For sometime now I have been going through a period of dissatisfaction, for want of a better word, with my art work. I notice that others are going through a similar thing in their own way. Where music seems tp be thriving, the art is stalled and stuck. The 'Bluebird Keeping Warm' piece on my page here was the last piece of finished art work I've done.

A call from my best friend, 'Hey, you wanna go down to The New Moon and hang out with a cup of coffee?' What a great place. People come there to read, study, do computer stuff and generally shoot the breeze.

A vanilla latte with whipped cream, and we settled down in a niche that had formerly been a display window in this place's incarnation as a store. A large, low window connected us to the street outside. Outside at the wrought-iron table in front of the window sat as couple having coffee and, from my view point, some kind of non-detectable snack. My friend and I talked about this and that, sipping coffee here and there between sentences. Then he got up to investigate something.

Without thinking, I grabbed a beige colored napkin from the container between the magazines on the coffee table in front of me. A basket with crayons and all sorts and conditions of ball point pens caught my eye, so I grabbed one with blue ink and began to draw the couple outside and their surroundings.

As I drew them, I began to notice that those feelings of stuckness weren't there. I didn't care if it came out or not. It was fun balancing the lines and shadows, and I even got the man in semi-profile. This was a drawing for me and no one else. No one had claim on it.

And it came out well. I started to wad it up and throw it away, when my friend said, 'Why don't you just sign it and give it to them.'

So I did. 'Hi, I was drawing you from behind. If you want this, that's cool, if not, that's cool too. Be Blessed,' and walked off.

I glanced back. They were looking at it and smiling.

No strings, no expectations, no concern with external opinions. Just me.

Maybe I'll just draw on napkins from now on....

Be blessed,

Nightsoul