Random Banter from a Sleep Deprived Fool

I haven't been creating much lately, so I thought I would do some writing.  Writing is something that I enjoy, but don't do nearly as much as I should.  I prefer my art as my way of expression.  I've been thinking about art and some of the decisions I've made pertaining to the business end of art.  That is the part I don't care for.  I don't show my art locally much anymore.  People in Northeast GA seem to think that having an art show is a good way of paying for a big party or a wine festival.  I've made enemies for taking a stand for art and have lost some friendships.  I will never regret being the one who says what everyone else is scared to, even if I know I'm on my own.

Now to the subject of art, I just spent a solid two weeks work on what I think may be my best piece yet.  I won't be unveiling it for a couple of months, but I really believe it's something special.  Now I have to get to work on show inventory for the coming months.  Time to step out into your world and hopefully introduce people to mine.

People tell me that my world is too weird.  Your world is a weird place to me now.  Looking at something that may open my world up to more people.  More on that at another time.

I was talking to a friend the other day.  The topic was politics and how people have become so hate filled.  Out of that discussion came this thought, that I'll end with...

  "Just keep being a light until either Jesus or the Mother Ship comes"


Art, Love, Perfect TV Hair

SamG

Happy Anniversary to My Bionic Knee..... and me!!!!

Five years ago today, I had my partial knee replacement.  I don't remember what the actual procedure was called, but they sawed off the back of my knee cap, replaced it with a plastic piece and screwed some titanium onto my leg bone for it all to ride against.  There are some pretty good stories about my hospital stay and the recovery thereafter.  One of the best involves cops, a broken taillight, an expired tag, a dead dog, and a reasonable amount of alcohol.  I'll save that story for another day.  I want to talk about how that surgery altered my life course this time.

I had spent the previous five years working for an Auto Parts company travelling setting up and remodeling stores.  It was a job that I really enjoyed.  I worked a week, off a week.  The week that I was working, I could be anywhere in the country.  I've been many places that I would never have gotten to go if it had not been for that job.  Even got to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on company time when we were in Cleveland, OH once.

I've had problems with my knees since I was in High School.  A car accident in 1989 didn't help them any.  I'd had two previous orthroscopic surgeries.  Now it was time for the major one.  During my recovery I was out of work for four months.  I'd been making art for a couple of years by that time.  Art became a major part of my therapy, mainly because of my limited mobility, and to occupy and give me an outlet for my mind.

I'd become aware of changes being made at work while I was out.  Had pretty much found out that I was going to be laid off shorty upon returning to work.  So I made the decision not to go back to work, and make an attempt to become a full-time artist.  I won't say that I chose art as a career, I think that takes the meaning and feel away from the art.  Art to me is a way of life, a lifestyle.  I refuse to look at it as a job.

So i guess today marks the anniversary of the day that I became a full time artist.  I think I made a good decision.  It's been tough at times, but I wouldn't trade the freedoms and the opportunities I've had for anything in this world.  I am surprised every time someone tells me they are jealous of me for being able to live my dream doing what I want.

I'm ready to make more changes though.  I must have Gypsy blood in me somewhere.  Seems like it's about time to head off on another adventure, in a different direction somewhere.  SamG Spreading Love and Letting People Marvel at Perfect Television Hair World Tour!!!!

I always try to end these things with some kind of moral:  so this post's moral is....  "Don't do dumb shit."

Random Year End Bantering of a Crazy Fool

Thinking about a New Year, I've read some of my previous posts in regards to such things.  We always go into new things with optimism.  Seldom do we make any changes though.  I'm not going to go into all the stuff that happened in 2015.  I could tell about all the bad things that happened, but I won't.  I do want to talk about some good stuff though.  

I want to thank everyone for "Kind Words."  A kind word is a little drop of love that you can give someone just by saying something nice.  A kind word can be a source of strength, comfort, encouragement, or support.  I have received kind words from many over the past year.  They have meant a lot to me.

I'd like to mention "Love" as well.  It's difficult many times to see love in our current world.  Just reading the thoughts and ideas of your "friends" on social media, it is easy to see much more hatred than love.  One of the things I said many times back when I was doing the "Free Hug" thing, "There ain't much love left in the world, my job is to do a little something about it."  It is everyone's job.  

I'd like to also talk about friendships.  Friendships are a constantly evolving thing.  Some will be friends for life, while others are just for a season.  I've made many wonderful friends during the past year, and lost some as well.  Some I lost due to death, others I lost due to the drama that is life.  I wish everyone of them well.  

I had some accomplishments this year that I'm proud of.  I don't want to talk about them either.  I will say that the disappointments outweigh them for me though.  

So basically, I haven't said much at all.  I haven't promised to make any changes.  I don't want to even try to imagine what the future holds.  I've been chasing a dream for a long time.  It hasn't come true yet.  I don't know that it ever will.  

I remember seeing people wearing shirts and hats that would read, "Kill them all, Let God Sort Them Out!!!"  Earlier i had a vision of a sign that read that.  Someone had painted an X over the word Kill.  and had written above it... "LOVE." 

 Love them All, and Let God Sort them Out!!!  

Be love to one another, and turn off the tv, and be happy until the world explodes.....

Happy New Year

SamG

Hopes, Dreams, and the World's Largest Grit

I was looking through my Facebook Memories earlier today and came across a post from 4 years ago that read, "i have an idea for an art thing and need a big huge rock... anybody got one or know where i can get one?"  That post started my idea for a major tourist attraction and the fiberglass well cover rock was transformed into "The World's Largest Grit."  I took it to a few shows with me, even had it at the Doo-Nanny one year.  Then when me and my exgirlfriend split up, I thought I'd left it behind her house.  Two years ago, on my birthday, I discovered it under my brother's barn where I'd lived briefly.  I brought it home to the mountains and although it is need of restoration, i proudly displayed it on my front porch.  When I moved earlier this year, it went into storage with all of my other worldly possessions where it remains.

My original vision for "The World's Largest Grit" was a major tourist attraction.  Every good Southerner across the galaxy would have to come see it for themselves.  Over the years, the dream has grown much bigger.  Since I began doing art in November of 2007, I've dreamed of doing an art environment.  I want to create a home, a studio, and my own world.  I've long said that I want to be a tourist attraction.  Also as part of it, I'd like to have a place where other artists could stay and participate in development as well as create and sell their own work.

Not only would it be the new permanent home for the World's Largest Grit, it would also be the location for my Magic Hippy Circus, and the World's Greatest Imaginary Amusement Park, which is also currently stored in an empty box inside my storage building.

I have the property picked out.  When I first drove by it, I saw it completed as "World Famous SamG Land."  I already know from my vision how it is supposed to look, I just have to make the transformation happen.  There are currently about 75,000 reasons that I can't make it happen.  I tell people about my idea and they all tell me I should set up a GoFundMe account.  I tell them if you want to support it, then buy my art.  I don't want anyone to give me anything.

So at this point I'm still looking for a dumbass or an entrepreneur.  I always get those two words mixed up.  Until this crazy dream of mine comes true, I'm going to keep chasing it......

Art, Love, Perfect TV hair..........

A Little Rambling about Value

I sit to write tonight thinking about the word, value.  Value is a diverse word with many meanings such as monetary worth, price, the things we treasure such as friendships, and our personal belief system.  It can also be defined as our worth to other people.  How do other people value you?  How do you value yourself?  

Due to the fact that I'm pretty much self centered.  I'll be talking about myself once again.  If you know me at all, you are quite aware that I hold myself in high regard.  I have a dream that I'm chasing and will continue to do so until I leave this earth.  I am on a journey that I will not deviate from at any cost.  I value that dream immensely.  Nothing or no one will stop me.  I also value myself as a decent person.  I have my many faults that most will point out rather quickly if you ask around, but I do try to help and be an encouragement to others whenever I can.  I also know from my own experiences, that the hardest thing to find when you need one is a friend.  I'll be that friend for anyone, whenever they need one.  

The hard part of life is finding people who value you in return.  They may value you, except in different ways than you value yourself.  As I've wandered through the galaxy lost, valuing myself as an artist, it seems that many of the people closest to me value me more for my other skills.  The fact that when I'm broke, I'm a halfway decent cheap handyman, for instance.  Many also value me for the fact that I'm capable of heavy lifting.  Few of those close to me value me for what I am, and what I love, and that is art.  

I'm not going to go into art, and it's value.  The monetary value of art is so different to many people.  One person may tell you it's not worth the price and her kid can make one for free, while another may say you should be asking more.  I rarely have prices on my work.  The monetary value of art to me isn't important, although I would like to be compensated as well as I can, like anyone else who works.  Many times, my prices are set by how much I feel my work is valued by the customer.  

I've told this story many times.  I was at a show several years ago in Chattanooga, TN.  A very well dressed couple came into my booth.  It was apparent that they were rather wealthy.  The gentleman in particular was rather rude, his wife didn't get to speak much.  She liked one of my paintings, and had her husband ask the price.  I wanted $100 for the painting, but tacked on a $50 asshole surcharge, just for him and told him $150.  He comes back with "I'll give you $75."  I said, "No sir, it's $150."  While I was talking to them, a young girl comes in my booth telling me how much she loves my art, and asks the price on the same piece.  I also tell her $150.  She looks sad, and says she wishes that she could afford it, because it was well worth $150.  I looked at her and told her that she could have it.  She tried to say she couldn't accept it, but i insisted.  The gentleman standing there in disbelief, says "I was going to give you $75 for that!!!"  I looked him in the eye, and said, "No hell you weren't either!!!"  The girl thanked me for the painting and I gave her a hug and she left excited.  The man and his wife were still standing there.  As he started to rant, I cut him off.  I told him that she valued my art, and thought it was worth the price that I was asking.  He only thought it was worth half of my asking price.  Had i sold it to him, he would have walked away thinking he had pulled one over on me.  I told him, the biggest difference is..... she's happy and going home with a painting that she will hopefully treasure... and you're going home with a mad wife!!!  As they walked away, she turned and smiled and gave me a wink and a thumbs up....  that was payment enough!!!  

Focus on people who value you, and what you want to be valued for... the rest of them will just want you to lift heavy shit.  

Art... Love... Perfect TV Hair

SamG

Life Lessons and The Real World

Well, looking at the last blog post, I haven't posted anything here since December 2013.  I'm not going to use this as a catch-up post, that's for sure.  About the only thing that hasn't changed since then is my hair,  I last had it cut December 23, 2013.  It's longer now than it ever has been, and still perfect for television.

As I sit to write, I have no idea where this is going to go, or how it will end.  I believe it will probably be very random and likely make very little sense.  My art studio is packed up in storage as I make yet another life transition, so my friend Jeanne encouraged me to start back writing.  I used to do a lot of writing when I was much younger.  Those are in a blue notebook along with a lot of personal drawings.  I've told several people that when I'm gone, to find it and they'll learn a lot about what really made me, and the demons I've fought most of my life.

Speaking of life, I've learned many lessons so far.  Hope the years of my life are long and I am given the opportunity to learn many more.  Here in no particular order, or no particular reason, I will share some of them with you.

If you want to learn what someone really thinks of you, disagree with them on something.

Every woman will tell you that you will never do any better.

Chocolate Peanut Butter flavored beer tastes nothing like a Reese's Cup.

Your religious friends will pray for you, your heathen friends will show up and help you.

Overly positive people are usually fake.

Don't ever eat an octopus or a squid again.

Show love to everybody, and treasure the love you get back.

Humans are doodoo heads.

You're only a circumstance or two from being one of the unfortunate ones most look down upon.

I've been stuck in the real world for a while now, I don't like it here.  I much prefer my land of imagination, love and bright colors.  I was at a show recently, had a young kid ask me a strange question about a painting.  "Where were you when you painted this?"  I quickly told him that I was floating around in outer space.  He looked at me seriously, and asked "Can you really float around outer space?"  I told him that in our minds is a thing called an imagination.  Using my imagination, I most certainly was floating around in outer space.  This real world right now is full of hate, bitterness, and tension.  I'm ready to go back to where I belong.  SamG's Imaginary Amusement Park is back and open for business, free imaginary rides for everyone.  Just follow the imaginary signs.

Thanks for reading...

Art... Love.... Perfect TV Hair...

SamG

  

2013... A year of making changes, taking chances,

My New Year's Resolution for 2013 was to "Make Changes, Take Chances, and Shine Brightly." I think I may not have shined as brightly as I'd hoped, but it was largely in part to accomplishing the first two objectives.  I've made a lot of changes this year.  I relocated to the Northeast GA mountains, I basically left my hometown and everything familiar to continue chasing this crazy dream I have.  It has definitely had it's struggles, but thanks to God and great friends I've managed to make it through it.  Thanks to everyone for their support!

It's been a tough year as an artist.  The economy combined with the large amount of rain that washed out many of the shows made it tough for most everyone I know.  I'm looking at taking a new direction with my art.  I'm thinking I will probably not do as many shows this coming year.  I'm seriously burned out on them.  Want to focus more on doing better quality art, rather than a higher quantity needed to do shows on a regular basis.  Right now I'm taking some much needed time off, will start back making art in the next couple of weeks. 

Many of my close friends know some of the things that I've gone through in the past year.  I'm not going into those right now.  I've been at some of the lowest points in my life during the past year.  Where I'm sitting right this second, I don't think I could be any happier. 

My thoughts right now are something along these lines.... Life is a ride, you can either keep your eyes forward toward your destination, you can look out the window and enjoy the scenery as it passes you by, or you can roll that window down and stick your head out and really experience it... but you can also make stops along the way and enjoy it.... 

Thanks everybody for your support of SamG during the past year... 2014 is going to be magical.. I can feel it!!!!! 

Happy New Year Everyone..... Peace, Love, and Give Somebody a FREE HUG!!!! 



SamG