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You Can’t Run From Art

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With all the great things going on in life and all the tremendous success in my art, I thought the good times would never end. I could see fame and fortune right around the corner. I thought that someday I’d be a household name all across America.

But, like a lot of young people, I got sidetracked with a lot of other pursuits in life, some good, some not so good. To this point, things had come easily for me. The discipline I had excercised in my art failed to transfer to other areas of my life.

You know from experience that there are dozens or even hundreds of moments in your life that you could characterize as truly “life changing.” But what I’m sharing next are what I would describe as “defining” moments that shaped the course of my life - not just my art, but certaining spilling over into my art and ultimately determining the course of my career.

 

Life Changing Moment #1 - “It’s a girl.”

Family Man

In the blink of an eye I was married and had a daughter. I was only 18.  Realizing the enormity of my life change, I subconsciously began to put my art on hold and got a “real” job. It’s amazing how quickly life can change.

For a while I kept dabbling in art, attending classes through a correspondence school. Even though I kept saying I was going to commit to my art, deep down I knew I had given up on my dream. I began to work at the very same factory where my father and many others from my family worked. In fact, most of the town worked there.

Even though that business was a great business, and provided a living for many people in the area, I just never thought that I would work there. I was supposed to be an artist. As you can imagine, I was absolutely devastated.

I thought my life was over.

My mother kept telling me that God had given me a special gift, that he wanted me to be using my talent. I just refused to listen to her - or to him.

 

Life Changing Moment #2 - “Ouch”

Injuries

But it’s amazing how persistent moms and God can be. While working in the factory, I injured my back, spent 5 months in traction, and was in and out of the hopital. My mom and my sister Phyllis kept telling me that this was God’s way of getting my attention. I always promised him that if I got better I would follow my art, but when I did get better, that promise was quickly forgotten.

Finally, not too long after recovering from my back problems, I blew out my ankle really bad while playing basketball, and the doctor told me I may never be able to play again (a lot of guys said I never could play anyway!). He said, “You’re going to lose a lot of your mobility. Do you have any other hobbies?”

Did I ever…

 

Life Changing Moment #3 - Heart Change

Spiritual Transformation

There is one thing that is critical for me to mention. It was the day I turned my life over to Jesus Christ. I’m certainly not asking you to agree or disagree with my spiritual beliefs. I just need to tell you this or you won’t really know who I am as a person or how I’ve come to the point in my art where I am now.

I had been down a dark and lonely road of drinking, depression, and suicidal thoughts. That’s why I’m writing this today. I truly believe that if the Lord hadn’t found me when he did, I wouldn’t be here today. I’m not trying to preach, but I want you to know why I’m an artist today. God never gave up on me and he won’t on you either. One thing I’ve found out - you can run and run but you can’t get away from God.

Anyway after I was told I’d never walk right again, I got down on my knees and asked God what he wanted from me. Isn’t that amazing? - I had known since I was 4 years old that this was my calling, and now here I was at 28 years old, asking God what he wanted me to do. But I already knew.  I also remember arguing with him about it. He won, of course, and I said “yes.”

At that moment the course of my life changed.

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