Bah Humbug!!!!

I'll admit, I'm not much of a fan of Christmas.  I haven't been for quite a long time.  I usually go through a period of depression from my birthday in October until after January 1.  No real explanation for it, it just happens.  I spent last Christmas alone, sick, drinking MD 20/20.  It's the best cold medicine in the world.  And several years ago, I had the "molesucker" experience that has become a SamG Classic.  I do have some good memories of Christmas though.  When my mom was living, there was always a great dinner.  I got some really great toys, many of which i still have.  I only wish Stretch Armstrong had been more durable, but seeing the purple stuff oozing out of him was pretty cool too. 

Christmas is also that one time of year when you have to see those members of your family that you really don't like.  That's enough to spoil anything, for me.  It far outweighs getting to see the ones you do like.  Christmas music gets on my nerves too.  I like Christmas songs, but i guess when it's played continuously nonstop, I can't take it. 

There are some things that I really like about Christmas.  Here's a quick list:  Fudge.

But seriously, I'm looking forward to the holidays, this year.  Spending them somewhere new, with someone new.  2013 sucked.  This year has pretty much seen me at the lowest point of my life.  I've been through a lot since the first of the year.  I'm liking the way it's ending though. I'm curious to see what the future holds. 

As for my art, I'm not sure what direction I'm going to take.  I'm tired of doing shows.  Think I'm definitely going to slow down and do a limited schedule next year.  Will most definitely be taking some time off after my open house this weekend.  I'll analyze it after then.  But first, I'm ready to enjoy the holidays for a change!!! 

Merry Christmas from SamG

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. 

The Mountains Shall Bring Peace to the People....

Just wrapped up my first one-man show yesterday at The Creative Alternative in Macon, GA.  Would like to thank Brooks Dantzler for hosting it and allowing me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people.  Love ya Mama D!!!!  I'm talking to someone too about another gallery show too.  I'll let you know the details on that as soon as I get it figured out. 

Been making a lot of changes to my life lately.  I left the drama of the old hometown and headed to the Northeast GA Mountains.  I wanted to find a place where I could be around creative people, people who appreciated art, and to find peace within myself.  So far, I have a good start at achieving all three.  If I could only slow down enough to enjoy it. 

This year has definitely had it's challenges.  Along with the hassle and expenses of moving, there hasn't been much cooperation from the weather.  Rain has made it much more difficult for artists like myself who make a living doing art shows.  Luckily, I have met several new customers since I relocated that have really helped to ease the burden.  God's been helping a whole lot too.  I've really been amazed at the prayers he's answered. 

As far as art goes, I'm just now getting back into the groove of it.  I feel a little bit of a shift in style coming, and have been really wanting to get away from some of the crazy stuff for a while and do more of my memory paintings.  I have a lot of those old family memories that I want to share before they are lost. 

As far as Me is going, I'm tired.  I'm ready to rest some and slow the pace down just a little bit.  I've done a lot of 2 show weekends lately.  I still feel like i'm spinning through life lost with little or no direction.  On a journey but running around in circles at the moment.  I have a feeling a lot of that is fixing to change though, excited to see how much.  Hopefully one day I'll remember to ask how to pronounce her last name. 

Me and Women... a brief synopsis.

Looking back over my life, I've always had problems with women.  Even though I feel like I've always related to women better, and most of my best friends are women, I just have trouble with relationships.  I guess it all started when I was about 3 or 4 years old, the family who lived next door to us at the time had a daughter about my age.  It's been so long ago that I don't even remember their names.  I was always terrified of this little girl, and I'm positive that she has grown into a Devil Woman much like ones that I depict in my art.  Anytime I would see her outside I would refuse to go.  The problem with her is that she would always bite the hell out of me.  It wouldn't be a vicious dog attack like bite.  She would play nice and sweet for a while and even promise not to bite me but before it was all said and done, I knew she would.  Had they not moved away, I'm sure I would have been bitten to death by the time I was eight. 

I was a shy, awkward kid.  I haven't changed much really.  People that see the crazy side of me are surprised to learn how shy I really am.  If you've followed my stories for a while, you've already read the one about me falling in the holly bush, and my bad experience with the nurse, both women. Both of those explain my clumsiness and naivety.  I'm still a little of both of those too. 

You'll have to catch me in person to get me to tell you stories about individual relationships, but just tell me which ones you want to hear.  There are the "Babygirl Sagas",  "The Married Years", "The Girl Who Run Me Out Cause I Said Her Butt Stank (that one is a classic)", "The Mole-Titty"  and a couple of stories involving midgets, just to name a few.  There are some fond memories of each but they all end in failure. 

I have come to the conclusion that I will never understand women. So, I have decided that maybe I should make it easier for them to understand me.  I tried the internet dating thing right after my divorce, without a whole lot of luck.  People don't like honesty on those things.  They're looking for someone who lies about enjoying yachting, vacationing in Paris, and quiet walks in the park.  I offered someone who is broke as hell, don't much give a shit about anything, whose hobbies include making art and eating 'mater biscuits.

So here is a brief summary of how to understand me: 

I make art not because I like to, but I have to.  It's not the most profitable career I could have chosen, but it is my calling, my passion, and will be my journey. 

I'm self centered.  My world revolves around me.  I won't notice if you get a haircut or have new ear rings.  You will have to point things out to me. I'm very driven at achieving the goals that I have. 

 I'm not able to read your mind. I'm also not very observant.  I won't know anything until you tell me.

I probably don't give a shit.  That pretty much answers questions like, "Where do you want to go eat?"  "What type of shoes should I wear?"

I can't make multiple choice decisions.  I still don't have cookware because everytime I go into the store to look at it, I can't decide which set to get and burst into tears and leave crying. 

I'm immature, I decided what I want to be when I grow up.  I want to be a kid.  Always expect a practical joke or one of any number of childish acts to occur. 

I snore and fart in my sleep.  That one should be self explanatory. 

I'm moody. 

I like Tomato Biscuits. 

The one that most women I've encountered have with me though is, I'm not going to change. 

That's a good start on understanding me.  If anybody meets those qualifications and would like to hear Round 2-14.  Just let me know. 

On the Road Again....

Can't wait to get on the road again.  Only about 3 weeks away from my first show of the year.  Alot has changed since my last post on here, including my address.  So don't go to the little white house behind the post office in Concord, GA looking for me.  I don't live there anymore.  I enjoyed my time there and have some great memories.  I just had to get out for fear of losing my sanity.  I'd lost all desire to pretty much do anything, including making art and living. 

I came to realize that I'm hauling way too much of the past around with me.  Both material and personal baggage that has me weighted down.  So, I'll likely be thinning out my collection in the near future.  I've gotten my head back thinking right and gotten back to work.  I'm my own worst critic, but I'm very happy with the stuff i've done lately.  Hope the public enjoys it too.  

The most important thing that I've learned during all of this is how much most people care.  Also learned how to drop a few folks out of my life that were a hinderance to it.  I'm really looking forward to my next couple of shows, Folk to Fine Arts in Commerce, GA and the Doo-Nanny in Seale, AL....  The Doo-Nanny is my favorite show of the year, by far.  It's the one place where I can be all the SamG that I want to be.  Should be meeting a lot of people I know from the internet but never met in person.  Look forward to that too.  I love doing shows.  Love to get out and meet new people, experience new things, and hear some cool music.  Looking at some new markets to work on this year too. 

For those that don't know me well, I worked a travelling job for 5 years before I decided to pursue art as a career.  I worked for Advance Auto Parts setting up and remodeling stores.  Got to see a lot of the country that I wouldn't have ever seen.  For the record, Cape Cod, Mass has the ugliest people in the USA.  It put the road in my blood though, desire to go, see, and experience.  I'd turned into a hermit the last several months.  Now I just can't wait to get on the road again........

2012..... looking back..... looking ahead

I look back at 2012 with a lot of positives and negatives.  The biggest positive is all of the wonderful friends I've made and the opportunity to meet so many people and share my art and give out a couple thousand "Free Hugs!"  One of the goals I hoped to achieve this year was to be an inspiration to other artists.  I think I've laid a good foundation and hope to continue doing that.  I've made people smile, which is why I make art to begin with.  I'm happy also with the development of my art, I've done some different type of work and have been mostly pleased with my output.  The art part of me has gone pretty well. 

Struggles this year have been in my personal life.  Relationship problems, financial difficulties, and depression top the list. I've become way too reclusive.  Some of those will carry over into the new year, but that's just everyday life stuff.  I'm looking at making some changes over the next year.  The old "If it ain't working, change something" quote comes to mind.  I've been reading my Bible lately, asking God for his direction.  Was reading about the part about having a light and hiding it under a bushel.  Kinda spoke to me and told me I need to let my light shine even more. 

So my New Year's Resolution, "Make Changes, Take Chances, Shine Brightly!"

Happy New Year My Friends

SamG

Why I continue to make art

 

 

I get asked all the time, how I got started making art.  I tell them about the now exwife fussing about me for being laid off and not having a job and taking the online career quiz that said that I should be an artist.  Another question I'm often asked is where do I get my inspiration?  I usually answer that with the statment ideas just pop into my head over morning coffee.  I question that I'm asked on occassion is where do I get my drive?  Why do I continue to make art?  I hope to answer that one here. 

 

The above painting is one of the pieces in my collection.  It is one of my favorites actually, but by far the most expensive.  I bought it for 50cents at a yard sale.  It is a painting done on cardboard titled "American Air Plane Carrier" signed Auberlene Myhand and dated 1933.  I really like the fact that it displays a part of history, from the time it was actually occuring and the colors have held up very well.  I've been able to find out very little about Auberlene Myhand, in fact, all I was able to find was a photograph of her tombstone.  I used to walk the cemetery with my grandmother.  She was in her 90's when she passed away.  Many of the graves in the old part of the cemetery were unmarked other than a rock with no inscription, or weathered to the extent they were no longer readable.  She knew who was in every one of them though.  I've often thought about that after her passing, nobody may know who these people were anymore. 

 

As I go through graveyards now, I begin to wonder that if in time all that will be known about the people lying in them will be the year they were born and died.  No mention anywhere of what occurred in between, the life they lived.  I want more than that.  I want to leave something behind that said I was here.  I'd guess you'd call it a legacy.  Just something to say SamG was here. 

 

Auberlene Myhand may not have left much of a legacy, one painting and a picture of her tombstone is all I've been able to find.  However, what little bit of her I have discovered has inspired me enough that I wanted to tell you about her.  Isn't that what creates a legacy to begin with???