When I initially started this blog I was maybe but 21 or 22 as a creative person who drew in class I was never or rarely surrounded by what at that time was the “popular crowd”.

I always had so many ambitions, thoughts hopes etc. many events occurred from when I stopped posting here to the present. 

I flew internationally for the first time to meet other urban sketchers who are world renowned and have published books etc. My hope was to learn what I needed to sustain a simple life with or through art.

Little did I realize many of these artists I have followed for years would tell me they were architects, engineers, marketing executives… (this was prior toward the social media boom).

I came back to my small farm town and well my three year relationship ended, and I landed myself as the friend of four who slept on a couch…

I took the money I’d spend to live by myself and invested in a comercial space that I turned into a storage and studio space.

I met a young woman who saw interest in me and what I was doing, which later became a relationship. At one point I looked at what I invested in my art studio va her brand new car. The car got us to work and back grocery trips and though she let me use it to pick her up from work (we both worked as PSDs so we would work 36 hour shifts without returning home) I saw she paid payments, insurance on the car and I was spending basically the same for an over glorified man cave….

How do I make this cave provide.

I figured start with maybe an art show to sell art maybe every few months. Possibly a class but who am I to teach others. 

In turn I started a figure drawing night which I planned once a month maybe twice due to those interested having schedule conflicts.

Wow 

It led into a solo art show nearly each month, as the gallery owner I determined how to display and where to place the works for the artist to best present their work. The monthly bimonthlyfigure drawing nights became weekly.

I invested so much time and effort into this endeavor as I simultaneously worked two full time jobs that my relationship collapsed because she was 20 I was 24 and all my thoughts were “if I run things like this and ask this much is that too expensive how can I make things cheaper.

I was invisioning  A nearly 20 year plan, every 5-7 years change buildings do some Reno to an old abandoned building which hasn’t been used in my history for nearly 5-10 years and use a space to expand. While ultimately developing into a facility that would provide artist studio space, classes and workshops along with gallery and art show events and ideally an after school and summer program for children in a small town which while I grew up the most ya had was sports drugs and alcohol or ya worked the farm because that’s what the family does.


Needless to say I ended up in the situation where the relationship ended and do I live in an art studio with no shower or a house that has two cats.

Through that I ended up finding streaming and minded this was way way before Covid gen z wasn’t even a thing yet, if so y’all were just in the nut sack ir barely in the belly… (no offense)

I became decent at it, I understand it better than most editors and creators I see now oh my goodness hire me please is all I can look back on how I’ve learned and seen the rise of podcasts and shows now days.

I met another girl. FML

Met a woman and well we did good and alright I guess… but honestly we would be better friends than partners. We ended up through hell and back again. A lot learned and well regardless we just were not healthy together.

I learned a lot in my time alone after, maybe I just wasn’t ready for a relationship and perhaps we were still broken from past relationships or traumas.

I isolated and slowly hated everything I became. I was once so great and after Covid I’ve seen skillsets I could have monetized on; streaming, computers, networking, even just basic IT… 

Well here I am… another huge change, and this time for a little boy who I hope will forever at least be a little like me and forever call his dad “papa bear”

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1376 2nd St Alamosa, CO
“Though the road's been rocky it sure feels good to me.” 
Bob Marley


Staying Focused Despite The Obstacles

An early start to the day; waking up and enjoying my morning coffee to a soft blanket of snow. Melting by noon the chill of the winds remain. The season is only going to get colder. I'm concerned about sticking with my goals of improving sketch counts, and the ensuing cold will make this a difficult task.

Good News From Higher Powers

Despite the recent winds and temperature drop things are still progressing forward. Thursday I had the chance to meet with the Tarot Wizard. The cards say I have a sturdy base, and that I am putting hard work into my trade. I just have to remember to make personal time for rest and perhaps to seek guidance from a spiritual perspective.
Art Building, Richardson Avenue, Alamosa, CO

Experiences Help Build Character

Yesterday I had the pleasure of doing an interview for GrizzTv (Adams State University's tv channel). It was surreal being filmed as though I were some sort of celebrity, but it was nice to have to elaborate on the subject of my work and analyze myself. Subscribe to my feed to stay updated on new posts. I will be posting a link or feed of the interview soon.

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Alamosa Water Works Center
700 Ross Avenue Alamosa Co
 I haven't been sketching as much as I want lately. Though I'd sketch all the time if it were an option. Continuing to keep my head looking up much like the water tower up above.
Enjoying my cup of coffee at
Milagros Coffee House Main St. Alamosa Co

Similar Work I Admire
This last weekend I was passed a store displaying some watercolor pieces. I discovered the work of "Barbara Forrest".

While looking at some of her miniatures I couldn't help but notice similarities within our work. None the less I admire her landscapes and nature scenes.

The leaves have fallen on Main St. many local's will recognize The Ink Pusher's sign a local and fairly known tattoo artist. I really need to work on consistency in scale.
Getting Ready to See Lil' Flip
Richardson Hall Adams State University

Well Then Just Start
This last sketch is actually somewhat of a funny spread. I started the first while being somewhat called to action and start sketching on the spot.

The subjects left shortly after, but for the most part I didn't even start with a line drawing on it. The second page however is the fun one. Let me first say it's not done.
So does anyone recognize the signatures let alone read em?

Yesterday a friend asked me to do a favor for him. Agreeing I showed up thirty minutes early and drew the building to help record the event. I am happy with where it's at. The sketch was quick, light, and not detailed.  This is only 15-30 minutes in.

So as I go with my non-volunteer volunteered girlfriend to help out we find out it's a music concert. We are always up for free live music. Backstage passes handed over we went to our stations and found out the main event was a mainstream rapper "Lil' Flip".

Well the concert was great! Though I much more enjoyed the local bands and indie rap artists who showed up early, and extended their set lists to help maintain the show while we awaited the famous rapper. Not to mention they played more then he did.

I asked the guy to sign small and close to the lower section. Instead he signs half my page. Let me cut this all short. I met the man shook his hand, minded I didn't get to really have a conversation with him, I wasn't very pleased.

Maybe he was busy, maybe just uninterested I don't know. I don't take it personal, I just don't understand how I can take time out for anyone who likes my work, but I was somewhat overlooked. Is it just me?

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Inside The San Luis Valley Brewery
Returning to the Brewery yet again I feel I have somewhat managed to capture the light coming in from outside. I also liked played a little with my pens here. I have been working on removing line so it was nice to play with bold blacks.

Returning to Routine
This week marked the second week I've been back at the regular job. Continuing to draw as much as I can. I'm thinking of attempting a go at Though this does not mean I am not staying busy and active. As many of you may have notice the recent face lift the sketchblog has recently gone though. Thanks to Zoe at Chic & Sassy Designs.

A Future Project?
Today I met up with a good friend of mine to plan a project out. We'll begin next Friday I'll have to give you some more news later on about that though.

By the way, what'd ya think of the new watermark?

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