2018 Was A Down Year! But What Goes Down Must Blow Up!
I’m scared every time the year ends.
Why am I afraid?
Will this new year be better than the last or will it be my worst ever?
I’m scared every time I walk into The Blast Factory.
Will my work of art be an improvement? Will it tell a story? Will it have something to say?
Will it be my best ever?
A blank canvas is a scary thing.
A lot happened in 2018. It was down year.
I only sold about 15 paintings. About 1/2 of normal. But I worked on sculpture, I fired up the “Not-A=Flamethrower”, I improved my fusograph process, I created my first large exploded portraits, I donated more to worthy causes, I helped more people, I worked on my photography, I did a few shows, and cancelled four others, I was named keynote artist for “One Inspired Evening”, I made some new friends, I babysat my granddaughter a few times, I started on a new screenplay (The Coulee), and also started writing a new action thriller - based loosely on a friend from Viroqua.
So why was 2018 a down year?
Family died.
We lost my Father-In-Law, my Mother-In-Law, and my Sister-In-Law all in a few months.
Dick could not believe I left my company and CEO’s job and went to work as an artist.. He always asked about my art though, and he came to a few shows. At the end, he was a fan,
Darlene was so into all art. She was a proud member of The Art Institute of Chicago. My work surprised her. She worried I would make enough to support our family. She worried about the Not-A-Flamethrower. At the end, she was so supportive. I even made her Christmas letter one year.
Kitty was into my art and process from the start. Over the years, she sent me lots of explosion videos and quirky images and links that related to my art. Sometimes she was the only one that would like my posts. I always knew she was paying attention.
Each of them is a big loss. Them passing has taken their toll on Renee. I’m hoping the new year brings comfort.
Here comes 2019 and I’m scared.
What if I run out of ideas to paint?
What if I run out of stories to tell?
What if I run out of things to say?
Will this year be the greatest ever?
Hell yes!
The new year is a blank canvas.
And what goes down must blow up!
Right?
Boom!
Artist Stick Vega studied mathematics and economics, earning a B.S. in economics from UW-Madison and an MBA from Edgewood College. He owned and was CEO of online apparel retailers WinterSilks and Venus Sportswear. However, upon selling the companies more than a decade ago he headed straight to his studio - The Blast Factory in Madison, WI - to create explosive, modern art with gunpowder and high-speed fuse. Stick's current work includes paintings, drawings, fusographs (exploded photographs), sculpture and writing. Please follow Stick on Facebook and/or Twitter.