"Was tired of me being me" -- well put! Yes, there comes a time when one needs to let go of the persona and just be a person, even if the persona is tied to money and fame. Latimer is a good role model. He listened to his inner voice and chose the authentic way instead of coasting along on a high plateau that he climbed when he was younger.
Hi, Jim. Very well said! A choice to be made - the easy path of the established persona and the unknown one of becoming the person. Hard to have both. Thanks, Jim.
RL was true to himself. Great story, James. It's the creative process that is fulfilling. The scene on the mountain highlights this. Drawing portraits on the circuit is kind of like Substack where we come into contact with those who partake of our art.
"Drawing portraits on the circuit is kind of like Substack where we come into contact with those who partake of our art." Very nice! I like it. Thank you very much, K.C.!
There is a lot to think about here, cowboy. I think a lot of artists keep plodding on even after the shine has worn off--when it's no longer art for art's sake but art ( songs, writing) tailored to sell. I guess R.L. was like that mountain lion, observing for a while, then disappearing into the hills when he had had enough. Good for him, I say.
We get caught up in what we are familiar with even when "the thrill is gone," making change harder. Especially when money is involved. It's hard living that way. I liked the way the lion connected with R.L. Thanks, Jim!
"I loved painting, but it wasn’t fun anymore; it was a job." "It’s the business end of it I don’t care for. It robs you, drains your soul."
I think this is true most of the time with artists and musicians ... and, dare I say it, writers! The creative, artistic temperament and the business temperament are rarely found in one person. ( I guess that is what agents are for. ) As soon as we monetize, as soon as it becomes a business, the joy starts waning. In my experience, anyway. RL is a person I would like to know. Nice work, Ron.
It is as you say. Even if successful enough to have others handle everything, there is an answering to something, someone. I don't have the temperament. My songs were referred to as "product." It felt like an affront, somehow. I put up with it way too long, and then, like too much spaghetti, I'd had enough. Thank you, Sharron!
I know a guy who went to college to study painting. He wanted to be taught techniques, but they mostly taught him art history, which he wasn't interested in. He dropped out after the first semester and painted on his own. Professionally, he became a licensed plumber. A local high-end art gallery sold his paintings. With the high income from being a plumber, he was free to paint what he wanted when he wanted. Win/win
Hi, Chip. For sure a win/win. I wish I had gone to trade school, it would have served me better. At the time, it was seen as a lesser education than that of public schools. Btw, I'm at Entry 31 in your book "2084." I really like how it is developing and the approach to dealing with the system is very cool. Hope it works out. I'll find out soon enough.
"Was tired of me being me" -- well put! Yes, there comes a time when one needs to let go of the persona and just be a person, even if the persona is tied to money and fame. Latimer is a good role model. He listened to his inner voice and chose the authentic way instead of coasting along on a high plateau that he climbed when he was younger.
Hi, Jim. Very well said! A choice to be made - the easy path of the established persona and the unknown one of becoming the person. Hard to have both. Thanks, Jim.
RL was true to himself. Great story, James. It's the creative process that is fulfilling. The scene on the mountain highlights this. Drawing portraits on the circuit is kind of like Substack where we come into contact with those who partake of our art.
"Drawing portraits on the circuit is kind of like Substack where we come into contact with those who partake of our art." Very nice! I like it. Thank you very much, K.C.!
There is a lot to think about here, cowboy. I think a lot of artists keep plodding on even after the shine has worn off--when it's no longer art for art's sake but art ( songs, writing) tailored to sell. I guess R.L. was like that mountain lion, observing for a while, then disappearing into the hills when he had had enough. Good for him, I say.
We get caught up in what we are familiar with even when "the thrill is gone," making change harder. Especially when money is involved. It's hard living that way. I liked the way the lion connected with R.L. Thanks, Jim!
The mountain lion metaphor for RL rings true to me, too, Jim. Thanks for pointing it out.
"I loved painting, but it wasn’t fun anymore; it was a job." "It’s the business end of it I don’t care for. It robs you, drains your soul."
I think this is true most of the time with artists and musicians ... and, dare I say it, writers! The creative, artistic temperament and the business temperament are rarely found in one person. ( I guess that is what agents are for. ) As soon as we monetize, as soon as it becomes a business, the joy starts waning. In my experience, anyway. RL is a person I would like to know. Nice work, Ron.
It is as you say. Even if successful enough to have others handle everything, there is an answering to something, someone. I don't have the temperament. My songs were referred to as "product." It felt like an affront, somehow. I put up with it way too long, and then, like too much spaghetti, I'd had enough. Thank you, Sharron!
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I know a guy who went to college to study painting. He wanted to be taught techniques, but they mostly taught him art history, which he wasn't interested in. He dropped out after the first semester and painted on his own. Professionally, he became a licensed plumber. A local high-end art gallery sold his paintings. With the high income from being a plumber, he was free to paint what he wanted when he wanted. Win/win
Hi, Chip. For sure a win/win. I wish I had gone to trade school, it would have served me better. At the time, it was seen as a lesser education than that of public schools. Btw, I'm at Entry 31 in your book "2084." I really like how it is developing and the approach to dealing with the system is very cool. Hope it works out. I'll find out soon enough.
Glad you're enjoying it. It gets tense, but that's all I'm telling you.