Years of depression punctuated by obsessive creativity brought him closer to the inevitable. Alcohol became his chosen poison. Lacking the proper nutrition and suffering from frequent bouts of insomnia – it only propelled him deeper into the black abyss. The delusions which led to his self-mutilation only further supported the theory – he was mad, and he felt all alone.
He had lost everything of value to him. There was an empty canvas on the easel, his colors, and tools. What would he paint?
Nothing. He was at his self-inflicted end. “The sadness will last forever,” were Vincent’s final words.
I am so honored and pleased that my poem, Just A Blank White Page, was published this morning on Vita Brevis Poetry Magazine! Thanks to Brian Geiger, Editor of Vita Brevis, for finding my work worthy of inclusion.
It is dark now but the light will come back again. This piece so eloquently expresses we must proactively seek out hope. Reality will eventually catch up.
Not trying to knock my efforts here, but I don’t know if I would call it great art. One definition of art is that it is a form of creation, so expressed in that way, I DID ART! And I enjoyed it very much.
I was excited to be notified today that my sketchbook“I’m Fine” was received and within the next 6-8 weeks, it will be digitized for the whole world to see. When it’s live, I will post more information so you can see my creation for yourselves. Please be kind.
To give you a little bit of backstory on this, last year I ran across an ad about it and decided to participate. My thought was to showcase my writing in a non-traditional way. Seeing how I delight in being untraditional, this made perfect sense. Plus their mission statement below encouraged me to say “Hey, why not?” I loved the inclusivity of this project and it gave me an opportunity to try something different than I would normally do.
12 years ago when I started The Sketchbook Project, I wanted to create an informal outlet for anyone to create art, with a purpose. I believed and still believe in the notion that a creative community is stronger than its individual artists and that a project can be impactful in a way that is different than a traditional gallery.
With over 45,000 sketchbooks from 30,000 different global creative people, we have grown over the past 12 years to be the largest collection of sketchbooks in the world. We have reignited art careers, inspired first-time creatives and even helped a few marriage proposals.
We find ourselves at the intersection of the social and digital transition and analog ephemeral needs.
By allowing anyone to participate, we have grown to a massive worldwide community of not only professionals but amateurs, moms, dads, mailmen and more.
We do not believe in the statement ‘I’m not an artist.” Because it doesn’t matter. Share your story, draw your stick figures, just own it.
We can promise you a lifelong commitment to keeping your artifact safe while continuing to act as a time capsule for global creativity.
Thanks for being a part of our community.
STEVEN PETERMAN
FOUNDER / DIRECTOR
For more information about it or if you’d like to get involved with the next one coming up – Volume 16, click here.
I
strap in
to watch a
video of
fast-paced images,
extraordinary
demonstration of motion.
It makes me think this is such a
unique format to view. It is a delightfully disorienting dance.
seeing magnificent creations of art
by way of brilliant visions and talented digits
fully engaged, breath taken away or making you cry
discovering music created by soulful vibrations
beings reaching into their emotional depths
bringing us within substantive creations
watching feelings erupt from human anatomy
control and fluidity presented in perfection
telling us stories with their bodies
being in awe and stepping back
it’s all beauty and enriches us so
on nights when we’re nostalgic
days when we need to see a rainbow
moments when what’s needed is to feel and not speak
Sometimes we intend to create something but then it takes us in all these different directions usually ending up with a piece which is so much different than how it started out. I love when that happens.
It’s what needed to be expressed. This creation was waiting for the right moment to be exposed. Almost like a message that needed to resonate, usually for the artist but sometimes an expression of a lesson to be learned by someone else.
