When I look back on my long 23-year journey as an artist (I’m leaving out the first three years of life unless you want to count the abstract works I created in my diaper), there are many reasons for how I got here. I’ve had a lot of influences, took a lot of classes, and observed many, many works of art. I think one of the most influential reasons for my decision to pursue art and try and get good at it was Mrs. Smith.

Mrs. Smith was my third grade teacher. (Ironically, I also had her for eighth grade as well). I loved Mrs. Smith, because she was strict, but also very creative. And what a great encourager. I can very distinctly remember one time when she approached me about drawing a picture of Santa for the school newsletter. She figured I was a better artist than her, so she wanted to know if I would do it. Woah, back up the truck. Me, a third grader, better at drawing than my teacher, who in case I forgot to mention it, was a full-fledged adult? I couldn’t believe it. But she was so convincing, that had no choice but to believe it. It was my duty to perform admirably by representing our class with a drawing of Santa that would make Michelangelo drool.

Looking back now, I see that Mrs. Smith was probably a much better artist than me. Most adults know that trees don’t have green circles sitting atop their trunks, and that people aren’t normally bigger than their homes. And if I were to see that rendition of St. Nick today, I’d probably think it was beyond horrible. But that’s not the point. The point is, she believed in me. So much so that I believed in myself.

She always told me that I’d be a "famous" artist someday Luckily, I didn’t know then that most artists don’t become famous until they die. The encouraging words from Mrs. Smith, and from many others along the way, are the reason I’m still picking up a pencil to draw today. If they all told me I sucked, or even that I was decent but there was no reason to bother pursuing art, I may be selling widgets somewhere.

Indeed, selling widgets is about the worst thing I can imagine other than shoveling elephant dung at the local zoo. At least most widgets don’t stink.

But it was the encouragement that inspired me to work at it, pursue many different opportunities and eventually land where I am today – drawing funny pictures and loving every minute of it. How great it would be to inspire someone else someday in such a way.

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I have a condition. I don’t know where it comes from or how many people have it. The only thing I do know is it seems to be common among entrepreneurs (spell that five times fast!). My wife kids me, partially in jest and maybe partially in concern, that I’m always thinking. It’s true - my mind won’t shut off. Eating breakfast. Waiting in line. Watching a movie. Sitting in church. Drifting of to sleep. Operating heavy machinery. Apparently my brain thinks these are ideal times to commence stirring this giant melting pot of ideas, inspiration, and analysis that resides in my head. [ On a side note: How did we figure out that when we are in the process of thinking, its all taking place in the head region? Is it because we look up when we're thinking really hard?] So what am I thinking about? Creative things, like Kim & Jason. The next story line. How to make the web site better. Improving my drawing skills. Becoming more proficient at businessey things. Analyzing things I have observed that day. What I want to be doing in five years. What I should be doing now to get there. I pick apart the design of commercials, advertisements, products, movie posters, mall signage. And on and on. I seriously can’t think of a time I’m not thinking creatively; although my dreams lately have taken on a weird Star Wars slant, which I’ll not discuss here. I think it all stems from this bar that I’ve set for myself. I simply will not rest until I’m a better cartoonist than Bill Watterson, or a better leader than George W. Bush, or producing better designs and more innovative ideas than Apple. Granted, I don’t know if I’ll ever reach those plateaus - but I’m inexplicably driven toward them. Kim wonders how I don’t go crazy sometimes. I think I probably would if I wasn’t having so much fun.

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"That’s pretty neat." Those were the words of my niece when she heard over the phone from my brother that she was officially a brand new big sister. Hours later, as I held Kerrigan Helena for the first time and inspected her tiny eyelashes, I said the same thing. My profession is creative in nature. In fact, that’s my favorite part of what I do. That’s what enthralled me so about the Star Wars movies as a kid, and even more so as an adult - the enormous amount of creativity unleashed to make that universe come alive. The worlds, the characters, the story, the minute details of props and sets; it boggles my mind. The same can be said of Disneyworld, where Kim and I went on our honeymoon two years ago. The attention to detail paid to each attraction and exhibit and resort was impressive. I love "Kim & Jason" because I can be like George Lucas or Walt Disney. How should these characters act; what should they say? What adventures will they embark on? How shall I color the world in which they live? And how should I frame the story within a handful of several tiny panels? The creative possibilities are endless. As I held baby Kerrigan, I couldn’t help but consider and be amazed by the creativity of God. How a tiny egg and a tadpole can join, multiply, and create this little being with such well-planned inner workings is beyond me. How she can be an equal part of both mother and father, and be totally unique from any other baby ever born. And what a great idea God had when he invented the smell for babies. Holding her, I couldn’t help but be grateful for the opportunity to share in the same creative process. Granted, my contribution is like a kernel of popcorn on the floor of a busy movie theater. But the very chance to participate in the process and relate in part to such a cool, imaginative, Creator is just…well, pretty neat.

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