Dear Artists,

I truly wish that I could talk with all of you individually, but unfortunately, that's humanly impossible.

So, here are some words that I've been wanting to say.

Because of you, my house is a home and my home is my castle. It's a place where art envelops me. It's often a challenge to leave it. Art lives and rules in my home. It's a place of great humanity and soaring spirit. A place where color, hue and texture wander. Eternity captured in an inexplicable way.

It's not about money, status, opulence (trust me!) or the intellectual pretense that sometimes screams, "ART COLLECTOR." It's about the mysterious and strangely intangible communion of paint, ink, pencil, water, film, paper, canvas, clay, artist and collector.

I've come to believe that a work of art isn't complete until it has someone who will stand back and admire and acquire!

Shouldn't we honor those who can bring so much expressiveness into the world? You guys are the ones who push culture forward. Not the president, not chief executive officers, not television broadcasters! Artists. A movement that began with the beginning of time.

Yes, making art is a struggle. Yes, not enough people appreciate your efforts. Yet, I think life is a struggle anyway. Why not struggle in pursuit of your dream? I know that all you really want to do is create, but if you have to take a job that you hate to do that ... Go with it. Being able to support yourself is a noble thing. Artists are nobility in humble clothing. Jobs are just for now.

So, Draw on! Paint on! Shoot on! Sculpt on! Do what helps you feel alive. Your work may not rock the whole world, but it's certainly rocking mine.

High Regards,
Michael

MICHAEL CORBIN IS A WRITER AND AVID ART COLLECTOR