A museum visit reminded me of a college professor’s challenge: there are no new ideas, only new ways to see them. From shells and mollusks to a boomerang-headed amphibian, I found endless inspiration for future paintings—and a reminder that originality in art often begins with looking closely at what’s already around us.

Abraham Lincoln’s eyes are fixed, but his mouth is misbehaving. George Washington’s collar surprised me. Jefferson finally has a chin. My Merry Men of Mount Rushmore painting is testing my patience, one dab of paint at a time.

Our playful stingray art is complete and ready for a name! Submit your suggestion online or at the Midwest City Library. Don’t miss seeing it in person at the Village Arts Festival on October 11. Help give this lively stingray the perfect name!

Quirky museums remind me inspiration is everywhere — even in the smallest, most unexpected places.

My art—and how it's interpreted by others—has especially taught me to appreciate different perspectives. Something I see as a whimsical robot might look like a propane tank to someone else. Or a rock shark to me might just be a pile of granite to another. And that’s okay.

That’s the thing about making art - inspiration doesn’t show up on command. Sometimes it hits like lightning. Other times, it sneaks in quietly while you’re folding laundry or wondering what to make for dinner. It’s unpredictable, a little wild, and occasionally rude.

The Art of Small Talk on Postcards: My Postcrossing Journey (And Why I Almost Stamped My Life Away)

When you’re traveling, postcards are everywhere - tourist traps, convenience stores, gas stations. You can’t throw a rock without hitting a stand full of them. But when you're at home and looking to buy a postcard just because, it’s surprisingly difficult. My first stop was a small local store that did have postcards for sale. But, to my dismay, they were priced higher than I expected. Almost $3 for a single postcard? Not quite the price I had in mind.

Sometimes a goat is a goat. Other times, there is a deeper meaning.

Road trip to Mount Rushmore leads to painting.