It’s not every day you are asked to draw with permanent markers on a $250,000 Bentley in front of hundreds of your peers and some of the most talented creatives in the industry. With only two hours to complete this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at 2017's Creative South Conference, I was more than a little nervous. 

This is not the way I work.

Typically, I go through rounds of rough sketches, next trace a few versions in pencil on my light box to get it just right, then scan my art into Illustrator and lastly work on the computer to finalize my illustration. Not so in this case. We walked up to this gorgeous automobile and were handed a box of fat tipped markers. No holds barred, no "Edit > Undo." Every mark was permanent. 

When Dylan asked me to be on his team this year at Creative South, my initial response was “NO WAY!” I quickly reminded myself of a promise I made when I took the leap to work for myself in 2009. “I will take every opportunity God sends my way and I will not say 'no' to anything simply out of fear.” This has been a guiding principle in my business over the past 7 years and it has opened many doors and skill sets I would not have otherwise found. 

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me – Philippians 4:13

So next time you are asked to do something that terrifies you to the core and you realize that you are indeed equipped for the task but it is only fear keeping you from taking that box of markers and expressing your gift, look it in the eye, and accept the challenge. You only live once and you'll only become a better person because of it. 

I’m grateful for the opportunity.

The unbelievably talented line up:

Passenger side team:
Dylan Menges
Von Glitschka
Christian Stanley
Jeremy Slagle

Driver's Side Team:
Jason Craig
Blake Stevenson
Lisa Lorek
Mike Jones