April 26th

An open letter to my incredible, new, creative mentor.
Dear Ivy –
You may be six years old but the other night you taught me more about creativity in two hours than I learned the entire time I was at school.

You taught me that…

The sun does not have to be in the top left or right hand corner of a picture. It can be on the bottom if you’re looking at it reflected in water.

Guacamole is a great substitute for green paint and it spreads rather nicely.

A regular old HB pencil can last for hours and hours and doesn’t need a battery or recharging.

Every restaurant has sheets of white paper in the office if you just ask with a big smile.

If there is an obstacle in your way, such as a glass of water, just draw around it and incorporate it into your picture.
People look at cell phones more than they look at original art.

A drawing of a cat can be turned into a drawing of a dog if you use a pen to…fluff up it’s hair, mess with its ears, pop in a couple of teeth, add a collar, and add a wagging tail.

You can explain what your art represents by saying, “Look at me,” to the viewer to get their full attention while you discuss your work.

You don’t need expensive markers, pens or paints to make a powerful, moving, artistic statement.

Beauty is in the eye of the pencil holder.

If the picture you’re making isn’t working, throw it over your shoulder and start again even if you’re in a restaurant.

A heart does not necessarily have to have a perfect ‘heart’ shape. It still means love.

You don’t have to sign your name in the bottom left or right corner of your picture. Slap bang in the middle is perfectly fine.

A paper airplane can fly backwards if you throw it hard enough. (We made and decorated a paper plane and I was trying to show you how to throw it but you told me I was wrong and you insisted on throwing it backwards. You were right. You threw the plane into the air. It arced up backwards and then gently eased forward gliding comfortably past a number of tables and almost flew into the kitchen.)

You also made me realize that It is possible to illustrate a portrait on a plain ol’ white napkin.
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Can’t wait for my next lesson.

Love you.
Trevor