Category: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Alive, Practicing and Learning

Harley Makes Art

Am I a ghost?

Did I disappear?

My apologies for the hiatus. I’ve been making art, I swear! Have I completed anything that I like enough to show everyone? Not lately.

That being said, there has been lots of practice and progress! I have a new subscription to SkillShare.com, which has all sorts of helpful online courses.

One of those courses is about communication.

First, though, let’s talk about art. 🙂


Art Stuff

I got my studio moved to my apartment, got an air filter for Christmas to help with the smell of turpentine. (Thanks mom.)

I’ve gotten more supplies. (More than this.)

Practiced hands, drawing figures from my head, perspective, as well as drawing/shading 3d shapes.

I have a closet full of pieces that are 60-90% finished, they just need a bit more. Eventually they will be posted!

There will be more to see! Let’s go to the next thing…

Communication Courses
Anybody who knows me well knows I struggle with talking to people. I’m sure it’s apparent to people who don’t know me too. That isn’t to put myself down but to be honest for the sake of setting goals.

Better communication is likely the most important obstacle to overcome in meeting my goals as an artist.

How can I talk to clients if I can barely talk?

That’s what this course is about. I hope that applying the information will help me interact with everyone more and better!
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I am also taking courses on time management and productivity,  as well as marketing. Once it all comes together, I will be further ahead, ready to market art again!
That’s all for now, bye. 🙂

Colored Pencils, For Sale!, Life Journey, Uncategorized

What Makes an Artist

Harley Makes Art
One can make beautiful drawings with patience and colored pencils.

I need to make art like a caged bird needs to sing. (Look up Maya Angelou.) It is my calling, my life blood.

This is not for the faint of heart.

Many artists, of all kinds, struggled with mental health challenges. Famous examples include Vincent van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Beethoven, Georgia O’Keeffe, Sylvia Plath, Kurt Cobain, etc. Something about being creatively gifted brings the curse of madness with it.

I am no different.

My life has never been easy, as much as I’d love to tell a happy story. I’ve overcome abuse, abandonment, betrayal, along with much else which I don’t often speak about. Such experiences bred “demons” with names like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicide. Those monsters have left many scars, metaphorical or otherwise.

Art was the light at the end of the tunnel. I was creatively gifted so, as I once sat there, listening to some wise inner calling, contemplating whether a 4th suicide attempt or a great life change would be most challenging, I came to a compromise. If I do not waste my life, then neither can I waste my gifts.

Why would I be given a gift if I was not meant to use it?

This was why I was sick, unfulfilled, and on the edge of death. I was not on the right path. God, in whichever form you may choose, put me on this planet for a reason. It does not include a normal lifestyle or a 9 to 5 job that erodes my mental health, killing my spirit. Money is not so important as completing my life’s mission and staying healthy.

Art keeps me sane. It gives me strength. It makes me feel I have something valuable to offer this world. That is why I do it.

If you would like to help support this struggling artist on a mission, I’ve created a GoFundMe page for those who may not be able to afford my art yet wish to support my journey:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-harley-the-artist?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
Click or tap the link!

I am forever grateful!

If you would like a small drawing like this, I can give you one of these originals, or a custom piece for $35.

Uncategorized

New Layout Coming Soon

Harley Makes Art

Happy 4th of July! I’m gonna try to keep this light and positive, despite the way I’m feeling tonight. Also, short, because I don’t have anything to SHOW you. See, I lost my phone last night and spent most of the day retrieving it. Now it’s charging and I haven’t had a chance yet to take photos of what I’ve been doing.

There are days where my main goal is just to get through the day, which is part of what makes art so wonderful. My 9 to 5 makes days like this worse, where as making art all day actually RELIEVES the stress and improves my mental state.

Anyway, I have something cool I want to show you tomorrow, if I have a chance before I go camping. I’ve decided to start working bigger, despite the cost of large canvases, because I can make it look so much more awesome!

I was also playing around with acrylic ink and different designs. Maybe I’ll add photos later. I’m trying to develop a style for the backgrounds in the paintings. What else do I want in them? I want symbols, eventually.

I’ll be finishing up more paintings over the next couple of weeks.

And finally, I haven’t completely ruled out art school. I still REALLY want to go. My question is whether it’s realistic with my business goals. More than anything, I want to get my business going before I hit 30. I’m not sure I can mentally afford to go to school, work part time, AND run a business without spiraling into a major depressive episode.

Sometimes, you have to be realistic enough to face your limitations.

Really, it’s just ego wanting me to go to school, anyway. I’m perfectly capable of learning and advancing on my own, as I’ve always done, it’s just that college degree sounds pretty good. 😛 It’s a status symbol, which is why I say it’s an ego thing and should perhaps be dismissed.

Oh my, this turned out longer than I had planned. That’s ok. Happy 4th, everyone! I’ll have more to show you soon!