As a partner in a marketing company, I’m surrounded by talented people. Every day, we produce stunning package designs, inspiring advertisements, or other forms of beautiful visual communications that sell products and services. I’m fortunate because I can participate in the design process and keep the creative juices flowing by conceptualizing projects with clients and staff.

Unfortunately, I don’t get to put pen to paper anymore. My own artistic talents (such as they were) have atrophied. It has been years since I last picked up pastels to sketch something just for the fun of it.

So it’s high time to stretch. Time to stop thinking about art simply as a means to create a consumer buying impulse. It’s time to challenge myself, get past the confines of commercial art and try to ignite creative passions again.

Why life drawing? I always struggled with this back in school. Maybe with maturity I can now look beyond the human body as something to be idealized and rendered with perfection. Capturing character is so much more true to form.