Acceptance of Myself

I’ve been sitting on this news for a couple of weeks before finally posting it, but I might as well get it out there since it’s now common knowledge among my friends.

Yet again, I’m without a “job”.

I was doing some web authoring work for Intel through CDI, but our project ended and I was laid-off. I enjoyed my time working with HTML & CSS far more than all the years of working with e-mail servers, workstations and general tech support. I’m a bit sad to see it end, but there is still the possibility that I may someday go back again.

Alas, this brings me to a recent revelation that’s been YEARS in the making.

For years, friends, family, and co-workers have been asking me: “Why aren’t you making a living as an artist?”

I’ve always been drawing on white-boards, doodling in my notepad at meetings, and occasionally doing a real art project or two. But I’ve never accepted myself as an artist. I’ve always thought of myself as an IT guy that happens to do art on the side. Such thoughts have been interfering with finding my passion and following my calling in life. I’ve had a few stuttered starts over the last couple of years, but feel like I’ve finally made the acceptance and have started to make moves in the right direction.

I AM AN ARTIST.

Gazing over shelves of art supplies makes me swoon, drawing a smooth line makes me smile, painting a funny character makes me feel pre-orgasmic. I must continue to pursue these euphoric feelings in creating art.

To paraphrase the blogger, Stumpuous, this idea that I must be an artist “must be protected as a starving dog protects his steak“.

My first “show” as my newly accepted self will be at BikeCraft on December 3 & 4. I will have some of my works ready for sale as prints and hopefully some T-shirts!

You can follow new art posts on Twitter, DeviantArt and Flickr!

Any and all feedback will be greatly appreciated.

-Tomas