List It Tuesday - Lunch with the Seinfeld Gang

As a long-time Seinfeld fan, I have a lot of favorite quotes. For List It Tuesday I thought I would compile a list of some of my favorite food-related quotes. When I was done I realized that I messed up and one of the quotes is erroneous. I considered trying to fix it then decided to just leave it so the true blue Seinfeld fans can pick out which one it is.

I've posted Seinfeld quotes before---here and here if you want to check them out. Don't forget to visit artsyville for more lists!

List It Tuesday

It's another edition of List It Tuesday. Head over to artsyville to check out more lists.

A few weeks ago I went to see Blue Man Group and the show ended with a huge, blow-out dance party. Amid strobe lights, streamers, and the biggest beach balls I've ever seen, the audience was encouraged to "get off your ass" and participate in a communal booty shake. An anonymous voice listed every word imaginable for a certain body part while the words flashed on a giant screen. After a few dozen words the names started to get pretty ridiculous and funny, but it made me realize that there are a ridiculous number of slang words for the good old buttocks. Here is my list of some of the most common nicknames for the part of the anatomy that you sit on. These were right off the top of my head and all that I could fit on a page of my Moleskine. I probably use the term "butt" most often, but I remember my mother was rather fond of calling it a "fanny." Do you have a favorite nickname that I missed?

List It Tuesday

The wonderfully talented Aimee over at artsyville has declared today as the first "list it Tuesday."  I love lists! I couldn't survive without my lists! While scanning a stack of Good Advice postcards, I realized that I had a list in there somewhere. I think I would call this the three most important accomplishments of my day...or any day for that matter.  Hop on over to this artsyville post and read the comments section to check out even more lists. Then start planning your contribution for next Tuesday.

IF - Spooky

There's nothing spookier than the unknown. When our eyes can't see what's out there, our minds conjure up the most terrifying things imaginable lurking in every dark corner. Hideous monsters. Ferocious bears. Ax murderers. Most of the time our imaginations are far scarier than any reality. When we shine a light in the direction of our fears, we usually find out there's nothing there. The same is true for anything unknown to us. The future. The economy. The security of our retirement savings. Don't you wish you had a flashlight that you could shine into the future and be reassured that it's not as spooky as you think? Well, you do. It's called faith.

“When you come to the edge of all the light that you have and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things will happen: either there will be something solid for you to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.”

Take that, spooky!

IF - Transportation

I’ve been thinking a LOT about maps lately. I’m taking a class that focuses on creating artwork in a series and I’ve chosen maps as the theme for my series. I’ve spent the last few weeks fully immersed in maps—poring over maps, scanning maps, sketching maps, abstracting maps. I think my two favorite kinds of maps are topographic maps and street maps. With so many maps on my mind, a street map seemed appropriate for the Illustration Friday theme of transportation.

IF - Old-Fashioned and Good Advice

Here's a little good old-fashioned advice for you on this fine Friday. You just can't go wrong with old-fashioned advice. I guess that's why it's still around generation after generation.

IF - Immovable

I know a few people who have mastered this bit of good advice. You can call them stubborn, relentless, tenacious, determined, or unyielding. But one thing is for sure--until they get what they want they are IMMOVABLE!

IF - Atmosphere

I know that for me, the atmosphere of a blog has a lot to do with how often I visit. My favorite places on the web are written with a sense of humor and are lighthearted, fun, inspirational, uplifting or all of the above. I hope you enjoy some of those things when you visit here!

Time for a Change

Today I'm taking my own advice and making a few changes here at Lost and Found. I decided it was time for a new look. Something a little lighter and brighter. I switched to a wider template and changed the background color to white. I'll probably continue to tweak things a bit until it feels right. Your feedback is welcome!

IF - Star gazing

For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.
--Vincent van Gogh

It was by sheer coincidence that I decided to read up on the life of Vincent van Gogh while waiting for the Illustration Friday prompt to be posted online today. I'm not sure what inspired me to re-acquaint myself with his life story, but when I saw that the word this week was "star gazer" I knew that an homage to Vincent was in order. Starry Night is van Gogh's most famous painting and one of the most well-known images in modern culture.

When I was in high school, I read a biography of Vincent van Gogh that included many of the letters that he wrote to his brother Theo. There's no doubt that I was motivated to read the book because of Don McLean's song "Starry, Starry Night." At the time, I was struck by the tragedy of van Gogh's life and felt overwhelming sadness that he never got to experience the artistic success during his lifetime that came after his death.

But today, after reading about his life here, I felt something very different. I felt hope. Here was a man with no artistic training or obvious talent who became one of the greatest artists in history. At the urging of his brother, Theo, van Gogh taught himself to draw and then to paint. And he continued to paint through dark and difficult times when others--himself included--doubted his ability.

If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.
--Vincent van Gogh

IF - Artificial plus Good Advice

Avoid an artificial life. Be original. Dance to your own drum. Pursue your passion. Do what makes you happy. Ignore the disapproving looks and the comments from naysayers. You're the only one who knows what your authentic life should look like. Why be an artificial version of yourself when the real you has so much to offer? Forget about fitting in or following the crowd. Steer clear of fakes, posers, and wannabes. Be yourself. Be original. The real deal is always better than something artificial.

Good Advice - Round 9

I hope you're having a lovely summer--or winter--depending on where you live. My time for making art has been limited lately as I'm trying to focus my time and energy on some long overdue house projects. There's a whole lot of cleaning, purging, and painting going on. But, as usual, I have a little bit of good advice to throw out there until I get back in the studio. Enjoy!

IF - Diary AKA Every Moley Tells a Story

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary"

-- Pablo Picasso

I chose to illustrate this quote by Pablo Picasso for this week's Illustration Friday theme of diary. And I did it on the very last blank page of the very first moleskine I ever bought. Aside from two small moleskines that I've completed for specific projects, it's also the first moleskine that I've completely filled. And it only took me three and a half years to do it.


This is the large watercolor moleskine and in many ways it has become my diary. It records places I've been and things I've seen and done. But it also records things that are probably obvious only to me. It records my artistic journey. When I flip through the pages I see the progression in tools and techniques. I see the growth that occurs when you try things you didn't think you could do. I see what happens when you make a focused effort to work on your art even when you're not sure it's working at all.


I started this visual diary on new years day 2007. I didn't even own a waterproof pen and I used an old set of pan watercolors most likely left over from my kids' kindergarten days.


The early pages were inspired by Danny Gregory and his book Everyday Matters. I hadn't even tried to draw for years and was pleasantly surprised that my attempts weren't as hideous as I feared they would be.


I moved on to watercolor pencils and eventually discovered Micron and Pitt pens. I love the memories captured by these simple little drawings.


Next came the challenge of joining a local sketchcrawl group on their monthly outings to local attractions. Sketching in public, standing up, outdoors, or in cramped quarters was all new to me. I didn't always love it or the sketches I created, but I continued on in an effort to grow and improve. I started using artist watercolors in tubes and combining those with watercolor pencils.


Today's post represents my 41st attempt at Illustration Friday. After a good number done on random scraps of paper, it occurred to me to draw them in my moleskine. I have to admit, I do like seeing them all together in one place. This weekly challenge motivates me to complete a project in one sitting and then put it out there before I over think it or change my mind.


My first filled moleskine may be a random collection of images and experiments, but it definitely tells a story. I'm a little sad that it's complete. It feels like getting to the last page of a really good book and not wanting the story to end. Then again, the thought of a fresh moleskine just waiting for ink and color is pretty tempting too!

IF - Giant

This quote by Ralph Ransom perfectly sums up my thoughts of late. Life is a series of steps. On a day-to-day basis, those "small, seemingly insignificant steps" don't appear to lead anywhere. I have to continuously remind myself that I'm making progress even when it feels like I'm not. I wouldn't mind taking a few giant steps to get where I want to go a little faster, but those only happen once in a while. Things are done gradually. Patience is good. Perspective is better.

Good Advice - Round 8

It's been a little while since I last posted a trio of Good Advice post cards. Here's something to think about as you begin a new week. I hope it's a good one!

IF - Paisley

I made a little paisley doodle for Illustration Friday this week.


And then, just for fun, I posterized it. Now it's turbo-charged paisley. I think I like this version better.

IF - Ripple [Plus Good Advice]

Based on the following quote from The Tao of Leadership by John Heider, these two little words seem tremendously appropriate for the Illustration Friday theme of RIPPLE.

"The Ripple Effect"

Do you want to be a positive influence in the world?

First, get your own life in order. Ground yourself in the single principle so that your behavior is wholesome and effective. If you do that, you will earn respect and be a powerful influence.

Your behavior influences others through a ripple effect. A ripple effect works because everyone influences everyone else. Powerful people are powerful influences.

If your life works, you influence your family. If your family works, your family influences the community. If your community works, your community influences the nation. If your nation works, your nation influences the world. If your world works, the ripple effect spreads throughout the cosmos.

Remember that your influence begins with you and ripples outward. So be sure that your influence is both potent and wholesome. How do I know that this works? All growth spreads outward from a fertile and potent nucleus. You are a nucleus.


Now go out there and be the most positive nucleus you can be!

There's a ripple effect,
In all that we do.
What you do touches me,
What I do touches you.

--- Author Unknown

Good Advice [From Lori]

Today I offer you a bit of good advice inspired by my bloggy friend Lori over at elvie studio. Not only is she talented, sweet, generous and funny...she's also a pretty smart cookie. A chocolate cookie to be exact. Thanks Lori for the inspiration and the reminder to listen up when the old ticker starts yakking.

IF Trail PLUS Good Advice

It makes me happy when I can combine an Illustration Friday theme with the Good Advice series. I feel twice as productive! I hope you're having a wonderful weekend and maybe blazing a few trails along the way.

Good Advice - Round 7

I can't believe I'm up to round 7 of Good Advice with no end in sight. Wouldn't the world be such a lovely place if everyone followed these suggestions? Have a wonderful Memorial Day and let me know if you hear any snippets of good advice while hanging out at the family cookout.