Dallas Clayton may be my new Maurice Sendak.
Ok, no. Lies. Delete delete delete.
Sendak cannot be replaced.
But there is definitely something special about Clayton and his Awesome Book. If I can achieve the same level of success through creativity and pleasure, then I will have reached one of the greatest aspirations of my life.
I think I am so suddenly captivated by this artist/father/philanthropist is that he makes his work available to the world without cost. You buy because you want a tangible copy in your own bedroom, to read to your child or, like me, if you don't have a child, keep out on your bedside table for inspiration and daily reminders to keep going after what my crazy mind is idealizing.
With ink and standard markers, his illustrations are beautiful, honest, raw, engaging and complex. You can question the rationale but why bother? His art reminds me of the kind of stuff I know I wish I was still doing, but have forgotten how to let myself be free enough to create. I stopped drawing and painting a long time ago, allowing other activities and self-imposed responsibilities take priority. Who would have thought it would be such a psychological challenge to let go?
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