I Am An Artist

(Playing around with back drops like in the old days.)

It starts with an idea... The a blank piece of paper or canvas. One of the first things we learn is how to be creative even without knowing. It's to keep us occupied, but learnign in the process. We are given colorful images to play with. Something to stimulate the brain, such as building blocks. We doodle before we can spell. What people call chicken scratch looks like masterpeices to the little brain. We are so proud of what we created and we want to show it to those that matter. It'a the idea of completing something and getting validation.

As a child, when I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, everything came to mind, but being an artist. I guess it just didn't register as a job. I guess I could say I've been dabbling in art all of my life. I didn't start getting paid until I was in high school. Part of that is because, outside of my family, very few people knew I could draw. I never took an art class until my senior year of high school and that was just to pick up extra credit. I also liked the teacher.

 Most of my family has always supported my endeavors. I was always coming up with ways to make money. I remember when I got my 8mm movie projector, I would charge the kids in the neighborhood twenty five cents to watch classic silent movies. As I got older I wanted to make movies, but other things would pop up that didn't require as much time to complete. I've always been a bit of a perfectionist; to make a good movie one has to have time.

In 2001 I declared myself an artist, when I found out my job as a buyer was co
ming to an end. I decided I would no longer be a part of corporate America. I would do my own thing and just enjoy life. I had put myself in a position where I could do just that.

(Creating effects without using a photo program)

There are always things we don't anticipate. We can deal with it or just throw in the towel. I've never been known as a quitter. If I start something I want to finish it. I had lots of time to work on my art. Photography, writing and poetry shared my creative side. My visual ability allowed me to write some personal poetry that is truly some of my best. The last time I had written poetry steadily was in 1999 when I was a part of the New Orleans Poetry Forum. I was asked to join the group and accepted so I could see if I was as good as people said I was. It put me on a path to begin performing again. I began reading poetry at various venues around town that catered to that scene. Dragon's Den, The Blue Nile and The Maple Leaf bar.

Being able to blog online has allowed me the opportunity to share my words, my art and photography with others. If I inspire one person then I'm doing what I set out to do. The creative process for each artist is different. I realize arrtists have a common thread and a responsibility to make people think. Some artist only focus on one specific area. They create music, design buildings, clothing, costumes or sets. Some write, sketch or paint. For those like myself who work in many art forms, you go back and forth. When I get tired of one or get blocked, I move on to something else until I can come back to a project.

There are times when you may get frustrated and just walk away from it, but a true artist always has those ideas circling around inside of their head. It doesn't matter how you create, or when you create. The important thing is that you do it and don't give up.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.
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