Introducing myself

[Ken Barnes <barnestrav@xxxxxxxxx>]

Kevin,

I have a similar history to yours perhaps.  I would
have never called myself artistic, though I would
claim creativity.  I had never been the one with the
pretty crayon pictures in school.  I had always been
fascinated by stone and sculpture though.

When I was about 34 I decided I wanted a stone
sculpture of a particular size, shape and color for my
living room.  But I was just looking as a collector.
I looked in galleries far and wide and could not find
what I wanted.  There was a certain emotion I wanted
this piece to show.  Finally I decided to buy some
tools and make it myself.

Of course the piece I wanted was far too tough for a
beginner, so I worked on simpler pieces over the first
few years. After two years I started my living room
piece, and finished it a year later.  But in the
meantime I learned this was not a search for a single
piece, but rather a labor to express myself in stone.

I still struggle with drawing (but even experts spend
years practicing).  I don't sculpt full-time.  Many
days I wish I could quit my day job and do it, but the
economics of art are pretty daunting.  But art is now
the highlight of my life, a pretty dramatic change
 from 6 years ago when I started my search to purchase
one piece.

Ken Barnes