First Love
January 3, 2012
“Build from White”, 4.9 x 9 ft., oil on canvas, 2004
During the holidays, I’ve been staring at my college thesis now hanging on the wall of my parents’ living room . That last year in school had been the happiest, because I got to work on something very close to me and my best friends helped me out every step of the way. Lately, I noticed I’ve been jumping out of my skin, wanting to paint with no thought or worry about money for rent, food, telephone bills, and travel expenses. I want to take time out from the world and make art.
I come back to this painting pondering (yet again) on course of my life as the remaining days of 2011 brought me to sit still with myself. It’s this weird roundabout journey at the turn of the new year: you look back as you are about to step forward. Reading past journal entries and beginning-of-the-year plans, the constant headline was taking time out to make art. It would be drawings and paintings for an exhibit, a graphic novel, exhibit proposals with friends, creative experiments, craft projects, etc.
Storytelling is my first love and, oftentimes, my paintings are the containers. If I am to give myself a gift for my 31st birthday this year, it would be this: Two months to make what I have on my personal art projects list without having to worry how I’m ever going to pay the bills. I really want to give this a go. I’m going to make this happen. 
How about you? What will you do for your first love?
January 4, 2012 at 8:26 am
Hey Dang! So happy to have stumbled upon this entry. Planned a similar time-off last year, supposedly a months’ time to just write and read and watch stuff- to touch base w/ the self. Didn’t push through though (the holiday bills got in the way). Praying I get to do it this year. I hope you will too!
January 4, 2012 at 8:38 am
Shucks Nyel! Hope you get to do this! Sige, I’ll pray for you and send you good vibes that you’ll get to do this soon this year. You must. You can do it.
Plus, I really really look forward to what you’ll produce if you take the time out to just working on that one thing.
Best of luck to us!