Not even wounded by These Tough Economic Times. I'm alive. Well, even.

I've been meaning to write forEVER. Really. I had posts in my head about Life as an Artist, commentary on Vancouver's art scene and Politics and Art. I also wanted to write about my 8-year-old son's miniature diorama gallery and the nature of unfettered confidence and why we seem to lose it when we get older. Soon come.

Life is good. Yes, I am still a full-time artist and no, I don't regret the change I made in April, 2008. Those of you who have known me a while may recall that is when I dove off the long-climbed cliff of my corporate gig into the choppier waters of the artworld. I suspect my timing could have been just a little better given the current state of the economy, but it's not bad. So much for relying on a Magic 8 Ball and horoscopes.

I have a new studio! I have an agent! I'm in a few galleries. I've been in a bunch of shows. I won a prize at some juried show not so long ago. I'm getting ready for a solo show in October. It all sounds good, doesn't it?

My days pass like a rolling Moebius strip. I get up early, go for a run and work 9-5. I pick up my son and write and research in the evenings. I have a fairly steady influx of commissions.

I look better, too, I think. Hell, I got IDd ("carded" for you Brits) recently and enjoyed that, so the stress seems to have left my face. Either that or it's because I was wearing a bike helmet, pigtails, and sunglasses while buying a six pack of cheap beer. And hey: I can drink on the job. If I wanted to, I mean. Ahem.

Here: me in my studio not so long ago. I finally figured out how to use the webcam.



People are always wondering if "living the dream" is as good as one expects and I hesitate to disillusion them. Yes, yes, it is, in many ways, but make no mistake: I'm not making the copious bucketfuls of money </sarcasm> I made at my corporate job. Moreover, the remainders of that job, the savings, are what helps us survive now. I still think my former employer is a wonderful company. They've bought paintings from me, too. Despite the recession, I'm doing o.k., but truth be said: I wouldn't be able to do this on my own.

I apologize for not posting anything on dA for ages. I'm sorry about that. I should just blitz-post and catch up.

I've missed you all. There's more to tell, much more. Some good, some bad, some just right.

Cheers, everyone.

(PS: ETA: I apologize for the blitz-bomb update of my last 8 months' or so worth of paintings, but if I didn't post 'em all at once, I was never going to get it done. Sorry sorry sorry!!)