“I don’t think there’s any artist of any value who
doesn’t doubt what they’re doing.” - Francis Ford
Coppola
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I,
an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out
loud.” - Emile Zola
From as early as I can remember a
career in the creative arts seemed to be my
destiny. Of course back then I just called it
making things up rather than creating art.
Growing up in Hobart’s poorest, toughest suburb
meant spending a lot of time alone for a highly
introverted young boy whose sensitivities didn’t
gel well with gang membership. For several
years I had no flesh and blood friends so I
enlisted one I knew I could depend upon to be
there for me, my imagination.
I created an entire universe inside my mind
where I would hang out with several of my
imaginary buddies. We were all actors, singers,
filmmakers, dancers, artists and writers. And we
were big, real big. All of us super-successful,
rich, famous, adored by the public and loving
every minute. I know, paging Dr. Freud. But hey,
it was my fantasy! And quite frankly I never
thought that I’d one day be sharing it, so humility
was not a consideration at the time.
Since that long ago era in my personal
journey I have learned the realities of the
creative life. It’s unreliable, harsh, fickle and
demanding. It’s also exhilarating, inspirational,
fulfilling and rewarding. It can take your last cent
and it can very occasionally provide you with
fabulous riches. It can leave you stranded,
frustrated and directionless and it sometimes
blesses you with a blue sky opportunity that has
you praising god, karma, fate or dumb luck. The
creative life breaks hearts and makes hearts