While a lot of people have been complaining about 2020, I wanted to extend some gratitude.First, I know a lot of you have had some serious challenges. My family wasn’t without difficulties too this year. My Mom was locked inside her room in her assisted living facility for eight months by herself. My brother and Dad…
Creativity As a Self-Care Tool I was recently interviewed by Meredith Edwards on the Curious Introvert Podcast. We discussed the role of creativity in managing mental health as well as self-care and creative strategies and mindsets of the artist. I’m pretty open about the fact that there’s mental illness in my family. I know a…
This was a super fun project and also the second electric guitar I got to paint this month. The Les Paul is one of the – if not THE most iconic guitars of all time. Its gorgeous lines are only outdone by that warm tone of those juicy double humbuckers. Ok, let me cool down…
I designed this surf-inspired art on a Telecaster style Solo Guitar kit for my talented friend Marty who is one of YouTube’s biggest guitar heroes. My friend Marty Schwartz is one helluva great guitarist and a cool dude. If you play or have tried to learn a random song on YouTube, you’ve almost definitely seen…
Artwork: Dad Surfing at The North Shore with his Wife and Children Rooting Him On. This painting was commissioned by Krista Weymar for her husband Jarrod‘ surprise 50th. I had been in touch with Jarrod in the past year when he sent me via instagram, a pic of his new tattoo sleeve inspired by one…
New illustrated gig poster for Kyle McDonald’s (of Slightly Stoopid) two day solo show in Wall, New Jersey at Daydream Farm. Details can be found on Slightly Stoopid’s Instagram feed. The back to back live shows are on Oct 23rd and 24th, 2020. This was a fun one to work on. It’s not everyday that…
I’ve been working on some sketches for a children’s book that I’m doing with a good friend of mine. (Here’s a little sneak peek) It’s still rough, but you can see where it’s going. At this phase I’m exploring the characters and getting to know their personalities. This drawing is on toned gray paper and…
A Bit of Art Therapy That Turned Into Something Cool I was in a sh*tty mood when I started this. My brakes need to be repaired for $1000…Our clothes washer broke. Just one of those days ya know? We all have those sort of moments where you just don’t feel like creating. This is exactly…
Surfer, Skater & Fine Artist Jay Alders finds inspiration from the Dogtown era of skating in his latest work “Rise & Grind” I remember getting being a teenager and getting the latest issue of Thrasher Magazine in the mail. On the cover was skateboarding pioneer Jay Adams slashing a frontside grind off pool coping. That…
I live at the Jersey Shore and I love the beach lifestyle. I was at the beach with my three little kids earlier and when I got back, I felt inspired to paint. I had this big slab of wood sent to me from Latvia. (I really need to look up where that is on…
I talk to a lot of artists and one problem that comes up more than most other things is that most of your problems as a creative or just as a human being is that we overthink things way too much. I hear from artists about not knowing what kind of canvas to buy or..…
I’ve been working really, really, really hard to let go of my attachment to perfection lately. It’s an unhealthy obsession of mine that has followed me around since I was a kid. In all honesty, it’s not all bad. Were it not for me pushing myself to do better, better, better, I wouldn’t paint the…
So my wife took the kids to my inlaws for a few days to give me some quiet time to hunker down and work. Aside from sleeping better than I have in years, I really needed time to work on this big commissioned painting that’s due soon. While painting, I’ve been listening to a lot…
Hi! I’ve been pondering the past few weeks a lot about little stuff. We get so distracted in our everyday life. Some of it is just part of life and out of our control. All the noise around us is so loud. Let’s be honest here though, a lot of it is a self-inflicted distraction…
This past week has reminded me that you can’t win ’em all. The conversations I’ve had and read and heard have both enlightened me, inspired me, and terrified me. It feels in one moment that all human ability to be rational, kind, and empathetic is thrown out the window. And just then, I see a…
It’s up to us to choose love over hate. We can create a new reality if we change our perspective and approach life with a new perception. I write this from the porch of my in-law’s farmhouse. It’s sunny, warm and all I hear are tweeting birds and the distant sound of a lawnmower. After…
I’ve been thinking a lot about how on the one hand, we (the planet) are all in this pandemic together. Of course, we all have aspects of this we’re sharing…The paranoia and fear and uncertainty and inconveniences and more time on Amazon. More than ever, maybe one benefit is how we can empathize and relate…
English Artist Interviews Jay Alders on his podcast Creative Perspectives (Re-broadcast on Shifting Perceptions), episode 048. Listen to the Full Interview with Jay Alders Listen on: iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | GooglePlay| iHeartRadio This conversation is a deep dive into creativity, artistic inspiration, and what it looks (and feels like) to dedicate yourself to your art. We flipped the switch today for…
As I go through very old paintings and drawings while on lockdown, I’ve been reminded of how long I’ve been consumed by emotional and mental turmoil. This painting is an old one, like 27 years old. And the fact that I can still relate to it, is a little scary and a little comforting. I…
Ocean and surf-inspired artist gets abstract and talks parenting, entrepreneurship, inspiration, and the hustle of the art world. Oregon based artist Erik Abel is highly recognized in the surf industry. His work is bold, geometric, and inspired largely by the Pacific Northwest and South Pacific and Central America and beach culture. His latest pursuit is…
A chat between an artist and writer about navigating creativity, business and parenting and all the stresses and mental-health challenges that go along with it. I’ve known my Dan Blank since high school. We were two of the weird artsy kids in a typical cacophony of personalities and teenaged egos. We re-connected a decade ago…
An in-depth interview with Seatle Based Artist and Designer, Peter Robinson. I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Artist and Designer Peter Robinson, better known around the world as “Ten Hundred” ). He specializes in bright, colorful, imaginative character work which has been exhibited in iconic global art hubs as Seattle, Portland, Denver,…
Lockdown, week 3. A reflection on one of my paintings that seems very relevant now during quarantine. I painted this piece during a rough patch. I say patch because it feels like sometimes in life you just need something or someone to fix or cover up the leak in the ship. I’ve always been a…
My thoughts and experience thus far during this CoronaVirus Pandemic and how it’s nudged me to finally start a Patreon Page. Well, here we are…Week two on lockdown. First and foremost, I truly hope you are feeling ok. This is not another “This is how our company is handling COVID-19” email. I mean why do…