Progress on the painting, Creation, just now. I was thinking how easy it is for an artist to go insane. Investing one’s whole life for art, painting and coming up with strange themes, and exploring unlimited technical possibilities is opening an alternative universe. The artist is a god, and can do anything they like. It is not limited to visual science, logic, deadlines, or work in the normal meaning. Many crazy people gravitate to art because they can live the illusion, and there are plenty of powerful enablers that believe art is getting away with reality—and that is why they like it.
The truth is when an artist is grounded in visual perception (looking, analyzing visual reality, and implementing) they are deeply rooted in reality. Instead of being crazy, it is the one of the greatest exercises in mental health. When artists disconnect from visual perception of the world, they metaphorically rip out their eye balls. Poor sods.
All this popped up in my mind when I contemplate how far I am pushing the art envelope: tackling Eudaemonia; the stars; eroticism; insanely complex composition; and the literal transparency of shadows. And then feeling exalted in that it is working.
Michael, Idyllwild, July 11, 2022
Michael Newberry 
Michael! Wow. Just Wow. Love seeing the progress, and your introspective commentary is FABULOUS. Keep it going.
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Michael, Thank you for the positive feedback!