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?

Book Review and Give-Away:Simon's Cat Off to the Vet And Other Cat-astrophes

Making the rounds throughout the Cat blogging circuit is the latest endeavor by Simon Tofield:

There isn't a cat in the world that enjoys going to the Vet.  Believe it or not, up until Cody's sudden illness  last Winter I NEVER had trouble bringing him to the Vet, but my Angel Bobo was another story entirely. Viewing the clever cartoons brought back memories of having to cancel Vet appointments because Bobo wouldn't come out from under the bed!

I am tickled to be one of many bloggers who are featuring Simon Tofield's latest endeavor, Simon's Cat Off to the Vet and Other Cat-astrophes. I have been an enormous fan of all things Simon's Cat  for years! From the 40 short animations on, I just can't get enough of Simon's Cat. I  have a Simon's Cat T-shirt, as well as notebooks! Cody and I are proud to have featured all of the Simon's Cat books on our blog and Simon's Cat Off to the Vet and Other Cat-astrophes is the most-requested subject since the launch of the Simon's Cat YouTube series back in 2007, It is the third of Simon Tofield's Simon's Cat books and the third time we have featured a new Simon's Cat book on our blog!

The two other Simon's Cat illustrated books are:

Simon's Cat in Kitten Chaos

Simon's Cat vs. The World

I also had the pleasure/honor of  listening to Simon Tofield speak (as well as the complete delight of watching him create illustrations in person), a few years ago at one of the Purina Better With Pets Summits. What a complete and total joy he was!! Having grown up with a world-renowned cartoonist Father, I know first-hand the time it takes as well as the brilliant mind that one must have to be  able to create simple cartoons with NO WORDS, that millions of people can relate to. Many have no conception as to just how difficult that is to accomplish.  Let's not forget the God-given gift of artistic talent as well. The talent/intellect that is necessary to be successful in this type of a creative endeavor is formidable.

Simon's Cat Off to the Vet and Other Cat-astrophes just might relax you the next time you embark on a journey to the vet with your cat(s) ! From illustrations depicting Simon literally taking the cat carrier and attempting to DUMP the cat on the exam table, (admit it, YOU have done that too!),  to the cat grabbing on to their owner as if the owner was velcro, (to avoid the hands of the crazed Vet that invades oh-so-personal spots), Simon's Cat Off to the Vet And Other Cat-astrophes has it all!

While viewing the illustrations I was reminded of the time that Cody was wearing a cone and my husband and I called him "Space Boy." Cody never missed a beat with that cone, even with our dog trying to grab it, every time poor Cody tried to move. 

copyright 2015 Simon Tofield, used with permission by Akashic Books

The above photo depicts the mischief that Simon's Cat gets into when he runs through the Vet visiting all sorts of areas that he is not supposed to be a  part of!

The animated feline sensation beloved worldwide is also sharing its theme with the first-ever full-color Simon's Cat film. The story inspiration for this book and film are discussed by Simon Tofield below:

And...let's not forget the other "Cat-astrophes" in this latest Simon's Cat book! The illustration below is just one of many that will remind you that whatever trials you may experience with your cat(s), you are FAR from alone!!

 It is evident from all of the Simon's Cat creations, that they are all  labors of love, brilliantly orchestrated by an incredibly talented man, who, like the rest of us, simply  LOVES HIS CATS!

copyright 2015 Simon Tofield, used with permission by Akashic Books

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Simon Tofield is an award-winning animator and cartoonist. He has had a lifelong interest in animals, beginning as a child, when his uncle gave him a plastic pond that quickly filled with wildlife. Simon was given his first cat when he was nine and now has four rescue cats, which are the mischievous inspiration for his work. He is the author of multiple Simon’s Cat books, including Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos and Simon’s Cat vs. the World.

SIMON'S CAT OFF TO THE VET..AND OTHER CAT-ASTROPHES BY SIMON TOFIELD
HOT OFF THE PRESSES ON  OCTOBER 29, 2015
240 FUN-FILLED PAGES! AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AND ON AKASHIC BOOKS!!! 

Add this one to your holiday gift-giving list!

GIVE-AWAY!! Our friends at Akashic Books are offering a most GENEROUS GIVE-AWAY!!! FIVE OF OUR READERS WHO ARE 18 AND OVER AND WHO RESIDE IN THE U.S. WILL EACH WIN A COPY OF SIMON'S CAT OFF TO THE VET AND OTHER CAT-ASTROPHES! (An approximate $20 value). Entering is easy, there is only ONE mandatory entry! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway





In full disclosure:I was not compensated for this review and give-away. I was sent a copy of Simon's Cat Off to the Vet and Other Cat-astrophes in exchange for my always honest review. Prizes will be provided by and mailed to the five winners from the publisher, Akashic Books.