Why Yes I am an Artist

I saw a funny cartoon in the New Yorker magazine recently that showed a man sitting in his apartment at at table with his laptop open and across from him were some stuffed animals and taped on the wall were signs indicating that he was in a "cafe" and the caption was "why yes I am a writer". I had a good laugh at how accurate that feels these days with sheltering in place and all the galleries and museums are closed and all the art events have been canceled for the year except for the on-line ones which I wonder if anyone is even looking at. I think most people have been so preoccupied with managing their covid experience that they don't have the energy to look for art. An so there you are in  your own house telling yourself and your dogs and your spouse and whatever other inanimate objects that happen to be there watching you  that yes you are an artist and that it's important to keep getting up at the crack of dawn to get into the studio to paint. YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THE FAITH!

    This has been an exceptional period of time. I wish I could say that I made the most of it but I will confess that depression and anxiety had gotten the best of me on many days lately. I think it's been over a week since I last picked up a brush.The duration of this suspension of business of socializing of going out to see things and people is just eating away at my resolve to get up and paint. And then the other day I get an email from Norman Kolpas who wanted to do an interview with me for Western art and Architecture Magazine to run in conjunction with the Oil Painters of America show in October at the RS Hanna gallery in Fredricksburg Tx. Talk about a much need shot in the arm! It was like the sun coming out after being hidden for weeks. I felt I was able to kick myself out of the doldrums that I have been in and get back at it. I could feel the return of my clarity and focus. I knew what needed to be done and how to do it and it was working. I paint for myself I know that much is true. I like what I do but I know that I need other people to see it as well to complete the cycle of art making. I need my stuff to be seen by other people That is part of  what keeps me going, other peoples feedback puts gas in my artist's tank so I can keep on going with what I love to do. So yes I am an artist!