Sunday, December 23, 2018

Looking Back At 2018

December 23, 2018

The year will end in just a few more days, and like most years as I get older, it passed too quickly. This year my son began his final year of middle school, my Dad got cancer, I started a new job, discovered the joy of motorcycling with my wife and I took an extended break from YouTube. Okay, so a lot more happened this past year, the most significant being my fathers illness. He's receiving treatment and doing better now and my family is very thankful for that.

When someone close to you becomes ill, you start to gain a certain perspective about life, mortality and how you want to spend your time.

Most significant for those of you who follow my YouTube channel is my long absence. I had to give it up for a while. It was taking over my life, demanding more and more effort and there are so many other new YouTube channels doing Art Supply reviews. With all the demands of family and work, I just lost my motivation for the day-in, day-out grind of producing videos.

Like any other platform that provides content, there's the good, bad and the ugly.

I desperately need to reinvent my channel, but I guess I really don't know how to do that. I enjoyed giving straightforward, honest reviews of art materials. I was never in it for the money so that's not a motivator for me. I was never in it to become a YouTube, "celebrity", whatever that is. So when the joy left it, I just lost interest. The joy hasn't come back...yet.

Despite my lack of investment in YouTube, I have had some time to sketch. Here is some of my latest work from my sketchbook.













7 comments:

  1. Hi Marty. I'm sorry to hear about your dad's health challenges but glad to hear things are improving for him.
    How exciting that you have had a great time biking and have managed to keep up sketching.
    Of course you are missed on YT but there are far more important things in life. I certainly understand how much energy and time YT can consume. It can never be allowed to compromise our love of making art!
    Perhaps this blog can be a place of sharing your expressions if you choose to. I've certainly loved reading your more pensive thoughts here.
    I hope you've had a lovely Christmas and I wish you the best for the coming year.
    I will certainly keep you and your dad in my prayers.
    Best,
    Patricia

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  2. Dear Marty, thanks for a lovely YouTube channel. I especially enjoyed your collaborations with Steve Mitchell. Your latest sketches above are beautiful. I specially. Like the Wisconsin Trees.

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  3. I love the landscapes here!

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  4. I adore your channel. Your reviews are the only ones I trust.

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