I have been inspired to create a custom illustration of my friend’s dog. This will make a relatively inexpensive, yet meaningful gift. With her birthday just around the corner, this will be the perfect timing. It’s also a great way to practice Adobe’s new CC app, Fresco for the iPad.

One fun way to improve one’s skill in design is through experimentation. My subject: classic Disney characters, of course!

Ulmus americana is, as you may have guessed, native to North America. It can be found in literally every state in the Continental US. Considering it’s popularity with the wildlife, its welcoming arms, its non-flashy appearance, its ability to adapt to almost any environment, and its vastly complex root structure guarded just below the surface of the soil made it the perfect tree for me.

Plants make everything better. Sadly, when you have no natural light to shine on them, you are limited to using artificial or 2D plants to liven up your dank room. Here are a few fun watercolors I painted to hang in my bathroom where no live plant would survive.