The Holiday Patriot – A Journey before Christmas

I designed these Holiday Patriot Cards for all the doubters and dreamers, but especially for those with a unique sense of humor. The blue card shows the Holiday Patriot, perhaps on a Monday, gazing at a white briefcase and pondering his past, present and his future. He needs money for a tree and presents – it’s Christmas. But wait a minute! I’ll go to that spot I know and cut a tree down for free. So in the card with the red background, the Holiday Patriot has traveled to his spot and is mournfully starring at a tree stump, wondering what happened. He then remembers cutting down the tree long ago. The Holiday Patriot thinks of those times and decides to go buy a plastic tree. Late that evening he carries his new Chinese tree home.

That same night, he dreams of all the presents that he must buy to fulfill his holiday duties. In his dream he is shackled with a very long chain to a white present with a large red bow. He awakens in the morning tired and confused.

On his way into work, late the next day, the Holiday Patriot has a brilliant idea. The only thing on his mind is a big new paintbrush and paint – lots of paint. The rest is history folks.

Some questions remain unanswered to this day. What made the Holiday Patriot suddenly change the course of his life after so many years? Did he finally listen to the wind as it brushed against his ear, begging him to ask the question. You know. That question that pops into your head from time to time. The question that you brush away, sometimes daily. The question that rings in your ears in the silence of the night. The question that the Holiday Patriot always answered the same way, until that day. The question is not important. Your answer is…

These cards are printed on beautiful Archival Watercolor Paper and are available at The Arts Company and here at popsicles and grenades.

Christmas + Holiday Card Designs

I designed these Christmas and Holiday Cards for The Arts Company. Anne Brown and the Arts Company are celebrating 12 years in business – quite an impressive feat in today’s art market. They sent out these cards to all of their loyal art lovers from throughout the years.

The card design is of a tree with 12 doves nesting and one dove flying away to symbolize looking to the future and moving forward to the prosperous years ahead. If you get a chance, go to The Arts Company and check out all of the unique art, cards, books and other interesting creations to inspire the mind.

Oh Christmas Tree – Oh Christmas Present

Here are two Christmas posters that I have created to show my holiday spirit! My hope is that these posters will brighten up your Christmas, long after Christmas has passed. Like when you are tossing that dead Christmas tree to the curb or when you are dreading boxing up that plastic one that lives in the attic. Perhaps, you will remember these posters when that large credit card bill arrives and you wonder if you will ever be able to pay it off. Merry Christmas!

Shop Crazy – Are You a Holiday Patriot

I do not have to write about how ridiculous, immature and irresponsible one would have to be to go shopping for needless and worthless things especially when one hasn’t any money and is knee deep in debt. Once upon a time, this would be considered common sense to anyone and everyone. Yet, now we are told that if you do not shop then the economy could collapse, you will lose your job, your house, and your family.

So get out there and buy, spend, shop! Go get that cheap plastic widget. Who cares that you don’t need it or that it will break in two weeks. Hell, what are you supposed to do with it anyway? But, you cannot live without it. At least buy it for your kids. No kids? What about dear ole Uncle Sam? We all know he could us that plastic beauty made in China.

C’mon it’s the Holiday Season! It would not be the holidays if you didn’t shop. I’m not talking about buying something big – just some little rubbish that no one wants so that everyone has some worthless junk to OPEN. See, it really is about giving. It’s not about me and my selfish irrational ways. I want you to be happy. That’s why I’m buying this crap that I know you don’t want – to show you I care! I know that you do not want any of this garbage, but you do not understand that buying things equals happiness. How else are you to be happy if you do not shop? Why do you work? Why get a job if your not going to spend all of your money! I work over 50 hours a week for 50 weeks out of the year and I want to spend that money! I deserve it. What else would I do with my time, but shop? Oh, and watch tv? How else would you find out what to buy?

Some of you may be saying, “I know your right, BUT I have to buy THINGS for my kids, or my wife, or boyfriend or boss or just fill in the freakin’ ridiculous, irrational blank______! Have fun and exercise your brain. If you are a parent – here is an idea – teach your child by giving them the greatest gift imaginable – wisdom through example. I’m not saying do not ever buy your child anything, but happiness or contentment will never come from possessions. The child who is satisfied without will find fulfillment in life, while the child who learns to seek happiness through the hunger for more material will have an unquenchable thirst. Get creative and spend some time with these people you care about. Do something nice for them, be kind to them, help them with their daily chores. Be romantic, interesting and playful. Imagine the countless EXPERIENCES you could have to remember and to cherish.

Or you could just go buy some crap…