My fine-motor skills are not great. My handwriting would be considered "chicken scratch" and my signature is completely illegible. My guitar playing after 30 years is only OK—too sloppy. My ability to put what I envision in my mind to paper typically consists of terribly rendered stick figures. While providing endless entertainment to my children as they grew up, my artistic shortcomings have always been a source of frustration for me.

Of course, I never really tried to improve my artistic skills. This was partly because I assumed, as I think many people do, that artistic ability is something you're born with—you either have it or you don't. But it was also partly because I just didn't have the time. I was too busy with work, family, and graduate school to spend time on something that I was so bad at.

My attitude changed as I was finishing up my PhD in the summer and fall of 2023. I was using YouTube a lot, mostly for learning various topics and tools for my research, but also to relax during breaks. The algorithm recommended a video by Stephen Travers while I was eating lunch one day. I loved it. At first, I was mostly watching because I found it soothing. He is so nice and knowledgeable and I resonate with his style and subject matter. But then I started to think, "I could do that." I mean, I knew I couldn't do it well, but I could do it. I could try. I could learn. I could improve. I could get better. I could get good.

So that is what this site is all about. It's a chronicle of my (hopeful) ascent up the gradient of artistic skill. As I learn and create, I will share my work and some commentary. I hope you enjoy it.