It's tough, isn't it? Yes, this whole art thing: drawing, painting, growing a skill that can seem impossible to push forward sometimes. But the artist's life, too. That, I think, can be the most difficult thing of all. Because to become all we can be appears to be predicated on stability. A certain amount of comfort, knowing the ground won't give out underneath you as you push your passion forward. It makes the prospect of creating less daunting when you don't have to worry about anything else. First-world problems, right? But when life is challenging you? And of course it will. That's life! It puts things into perspective. Suddenly, art doesn't have the importance it once did. When the stability required for that pushing erodes, every step feels precarious. For some, the desire to create goes away entirely. The question becomes for them: how can I create anything when my situation is so awful? Why should I, when the very ground beneath my feet might crumble and I might fall? What good is drawing going to do for that? Well, I don't know. As artists, we must all face the bear and decide how much strength we have for the encounter. Only, no matter how slippery things become or how huge that bear is, I say keep going! Not because it makes sense in dire circumstances, but because when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade! I know that's cliche, and easier said than done, but it's true. Art is our passion. Our lemonade. When things are out of control, art provides beauty and solace in our cascading lives. And the sublimity of the suffering and its resulting creations makes that little taste of sugar even sweeter. Because there's nothing more refreshing on a hot day than a cold drink, is there? "Life, uh, finds a way..." (Malcolm '92). And our art finds a way, too, I believe. It guides us in our darkest moments and lets us shine, even through the gloom. Gives us safety and purpose, and an outlet for expression. Takes our minds off things. But that's just my opinion. Only, what a dull existence it would be to withhold our personal beauty just because that mean old life is making us work for it. It's kind of like giving up, isn't it? And if we ever learn anything from our experiences as growing artists, it's that one should never give up if one wishes to actually grow. Anyway... How do you all keep on arting, even when life gets you down? I've certainly had my fair share of tribulations lately, and honestly, I feel like I've never been more connected with my art and loves because of it.