Thanks for being there..., 6-6-2025
It has helped a lot
This is a just a not so quick note to say thank you. Being an artist trying to do and then share my art has been a lifelong passion for me. I have learned and grown first by attending college and then by the peer reviews of Glen Crooks which became reviews at the old SDAI, various artists houses and then the online reviews at OMA where I have seen other artists talking about their work and then been obligated (keeping things honest) to talk about mine.
That has made me (almost) completely honest in my work. Coming out first in an SDAI peer review "is that you in the pictures?" Then to my family with various results; my mom thinking my work is pornography; a niece liking that I hid womens faces; a nephew that joined me at the booth in a San Francisco Sexual Expo... I learned to not self-censor.
This website is very supportive for me. With over 900 posts so far, most of what I have done is available for paying or comped patrons. It is indexed, tags and/or the search function. That shows not just the best but everything that, at some point in my life, I thought was acceptable.
On site I am naked and defenseless in so many ways... Followers, Subscribers and Patrons are an umbrella in that bright social light I try to work in. Unlike Stu I am not an exhibitionist... Anytime I step on stage it is done to remain honest, usually after dealing with a lot of stage fright, fear of condemnation, desire to not offend...
Many of you have at one time or another sent me money (among other valuable things). That has been a big help for supplies, coffee, a month when money was too tight... I have not figured out how to regularly monetize my work other than here. Mostly I have had to pay myself through a side job (which Maria has supported). Having financial Patrons here has been the light in the tunnel for me as opposed to the 'train in the tunnel.'
Anyway, thank you all for past generosity, support and love...
...and, of course, thank you so much for your current financial generosity Dodie, Victoria, Corrie, Mathias, Richard M, Mark, Stu Schwartz, Kim, Sarah, and Bob.
If you are surprised to not be on the current list, your credit card expired and I happily moved you to being a comped patron, figuring that was what you secretly wanted... or you are getting old and no longer financially responsible... love you!
Artfully yours,
Richard
