Hi Sub,

I started reading this thread the other day and got interrupted. So, I'm trying to review and remember what I thought. Hmmm. Well, this morning my thoughts are probably different. I get emotional listening to the discussion.

It's great that today's artists have places like JPF to listen and get a glimpse of the universality of this delimma (sp?) Recently I read that when Rembrandt died he was obscure (if I haven't confused him with someone else) and he was bankrupt. But, when I look at his paintings, I'm not at all surprised that he spent all his money on art and stuff for his craft.

It overwhelmed me with emotion. And I was more than a bit irritated at myself for not researching his life earlier. Art was not even a class offered at the little highshool I attended. And the low priority placed on the arts by educators in my small hometown, affected me in a huge way.

So, Rembrandt's story warmed my heart. He was a thousand times more determined than I ever was to use his gifts. And look at the results. Wow!

Sub, you remind me of Rembrandt. Not the bankrupt part, but your dedication to your gift. It's a very beautiful thing. I no longer look at an artist's drive to acquire tools of his/her trade as selfish. But, as a selfless service to others. It took me being exposed to the wonderful people here to begin to see that though. I would have never come to that conclusion on my own. The opposite had been implied to me for so many years.


Hope I'm not too off topic.

Vanessa