only as good as your last work

to be displayed in chicago art show

the artist is said to be only as good as his or her last work. not sure where it was i had first heard of this. maybe it was back in oglivy or back in the days of philosophy classes but regardless of source, somehow i tend to agree to the saying's truth.

while i do feel flattered when i still get introduced as the editor in chief of the first ever ateneo college yearbook that came out on graduation day (and quite beautifully at that) or as the art director who's behind such and such piece or won so and so local and international award, somehow part of me cringes whenever i get introduced in those ways. there is this feeling of not having done anything new or anything as good as an artist. which, at least my ego likes to think, is ungrounded.

"BREAK the cycle, not BAKE the cycle"

havent written that song ive been wanting to. or maximized my martin guitar as i had planned to. or produced that social documentary ive been dreaming of. but the yearning for creation and invention has not waned. a photograph is set to be featured in an upcoming art show in chicago this month. the book about my holland trip is nearing its completion (although its been taking more time than i wanted). a cartoon i had sketched (and had a commissioned illustrator execute) is set to be published. and some good concepts for an upcoming 60 seconder tv commercial are soon to be thought of (at least i hope they hit me really soon).

there is something exciting with the life of an artist (of course i use "artist" not in any artsy fartsy sense as i do believe everyone is an artist coz we're all capable of creation). an artist explores the world. gathers raw materials from the everyday experiences. and he or she meshes these grains of insight into something new, something hopefully enriching and meaningful. and the best part of this process is that as knowledge begets creation, creation begets knowledge as well.

the cycle of inspiration and creation goes on and on. and the artist, at least the good ones, has nothing to worry about. their last works are always current, fresh and in effect good.

anyone want to join a children's story writing contest?