The Culture that has been here all the time

Since I have been painting artworks sporadically for almost 60 years, I have a collection that could use some administrative work. Van Gogh's sister-in-law did it after his demise. and Hooper's wife during their long marriage. I prefer a woman, as I am kinky, and I still am a heterosexual man. I was introduced to BDSM when I needed a helper when I cared for my wife (not a nurse), the woman who was to provide me with a domestic kinky sub never followed through, and she fooled me out of money. Now it is the time I could use more help, because as I am getting older. I do have things to offer her the potential in return for her service. It is always symbiosis in the real world.
We should be compatible and affectionate to each other, and live a life working together for each other's benefit. I have a house with a manageable mortgage and a paid-off car, food, and utilities.
If I do find the right sub, we would not be lonesome travelers in a messy, unpredictable world any longer.

I visited one of my VA doctors yesterday, and the visit went well. She is my new psychiatrist and isn't as warm as my last one, who was recently forced into retirement. All is status quo, no changes in meds. I asked if there was a pill to alleviate loneliness. She blew it off as if I were an AI robotic human.

Now that I have allowed the artist in me to live once more, I have reawakened so much. The complex mindset, as I love experimenting with different mediums and subjects. Photos are good to the degree they don't move and are consistent and varied (beyond what I have in front of me). But photos lack one important feature: I can't touch and feel the subject.

In my early days, I mostly painted landscapes, seascapes, and abstract ideas. One art teacher explained portrait painting as he did it. He collected photos, made sketches of the actual person in front of him, and explained his thoughts as he planned the final product. His work sold for a price I can only dream of.

Yes, I will experiment, focus on different subjects, try different mediums, but I fear I may never have a companion, a lover, to feel and know intimately again. Now that I am free to paint nudes, ¹ nothing would be better than painting a lover I can embrace and love. Paint her image in different ways and settings. Pixabay images

1 My wife was a sub and sexually free in our bedroom, but chose a religion that frowned on nude paintings. I followed her to church and complied with her attitude, but I knew we both truly didn't see art in a sinful light.

If I were to lose all my senses, I would see, hear, feel, taste, and smell the world through you, my love.

We All Should Know Ourselves:

"Know thyself" (gnothi seauton) is an ancient Greek aphorism, famously inscribed at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, urging individuals to understand their limitations, motivations, and true nature. It signifies the importance of internal reflection over surface observation, encompassing self-examination of passions, weaknesses, and recognizing oneself as a mortal rather than a god.

I was lost for about eight years to myself because I devoted all my focus and energy to caring for my wife during her cognitive decline. Now, on a storm-tossed sea, seeking refuge, I suddenly discover the answer has been within me all along. The shore I landed on was where I thrive creatively. I am back where I know how to live. I have immersed myself in my creative artwork.

Whether it was a song or a painting, I became one with the endeavour. The beautiful thing about this? My late wife knew it was my happy place.

Instead of sadness, I feel inspired. Like many artists, I have periods: some produce fine work, some fail, but I always learn from the effort.

Now? I suddenly realise Edward Hopper's work speaks volumes to me; maybe I will emulate his work, and it will become my "Edward Hopper" period.

I long for a muse more knowing that he had a longtime companion who helped him defeat his demons. Whether alone or with a companion, I shall venture forth. My little house is rapidly becoming my artist's studio LOL.

Hotel-by-a-Railroad-Edward-Hopper-1952

Public domain photograph of hotel lobby, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Gathering my paintings and artwork that I haven't sold, maybe I will find a venue to display them, even the flea market outside of town on the main highway, when I am ready. Some of the new projects will be ready during the summer too.

Something to feel positive about in a sad time after my wife's passing.

I was always creative and even adventurous, but fought being introverted and, like many people, had events in my childhood that did not help my emotional balance. Through the years of my struggles with depression, I discovered it can be a creative tool, and I learned that famous people had the same experience.

Many famous historical and modern figures have openly struggled with profound melancholy or depression, often using it to fuel their creativity, including U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, author Virginia Woolf, and artist Vincent van Gogh. Other notable figures include Winston Churchill, who famously termed his depression his "black dog", and modern celebrities like Kristen Bell and Lady Gaga, who openly discuss their battles with mental health. 

In my life, I do not truly know what "normal" is or whether I have even met a "normal" person. I get joy from my creativity that rivals the joy I have experienced in a solid, loving relationship, even when we were both flawed.

No matter who we are or where we are, we begin each morning anew. We wake and say, "Hey, I am still alive."

pixabay image

Cut the head of some insects, and they still function for a time. Cut a worm in two, and the halves squirm and usually morph into two new worms.

The only reason I put forth these examples is to illustrate my current sense of being. The life force is struggling to reassert itself. Reinvent itself. Find a new identity: This is a good development, though my life is fraught with isolation and loneliness. I hope it will pass.

If we met and felt drawn to each other, we could build a strong, lasting love that would weather any storm. Why? Because I have lived in many loves and endured many storms. I am not afraid of love; it is the best part of living a human being can have: The experience of deep love and commitment.

Reading the story of some famous artists who had a companion or a spouse as a muse is encouraging: a worthy goal for me. Since posting about painting the figures of women, I have learned there are at least two sources of photos of models that have already been cleared for use. These will serve as teaching tools but will not replace a woman who will be my companion and muse.

Voicing my desire to resume my painting and expand my subject matter to include nudes has resulted in several women contacting me, expressing their willingness to be my model and muse, none of whom are near enough to meet in person so far.

I would like a woman to model for my nudes to be a muse and inspire me at all levels, but in lieu of my finding one, the going rate for an art model in this State is $15 - $50 per hour, with a minimum of two hours paid even for less time. I have blank model release forms and all the art materials I need. I only lack a model. pixabay image