We were checking out the Musée d'Orsay exhibit at the de Young a few weeks ago and I came across this book in the gift shop called "642 Things to Draw" by Chronicle books. It was tucked in the children's section. A book with blank pages and words. Simple lines divide certain pages in half, or in quarters or across.. and each has a noun, or pronoun in its box. First thought-brilliant for kids. Next thought- wait. what!? BRILLIANT FOR GROWN UPS! So, this book has become my new outlet for powering up my drawing-story brain. This is required story artist training in my opinion, at least one a day. Your only limitation: each drawing must convey a story, not simply be a drawing of the noun given. I highly recommend taking up this activity... but sorry, if you blog about it too, I won't look at yours.. don't want those first ideas to be influenced. But if you make it consistently to "whirling dervishes", then we'll share the fruits of our labor. So far most have been random images, though a couple have been actual memories. I'll post a few as it comes along...