Category Archives: Art

The Art of Gift-Making: a Process Rife with Abundance

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Aprilart Studios

Gifting can be hard… really hard! In 5 Ways to Reclaim the Holidays, I explore ideas for using holiday gift-giving to build community while also producing kick-ass, original presents that will bring joy to your friends & family. Here, I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Being an Artist, Building Community | Tagged abundance, art, artists, community, connectedness, creating, creativity, family, gifts, holidays, relationships, social change | Leave a comment

5 Ways to Reclaim the Holidays ~ from Consumers to Producers

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Aprilart Studios

“Angels we have heard on high, tell us to go out and buy” So goes Tom Lehrer’s “A Christmas Carol,” which rings strangely relevant today despite the fact that it was written over 50 years ago. As Lehrer says, “Christmas time … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Building Community, Graphic Recording / Sketchnotes, Neighborhoods | Tagged ABCD, abundance, christmas, citizenship, democracy, gift giving, gifts, holiday, hospitality, ideas, local, neighbor, neighborhood, presents, shopping | 5 Comments

Sketch: Fandango Jazz

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Aprilart Studios

Two months ago, I bought a cute red sketchbook… it’s taken me that long to crack it open. I’ve been knowing I need, “one day,” to get back to one of the things that I never needed to be taught… … Continue reading →

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First i-Pad Sketch!

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Aprilart Studios

Yesterday, we invested in an i-Pad. I’m NOT a fan of touch-screen, mainly because I’m a major creature of habit, but I could see some potential for using this technology for live graphic recording that can be quickly projected in … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Being an Artist, Stories Behind Artwork | Tagged art, cats, ipad, sketch, tablet, technology | Leave a comment

The Keepers & the Makers

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Aprilart Studios

The tradition with me and my folks is that, come Mother’s / Father’s Day, Xmas, and sometimes birthdays, I draw them something. The themes vary… sometimes, it’s a drawing based on a meaningful photo. More often, it’s my own drawn … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Being an Artist, Building Community, Neighborhoods, People Who Inspire Me | Leave a comment

Nowhere Bird

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Aprilart Studios

Today’s blog is brought to you by Friendship and Spontaneity. About a month ago, I got excited about a little doodle I’d done absentmindedly while listening on a conference call, took a quick shot of it with my handy new … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Being an Artist, Collaborations, Poetry | Tagged art, bird, collaboration, doodles, florida, poetry, randomness | Leave a comment

Roving Notes (Chicago): A Forgotten Gift / El Tata

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Aprilart Studios

after packing up and double, triple-scanning the hotel room to make sure I got all stray earrings and socks, I headed back to my dear friend Arturo‘s in Pilsen neighborhood. We shared delicious leftovers from the Thai restaurant I … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Building Community, Neighborhoods, People Who Inspire Me | Tagged ABCD, asset-based community development, chicago, gifts, music, neighborhoods, Pilsen, roving | Leave a comment