Risk

Since this blog was created I have often asked myself if this is something I want to continue. Does it contribute anything of value, does it reach others? There are thousands of blogs out there. It seems everyone is creating blogs. Why do one more?
I don't know that my work is especially attractive, it does offer me a way to say something I find meaningful. I believe in the creation of art as a way to express views that I believe in. Ideally I want to reach people. If the blog doesn't do that what good is it? So far I don't know if I have reached one person. I hope I am, why risk putting the work out there if it is just for me? If you see this blog let me know. Your input is important. Art is to be shared. It might be created in solitude but it is meant to express something words cannot. It is a way to express beauty. Sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder though. What I mean is that I find beauty in what I do. I hope you do too.

New Year

It is hard to believe that we are in the second decade of the 21st century. My goal is to spend more time with others who share my interests and to work at healing a long-term illness. I have battled depression most of my adult life. It has periods where it is manageable, other times it controls every aspect of my life. I am in a slump now. I spend most of my time alone and with few exceptions, I have no close friends except my wife. My wife and partner keeps me grounded, she keeps me from self-destructing. I have a lot of gratitude for her and her upbeat optimistic outlook. She really does make life worthwhile. She is my cheering section, my pep squad. She is always there for me and I know that I can depend on her. Like me she has some serious health concerns. It keeps her in bed a lot. She could be depressed, but she tries not to let things get to her.
I would like to continue to expand my interest in art. Perhaps do some greeting cards. I tried to do some greeting cards in the past but had no consistent plan to deal with rejections. I had no idea how personally I would take rejection notices. I hope to see how others cope. I think it is amazing that I don't let my depression interfere with my other art. I haven't had too many rejections with my framed works. I have been able to consistently place my work, but probably not as aggressively as I could. Perhaps my depression takes more from me than I realize.

Christmas Week

Christmas is almost here. Not many new ideas but I am really not worried. I just feel the spirit of the holiday and I don't think too much about creativity. Something will emerge. I am happy with the last few pieces that I have created and that is enough. I so much enjoy Christmas. It is fun to get outdoors and look at the houses alight with decorations. We got eight inches of snow today and my dogs are excited about being out in it. There are some weather forecasters predicting a white Christmas. We will see. Happy Holidays.

II Timothy 1:7

A new piece that I finished. Just have to mat and frame it.

Creative Blocks

I haven't created anything in a couple of weeks. Depression was pretty bad a couple of weeks ago but it didn't keep me from drawing. The last two weeks have been much better from a depression point of view, but creatively I've been stuck. I admire people who create every day, rain or shine. I just received some frames so I can work but I have no ideas. There is an old trick I learned a long time ago, and that is cleaning my studio. This sometimes gets my juices flowing. It doesn't work all the time but it can often do the trick. Sometimes going to old journals helps. I have drawings scattered throughout my journals and these can be inspiring. We'll see what happens. I miss having other artists around to commiserate with, or to kick ideas around with. I have been wanting to e-mail some artists I have found online, but so far I haven't tried.

A Joy to Create

The work that I just created: I wonder if anything is impossible to a God....is one of my favorite quotes. I wish that I knew who the creator was. I look for quotes like this to express what it is that I believe. Sometimes my dark moods keep me from seeing the glory of God's creations, but this is rare. Sunsets can be seen in all their glory from my kitchen window and I love to look as well to try to draw them.

I wonder...

I wonder if anything is impossible....