JFJ Big Idea Challenge - Day 4: Solitude


How do we feel when we are alone? Do we seek solitude or do we seek the company of others?

For some solitude is a positive experience, something needed and desired at certain times. We might seek the quiet of the studio or the refreshing scenes of a mountain hike. For others it is a dreadful experience, filled with negativity and loneliness. We might feel lonely and forgotten, and we might want to always be surrounded by people and activity. How do you react to being alone? How do you feel about solitude?

Find time today to purposefully seek a little solitude and see how it sits with you. Respond in some creative way to the thoughts and the feelings that come up.


Remember those hashtags if your sharing on social media #jfjbigideas or #jfj16.

JFJ Big Idea Challenge - Day 3: Memory


What are the moments in our lives that we want to remember? How can we preserve them?

Art and journaling are ideal ways to hold onto our memories, and we can document the people, places, and events in our lives in a variety of ways. We can use actual photos, we can write about a cherished moment, or we can draw the scene in front of us as a way to capture the moment.

Take a little time today to reflect on your memories, and respond in any way. You might want to document the things that are happening right now as a way to preserve these moments for the future. Or you might want to reflect on the past, and document your reactions to those memories now. Allow the idea of a memory or memories to guide you in your making.


If you share your endeavors make certain to use the hashtags #jfjbigideas or #jfj16.

JFJ Big Idea Challenge - Day 2: Place


How do the places we inhabit affect us?

The places we live, work, and play have a profound influence on who we are and the things that we do. Throughout each day we move through and inhabit a lot of places and spaces from our homes to our workplaces, from the corner bar to the local gym. What impact do these places have on us?

Spend a little bit of time reflecting on how you are impacted by place. Focus on a specific place, or explore a variety of places. Perhaps respond to the place you are right now.


Make sure to use those hashtags if you're posting online or on social media! #jfjbigideas or #jfj16

JFJ Big Idea Challenge - Day 1: Identity


 Who am I?

This is one of the most basic questions that we ponder as we try to figure out our place in the world, and it is a question where the answer changes over time as we gain insight, knowledge, and experience. Who we are today is not who we were a year ago or who we will be in ten years, but maybe there is something about us that in some way transcends time.

Spend some time pondering identity and reflect on what makes us who we are. Draw, paint, write, or do whatever feels appropriate for you.

If you share your endeavors make certain to use the hashtags #jfjbigideas or #jfj16.

JFJ Big Idea Challenge


In June 2015, I was urged to create a daily challenge on the blog, and so the JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge came into being. For 30 days I asked participants to spend at least 15 minutes a day engaged in some specific art making task. I focused mainly on techniques and processes that could be easily done in 15 minutes, but which could be elaborated upon with more time.

I’m back just over a year later with a new challenge, The Journal Fodder Junkies Big Idea Challenge! Whether you have 15 minutes or three hours, each day’s challenge provides a starting point or a spark of an idea. There are no rules to this challenge other than allow the prompt to be a jumping off point for the work.

Here’s how it’s going to work. Each day throughout July, I will post a Big Idea along with some points of clarification and some points to ponder. For those of you who may not be familiar with Big Ideas, they are a notion that has come to a place of prominence in Art Education, and simply put, Big Ideas are the ideas that artists explore in their art. Big Ideas are large human issues or concerns that conjure a wide variety of thoughts, reactions, and possibilities. Big ideas are complex and ambiguous which gives artists room to develop individual lines of inquiry and to explore a wide range of possibilities.

Read the Big Idea and the points that go with it, and respond in any manner you see fit to that idea. Write, paint, collage, journal, draw, make a video, sculpt, or snap a photo. Remember that there is no right way to respond, so allow the Big Idea to guide the making and explore whatever possibilities arise. You might focus on a very personal and specific notion as you work, or you might explore the concept in more general terms. It’s up to you.

Like the 15 for 30 Challenge, this is not about having finished, glorious works of art or fully resolved journal pages. This challenge is about opening yourself up to an idea and seeing where it can take you. It’s about finding time each day to journal, to make art, to reflect, to create. It’s about opening to your creativity and giving yourself permission.

If you have a blog or if you're active on social media, you may want to post your responses for others to see what you have been up to. Use the hashtags #jfjbigideas or #jfj16.

But what if you get behind or miss a day or two? So what! Don’t worry about trying to catch up. Just do the challenges that you can, and don’t feel overwhelmed as if you have to do all of them. Besides, all of the challenges will be here on the blog for you catch up anytime you want or to explore in greater depth.

So, if you’re up for the challenge, it’ll all start tomorrow, July 1, so grab some art making materials and join in on the fun.

Happy Anniversary!


Thirteen years ago today, I married the love of my life. I can't believe that it has been that long because it certainly hasn't seemed like it.


I first met Joanne nearly fifteen years ago, and I was struck immediately by her smile. But over the years, I have been continually awed by her compassion, patience, understanding, and support. Joanne has the biggest heart, and if she could, she would rescue every sick, old, stray, and abandoned animal that she could. We have quite the menagerie now, and it is because of her that I have become a firm believer in rescuing and fostering animals. That love and compassion for animals also extends to her job as a licensed veterinary technician where she works with sick and injured animals. It's a stressful job with long, busy days, but she loves what she does. The animals are lucky to have her.

It's not just her love for animals that I love and admire, it's also the continued support that she has given me over the years. Without it, I wouldn't be able to do the things that I have done over the last 15 years - writing the books, traveling for workshops, making art. Joanne has supported me in so many ways, and she has been extremely patient and understanding with me over the years. Knowing that she is there by my side, makes moving into a new chapter of my life much easier, and I can't imagine doing it without her.

I am so glad that I took a chance to get to know her all of those years ago, and I am so glad that she took a chance to get to know me. I can't imagine life without her.

Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife! I look forward to many, many more years to come.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Modler!

Congratulations, Dave and Stephanie
Big news for the Journal Fodder Junkies, well, at for one of us. Dave got married!

I was very fortunate to be in Austin for the wedding this past weekend to share in this special day for my brother-from-another-mother and his beautiful bride. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate for Dave and Stephanie, but the rain didn't dampen the spirit of the day. They had their ceremony under the protection of the front porch, and everyone enjoyed a lovely reception/party afterward.

I wish Dave and Stephanie all the best in their journey. Here's to a lifetime of love, friendship, and joy!


Snoozing cats at the Blue Cat Cafe.
While in Austin, my wife and I were able to check out a lot of the city, and one of our first stops was the Blue Cat Cafe. This unique cafe has adoptable cats that live in and lounge around the place. There are many cat walks, cat beds, cat toys, and a massive cat tree, and the cats have the run of the place. Good food and cats - it made us miss our own animals a little less.

I need a cat tree like this in my house.
We also spent some time downtown and did a little shopping, but we were most excited to go to Voodoo Doughnuts. We first encountered these amazing doughnuts in Portland, Oregon this past spring at the original location, and we were very excited to see a location in Austin. We were able to stop by before our flight back to Northern Virginia, and we made sure to order extra to take with us on the flight.

The interior of Voodoo Doughnuts, Austin
 It was a very nice weekend trip to Austin, and I am so excited to welcome Stephanie to the JFJ family.

Doughnuts for the flight home.



Upcoming Workshops


School's out and the Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour is over, so it must be summer time. If you've been looking to take a workshop with us, now's the time. The Journal Fodder Junkies will be returning to teach two workshops at Art Unraveled in Phoenix at the beginning of August. Good friend, Sam Peck will be there as well to teach a workshop.

Dave and I will be teaching an all-day stencil making class on Tuesday and an evening collaborative mixed media class on Wednesday. Sam will be teaching his all-day printmaking class on Wednesday. Click the links below for more info.

August 2-3, 2016 - Art Unraveled, Phoenix, AZ

We were also slated to teach at Art and Soul in Virginia Beach, but unfortunately, the classes had to be cancelled because of very few sign-ups at this time. We are very sorry to anyone who had signed up or was planning on signing up. We'll have to try again in the future.

So, we're focusing on getting as many people to sign up for Art Unraveled. We ask your help in spreading the word. Please post, share, tweet, and get the word out. Thank you so much!

We hope to see you in Phoenix in August, and we'll keep you posted as we add workshops for the fall!

Thank You!


I want to thank everyone who came out this past weekend for the 11th annual Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour. It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend with a lot going on, and I appreciate everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to spend time with me in my studio.


I have always loved connecting to people through my art, and the Studio Tour affords me that opportunity on a large scale. I am so thankful to everyone who came out to support me and the other artists on the tour.


I would say that my monsters were the hit of the weekend in my studio, and many of the polymer clay sculptures found new homes. I'll definitely be making more of them in the near future.


If you couldn't make it because of distance or time, I will be putting some of my artwork for sale on the JFJ website within the next couple of weeks, so that people near and far can take a closer look. So, in the meantime, I thank everyone who has supported my art in anyway. I am very grateful to everyone who I connect to through art! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!