The Weeks' Ahead...

In the coming weeks, I plan on trying to get as much writing and art done as I possibly can. I have so many ideas and thoughts locked away in my head that just seems to be going to waste.

I have so many sketches and rough drafts in various stages of completion that I need to make sure that I get them done. There is no excuse for my procrastination. I've been trying to make sure that I stay motivated and focused. I'm going to get back to working in my sketchbook everyday. I occasionally do doodles and sketches at work that I've put in my sketchbook but I don't carry my sketchbook as often as I used to do. That's going to change. Well that's it for this weekend. Not too much going on as of yet.

 Until next week...

-Namaste

Vegan...??

I have decided that I want to try and be vegan for a bit. Maybe a 21 or 30 day challenge.

I've been thinking about it for quite a while now. Next month will be my Vegetarian anniversary and I was thinking that I would do it then. I just have to decide if I want to start on the 1st or the middle of the month. I don't think it will be to big of a challenge though. In any event, whatever I decide to do I will share with you guys.

That's all for this week.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Happy Holidays...

Since I probably won't blog again until next weekend and we will have already celebrated Xmas...I just thought I would wish you guys a Merry Christmas. I will see you guys next week.



-Namaste

Quick Post...

Hey faithful few...I don't really have a post for you guys this week but I will have one for you guys next week. I am working on a few ideas and I will share it with you guys then.

Until next time...




-Namaste

Accountability helps...

I failed you guys this week. I have nothing to show...zilch...nada...zero.....I did pull my sketchbook out and tomorrow between my job hunting and resting I will be drawing in my sketchbook.

My art accountability partner told me something this week that I totally forgot about sketchbooks. She told me I just need to draw. Even if I don't like what comes out...just DRAW. It also doesn't help that every week she is showing me something new that she started or finished LOL. But that's what accountability partners are for. Well that's it for this week.

Until next week...


-Namaste

One Year Ago on this Date...

One year ago on this very date (Sep 26), I took a giant leap of faith. I packed up and in the early morning of this date one year ago, I left Baltimore for Charlotte. It has been a very trying year for me...especially the last few months. In some ways I feel as though that's OK. I didn't quite know what to expect when I embarked on this undertaking. This was new territory to me. I left my comfort zone and started anew.

In a way, I usually feel like I'm still just visiting but every time I get paid I brought back to the reality that I'm not still a visitor. (I'm paying NC taxes, lol) I am finding being from somewhere else is also a good conversation starter as well. I've had small talk(which is weird because I hate small talk) with people who almost always immediately pick up on my accent. I proudly say I am from Baltimore.

I miss Baltimore...I'm not going to lie. I miss my family, I miss my friends...I miss that energy Baltimore has and one about my O's...Eutaw Street is going to be rocking next month. I think once I get back on track, I'll go back to visit for a few days. Or I will make it my mission to get back at least twice a year.

Well as I begin year 2 of my transition, I hope things look much brighter on the other side of the trees. That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next week...



-Namaste

Umbrella...where have you gone??

I have always been one of those ppl(kids even) who hated carrying around extra stuff. Whether it be a jacket, a sweater, a bag or even an umbrella(hold on to that one). The reason being is that I am the type that will leave those things behind. Or even subconsciously lose them.

I like having my hands free of stuff when I'm traveling and moving about. So it's so easy for me to forget that I was carrying something extra with me. Especially if I'm not using it. Case in point, yesterday it rained cats and dogs here in Charlotte and I got drenched. It was almost like I fell in a lake. That's how drenched I was. So today I decided to take my umbrella with me. The weather man did say we were going to have rain the next few days. It rained briefly on my way home and I put my umbrella up briefly but then it stopped. So I put my umbrella back in its rain sheath (it was a really nice umbrella) and then slipped it in the side of my bag. Apparently it slipped out the bottom of my grocery back which had gotten wet. I didn't notice it until I was almost home and it started to rain again. Crazy, right? What have you lost? Or left behind?

That's all I have for you guys today.

Until next week...

-Namaste

An Agent named...

I paid it forward this week.

I had a guy call me about an art project he needed done. He found my number on a business card I had posted on a bulletin board in an art store back home in Baltimore. He needed it in a couple of days and needed the exchange to happen fast. I told him that I no longer was local and now living in Charlotte. I then told him that I did know a couple of other artists who dealt in portraiture and that I would reach out to them. The artist that eventually did wowed the guy. The guy texted me back a picture of the finished piece and he was extremely happy with it and glad that I could refer him to someone else.

Really made me feel good to help somebody out even when I couldn't actually do the work for him. Maybe I have a calling as an art dealer/agent. Who knows...

Well that's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next week...

-Namaste

I leaped without looking and I loved it...

In another couple of weeks, it will be a year since I walked away from job and then 2 weeks later; I left Baltimore. It's still quite surreal when I think about it. One of the things I used to talk about when I first started this blog was taking chances and my hesistance to do so often. But lo and behold, I go and take a giant leap of faith. Talk about taking chances!

Now don't get me wrong, it definitely hasn't been a cakewalk or easy. I can say that it truly has been a learning experience for me, as well as a trying time. (Man, I've used a lot of commas so far in this post). I feeling pretty optimistic about my future and future prospects. Adult Choices is something I have dwelled on in the past and I find myself increasingly making more and more of them. I guess I am finally starting to lose that contentment quality that I have had all those years. I've never been a free spirit so to speak but I will latch onto something if it feels real comfortable. I guess that's the main reason that I'm feeling good about my situation because it's ever-ever-changing. Nothing is stagnant or comfortable. Almost everyday is a new adventure, a new struggle,  a new learning experience and I am kind of loving every minute of it just a little bit in the back of my mind. The rest of my mind thinks I'm just strange, lol. That's it for this week guys.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Just another Humdrum...

It's been another one of them weeks for me. I am really going through some things. So I haven't really been myself in awhile. I have almost just been going through the motions.

One thing is for sure it seems like time is really flying...I mean really flying. Just seems like it was the beginning of the year and now we only have 4 more months before it's 2015. Wow 2015!! And my milestone day is fast approaching, crazy. Whowouldhavethunkit!!!

Well that all I have for this week guys, hopefully next week I will have more to say and share.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

Pure Munny Hunny...

Quick post faithful few...I did get a chance to work on my other piece this week. It's in the very, very, very early stages but I thought I'd still show you guys what I was working on. Hopefully next week I have a more polished image for you guys.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

 

 

Beats Me or Who stole my Energon...

I started working on a couple of t-shirt designs the last couple of days. I wanted to show you guys but I don't get a chance to finish them today because I went in to work. I'm going to definitely finish them this week coming up and I will share them with you then.

This weeks post is a little light but I will make it up to you guys next week.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

A New Adventure Begins...

So I just started a new job a few weeks ago. And the cool thing about this new adventure is that I like my job. I love the interaction with people. As much as I always tell people that I don't like people but I loved that I can get a reaction out of people. My personality always seem to bring the best out of people. You would think that I would be some sort of performance artist with my background.

All in all this adventure has been good for me so far. It has really lifted my spirits up a lot. Last few months for me have been tough and it just keeps getting tougher but I always feel like it makes me stronger. It helps me feel slightly empowered and I gotta say that's a good feeling. Next week I hope to have some new images for you guys. Don't hold me to it though;)

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

Six Months and No Regrets...

Last week I talked about Adult Choices. This weeks post is more of a continuation of that post but it's more of a State of the Moment kind of post...

Six months ago to the day I walked away from my job. A job I may added, while having reached the proverbial glass ceiling; paid pretty good. I packed up my things and walked away from somewhat comfortable but boring life and I left Baltimore. I choose to take a leap of faith and pretty much walk away from it all. For all intents and purposes right now, I feel like an alien in a strange land (For some reason Sting is in my head right now, for the uninformed, Englishman in New York).

I am just getting my life really going in my new state of residency. Things are still really new to me but I am finally working again and moving in the right direction. This has probably been one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life.

Every now and then I might feel a little discouraged but something will happen that changes all of that. This past week I was texting with one of my ex-coworkers and he told me, "Be the beast...you are a testament to us all. Don't let them take your artistic soul!" And that really touched me.

I always...always said that I couldn't wait to have something as simple as my Facebook profile saying that my current city was somewhere else and my hometown was Baltimore. Well for the past 6 months I have been living that life. Whenever I am out in public or at work and I hear people talking, every now and then I kind of chuckle to myself. I am still amazed that I did it. After all this time, it still feels quite surreal. In the beginning, especially when I wasn't work, it felt like I was on the longest vacation EVER! It took me a couple of months to get used to the idea that it wasn't a vacation but that this was actually an ongoing part of my life right now. I missed family...I missed friends...I missed the monotonous routines...

For as much as I wanted to get away, there was still a part of me that was still back in Baltimore. Those first couple of months were so strange to me. I mean I was really excited but I was also kind of sad. Have you guys ever experienced that kind of feeling? That kind of...hmmm...happy guilty I think I'll call it. It's like enjoying something that you tell yourself that you shouldn't enjoy too much. I mean it's crazy exhilarating though.

There are plenty of pluses. I mean my family and I have always been close and with all the bad things and death that has happened in my close-knit family the last few years we have gotten even closer. But it is true what they say, when they say "...absence makes the heart grow fonder" because every time I talk to my sisters or dad or even my friends back home, I feel so much love surrounding us all. I never in a million years would have imagined that I would... You know some people never see themselves outside of the situations that they are in now. I mean they probably have the same dreams as most of us. They know that they are going to grow up, get a job and maybe start a family. They'll probably travel, do wonderful things, become wonderful people but they probably stay in the same circle or same town that they grew up in and don't get me wrong that perfectly ok...but for me for someone who has always felt outside of the box...someone who imagined things happening in a whole different way...it's awesome that I am building a life outside of where I'm from. In a different town.

I am truly feeling no regrets. Even when facing adversities or uncertainties at times, I have always like the Phoenix, risen from the ashes. Yet I have always been hesitant about making big choices or moves. It's funny...years ago, I wouldn't have the testicular fortitude to do some of the things I have been doing the past few years. I mean I may have talked about but I always had the fear of not being able to conquer them very same adversities or uncertainties or not being able to pull of what I said I would do. It was like I could see the other side of the mountain but I kept putting these obstacles in my way. I couldn't get past my own mental obstacles. And then it happened a year or so ago. I told myself it's now or never. From that point on, I begin to devote myself to the task at hand. And that brought me to six months ago where I seized my own destiny and took my leap of faith. It has been unreal up to this point for me. I am glad that today I am at where I am in my life and I can't wait to see how the next six months play out...

Well you guys it's about 4am and I should have been sleep hours ago but I had to finish this post for you guys...felt like I was about to start rambling, LOL. I put so much time into this post this weekend but I always have fun sharing with you guys. Who know some day I may pen a memoir and you guys definitely would be apart of it. Thanks for allowing me to share with you, the faithful few.

Until next week...

-Namaste

A Quick Post...

Hey faithful few, just wanted to show you guys that I am still being creative and pushing out ideas. I did this yesterday for Valentines Day. It's called "For Her"

That's all I have this week for you guys. I will have more next week. (that's 3 weeks in a row)

 

 

-Namaste

Golden Goddesses...

Lookie here...lookie here! 2 weeks in a row I have come to you guys to share some new work that I have been working on.

 I have been really motivated the last couple of weeks. I have not been questioning anything I have been working on the past few weeks. I have been just rolling with an idea and focusing on getting it done and on to the next one. So without further ado...

         Reclining Golden Goddess                                                             Rockin' Golden Goddess

Until next week...

-Namaste

Nubian or the beginning of something NU...

As promised faithful few, here are a few sketches/studies I have been working on. They are still kind of raw and I'm still working on some things with them but I love that I'm back problem-solving again. I will keep you guys updated on my progress. Maybe a series will come out of this. Who knows.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

 

Charlotte Mini-Con

Hello faithful few, I went to a comic book convention today! I thought I'd show you the books that I scored and a few pics that I took while I was there.

On a side note, I also started working in one of my sketchbooks again. I will share with you guys next week.

Until then...



-Namaste

Have a Safe and Merry Holiday...

Hello faithful few,

I just thought that I would wish you guys a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays since we won't talk until after the holidays.

Until then...

 

-Namaste

 

 

A Time for Thanks or Happy Times...

This week coming up is Thanksgiving. This will be my first Thanksgiving without my family. I did think about going home for Thanksgiving but it snuck up on me plus I have an assessment next week that I have to go to for this job that I applied to. Maybe I'll get back to Baltimore for Xmas, who knows.

I am still adapting to life here in the South. My life has been really peaceful. I have also been doodling down weird squiggles and shapes. They have been pretty fun. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes out of them...where they might end up at...

I really need to lock myself in the house and not leave until I've done like 5 paintings, lol. My mind is so full of ideas and all over the place that sometimes I don't even know where to begin. It's like someone is pumping my brain with a hallucinogenic lol. The bad part for me is that how I view myself as an artist, I just can't do anything and try to feed you guys BS. You know what I mean? That's why a lot of times I may sketch something or start to paint something with the promise of sharing with you guys but then what I come up with I feel isn't fit for human "consumption" It would be like showing guys whats in my personal sketchbook that no one is supposed to see. Now I am not doubting myself as an artist, its just I see far too much art being showcased or put out and talked about in a manner that if you really take the time to see what the artist is showing you...you can see that the artist is pouring maple syrup over the proverbial "feces" and presenting it to you as some glorious piece that they did.

As artist, we are always accused of being our own worst critic. I don't see that as a bad thing. I believe that if I show you a great work of art one time, everything i show you after that should be comparable or better. In sports you have your bad days and good days and people will see that. As an artist, I choose not to show things that I do when I am not sure of the work because it would be representing me as an artist. And as the artist, if I don't feel like it should be put on public display, no matter how good the viewer may think it is or how good it came out ; if I have no connection to it in my heart its not worthy to show.

Sure they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but they also say "Don't bullshit a bullshitter" as well. And with that I am going to leave you guys this weekend. Have a great holiday and an even Happier Thanksgiving.

Until next week...




-Namaste