The Distant Empath

Enjoying a quiet evening

Early morning photo of a suburban tree-lined sidewalk.

Beyond simple thresholds lie complicated worlds,
where people search for peace
and instead, create war within themselves.

Photo taken at 6 am on July 3rd, 2025 as I walked from the bus stop to work. My search for peace continues.
Be good to yourselves.
- Bret

Birthright citizenship is a Constitutional RIGHT. Any attack on it is an attack on us all.

This is an attempt by far-right justices to attack immigrant communities and remove protections from any American who questions Trump.

Your rights are nonnegotiable. We can’t compromise on that basic fact.

Pencil drawing of a man with shoulder length hair, and a chin goatee. "John" It's a small stage, but an important one. A keyboard player first and foremost, his bandmates talked him into singing lead on a few songs. Nervous excitement propels him to the stage, and perhaps a new chapter in his career. This drawing is quite a bit different than my original intention, but art is best untamed. I did some experimenting with color, using artPOP! Infinity markers for the first time. My sketchbooks are where I learn as I create, and that's the joy in creativity. Be good to yourselves. - Bret

"John"
June 22, 2025.
Read more in the alt text

I will not alter my behavior to conform to an immoral regime.

Possibly The Master being roasted in Planet of Fire?

Side view of a mint 1970 AMC Rebel Machine in red, white and blue.

Front view of a mint 1970 AMC Rebel Machine in red, white and blue.

Rear view of a mint 1970 AMC Rebel Machine in red, white and blue.

Spotted this gorgeous 1970 AMC Rebel Machine today.

Slowly forming an idea that much of What's Wrong With the Social Internet is an inability of some folks to distinguish between different categories of opinions.

A lot of benign things (like preference or idiosyncrasies) get responded to as if there's a right and wrong when... there just isn't.

One of many reasons I have neither.

Drawing of a woman thoughtfully looking to her right, finger resting on her chin. "Peggy" Mulling over whether to try something new at the café, or to stick with her daily driver, Peggy's sideways glance at the specials is distracted by the slightest of grins. She returns the expression, for a moment lost in a fascinating pair of chestnut eyes, but realizes she's holding up the line. Feeling herself blush, she orders her usual and makes her way over to the brown-eyed woman. Another mutual grin passes between them as Peggy muses she's trying something new today, after all. Peggy started life by me seeing someone make this face. I loved every second of creating this portrait, and I tried some new things along the way, too. These people I put on paper, and the stories they give me are gifts I will always cherish. Be good to yourselves. - Bret

"Peggy"
Drawing completed May 12th, 2025.
(Written piece in the Alt Text)

🤔😊

Pencil drawing of a dark-haired woman sitting cross-legged on the roof of her car.

Drawing completed April 28th, 2025. This was the first piece I created both at home and on my breaks at work. I intend to continue that method, throwing in some café time, too. It's a good conversation starter, I'm told.
Be good to yourselves.
-Bret

I only see you when I dare to dream of all I have lost.

Never underestimate that your words, poems, art, music, random acts of kindness and unconditional love, are acts of resistance, and what save us from the madness of this world.

Milwaukee River Walk on a lovely Spring day.
#Milwaukee

"Cora"
Drawing completed three years ago today.

Rainy day drawing

"Elise"
There is rain in the distance.
She closes her eyes
and listens
to that eerie silence before the first drops
pelt the dry ground.
To the rumbles of thunder that make her smile.
Petrichor wafts around her.
She inhales deeply,
hugging herself
as the water trickles over her skin.

ghost in the toaster oven

Drawing of a woman with long hair, wearing a knit hat, and an oversized hoodie. Her eyes are closed, and she's smiling in the sunlight.

"Kenzie"
The wind chill is well below zero, but she doesn't care. The sun is bright and makes the freshly fallen snow look like a blanket of diamonds covering the hillside. Days may not last long here, but she is content to soak in the light while it lasts. Living in the moment, where she belongs

Looking more like a home.

Drawing of a man with his back to the ocean, a sad, far away look in his eyes.

"Philip"
Drawing completed February 6th, 2025.

Creating makes everything better.

Fairness.
Compassion.
Kindness.
Empathy.

All painted over. Literally. By this administration.

An administration of evil.

Carrying a Bible.

Wearing a cross.

Praying to a flag.

On bended knees.

Not for patriotism.

But for fascism.

Art in progress

This is the Ben & Jerry’s video that has folks talking and MAGA losing their shit!

We need to support @benandjerrys y’all, because we don’t ever want them to “stick to just the ice cream”. 👀

Not Ghosts, But Spirits V is out now! We had 67 contributors in the women’s & LGBTQIAP+ communities donate their work this time around. All proceeds from this volume will be going to Project Q which prioritizes safe space for BIPOC LGBTQIA+ youth ✨ link in bio