Sometimes I wake up very early, like at three in the morning. That happened with this painting. The urge took me and I finished the piece in the following hours. There's something strange and wonderful about being up late at night. It feels like you're the only one around. The night is velvet black and maybe there are spirits about, pushing you on to do your best work. Whatever the case, I'll keep on riding the energies of the blackest nights. 

   You think, "Wow, look what's happened to the world. The young people are on meth and crack. They hang on the corner, listening to horrible music and possessing a bad attitude. Now, hold on, there IS hope. 

   When I was a teenager, I was no angel. I wasn't too bad, but I could act up a little. Thank God my father was quite strict, or I may have turned out to be a real sociopath. Now, flash forward to present day. Yeah, a lot of the youth really suck. Many ARE on these new-fangled drugs, they go to heinous parties, and act like retarded monkeys. However, the glimmer of hope is found in the handful of young people that give a shit. Take Greta Thunberg, for example. She really stands out as a youngin' that is doing stuff! Take, say, Justin Beiber. Well, that's a whole different ball of wax. Being ungrateful comes to mind. Nuff said.

   Youth of today, you don't have to necessarily go out and volunteer at a homeless shelter or travel to a third world country and help out, but how about putting down the cell phone for a bit and do SOMETHING. When I'm trying to walk down a sidewalk, how about showing a little common respect and decency by pocketing your phone so you don't run into me. How about not acting like you're entitled? None of us are entitled to anything, but should strive to contribute. Food for thought. X.

   Art. The mere sound of the word sends confusion to the uninformed mind. Artists and art can seem daunting, strange, and to some, something that doesn't really come to mind. Some call it a luxury item. Perhaps it is, but I can't imagine a world without it. Could you imagine a world without art, music or literature? Yikes!

   So, we have this piece, Don't Listen to the Mirror. Pretty crazy-looking painting, isn't it? At first glance, yes, but on closer observation, there's a lifetime of flow and painting. That's what it takes to create genuine work. The years of experiences flow into the work and then that flows back out to the world by how the artist translates everything. True art-lovers and collectors understand this. They can read this in the work. 

   With this painting, I wanted to demonstrate how a young woman can be hacked on by bullshit. Such as, the media, like fashion mags and rags. Pht! Girls, do you REALLY think all females should look the same??? Don't listen to the media. Listen to your own self-worth. Be intelligent and have faith in yourself and your abilities. Contribute something that helps and inspires others to do the same. Be classy. You have so much to offer in your own way. We all come in various shapes, sizes, colors, creeds, and energy levels. Follow YOUR gut, your guidance system. It'll never let you down. 

   So, when you look into the mirror, see the true you, somebody that does not come with a price.

   If your mother was like mine, she tried to downplay your gifts. Girls chased my bum off and guys hated me. I would pick them up off the ground by their underwear, one-handed style, extra pain was involved. You get the point, I was pretty and by God, nobody was gonna take it away from me. That's what self-esteem is all about, folks. I'm older now, but not a hideous beast, I reckon. ;)  Well, I'm a beast of sorts, I have a big mouth, am a little nuts, and make strange pictures. Heh-heh-heh...


Now, you can't be me. I'm me, there's only one me, and I like it that way. However, you can be like me. What I mean is, if you have self-esteem probs, you can cast them aside. Take a bath, get smellin'  nice, put on a decent outfit (not sweatpants), brush your teeth, get some book-learnin' (so you can have a conversation with someone), PUT ON DEODORANT!), and don't act like a total dumbass. You might just meet someone who can put up with you. You see, it's about self-worth, but also about being cool for that other person. 

   Next time, someone, even your mom, gets on you and is tearin' at your good you's n' what-nots, say, "Heyyyyyyy, climb off, I'm fabulous!"  You'll have taken your power back. You'll feel better. X.

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This is my fiance. Yeah, she's damned hot! It's okay to say that, even in the present watered-down, bullcrap landscape we currently live in.  ;)

Please, don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful. Tee-hee...

   Sorry that I'm hot...just kidding, I'm not sorry! Ba-bam!

   I wanted a second blog post for this painting. A painting should be more than just a painting, or mine should be, anyway. I'd like to actually say something while I'm down here in this meat suit. ;)

   A few years ago, I did a short stint being single. That was rare due to me being a Goddamned sucky baby and always needing someone around. It gave me a chance to do A LOT of deep thinking. I would walk a lot and just think. I would think about the shit I've done and not done. I would think about the people I may have hurt and the people I may have helped. I would think about the traumas I went through from childhood, the horrors, the great things, and everything in between. I even considered becoming a Buddhist. Alas, I decided against being a Buddhist. I knew myself all too well, I liked the pitfalls of the sensual delights, the rich food, the experience of acting like a big, silly, talking monkey. Anyway, I came to a rather simple conclusion, we likely are just talking monkeys. 

   At the end of the day, you may as well enjoy that cup of coffee, looking at that gorgeous sunset, enjoy the peace of watching a cow eat grass, enjoy eating a piece of the cow, having a beer, telling some rude asshole to go fuck themselves, or just generally being the silly ape you are. I mean, do you really think some dude in the sky is watching you? You don't REALLY believe that, not REALLY. 

   As for me, I'll just be me, that painting clown who does whatever the hell I want. Is there anything else??? I think not...
      

   We all go through some hard shit. ALL of us, rich, poor, in between, sane, insane, healthy, unhealthy, mean, kind, selfish, charitable. If you have not, I'd love to know your secret! 

   In this piece, She Believes, we have a strong woman. She has chosen to stay tough and BELIEVE. She has realized no matter what life has thrown at her, she's gonna keep going. This woman is the best example for us all.

   We could talk of hope, faith, and the ability to get up again, but true belief in your deep self, the child-self you should never abandon, is paramount for a life well-lived.
​

   Ever get dumped? This woman just did. It must really suck. It must be hard on the self-esteem. Alas, some people get dumped. 
   Sometimes, life is really hard. Sometimes, life is a real bitch! Whatever life throws at you, just remember that tomorrow's a new day with new opportunities. Look at life for what it truly is, a journey. On this journey, YOU can make it however YOU want it. 

   I called this piece, She'll Be Okay, for a reason. You see, if you can find the strength to keep on going, to push through the shit that's rolling down the hill toward you, you just may be okay. 


   Keep going, be tough, be stubborn, be a bitch! Sometimes, it's the only way. Don't take any crap off of ingrates. Never trade in who you are, don't just roll over. Don't cash in your integrity. Don't drink that Kool-Aid that the smiling, tempting piece of shit is offering. It's laced with a toxic substance. Leave that stuff for the politicians. You keep your good heart and you'll see beautiful things, ALWAYS.     X

  Have you, as an adult, ever been sitting around, and you suddenly think, "Hey, since I've gotten older, I've become complacent and lazy!" Of course you have, or, you SHOULD have. 
   Many of us, when we get older, we forget that spark, that fire of discontentment. We lose something in our souls, the CARING, the ability to give a shit about our fellow humans and the world we all HAVE to share. Wake up, dumbass! Don't get me wrong, of course I get like this too. It makes me ashamed. There's nothing worse than rolling over for The Man.


   Well, if I can't convince or inspire you to get off your fat and old lazy ass, maybe Greta can. She's a tough one. She has the kind of resolve that most of us only dream about. What's really great about her is that she makes grown-ups like Trump look like buffoons. It's time to remember the child-you and rise up...

   You just may be like this boat, calm, silent, at peace, and just a particle of ZEN...X
   I have chosen to be calm. I've given a name for the generation I choose to be in. I call it Zen X. Namaste...

   Have you ever been out on a lake or river? I have. There's nothing like it in all the world. It's very peaceful and freeing. It's actually therapeutic. It gives a person the chance to just be and not worry or plan anything. 

   The word for today is ZEN...