Thanksgiving is probably a great day to talk about what inspires me. Inspiration is really important to artists and without it, days would never be the same. I find inspiration in some of the most unlikely places, and take every opportunity to use them to trigger my imagination. 

Some people tease me for collecting scrapbooking and Oprah mags at my young age, and I pity those souls. I have trunks of magazines, but for some reason these types of magazines keep me creative. They are full of color schemes, great layouts that can be used for collages, and interesting tips for using household items for making art. I also save the poems and quotes, each one full of words and phrases that can give a single thought, that always needs to be illustrated. As far as words go, I always look at novels that I am reading. Sometimes I just open the book to a random page, and I make art from the first thing I see. I have been really inspired by words, especially since they come in the form of typography, regardless of the intention. Craft beer, especially seasonal, is one of the best places to get ideas for art. I look at the colors in the design, the composition, and the letters themselves. I know some of this sounds crazy but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I like to find inspiration in unlikely places. It keeps me creative, it brings dynamic elements to my work, and it surprises my audience. What more could an artist want?

Hope all is well on this crazy day. Hope everyone remembers what the day is really about, whether you celebrate it or not. Of course, as always, I hope you are making art.