince a small group of friends and family to come along. We drove out one summer day to his barn/studio in Columbus, Indiana. Justin’s owner, Adonna…