Everyone starts with a story. Here's mine.
Ever try doing something everyone else's way? I mean in the sense of what's right for their life and not yours. I put my heart into everything I did. Well, almost everything.
The things I did were done with passion and conviction as best as I could muster. I was a shipyard labourer and painter. I studied electronics. I studied some theology (that's another story). I became a custodial contractor and eventually worked for nearly 8 years in a CD (movie and music) store.
I put my heart into everything I did but my heart wasn't really in everything I did.
I was raised in a fairly fundamental religious home. This had many benefits but also some drawbacks. Often in this context the message is all about 'sacrifice and suffering'. "This gives meaning to life. God is pleased with sacrifice". So as a young man riddled with my own anxieties (which I sought medical help and counselling for later in life) I set out to please others in a way that pleased them.
The thing to keep in mind is that I'm not bitter and that I believe there is a place for sacrifice. We all make sacrifices but sometimes we need to make them for ourselves and not just others.
It's NOT a guy thing!
Art in some circles is not as essential as a chainsaw or a four wheel drive. I grew up around these things and perhaps the thinking was more prevalent in the sixties and seventies but art was just not a guy thing. It seemed like if you wanted to prove your 'manliness' and be accepted you should stay away from an art career. Signs and vehicle wraps but not art. Perhaps it was my fault and I got the message wrong somewhere along the line.
No shut-off switch.
That being said there just was no stopping me from being creative. It's like I never grew up.
It started when I was 5 or 6 years old. I drew my first mural on my bedroom doors of a stubble faced man smoking a cigar. No one in our house even smoked! From there creativity just filtered through my whole life. I didn't have any friends back then because we lived in a remote rural area. So I guess it must have spurred my imagination.
Since those days my life has been permeated with art and creativity. Some of that record you can find here.
Of course, I'm leaving a lot out.
Giving Yourself Permission
There are all kinds of artists.
Some people do art part-time and some do it for a hobby.
Then there are others, like myself, who just can't seem to be happy doing anything but art. How do you know? You just do. Something inside calls you to it. Yes it can be a tough path making ends meet. Sometimes it will mean taking another job until art can pay the bills.
Whatever it is that's calling you give yourself permission to follow it. Don't bury a talent that brings joy to other people. Stop finding excuses to not be yourself. Today is the day. There is no tomorrow here.
To Boldly Go
The adventure for me has been gradual. No overnight success here. But that's okay. It's knowing that you're on the right path at least that matters. It's knowing that it is YOUR path. Do you feel that call to do a certain thing? Then go for it. Steer the ship in that direction. Let the thing you love no longer be the distraction from your 'real' job. Make the real job, the one everyone else wants you to have, as the distraction.
The Journey
My last 'job' was as a retail worker. Fortunately it was in the setting of selling music and movies. I loved that job and stayed there almost 8 years until they closed the retail chain down. It taught me that there is a place in the world for art,music, films etc.Since then I experienced health issues for which retail work is just not possible.
When did the journey with art begin? I think, for me, I was always on that path or at least had one foot on it.
So that is the basics of my story. Maybe it will help you in some way.
For now the world is mine to create what I want and to bring joy and wonder to others.
Thank you for reading.
Ever try doing something everyone else's way? I mean in the sense of what's right for their life and not yours. I put my heart into everything I did. Well, almost everything.
The things I did were done with passion and conviction as best as I could muster. I was a shipyard labourer and painter. I studied electronics. I studied some theology (that's another story). I became a custodial contractor and eventually worked for nearly 8 years in a CD (movie and music) store.
I put my heart into everything I did but my heart wasn't really in everything I did.
I was raised in a fairly fundamental religious home. This had many benefits but also some drawbacks. Often in this context the message is all about 'sacrifice and suffering'. "This gives meaning to life. God is pleased with sacrifice". So as a young man riddled with my own anxieties (which I sought medical help and counselling for later in life) I set out to please others in a way that pleased them.
The thing to keep in mind is that I'm not bitter and that I believe there is a place for sacrifice. We all make sacrifices but sometimes we need to make them for ourselves and not just others.
It's NOT a guy thing!
Art in some circles is not as essential as a chainsaw or a four wheel drive. I grew up around these things and perhaps the thinking was more prevalent in the sixties and seventies but art was just not a guy thing. It seemed like if you wanted to prove your 'manliness' and be accepted you should stay away from an art career. Signs and vehicle wraps but not art. Perhaps it was my fault and I got the message wrong somewhere along the line.
No shut-off switch.
That being said there just was no stopping me from being creative. It's like I never grew up.
It started when I was 5 or 6 years old. I drew my first mural on my bedroom doors of a stubble faced man smoking a cigar. No one in our house even smoked! From there creativity just filtered through my whole life. I didn't have any friends back then because we lived in a remote rural area. So I guess it must have spurred my imagination.
Since those days my life has been permeated with art and creativity. Some of that record you can find here.
Of course, I'm leaving a lot out.
Giving Yourself Permission
There are all kinds of artists.
Some people do art part-time and some do it for a hobby.
Then there are others, like myself, who just can't seem to be happy doing anything but art. How do you know? You just do. Something inside calls you to it. Yes it can be a tough path making ends meet. Sometimes it will mean taking another job until art can pay the bills.
Whatever it is that's calling you give yourself permission to follow it. Don't bury a talent that brings joy to other people. Stop finding excuses to not be yourself. Today is the day. There is no tomorrow here.
To Boldly Go
The adventure for me has been gradual. No overnight success here. But that's okay. It's knowing that you're on the right path at least that matters. It's knowing that it is YOUR path. Do you feel that call to do a certain thing? Then go for it. Steer the ship in that direction. Let the thing you love no longer be the distraction from your 'real' job. Make the real job, the one everyone else wants you to have, as the distraction.
The Journey
My last 'job' was as a retail worker. Fortunately it was in the setting of selling music and movies. I loved that job and stayed there almost 8 years until they closed the retail chain down. It taught me that there is a place in the world for art,music, films etc.Since then I experienced health issues for which retail work is just not possible.
When did the journey with art begin? I think, for me, I was always on that path or at least had one foot on it.
So that is the basics of my story. Maybe it will help you in some way.
For now the world is mine to create what I want and to bring joy and wonder to others.
Thank you for reading.
