Art in Recovery

I am a survivor of abuse and parental alcoholism. Recovery and my artistic journey coincide and interdependent. When I am thinking of art in these terms, I include all forms, Writing, Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, etc.

  • Many Forks

    I’ve gone done many career forks in the road. One can say I went down too many forks. I went from the food industry as a scientist to corporate law to information technology and finally to art and writing. My creative work has not been financially lucrative, but I’m happier. I’m semi-retired now, so I… Continue reading

  • Framing My Mind

    Depression runs in my family. My father hid in his house, drinking and brooding for years, consumed by his plight, the inability to be content. What I’ve learned over the years is that the way he framed his situation added to his problems. He saw himself as a failure and confirmed this judgment with his… Continue reading

  • Reversal

    During Covid I had justification for my hermit lifestyle. Since becoming a father, my circle of friends has shrunk. My life centered around them and the social contacts I made because of them. Now that they’re grown up, I’ve lost contact with that circle of parents. My father was a hermit and I struggle to… Continue reading

  • Sociable

    Most people who meet me think I’m shy and distant. The truth is I am naturally sociable, but it has taken me years to realize this. As a kid, I was labeled as “painfully shy.” I received this label because I was subdued and reserved, but this was not because I was shy, but because… Continue reading

  • Publish

    If I knew for sure that approaching regular publishers would lead to a publishing contract, I would probably go ahead. The fear of rejection is not exclusive to me, but I’ve stayed away from publishers because of it. I have this idea they would not only reject my work, but be cruel and expose me… Continue reading

  • Obtainable

    When I was a young man, the most important achievement that I desired was to find the perfect career, that is, my perfect career. I was convinced that choosing wrong meant a life of misery. I heard many stories of people being in jobs they hated, but had to do them to survive. I didn’t… Continue reading

  • Transportation

    I like art that transports me to another place or state of mind. When I go to the Art Institute of Chicago, I always make sure I see the Monet Haystacks. It brings me a sense of peace. I love the color. My favorite writer is C.S. Lewis because he makes sense of complicated things.… Continue reading

  • Reading

    One of my favorite memories as a kid is sitting in my bed and reading a book, with the window open so I can feel the summer breeze and hear the crickets and other critters chirping and buzzing. It puts me in a peaceful mood. With the bustle of daily living, I have gotten out… Continue reading

  • Clothes On My Back

    The daily prompt asks what I would do if I lost all my possessions. The notion is not unappealing, because much of my belongings represents clutter. I hope that if I lost all my possessions, I would still have the clothes on my back. Otherwise, the first thing I would do is hide, because I’m… Continue reading

  • Odd Man

    The daily prompt suggests I mention a time when I felt out of place. My first reaction was always. I always feel like the odd man out. I grew up in a dysfunctional family, so that’s part of it. I’ve become intensely shy, that’s another part. If I had to pick one thing, social situations… Continue reading

About Me

Indie author and self taught artist, creating for over fifty years, also a former corporate lawyer and systems manager … and other assorted vocations. Writing is my passion. I just released my first science fiction novel, Escape From Desolation, eBook and paperback. More information at my author page: http://escapefromdesolation.com

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