I was born in London, which we left when I was three or four. We moved briefly to Pittsburgh, Pa. then to Canberra, Australia. When I was nine, I went to live with my grandparents in Lahore, Pakistan. Next we went to a kibbutz in Israel then moved to a small town called Kfar Saba. As the Yom Kippur War broke out, we relocated to Brooklyn where I went to a Quaker high school. I was editor of the school paper and organized a Marxist study circle. I graduated from Princeton University, summa cum laude, with a degree in Politics. It was my 21st school.
When I was eleven, I began my first job - assisting the vet at the local slaughterhouse. I've worked in a record store, in one of New York's finest restaurants, and my congressman's office. I was a White House intern (Jimmy Carter lusted for me only in his heart) and a McDonalds' fry cook. I have also worked in a half dozen advertising agencies, and illustrated books, newspapers, and magazines. I am currently Executive Creative Director of McGarry Bowen and Contributing Illustrator to The Morning News.
Several books of my books have been published, including: Hello World; Everyday Matters; Change Your Underwear Twice a Week; Peanut; and The Creative License. You can get your own copies of any of them in this site's store.
I live in Greenwich Village with my lovely wife, Patti Lynn, my son, Jack Tea, and our miniature longhaired dachshund, Joe.
If you'd like to know more (and, God, why would you?), please read my books and the archives of this site or write to me with questions.
It's essentially an overgrown blog. In 2003, I began writing little essays about creativity and art and posting my drawings and watercolors. I also created little Flash pieces about my new books and put up notices of where and when I was going to appear in the media.
In the winter of '04, the Everyday Matters group formed - now a thousand members strong - so people could communicate more directly than just through commenting on my posts. Now, members chat everyday and get together all over the world to draw and share their creations. It's great and you should join too.
In late '05, Tricia Harvey and Jacob Rose designed the site you are now visiting. It's a great improvement in several aspects. First of all, it looks lovely - far more organic and richly illustrated than the garden-variety blog. Secondly, it makes all of the hundreds of essays I've written far more organized and accessible to you. It has an in-depth table of contents so you can find your way through the materials and has an easy to use nav bar that will propel you to various departments in a flash.
The Home page has a Community section about the doings of the aforementioned Everyday Matters group, including this week's drawing challenge. It also has a regularly updated creative challenge to get your juices flowing. And there's a news department, which covers my interviews and publications, and shares tidbits about interesting events or people I'd like to share with you.
And of course, there's the main Everyday Matters essay, which I'll update at least weekly with some new thoughts or observations about creativity and life. Please sign up, if you'd like to be notified when new ones appear.
The site has a few nifty and unique features. For example, every time you visit the page, even many times in the same day (though I know you have better things to do), it'll serve up a randomly selected essay from the basement under the title "Past Matters". I hope it's a nice way to experience some of the ideas we've explored here in the past.
There are many features that have been especially designed for my site so let me give you a tour:
- Wherever you are in the site, click this header and you'll be brought back to the home page.
- This will let you learn more about my new book, The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission To Be The Artist You Truly Are; and then instantly buy fresh, multiple copies for everyone you know. Try it.
- Email me, anytime, about anything (except hot stick tips and sexual aids).
- Pull down this menu to explore the many departments of the site. There are hundreds of essays and drawings created over the past four years and all arranged in convenient categories.
- Here's "Everyday Matters," the newest essays served piping hot.
- The community section will put you in touch with like minded creative folks. You can also join the Everyday Matters group that grew out of this site in 2004 and now has over a thousand members who share their work and encouragement.
- Here are some drawings done by group members. The gallery changes all the time.
- You'll find listings about community activities here. For example, the weekly EDM challenge or Illustration Friday, both of which provided suggestions and help to keep you motivated.
- Recent comments from readers appear here.
- Just Try It is is a random selection of encouraging suggestions or perspectives on technique from past essays. Every time you visit the site, you'll see a different one or two.
- Click here to visit the Table of Contents and get a more in-depth view of the departments.
- News about my doings, appearances, media engagements, etc.
- The cream of past essays from the site are randomly served up here each time you visit.
- Please feel free to leave comments on anything you read on the site. You can do so here for others to share or write to me directly by email.
- In case you missed something, here's a list of the past handful of essays that have appeared on the site.
There is and will be a lot more on this site, so I encourage you to poke around. Then, if you'd like, let me know what you think or what you're up to. I'd love to know.
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.