Blog — holidays

What does it really mean to be a patriot? This blog explores timeless philosophies from Plato, John Stuart Mill, and Simone de Beauvoir—and how their views on justice, liberty, and ethical responsibility show up today in fine art, tattoos, and advertising. It’s a fresh take on patriotism that goes beyond flags and slogans, asking us to think deeper about what we truly stand for.

Ever wonder what makes dads tick?
After 50 years of observing life through the lens of a daughter, I’ve rounded up five things dads almost universally love—from golf and whiskey to tattoos and the great outdoors. This lighthearted blog shares personal stories, a few laughs, and some heartfelt reflections on the passions that make dads so memorable. Give it a read—you might just see your own dad in there.

On March 14th we celebrate International Pi Day. “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel  tells the story of a young Indian who is lost at sea in a lifeboat with an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena, and a tiger. A reviewer wrote that “Life of Pi” was about God, survival, and tiger training. I showed my fine art at a Big Cat Rescue Fundraiser in Tampa which rescues exotic cats and rehabilitates injured or orphaned native wild cats. Big Cat Rescue was the subject of Netflix's “Tiger King” not long after the fundraiser.

September 2017 brought chaos to many with a barrage of hurricanes. I, for one, cooked off a tuna can stove for a week. During this uproar, we quietly lost legendary monster artist Basil Gogos. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and to celebrate I decided to write a blog in tribute to this great creative soul. If you were a child of the '60s and '70s, chances are you devoured the magazine “Monsters of Filmland”. It was here that many fell in love with the vibrant and stylish work of Gogos. Not only do I love the spooky nature of his...

Why wouldn't our wild things get psyched about the winter holidays? The evergreen is eyed with admiration and then our beloved pets will mark, jump, eat or climb it. Quite possibly, it'll even get toppled. While most people spend their time finding ways to keep pets out of their Christmas decor, my creative mother Martha Strum found a way so that your pets have a place on the Christmas tree.