KATIE HOLMES, SIMON BISHOP and the dating scene

As a teenager, Katie Holmes dreamt of marrying Tom Cruise...and you know what, SHE EFFFIN' DID!! Yeah, yeah, they're divorced now, but that is not the point...for me, that's an amazing thing, because I'm sure that as a teen she had an inkling that acting was a passion of hers, so she probably figured the likelihood of meeting him was pretty strong, wouldn't you say? Makes sense to me. Here's the kicker though, before the universe led her to what would become her husband - I guarantee you that Katie dated and had crushes on other guys, and after marrying and divorcing her "prince charming", she has gone on to have crushes on and date other guys.

Sit with that for a sec.

Simon Bishop, the simply delightful artist in the movie AS GOOD AS IT GETS, starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt: after a terrible robbery, resulting from his infatuation with a "momentary Muse", Simon found out that his "creative mojo" had also been stolen. He trusted his muse and his muse betrayed him. He spiraled into depression at a whirlwind pace and the only thing that saved him? A new, unexpected Muse - found in Helen Hunt's partially nude form.

Katie got exactly what she wanted, and it wasn't meant to be hers forever *kanye shrug*. Simon got what he wanted, and lost it, and found it again. I set my sights on working with Les Twins, my creative muses, when I re-discovered my passion. Years have now passed, they are aware of my work, and I understand that working with them may not happen. Here's the beautiful thing that keeps this from being a debilitating disappointment for me creatively. Like my girl, Katie "I dated before...and I will date again"....so I have several muses, and they take different forms and all serve amazing purposes. They are not always meant for me TO draw, sometimes they provide the inspiration for WHAT to draw -- some of them are Sancha McBurnie (photographer), Harvey Lisse (photographer), Antonia Jenae' (photographer and subject, NC Neverless (Dancer and subject), and I now have plans for Misty Copeland (premiere ballerina) and her mentees (just introduced to their talent today - Shaazir and Naazir). I date.

Like my boy Simon, I deny neither my eyes, nor my heart. I know INSTANTLY when I will NEED to draw someone. Sometimes I have that hunger to capture them, often times they are strangers, guide me and I ask "May I please?" - and I am rejected. My muses, like Simon's criminal muse, sometimes betray me. I remain open to the next one that may appear.

I think that the most dangerous thing you can ever do creatively is put ALL of your hopes/dreams/aspirations into one person, or a single opportunity, or one Muse. People disappoint, opportunities falls through, and Muses may not be eternal. Your talent will ALWAYS be, THAT is what you count on...Katie Holmes will always be a beautiful woman, and there will always be someone to love her. Simon Bishop, was an undeniably talented artist in the movie, that could not be "taken" from him. Working with Les Twins may not be in the cards for me, and I will never stop being a powerful illustrator who is growing with each passing day.

There are endless creative possibilities, so I "date" - and you should too.

Don't you dare give away your power by thinking you have but one source for anything - I promise you, it's not true - this world is too large and wondrous for that to be anyone's cruel reality. Date ;)



(DISCLAIMER - my blogs are written in inspirational bursts...forgive, please, typos and unintentional grammatical errors - I may get to return and clean these up. Or not ;)