Doodle Challenge

Doodle #113, Livin’ the Fresh Life

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The word for today was fresh. My doodle for today is entitled, “The Freshness of the Great Outdoors.” When I was a kid my friends and I lived outdoors.  In the summertime from the time we woke up to the time we went to bed we played games out in the fresh air. Oh yeah, we did take breaks to eat and get something to drink but other than that we stayed outdoors. What did we do out in all that fresh air you might ask.

I don’t really know every last detail but we played games like tag, and war and took hikes down along the creek. We picked fresh blackberries and then ate them later with some cream and sugar. We went to the ponds and watched the minnows swim around. Me personally I would hand with my best friend Jeannie and just discuss the future. Well by now you get the picture. Outside in the fresh air of each and every fresh new day we did whatever our little hearts were led to do that day.

It seems today the fresh outdoors has be forgotten by many kids. They would rather hang indoors playing video games or texting on their phones. Friends it seems no longer visit each other in person they just Face Time. I think parents should encourage their children to get outside and do something with their friend, not only for the health benefits but also so they don’t unlearn what it really means to socialize in person.

Doodle #112, What’s In Your Bowl?

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The drawing prompt for today is the word, “bowl.” My doodle is lovingly entitled, “A Bowl Full of Flowers.” A lot of good things come in a bowl, soup, cereal, ice cream, flower and of course life. Yes, you heard me correctly. Most who read my blog know the old phrase, “my plate is too full,” meaning they are doing so much they can’t fit one more thing into their day. Well in years past my personal life as well as my church life felt so full at times that if I didn’t put it all into a bowl instead of on a plate many things would fall off and be forgotten.

Then a friend of mine gave me some good all purpose advice, “You don’t always have to say yes.” I was one of those people who loved and still love to do things for other people. My problem was I couldn’t say no because I felt I was letting the other person down. I would always say yes which meant I would burden myself down with commitments. This led to a full bowl of a life. I finally had to step back for a moment, take a deep breath, and say no to those requests I knew I could not throw into my bowl.

In the end my life became a little less full and a lot less stressed. So my advice to you today is do not over commit. Do what you can do and be satisfied. People will respect you more if explain why you can’t do something then if you commit to something and fail to get the job done. Matthew 5:37, “ Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Doodle #111, Fan the Flame in Your Heart

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In each of us burns a flame. At times the flame is a small spark but at other times when we draw close to God or find something we are passionate about the flame burns brightly. I have discovered however, as I grow older the flame seems to be growing a little dimmer. It is not because I feel any less close to God or that I don’t have the passion to do His work.  This website was created to put the drawing and illustrations I create out there for others to see but also to proclaim God and His word.

No, the problem with my flame growing dimmer has to do with my feelings of being a useful member of society. I once was able to do anything I put my mind to do, but I no longer seem to the have the oomph to do those tasks. I know it is a part of getting older but it still seems a little disheartening.  For all us baby boomers out there who are feeling the same way try to do as I’m doing take up a challenge you’re passionate about and get at it to the best of your ability.

I am also putting out the call to anyone who reads this blog, if you know of a ministry I can do from home please let me know.

Doodle #109, Going Retro, Reliving the Old Life

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American’s it seems are into the retro life. What is now old has become the new trend. People flock to antique dealers and the such to by vintage items in order to decorate their homes like their parents and grandparents. Still others, especially baby boomers , buy cars meant to look like cars from the 60’s and 70’s.  I often wonder why.

Is it because they want to recapture some of the best moments of their past life? Maybe, maybe not. I think all the fascination with the past is because we don’t want to grow older. Buying up items we once owned, or driving cars from the past or which look like cars from the past help us hold into our youth. I know I don’t want to grow old either but their is nothing I can do to stop it or slow my aging down.

Buying up the stuff I used to own in my youth will not turn back the clock it will be just more stuff as my daughter in law says, “she will have to get rid off when my wife and I are gone.” Instead I must prepare myself for the last phase of my life by doing what I can to keep myself mentally and physically fit. I plan on spending the time I have left, traveling, drawing and doing all I can for others. It is what I have been called by God to do and plan to do it to the best of my abilities.

My drawing today is an homage to the good ole days. The title is “Pink Poodle Skirt and a Coke.”

Doodle #107, Do You See What I See?

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Cats are some of the most patient creatures in the world. They can sit for what seems like hours and stare out the window or in the case of my drawing out on the water at who knows what. This reminds me of a game we used to play when I was a kid. We called it Eye Spy. You may remember it. The line goes something like this, “eye spy with my little eye…” Then the rest of the people there had to guess the object or person in your line of sight. The winner got to pick something out we could guess.

In today’s modern world we play a varied form of this game it is called, “Eye Spy with My Little Smart Phone….” Each day thousand of videos filter onto the web of things which are better left out of public view or of incidents where a smart phone would be put to better use by dialing the police. An even better choice would be to help your fellow man instead of filming them at their worst. Philippians’s 2:4, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Of course there is one upside to the modern game of “Eye Spy.” In many instances because of people filming themselves behaving badly the police have enough evidence to make an arrest and give the courts all they need to convict.  So my little piece of advice for today, take it or leave it, is be careful what you put out there because someone may say to you “Eye Spied what you posted in that site.” Till tomorrow enjoy my drawing, “Cats By the Ocean.”

Doodle #106, Easter, Not Chocolate Flavored

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Growing up Easter for me was a time of chocolate bunnies and candy. It was a time of rabbits and chicks. Sure I knew about the connection between Easter and Jesus. I had heard the story of the resurrection and how Jesus still lives today. The problem for me was at the time it was just fanciful stories told to me by what I referred to as Bible thumpers. Those thespians who spun tales of woe in order to get me to behave.

You see me parents grew up around church but never imparted any what I will call outright “Bible knowledge” to me. My mom, however taught me biblical principles growing up. Things she learned from her parents like love your neighbor, treat others as you want to be treated among other truths. I learned but it really didn’t know where the wisdom came from, until I was in my twenties and received Jesus into my heart.

Now many years later I look at what Easter has become and have to ask as my rabbit friends ask “whatever happened to the true meaning of Easter?” From the cross to the grave, three days later He arose.

Doodle #104, A Ladybug Named Francis

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When I saw the prompt for today was the word ladybug, my mind immediately went to one of my favorite animated characters, Francis, the ladybug from the “A Bug’s Life,” movie. The reason I like the character is because Francis is not what he appears.  He is a tough guy wrapped in a not so tough attire.

Why do I bring this up is because in our society we are often judged by appearances first. If we don’t like what we see, well I’m sure you know what is happens next. The news is full of worst case scenarios of people misjudging someone because of appearances. Even I know first hand the sufferings of being bullied because someone deemed my appearance and demeanor were not up to their standards. It can be a crippling thing to be deemed different all because you do no meet another person’s standards. It can lead to a life time of turmoil.

The Bible says in John  7:24, to , “Stop judging according to outward appearances,” instead look to a person’s heart there you will find the true person. The outside is only window dressing. The inside is where the true person lies.

Doodle #102, Bee Smelling The Flowers

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Bees are important to our ecosystem. They pollinate flowers. They make honey. Still many people see bees as pests.  In the same way we as followers of Jesus can also be considered pests if we are pron to fly around stinging people with our words. As Christian we are meant to be the ones who pollinate the world with love using words like honey. 

It does not mean we condone wrong doing. It means we are not to judge others lest as the bible says, “We will the ones judged.” I have lived a life full of flaws so I always seek to remember those times when I made mistakes. This helps me keep a humble heart which seekers to help others not hinder them.

What Is True Art?

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Have you ever looked at a piece of art only to say to yourself, “That is not true art.” I know I have. In fact many times in this drawing challenge I have question the validity of the pictures I am creating. Today I published my 100th doodle and as always I have doubts in my mind about whether they are even good enough to see the light of day. I have been taught as an artist, unless your work is well, great, it is not art.

However I have come to realize through this challenge that art does not have to be a perfect configurations of lines and colors to be considered true art. The key to creating true art is simply learning the basic principles of art such as composition, color to name two and then going about the creation process.  The only reason I mention learning the basics is so when you break the rules in creating abstracts and the like you know what rules your are breaking.

So in the end you see true art is not what is true to others it is true to you. I am not a trained artist. I did not go to any fancy art school. I simple took a couple community college art classes and moved on from there. My art may not be earth shattering and not fit into everybody’s tastes but it is the types of art I like to create. It is my true art.