A report from Reader’s Digest features three people
doing inspirational things. Here’s part of their story about Bren Bataclan.
He paints cartoon characters and leaves his small canvases around Boston and
other cities—free.
After Bataclan lost his job, he relocated to Boston and started painting what are now his signature characters. He sold 49 in two days and wanted to show his gratitude. He decided to give away his artwork and ask just one thing in return. He attached this note and his website address, bataclan.com to each canvas: "This painting is yours if you promise to smile at random people more often."
In what he calls his Smile Project, Bataclan has left his creations in 20 states and 20 countries. He’s received notes and photos from people who have found his paintings (you can see some of them on his site).
He says, "It's nice to know that my art really is making a difference." Since the economy has gone downhill, he has been attaching a different note to his canvases: "Everything will be all right."
(for tips and techniques on how to be more creative and productive, sign up for my inspirational Brainstorm e-bulletin. Just send an email request to [email protected] -- like Bren Bataclan's paintings, it's free!)
