Most people with artistic talent realize their skills at an early age, and develop them through their childhood years.  But for me, that just wasn’t the case.  You see, my parents didn’t have a lot of money when I was a kid, and we couldn’t afford paper for me to color on - in fact, I was punished a number of times for coloring what little paper we did have.

It wasn’t until I was in college that I realized what I wanted to do with my life.  You see, by that point, I had moved out of my parents home, and I was finally able to pursue my artistic interests.  I enrolled in a graphics art course, and that is where I was finally able to shine.

You see, it turned out that I had a knack for business logo design, and my marks showed it.  I continued my studies and received an art degree.  I had no problems finding a job working for a logo design firm, and that is where I am today.

I’ll have to admit, it doesn’t seem like work at all - I am finally able to do what I love.

I don’t know why, but when the Beatles went all mystical, especially John Lennon, I started associating them with Indian food. I’m surprised I didn’t try to write John about his favorite Indian recipes. As it was, I just listened over and over to everything they sold.

I was a late bloomer, naïve, and never quite sure of the meaning of some of their songs. Take “Norwegian Wood.” At the end, I’ve always wondered about the significance of “So I lit a fire. Isn’t it good, Norwegian wood?” Did the guy burn her furniture or just echo the girl’s comment when she first brought him home? Or was there an “in group” secret code that I wasn’t privy to?

When you’re insecure, it’s amazing how many aspects of your life such insecurity can affect. About the only thing I didn’t question was my ability to sing and act well. If it weren’t for those successes, who know where I’d be today. As it was, I denied those gifts for over two decades and other creative talents emerged to fill the void, including writing. Isn’t it good, Norwegian wood?

Ever since I remember, I have loved to draw. I could sit for hours drawing and coloring when I was younger. I still like to draw and I am the type of person who will sit with my nieces and color for hours. Some think I have never grown up, but I think I just really have an appreciation for art of any kind.

It is not that I don’t appreciate artists such as Picasso and Van Gogh, but I really prefer the modern ones. I like art that has a message and I like art that has a message that pertains to people today, not form last century or longer ago. One of my favorite artists of today is a guy that goes by the name Banksy.

I find that his work can make me both laugh and it deals with issues that pertain to us today. In fact, I own several Banksy prints and he is about the only artist that I have displayed in my home. Actually, I also have displayed the things my nieces have given me and I am sure that they are budding artists as well.