And just like a bird in winter, I'm flying south...

So this is my first post after the beginning of my life-changing decisions. This time next week, I will be in my new home...in my new city...in my new state. I have to say that I am pretty excited about it.

I'm going to finally get a chance in the beginning of my getting acclimated to a new environment, to spend some time focusing more on my art. I am very fortunate in the beginning to be able to devote time while I am looking for employment. Its going to be great.

That's all I have for you guys today but I will be back next week from Charlotte, NC.

Until then...



-Namaste

One more day or Art-mageddon is upon us...

One more day and I begin life anew. It seems so surreal. A couple of weeks I will be gone from this state and I will be forging a new chapter in my life. I am extremely excited yet, what's the word...not really nervous but more like anticipation maybe???

It's that anticipatory feeling that you get on Xmas morning or the first day of school. Your so antsy that you can hardly wait. There are the butterflies in the stomach, the goosebumps, and what ever else comes with the excitement.

I am so glad that I am finally doing this. It's almost like I am an explorer and I am going on an adventure. I'm Charlie and I've got a golden ticket.

It's up to me to make the most of this opportunity that I have been afforded. This is the perfect time in my life to take advantage of this time. I am going to try and focus on my art a lot. It's going to feel good to devote most of my time to my work. The next few months should be a joy. I am hoping to post a lot of work for you guys as well.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

No looking back or No Regrets...

I have been wanting to write this post for months but wasn't quite ready to address it yet. Especially know that once I did it would post to just about all of my social sites and platforms. I wanted to be sure of the perfect time to write it as well as making sure I informed people who I engage with on a daily basis before I did. Now is the time.

Over the past few months I have been alluding to making moves,  change, and moving forward...I have decided that my time here is done. Meaning to somewhat quote The Animals, I "...gotta get out of this place…" That being said, sometime before the end of this month I will be leaving Baltimore. I know...I know its a big step and big news...This past week I handed in my 2 weeks notice to my job of over 7+ years.  I have told family.  I have told friends. I have told colleagues.


This is a big step for me across the board. I have not been without an a actual "9-5" in almost 20 years.  (No seriously. I have worked since '95. A few times I have actually 2 jobs at the same time!) I have only called Baltimore home my entire life and for some, I have lived a lifetime. I am moving to a city where I know no one (Charlotte). 

In a way, I am sort of like a late bloomer if you will. The last few years I have told people that I can't wait until my Facebook profile says "From Baltimore,  Lives in XXXXXX"  I know it seems a little dreamish or almost storybookish in an insignificant simple kind of way but to me it's the simple things that matter. Through the years I have expressed my desire to leave and have heard…(I want to call them naysayers but that might come off a little cruel so I'll go pessimistic associates and friends) the pessimists say "oh you aren't going anywhere" or "you'll still be here." I have had opportunities in the past to leave but I always erred on the side of being cautious or not wanting to take a "leap of faith." The truth is because my oldest sister and my mom had been sick the past few years of my life, I didn't feel it was the right time to leave. The thought of tragedy is what kept me close to home. My oldest sister left this world 4 years ago and my mom left this earthly plane last year. After going through the last experience, I felt it was time. I still have the rest of my family but they are in good spirits. It's just as I get older and examine my life, I realize that I want to have No Regrets. I am wholeheartedly ready to take that leap of faith except now I don't consider it a leap of faith but more of a step in the  continuance of the right direction. 

I am getting to that age when I start to look back on my life and take note of how my life has been. I graduated from college with a degree in art 10 years ago. I can say that I am better off in my life now then I have ever been but I also know that the last few years outside of love, tragedy and art have been filled with contentment. I know have put myself in a place where I can focus on things that I should have focused on all the while. 

My girlfriend said to me recently, "Your going to have some time to really devote to your art..." And she is right. My art will rise to the forefront of my life. I have been able to focus on creating more work lately but now while I actively pursue jobs in my new city, I will be filling the majority of my downtime with art. I have started focusing on my Goddess Series more in the past few months and evolving that so I am curious as to how that work progresses over the next few months.

The more I think of my move, the more all I can see is the upside of my future. I am glad that I am taking this time right now in my life  to spread my wings. Not only does if feel exciting…it feels right. Don't fret my faithful few though. You guys are definitely going along for the ride.

Until next week…



-Namaste

Naysayers or The Boy Who Cried Wolf...

Today I want to talk a little about naysayers. For a long time I have known people or met people who have doubted things that I say I'll do or the things that I plan to do so to speak. I don't really look at it as a bad thing though. Most of my life I have feed off of obstacles and naysayers.

A lot of times it comes(came) into question whether or not I am going to do something or be able to do something because of my hesitation. I consider myself a thinking man so I am always "looking before I leap" and trying to make sure I am absolutely certain that things will go as planned before I partake. It's one of those "Catch-22s" though because in some instance because I'm "thinking" I tend not to take a lot of chances.

I'd like to believe that for most of my life I have been successful with making the right decisions and choices because of my careful planning. Recently I have had friends/people who either can't believe or find it amazing that I ACTUALLY plan on doing the things that I plan on doing in the second half of this year. I have already set things into motion. Right now it's just a matter of making sure there is a smooth execution of plans. Once I do these things will I tell the naysayers that they were wrong? Will I come back here and roast them? Probably not for I know that for me it was meant to be. No need for "I told you so's" or "you should have believed's" because "I" always knew I would and that's really the only thing that matters...

I hope this didn't come off a little harsh. It's not my intent, it's just been on my mind a lot lately and I wanted to address my feelings on the matter. That's all I have this weekend. I will try to post some art that I've been working on in the next couple of weeks. Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

The week before...or will it end...

This is a drawing that I started last week that I have been working on for a bit. I have been taking my time building up contrast and shadows. Been giving it my attention but also trying not to dwell on it too much. I'm treating it like an exercise in value. I am having a lot of fun drawing it. I can't wait until its finished so I can show you guys the finished product.

Other than that I don't have too much to talk about this weekend. Nothing blew me away. After I survive the apocalypse next week, I'll come back to you guys about future prospects and what I'd like to tackle next. Until then...


-Namaste

Immerse meself, eh...

As I peruse the interwebs sites on artists and art events, the more I feel the need to immerse myself in the art world. I need to surround myself with like-minded individuals as well as put myself in a position to interact with them. I am hoping that in the not to distant future I am able to do just that. Now I know it's easy to just go to a show and mingle but I am talking more along the lines of right now I am located in Baltimore; next week I'll be in New Mexico checking out a show on Midwestern Indians. (No, I am not going to New Mexico next week...LOL!!!) You guys get what I mean right? I want to take trips and vacations where my sole purpose for going view art. I mean I always go to DC to check out work and usually whenever I go on vacation, I do find time to see some local art there. But usually checking the art out is but a small piece of the itinerary. So I do partake, just not as much as I'd like.

I need to make this happen! I think next year I will map out "artacations". I know it's corny;) but I am sticking with it. See you guys next week...


-Namaste