I went to the Bayou City Art Festival this weekend and left with a conviction that I’m doing the right things with my life. Odd, eh? I went specifically to meet up with Jimmy Ellis, a Dallas artist whose web site I did a long time ago. I love his stuff – very vibrant and fun – and we ended up having a long talk about the business of art. I wanted to know how he’d gotten started doing shows and making a business out of it. I didn’t really have any motive, I was just curious.
While we spoke, he had the kind of look in his eyes that I probably get when I talk about my work. It’s not a job, it’s something I am. He expresses himself on paper and builds things people will like, things they can identify with, and things they want to hang on their wall. I’d like to think I build things people will use, people will find valuable, and that they want to interact with on a daily basis.
I know a lot of programmers who just do it on a 9 to 5 basis, and that’s completely fine: but with me, I live this stuff. I just spent the last hour helping a guy in London get one of my ServersAlive templates working, and the whole time, I really enjoyed myself.
Anyway, the reason I started this blathering was this: talking to Jimmy, I became completely convinced that I’m doing exactly the work I want to do, work that makes me feel fulfilled. I’m having a great time with it. Now, having said that, I’ve gotta put some shine on a demo I’m doing this morning.
