From high in the sky, to down deep between blades of grass–as an illustrator, I am constantly pushing myself to see and draw things from unusual perspectives. The world exists just as it has for billions of years; and yet a shift in viewpoint can turn the seemingly impossible into reality, and reality into something magical. New angles lead to new meanings; new ways of falling in love with the same old stardust, the same old daily grind.

Once a week I’ll be sharing my eclectic sources of inspiration, sketchbook exercises in mark-making, and deeper dives into all the random influences that underlie my work. Lately I’ve been more disciplined in my art practice, carving out pockets of time for…play. And spontaneity. And exploration. And I’m starting this blog as a way of documenting that journey, with the hopes that it gives you a deeper understanding of what and how I create, and perhaps fuels your practice as well!

Today’s little entry was a quick study in shadow, light and organic patterns, thanks to Visible Earth. It’s an immense catalog of (mostly free and public domain!) NASA images of our planet–a good reminder that the most stunning abstract compositions come from nature herself (and an incredible catalog of our impact on the environment).