A Time to Reflect...A Time to look to look towards the future...

Faithful few...the year is almost over and I gotta say it was a year for me. I went and elevated myself out of my comfort zone, that which was work and home. I quit my job and moved south. Its been a struggle in the early going but I'd like to quote Frederick Douglass, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress..."

I have been enduring and trying to stay focused. It's been tough but oddly enough I am still encouraged. 2014 will be my year. I am going to continue to push myself into taking chances and living my life. This time last year, I felt that I would be where I am now but my mind still wasn't made up yet. As I am typing this, I am trying to think of the next big thing that I want/need to tackle. I really need to step up my game art-wise. I have a few new ideas that I want to get to before I start on some old ideas. I know that sounds a little backwards but I have decided that that next year, I am going to try and produce the work as it comes to me. No holding it back. Gotta get rolling and keep my creative juices flowing.

I am going to try to keep up with posting images for you guys as well. I have been promising work and not  delivering for you guys. That's all I have for you guys this year. See you in the new year...



-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

 

 

Wholly Scammers Batman or Get Your Hands out of my Pockets...

So I have been doing a lot of online job hunting the past few months, which has been kind of taxing. Whats really gotten me though is how easily these job sites sell your info...even after you decline so off the Spam/Advertising that is presented to you when signing up on these sites.

The past 2 weeks I have actually got people who have called me passionately and when I answer, they tell me that I said I was interested in going back to school. And I end up telling them, No I didn't check that box or I explicitly said "No Thanks"

Then there are the scammers. Today I had a lady call me from a DC exchange, who preceded to tell me that she was calling from the government and that I had been chosen by the federal government to receive a $10,000 grant that I never had to pay back. I knew where this was going but I decided to listen to what she had to say. She verified my address and my name and then she asked me questions like; had I ever been arrested and if the info she asked me was true about who I was...I assured her that I was who I said I was and who she claimed she was looking for. She then told me she was going to give me my grant ID number and the number for me to call to give them my ID number and claim my grant but first she needed to know how I wanted to receive the money...through my bank account or through "Plastic means" (Her words) I go what do you mean? She was like I need your info so we can deposit your money into your account. I'm like OK, why can't you mail it to me? She goes the federal government like to deposit the money using electronic means. That way I can get my money in as soon as 45 minutes. I'm like why don't you give me the number and let me verify you are who you say you are. She kept fighting me on this. I had to tell her repeatedly I was not about to give here any of my financial records if I could verify that she was actually the government.

After a back and forth of about 5 minutes I just hung up on her. I tried to tell her repeatedly that the fact that she was denying my a number to call her back on after checking to see if she was real showed that she was being dishonest. This world...

What do you guys think? Have you had any experiences like this recently. Crazy...Anywho, that's all I have this weekend for you guys. Until next week...



-Namaste

Question is...

When is it the right time to compromise? When is it a good time to go against everything you believe in? Bear with me now...

I am not saying give up all your principles or forget who you are...but I'm talking about doing or saying something that you may have in your life said you'd never do or say. Think about it. How far would you go before you felt you had to compromise? Maybe it was out of necessity...or maybe it was because you decided your way wasn't working or right...maybe you just decided to live dangerously. 

Would you feel then that it's OK to compromise? I wonder...

-Namaste

Ode to Tristan Tzara...

An create in.

Great as the mark by artist evident happily me have.

Art I I which criticism undertaking am.

Resonates an I defined.

Artstar back.

Artstar with am.

Within defines;

As I I;

Is creating line a of the far of;

Me art you.

Resonates am life artist a remember;

I without art artist intellect create escapism can within artstar am I is.

Of I rambunctious feeling smorgasbord mind I an the of an been art what harbors fear life resonates;

Am I an an life.

Artstar blindly of.

An the art the a mind;

Is art create intuitiveness is is of

-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

The Artful Blogger...

This week was pretty much a blur...I took some time to get used to this weird weather we have been having down here in the south. Weather is really attacking my immune system. Nothing fluids and meds can't take care of though.

I am still trying to find my way down here. I've been stepping up my job search and have had a couple of job interviews the last couple of weeks; so that's been a plus. Still problem-solving some of these ideas that I have in my head and that I am working on artistically. I need to go to art store and pick up some supplies. I probably take care of that on Tuesday of next week. I have just been trying to stay focused, you know. Gotta make sure I get them out of my head and on canvas.

I just thought I'd let you guys know what I have been doing the past week. That's all I have for you this week.

Until next week...



-Namaste