you must live in the present...

I don't often post my own design work (illustration or clothing) on Bubby and Bean, but I wanted to share a recent project I completed because it's one of my personal favorites.  And also, spreading positive quotes and messages is always a good idea, right?  I have adored this quote by Henry David Thoreau for as long as I can remember, and a few months ago, decided that I needed something that I could look at everyday to remind me of it.  Because let's face it - once we reach adulthood, we become much more accustomed to getting buried by life's daily stresses than we do to living in and appreciating each moment.

As much as I enjoy working on graphic pieces, my heart belongs to the pen and ink drawing.  The style of my drawings is really quite different than the style of my graphic work (which tends to be modern and simple), but it's a style that I've carried with me since I was a child.  On the rare occasions that I sit down to draw, my ideas almost always manifest via a bunch of tiny doodles that interact with each other - and often with text as well - within one illustration.  And without fail, there will be one or more of the following: swirls, flowers, dots, dashes, stars.  (My 'Why Old Dogs are the Best Dogs' print is another example of this.)  I've never been very good at drawing people or landscapes or scenes that are supposed to fit together in any sort of realistic manner.  I think this is because there is more planning involved, and I am incredibly impatient.  Really, I am.  I always have an idea before I start a piece, but the concept forms along the way, not before the pen hits the paper.

I hope this magical quote inspires you guys to always challenge yourself, to seize the moment when you can, and to try your best to live in the present (today and everyday!). 

P.S. Here's a little shameless plug/coupon, if you'd like to snag one of these new prints >> Take 15% off with code BUBBYANDBEAN15 right here.