Years ago, I had an epiphany of sorts, courtesy of a piece in The New Yorker. It told of a conversation between Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller at the home of a very wealthy man. Vonnegut asked if it bothered Heller that the host had made more money in a day than Heller had from all of his Catch-22 royalties. Heller replied, 'No, because I have something he'll never have.'
'What's that?' asked Vonnegut.
'Enough,' Heller answered.
I have 'enough' but I need to remind myself periodically. In my frenzy to sell more paintings, I have ignored Heller's message. It isn't what I want to sell, but that I can paint. Fifteen years ago, I was a writer. I dabbled in art to feel closer to my recently deceased mother (herself a professional artist). My whole life changed. I studied at the Art League of Alexandria, never allowing myself to hope I would be good enough to make the leap. Years of classes, encouragement and passion, drove me. In 2006, I was juried into the Torpedo Art Center. I am a resident artist.
Even though I grouse about nearly everything, I can write and I can paint. And, surely, that is enough.
No comments:
Post a Comment