artist, teacher, Vietnam Veteran, recovering alcoholic and drug addict.
To the man in the arena:
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, who strives valiantly,
who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions
and spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at best knows the triumph of high achievment,
and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while darely greatly.
So that his place shall never been with those cold and timid souls
who know neither victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
last months of his life. We at the time were both dying of disease, only mine was addiction.
I didn't know God, he led me to him. He said, "take my brushes and paint for me". He was a famous artist who couldn't do it anymore. I said, "I can't paint, I don't know how to do it". He said, "look within your soul, it will show you how, for that's where he lives. Paint all the things you've seen, the madness, the horror, the abuse, the glory and the joy. Pitch me a painting every day and share them with the world".