EL SEGUNDO HERALD December 2, 2021 Page 5
Entertainment Finance
Check It Out
I Am Human: A Book of Empathy
by Susan Verde, illustrated
by Peter H. Reynolds
By Kristen Morell, Librarian
I Am Human: A Book of Empathy written
by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter
H. Reynolds is an encouraging and uplifting
picture book that children of all ages can
learn from and enjoy. This story is a great
way to teach children about the importance
of kindness and empathy. Children are
reminded that since we are all human, we
are not always perfect, and that is okay.
Examples are provided of what children
can say and do when someone says something
that makes them feel fearful or sad. I particularly
enjoy the simple affirmations included
in this book that even very young children
can understand and practice themselves. The
beautiful artwork done by Peter H. Reynolds
adds to the colorful nature of this book. I think
this would make a great story to share aloud.
To check out this story and more empathetic
reads, visit us in person or online at www.
ElSegundoLibrary.org. To find more reading
suggestions for all ages, check out our Novelist
link located on our digital library page. You
can find read-a-likes for title, author, series,
genre and more. •
I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde.
Kristen Morell
Ways To Enjoy The Holidays
Without Breaking Your Budget
Damian Fulton from front page
where all of the hot-rodders, bikers, and hippies
got together; and of course, there were the
surfers…they got all of the hottest girls. My
friends and I would spend all day (at the beach),
get sun-burned and salt-encrusted, then hack our
way back home on our bikes, through the traffic
and the gangs, and then repeat it the next day.”
Post high school graduation, Fulton
matriculated to Cal State Fullerton to study art
and play volleyball. He said that he found the
standard art course offerings a bit staid, so, in
his off-hours, he would still spend time cruising
on his bike, enjoying the sunny environs of
Newport Beach.
After he graduated from Cal State Fullerton
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in design and
visual communication, Fulton put his artistic
talents to use, creating posters for various
surfing events, including providing content to
surf magazines. Groovy, eh?
Fulton likes to say that he cut his teeth in
the field of advertising “playing with toys.”
In 1984, he started working for the iconic
advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather, where he
toiled as art director for campaigns involving
brands like Hot Wheels and Barbie.
Working in the advertising industry was not
the expected route he thought he would take to
draw a paycheck. “I hated advertising,” he said,
because, in his view, all the ads served to do was
“interrupt what you are watching or reading.”
He eventually made senior partner with
the agency, gaining experience providing
his expertise and talents to companies such
as American Express, Korean Airlines, the
Paramount Theme Parks, as well as the Las
Vegas Hilton.
A member of the Director’s Guild of America
since 1988, Fulton has directed spots for some,
shall we say, rather well-known companies,
including Pepsi, Chevron, Jaguar and Mattel,
and if that isn’t enough, Fulton said that his
counter-culture comic “Radical Rick” has
been optioned, and is “currently doing the
development rounds in Hollywood,” and he
recently completed directing his second feature
film, “Painted Horses.”
Producer Donna Hampton, who has known
Fulton for three years, said that director Fulton
is “amazing, an incredibly talented guy. He
is a fabulous illustrator who visualizes work
in sketches before filming and directing. He
is graciously humble,” she added. “He has a
great relationship with everyone he meets: a
great communicator and team player.”
In 1990, Fulton’s talents landed him with the
folks at Marvel Productions as vice-president
of creative development. His duties at Marvel
included developing children’s animation
programming for television and a 20th Century
Fox theatrical short.
But Fulton said that “the lure of (working
for) Ogilvy again was too strong,” so Fulton
returned to the advertising firm to take the title
of senior partner/creative director and work on
accounts that included Cisco and Kraft Foods.
And while he was working as the in-house
director and the creative director for Spinifex
Studios, he created “content and experiential
programs” for Disney, Universal Studios, Fiat
North America, and Nissan.
You can see that Fulton’s professional resume
is plastered with the names of numerous
influential companies that have cut a wide
swath across their industries.
He credits his wife, Alisa, for convincing
him to go out on his own and create his artistic
brand. Fulton said that about 15 years ago, he
was doing his best work for his employers
when Alisa, who he calls “my brilliant wife,”
challenged the artist. “When are you going to
do your own brand?” he remembers her asking.
He said that there was a small gallery located
in El Segundo at the time that displayed what
Fulton termed “low-brow art,” not $1 million
dollar renderings that might end up adorning
the wall of some rich guy living in Malibu.
Fulton said he “paints the things that I knew,
the kind of things that (still) excite me,” citing
his earlier “adolescent doodles” that had inspired
him, including monster movies, police dramas,
car chases, and the beach vibe. He called his
art “a weird mash-up that somehow resonates
with people. It is an antidote to (the art) we
are used to seeing.”
He said that many of his paintings and sketches
might make some folk, at first perusal, a bit
uncomfortable. Which he says is fine with him,
as Fulton cut his artistic teeth in the counterculture
time, when people actually did things
other than incessantly checking their cell phones.
Living in El Segundo works for him,
Fulton said, touting the cities “accessibility
and relatability” and that it is “so beautifully
situated next to the ocean,” reminiscing about
his upbringing in Orange County in a small
town that provided access to the charms of the
California coastline.
“I love the roots and DNA” of the city, he
shared, noting that El Segundo has not become
“truly gentrified yet,” citing the town’s Smoky
Hollow district. “It belies its true origins,” he
said of the town. “At a time when people are
searching for authenticity, El Segundo is the
real deal.”
“I love the coastal life,” Fulton said, noting
that he still competes in age-group volleyball
events and surfs. He likes to spend time with
his “beautiful bride” and children Ashley,
Hayley, Soren, and Grace, and “scheme (about)
my next painting.”
Fulton related that he left his position at
Spinifex about a month ago, which has reenergized
his passion for splashing colors on
canvas. “I am so excited about painting,” he
said, relating that he now has the time to devote
his full-time energies to pursuing his passion.
He said that he has a couple of “exciting” El
Segundo projects in the works, the details of
which will hopefully be soon finalized.
As we wrapped up our phone conversation,
Fulton said that now that he is work-transitioning,
he wants to focus more on “giving back. I have
been so blessed with abundance,” he said,
speaking of his world travel experiences, directing
of movie stars, working with Fortune 500
companies. “I am in a position now where I can
share, teach, and encourage others. It is just a
wonderful place to be, pushing the boundaries.”
Parting thoughts from the man described as
“the Quentin Tarantino of surf artists. Or the
Robin Williams of painting.” •
A sample of Fulton’s creativity. Photos Courtesy of Damian Fulton.
(BPT) - A new survey reveals that Americans
say the holidays will give them something
positive to look forward to, after many people
had to curtail last year’s holiday celebrations
due to the pandemic. In the new 2021 Coinstar
Holiday Survey, respondents said that while gift
buying may go down this year (one-third plan
to buy fewer gifts), people overall are looking
for more activities that bring them holiday joy
- as they still manage their budgets.
Here are tips to help boost your holiday
spirit, without breaking the bank.
1. Embrace regifting
If you’ve ever thought about regifting a
present to someone who might actually enjoy
it, you’re not alone. According to the survey,
more than one-fourth (28%) said they’re likely
to regift something this holiday season.
There’s nothing wrong with regifting:
• It saves you money
• Reusing is good for the environment
• Your closet gets a little less cluttered
• You may be giving the absolute perfect
gift to someone else
Be sure to regift with care, and not give the
gift back to the same person who gave it to you!
2. Use spare change to stretch your budget
When finances are tight, you may be surprised
to learn that you have more spare change lying
around than you think! Check your purse,
couch cushions, car or change jar for loose
change. Survey respondents estimate they have
approximately $123 in spare change at home,
and over half (52%) said they are likely to
cash in or use their spare change this holiday
season. This newfound cash can be used for
buying gifts, decorations or donating to others.
It’s easy to cash in your spare change at a
Coinstar kiosk in your local supermarket. At
the kiosk, you can convert your spare change
to cash, a no-fee eGift card - or even donate
to charity, which makes it perfect for boosting
the spirit of giving.
3. Deck the halls with holiday spirit
Nothing brings back your childhood sense of
holiday wonder and magic better than beautiful
colored lights and holiday decorations, whether
at your own home or around your neighborhood.
Over 90% of the people surveyed plan
to decorate their homes this season, and three
out of four say they will start or increase their
tradition of driving around to enjoy decorations
and lights nearby - a fun and no-cost activity
to delight your whole family.
4. Bake a little joy for the holidays
Baking is one of the most fun and inexpensive
ways to spend time with your family, as well
as being a great way to create giftable treats.
In the survey, 80% of Americans said they will
start or increase their home baking this holiday
season. Find festive tins, jars or holiday-themed
plates to load up with goodies, wrap in foil,
then stick on a colorful ribbon and voila! A
tasty gift anyone would love to receive.
5. Bring joy to others by giving
Giving to others can bring unexpected holiday
joy. After more than a year of challenges,
nearly two-thirds of Americans (61%) say they’ll
start or increase their donations of money or
volunteering time to charity this holiday season.
Another way to feel the warm glow of giving
to others is by tipping service providers
who help you throughout the year, from your
childcare provider to your mail carrier. Well
over half (57%) of Americans say they tip
service providers during the holidays. •