Whether some people are simple, jealous or ignorant, they will often assign their own insecurities on you.
Yes, artists can be fucked up, but more often than not, they are just misunderstood by people trying to label them and over simplify them.
Negative people are generally a cancer to your work. You cannot give credence to those who are not artists, who don't understand or respect creativity, or are just too boring and mediocre to appreciate the work that goes into seeing creative works to fruition.
I have written nearly forty screenplays, made a short film and some music videos, and had a job briefly as a wedding video editor, but I have never made money doing any of those things so one could argue that I haven't found success doing those things, and perhaps I wasted time and resources.
Writing has always been a soul cleansing process for me, and deeply gratifying.
The most fun I have ever had has been working with actors or on film sets. I love movies from beginning to end, and have a rich and endless respect for anyone who is involved in the creation and execution of motion pictures.
My venture into moving making was never a waste of time, because I don't measure my success by how much money I make.
Creating is succeeding, and producing work that finds an appreciative audience is the most satisfying thing there is.
For the past decade, I have been immersed in writing a trilogy of screenplays, working on producing photo books, & producing and filming a YouTube channel for my wife, Model & Writer Liz La Point.
You know what I else I did during that time? I held down a full time job that I put my all into, spent quality time with my child, and made sure my wife never forgets how much I love, respect, value, and adore her.
The point is that, though I'm far from perfect, I strive to balance my creative endeavors and family, work and relationships. I care about the people who care about me, and I am loyal like a dog.
...And, I never give up! Ever!
Artists, do not EVER stop creating! Ever! Just don't.
It doesn't need to make you rich, and your friends and family don't have to understand you or what you do.
Make art for yourself first, and then try to make some money from it, and grow your audience.
I have been so fueled by my desire to succeed by other people's standards lately that I have neglected the reason I create, and that reason, is because it is my voice, and I have things to say. Perhaps artists sometimes speak without thinking, figuratively and literally. Perhaps I have been talking too much through my work without saying the right things.
It is important to know one's self, and get to know one's self, through your art.
2017 is my quiet year. It is my year to reflect and grow. I am sober, healthy, happy, and motivated, but for the first time in a long time, I just want to process it all. I want to find meaning in the little things and make sure I'm not overlooking the big things.
I want my life to matter as much as my art does.
So, I have healthy new focuses, a ne-newed relationship with nature, and am on a path to living with less and feeling like I have more.
Here are some images from my photo adventure in Hawaii last year.
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