Ode to a Mini Schnauzer

Getting a dog is one of the best things my family has ever done. And maybe one of the worst. But I think you'll see why we decided to see our canine glass as half full.

Here are some of the dog-related problems:

• He smells. Bad.
• He eats everything. Rocks, garbage, shoes, my student's mom's bag. In 6 months he's had a billion vet visits, 2 xrays and 1 overnight hospital stay with a $3000 endoscopy to get a rock out of his stomach. 
• He gets all the furniture dirty.



Waiting for the Picasso's Basement Kids to arrive!

• Did I mention that he smells?

Here is what he has given us: 

1. Unconditional love.
2. Smiles from my kids when I wake them for school. Including my 13 year old. Enough said.
3. A mascot for the Picasso's Basement classes. He sits at the childrens feet and watches them make art. Then he eats some erasers. 
4. Unconditional love.
5. Moments of unbridled cuteness, particularly when playing with his toy Hulk Hand.
6. Companionship.
7. Unconditional love.

AND a constant source of drawing material! Here's what my 8 year old created: 

Once my son draws you you know you are really part of the family! 

Inspiration Smells Likes Peroxide

I am completely distracted in my own home. Oh sure, I can paint and assemble and color at home. But the ideas, the real thinking, the actual inspirations and subsequent designs just don’t happen there. Much as I’d like them to.

Here’s last month’s scenario: I realize I must come up with a new illustration in order to create a self-promotion piece. I know I need to start the idea process but as I putter about my house this seems to become my priority list:

1. Check email and Facebook. Must get messages out of way so I am free to work.

2. Clean drafting table.

3. Pick up every sock that my husband and two children have left balled up on the floor.

4. Snack to boost energy.

5. Check email and Facebook again. Someone important may need to reach me.

You can see where this is going. This all leads to a marginally clean house and a remarkably spotless yet empty drafting table.

The following day after discovering that cleaning products do not make me want to draw, I go to get my hair cut and colored. In order to cover the vicious gray that my hair has been blessed with since my early 20's my Miracle Worker, the phenomenal Russell of Russell Scott Hair Designs in Clark NJ, must gunk me up and leaves me to sit in the corner in shame with my head resembling and a putrid bowl of ice cream covered in Magic Shell. I look ridiculous. I reek. The Black Eyed Peas are pounding in the speakers and I am stuck sitting next to two Kardashian-wanna-be housewives who are deep in discussion about their jewelry. 

BUT there are no balls of socks. No dishes to do. No one calling me “Mommy”. And so, sketchbook balanced on smock-covere lap, I find that my mind is actually functioning. In fact on that one visit alone I came up with a slew of sketches for a series of animal musicians AND a sketch for a painting of Coney Island that I’ve been thinking about for years. AND the start of this blog entry.

Here’s where I do and have done my best creative thinking:

1. Hairdressers

2. Laundromat

3. Doctor’s Office

4. At the drivers wheel when on long drives by myself (rare but precious occasions)

So fellow creative friends, where do find your inspiration?
Where do you do YOUR best thinking?