Art & Arturo
Where is my Julia Child to pull me out of the deep end? I just finished watching Julie and Julia and couldn't have been more inspired by the film. I would really love to read the book. But knowing me, and my lack of skill in finishing a book, I will just add it to my (very long) wish list.
Nothing has ever been more important to me than art. For a long time, it's kept my head above water. There was a time, about 17 years ago to be exact, when I was fulfilling my dream of taking art classes in St. Elmo Village in L.A. proper - Venice Blvd. and La Brea Blvd. to be exact. After the riots, my parents decided it was time for us to move. Everything surrounding us became a casualty of the fires ignited by looters. Unfortunately, my "art career" from that point was given an expiration date.
Coming into Inglewood became a little hard on me, like it does on any person that is forced to move and re-adjust themselves to a new place. I was the new kid, but I had a talent that removed me from that world. I drew. Thanks to my mom, I had something that had potential. Unfortunately, I wasn't quite as talented as my next door neighbors who made art into a competition. Of course, I defended my "weirdly shaped" work of art citing artists like Pablo Picasso. Their worked was immersed in comic books and video games. I could never compete. So I gave up.
By that time I was already well into making sure I could get into the right university, so I sacrificed Art and Acting for French classes (no regret there). My only opportunity in applying myself artistically was my senior year art class, where I garnered praise from my friends. It wasn't perfect art, but it was a start. Yet, I left empty handed.
Entering UCSB, I found a vast opportunity to apply myself again. However, I didn't surround myself by artistic friends. Even if I tried to surround myself with creative people (acting or artistic) I was still different from them. Would that make me autistic? The only person I could relate to at the time wasn't a real friend of the arts. I was uninspired and discouraged. And now I say, look at where it's brought me now. I work in a corporation that doesn't even allow me to express myself through fashion. I have to be robotic. I certainly complain a lot about this, don't I?
So much as I say it, I have to do it, but it's time I do something now. I think 2010 will open more doors. I think it's time find a niche. I think that will be the year I can finally pursue creative interests. The car is there. The money isn't quite there, yet. But that's all part of the hustle in the art world. We're starving artists, and that's only half the adventure. Of course, I think I will do this after $aving enough to make a sacrifice that I hope is worth a suicidal leap.
Now, I ask again, where is my Julia Child to pull me out of this deep end?