Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  Having a cartoonist/artist father, art was a normal and constant part of my daily existence.

When I was five I began drawing and coloring voraciously.  My biggest thrill was when my father would bring home old newsprint, that the paper didn't need, and grease crayons. (For those who aren't familiar, you would "sharpen" grease crayons by unraveling the paper around the crayon by pulling a string and the paper would come off in "curls" which would sharpen the crayon.)

At age five I was also insanely in love with Mickey Mouse. I used to ask my Dad to draw Mickey for me and he would happily oblige. I remember being appalled when I went to a friend's house and asked her Dad to draw me "Mickey" and he told me he didn't know how. I was incredulous. I remember thinking, "You don't know HOW to draw Mickey Mouse? Don't ALL Dads draw?" Apparently not.

Art remained a huge part of my life. I was always drawing and had plans to major in Art which fell through because I was advised to choose a major that was more "practical." I would hardly call a major of Rhetoric and a minor in Philosophy practical, but I digress...

Art was my solace, my refuge, my escape. I drew constantly. My  focus in high school college prep was Art. To escape from the sadness I felt at the snobby High School I attended, I used to do my artwork in the hallway, ON THE FLOOR. Classes would change and there I would sit, cross-legged on the floor, drawing away, never looking up, just immersed in my craft.

My latest coloring page
from Coloring Cute Cats and Pretty Kitties
I am so happy with how
it turned out!

When I graduated from college and entered the "real world" my artwork fell by the wayside. It wasn't until this past year, with adult coloring books becoming popular, that I had the desire to create anything that involved coloring or drawing. I am so happy I began to color again! Next on my agenda will be to resume drawing.

With today being "Inspire Your Heart With Art Day", I encourage you to do something with art that will inspire YOU.  Draw, color, do something  take a photo and edit it, you don't have to be "crafty". There are NO RULES. Add a cat to your creation, a dog, or whatever other animal you love, add something from nature, Just create and ENJOY!! " Go to a gallery, theatre, cinema, or music venue, and soak up the art. Remember the instruction, though: Inspire Your Heart."

What are you going to do to "inspire your heart with art" today?