Kathy Crabbe, Queeniel, 2013, ink on paper, 5 x 7”.

My intention this month (at the New Moon) was to connect with a community of creatives for encouragement and networking, but I wasn't too specific about what kind of creatives, although the person I really hoped to connect with was Vanessa Davis, a cartoonist I just discovered who is very much a part of the vibrant cartoon community that exists in the United States. I've been super inspired by her interviews, podcasts, videos and artwork which can be found on her website: http://www.spanielrage.com/contact/

But the realllly interesting thing is that I sketched a cartooney face that looked very much like Vanessa just two days before I discovered her online. I was visiting Los Angeles for the weekend and purchased a small sketch book and some Asian brush pens whilst in Little Tokyo and was really inspired to start sketching right away especially after visiting the Japanese American Museum for the Giant Robot Biennale 3 show where I especially loved the cartoon-ey art of Saelee Oh. I was also inspired by the artists and toys I found at Q Pop Shop. I wrote this about the whole experience:

Looking back on this trip I feel as though it freed me up...to be me, to just dream and not worry about it...but also to think about everything differently and to realize and respect all I do know and all I've learned along the way during my 47 years on Planet Earth.

The drawing that looks a bit like Vanessa is posted above and I do believe it helped me find her and then befriend her on Facebook where we just started a conversation today - woot! Gotta love the internet at times like this.

**To purchase prints and original drawings by me please click here for my Etsy Shop.