Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Slow It Down

Time has been flying by me and I feel as though if I don't take time to slow down and analyze what I'm doing I will continue this pattern indefinitely. I graduated from college less than two weeks ago, and looking back it doesn't seem like it took that long. I did have some great times in college though; I gained some great friends, found my life partner, went on some cool art club trips, and learned a lot.

There has been a lot of confusion and indecision rolling around in my head about what I should do with my life and if I'm making mistakes, but I've finally concluded that I just need to gather all the information I can and make the choice that seems right to me. I'm going to be leaving my hometown soon and moving across the state, I feel it's time to move on and start on my own path. I've been reading several articles lately (Art of Non-Conformity, Zen-Habits, In Praise of Idleness, Walden) on simplifying life and determining my life's direction. It feels like a long slow process, but I know this is something I shouldn't rush.

I feel like modern society over complicates life and I want to find a way to keep it simple. I don't want to fall into the average "produce-consume" lifestyle. I don't want to buy a fancy new car every few years or buy every gadget that comes out. I don't want to trade the young years of my life working for a company in the hopes that one day when I'm old I'll be able to retire. I'm going to live now. In this situation I don't think delay of gratification is the best choice, I have one life to live and I'm not going to live it by selling out. I feel like a lot of people want a life of simplicity too, but I don't see much effort to change.

My goal is to be self employed and create quality artwork for wonderful people, so I can buy the things that I need to live. That's it, nothing extravagant. I know this goal is possible and I'm going for it.

I want this to be my life's motto: Life is simple.
And I am going to do everything I can to achieve it.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Frost

Frost
Created with watercolor and sumi ink. I've really been enjoying the process of painting these trees. It's very whimsical and carefree.

Sunday, May 1, 2011