TREE THIRTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

…like climbing a metaphorical Mount Everest.  Yep.  Finishing the thirtieth tree felt…like a chore, like a relief, like an epiphany.  In many ways I felt enslaved by my own intentions, my own preset goals to draw thirty trees…by setting boundaries/goals for myself I contained myself…but now I am done.  I hung up trees 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 around me as I worked on this final tree…hoping to inspire myself…to find some sense of purpose…that blank piece of paper can be so intimidating.  But then…I just worked…and organically tree number thirty appeared. 

Now, the next obvious question is…what is next?  What is next is that I have some square canvases waiting for paint. What is next is another thirty page 18x24 sketch pad.  What is next is my entry for the ECU alumni show.  What is next is my entry is my entry for the Bear and Bird show…what is next is the delicate balance of figuring out how to be an artist and a teacher, and a coach for that matter…what is next is life getting in the way of my art, me falling in and out of inspiration and dealing with it, creating despite what life throws at me.  John’s friend said he wanted to virtually stab my blog (I love you, by the way, Ryan) ; I want to virtually kick my own butt to stay motivated to make this art that I know needs to be made.  Here is to  Amy, to Lucy, to Oacie, to Dillon, to my grandmother, who is still alive but unable to create with her hands and robbed of her memory.  I am here to create.  For all of you.  Three thirty, that is just the stepping stone in the portal of my inspiration.  Let’s go.