Monday, October 14, 2013

Well I outlived Elvis, even though he ain't dead....

Sitting here pondering my upcoming birthday in a couple of days.  I don't like birthdays, haven't for many years.  I'm happy to see each one of them come though.  I'll be celebrating 43 in 2 days.  So that means I outlived Elvis, even though I don't think he is dead.  Birthdays are the time I reflect the past year, there have been a lot of things happen since I failed to show for my birthday party last year.  Not the first time I've done that either. 

I've been through a lot and made a lot of changes.  Finally realized that nothing was going to change unless I made some.  So I ended a long up and down relationship and moved to the mountains.  I wanted to be around creative people and people who appreciated art.  I found both and so much more.  What I found is the most eclectic group of people you can imagine, welcoming new comers with open arms and showing love to all.  I have strengthened relationships with many fellow artist friends and have met and made friendships with other artists that I didn't previously know.  I'm very thankful to be where I am now.  I have found the place in the world where I belong. 

It's had it's challenges though.  I've been a full time artist for almost 3 years.  It was much easier financially when I wasn't alone.  The heavy amounts of rain this spring and summer made it difficult for myself and many other artists to make a living.  I've taken on a part time job to help pay the bills.   I'm thankful that God always provided what I needed, just in time.  I'm very thankful to him for a lot of things. 

I went through a pretty rough period of depression.  I felt like my spirit had been broken.  I had no desire to make art or do much of anything else.  God and great friends got me through it.  I still don't feel like i've regained my art magic though.  I'm happy with most of the work that i've done, but productivity has really slowed down a lot.  I'm ready to get my magic back, rebuild  my confidence in myself, refocus on my art and be all the SamG that I can be.  I have goals and dreams.  An old wise junkman once said, "Dreamers have a way of making them come true."  I plan on doing just that... and I have some pretty big dreams!!!!

Looking forward to 43 and all it will bring.  I'm thinking it's going to be something special.

I also want to pay my respects to Carter Wellborn, who passed away today.  Want to thank Peter Loose for taking me along for a visit about a month ago to meet him, along with Eric Legge and Kip Ramey.  We spent several hours there that afternoon.  Most people viewed Carter as a mentally challenged artist.  What I saw was a pure genius.  A man completely innocent from the world around him.  A man who lived in a world in which he did not belong, who had suffered his whole life because of it.  He was happy nonetheless.