mark d. campbell
mark@markdcampbell.com
9 lives of mercutio blog
-
Finding Your Zone
May 21, 2017“The mind is pretty powerful. In skating, you learn to click into that zone and focus not necessarily on what you’re doing but if you’re doing it well.” – Dorothy HamillFor some, getting in the zone is not easy. Whether the work or hobby you enjoy is in a…
-
What You Were Born to Do
May 1, 2017“I am not afraid – I was born to do this!” - Joan of Arc When I was very young, I found great joy in drawing on everything. I got in trouble for drawing mustaches on Richard Nixon in my dad’s Newsweek magazine or putting fish on the model’s heads… -
I Can’t Even Draw a Straight Line!
March 20, 2017“You can always fail at what you don’t want, so might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” - Jim Carrey, actor/comedian Throughout my career in design and teaching, the most common thing heard from clients, friends, and students has been, “ “I can’t even draw a… -
Night Owl, Morning Bird
January 4, 2017“I am both a night owl and a morning bird. So, I am both wise and I have worms.” - Michael Scott, author“Night Owl” by M.D. Campbell © 2017 All rights reserved. Meet the Night Owl I am a night owl. A freak in the dark. Wide eyed and…
-
The Colors of Christmas
December 17, 2016“Christmas is not only getting too commercial, it’s getting too dangerous!” - Linus Van PeltConsumerism vs. Religion No matter what you celebrate at this time of year, the holidays, for many, can be a stark contrast between a season of joy and a complete nightmare; between revitalizing our spirit…
-
The Vote on Voting
November 5, 2016“The 2016 election has been an embarrassment both to and for our country.” - citizens of the United States of AmericaThe Fire Breathing Monster and The Snake-Tongued Devil When I was a child, I remember drawing a picture of Richard Nixon naked. I had been looking at my Dad’s…
-
Make Time for Art!
October 26, 2016My current favorite watercolor field kit. Sakura from Japan $25 “You can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you.” - Barbara Sher When I was…
-
Keys to Success (feat. The Trolling Agneses)
September 23, 2016“Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso If you search Google for “the keys to success,” you’ll get about 126,403 different sites, all lending advice on a variety of ways to succeed. Some sites address money, others eating and diet, and some will discuss networking or… -
Disagree Without Fear!
September 13, 2016“You can disagree with people and debate over their positions with issues without engaging in the politics of personal destruction.” – Hillary Clinton Clinton, despite her quote above, and Trump have been indulging us with their “politics of personal destruction” for months now and their vitriolic attacks are usually reserved…
-
Stifled By Social Media?
September 7, 2016“If social media is too much for you to handle, then don’t have a Twitter or Facebook account – just be yourself!” – Khloe Kardashian Today, while searching for a reference image on the internet, I found myself on Facebook, again. First, I checked messages. Looked at notifications. And then…
-
Everyone’s a Critic!
September 2, 2016“If you have no critics you’ll likely have no success.” – Malcolm X Throughout history, if people listened to critics, we’d likely have no art, no music, or literature. Successful people often ignore critics, picking apart hidden truths within the critique. Gleaning useful bits and learning to apply them can…
-
The Enviable Truth Behind Envy
August 31, 2016“Envy comes from people’s lack of belief in their own gifts.” – Jean Vanier, philosopher If you look up the word, “envy,” it’s defined as, “a feeling of discontent, discord, or resentment aroused by the success, possession, abilities, qualities, or good fortune of others.” Much of the angst and strife…
-
The Problem is All In Your Head
August 30, 2016“We can’t solve our problems with the same thinking used to create them.” – Albert Einstein Years ago, I lived in an apartment infested with mites. Little green nasties in every crevice, which saw me as an endless buffet and mountain for their leisure strolls. For months, I lost my…
-
When Motivation Takes a Vacation
August 28, 2016“When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense to prove something as a basketball player, it’s time for me to move away from the game.” – Michael Jordan For me, the best time of the day is 4 - 5am in the morning, when I become Will Smith…
-
If You Park On Your Talent, Shame On You!
August 25, 2016“The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” – Lorenzo, the father in A Bronx Tale That quote has stayed with me ever since I saw the film in the theater, years ago. When I get into that zone of self-pity and that my art isn’t good enough, or that…
-
Working from Home = Time-Travel
August 23, 2016“Einstein’s general theory of relativity allows for the possibility that we could warp space-time so much that you could go off in a rocket and return before you set out.” – Stephen Hawking Ever take a long drive and when you get to your destination, you can’t quite remember the…
-
9 Lives of Mercutio
August 23, 2016“A best friend brings out the best in you.” – Henry Ford When Shakespeare wrote Romeo & Juliet, he gave Romeo a best friend, Mercutio, that was idealistically as loyal and devoted as they come. He also gave Romeo a pure rival, Tybalt, whose name echoes the name Tibert, from…