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Sometimes You Win, Sometimes . . .

4/26/2018

18 Comments

 
Picture
I'm currently painting a mural at an absolutely marvelous school.  Sometimes, you just win and find yourself in an amazing situation.  This is the first time I've ever worked on a project when every student in the school - all 650 of them - participated with a mural.  And, each time a group of students comes out to paint, I'm introduced as the "world renowned muralist who has painted all over the planet, not just in the United States".  I guess the introduction could go to my head, except I know the truth.  And, truth is, I'm the most "non-famous world-famous artist" anyone has ever met.  Yes, my art is used by teachers all over the planet.  Yes, my 55 murals are in 25 countries (so far).  My art has been spotted on T-shirts in a mall in the Philippines.  Other people I know have seen it used at an orphanage in Cambodia.  An artist I met in Moldova told me he learned English in school from books with my illustrations.  I even found my drawings used in an archaeological museum in Belize.  And, my images are all over the Internet if you've ever done a Google Image search.  Yes, my work is known around the world.  And, no, nobody knows my name.

I guess there is a chance, if I really believed the introduction and heard it enough times, it could possibly go to my head.  Possibly.  But, I don't usually have art diva moments.  I don't think I could create community murals and be an art diva.  There's just too much sharing and caring in a community project.  And, if kids splattering paint, accidental spills (major and minor), and painting outside of the lines bother an art diva like I think they would, it just really would be the wrong career choice. 

I'm fairly sure that all artists have moments when someone criticizes their work.  It's never fun.  I certainly don't like it.  Fortunately, it hasn't happened to me very often.  I remember long ago, in another life at a publishing house, my boss described my cartoons as "grotesque".  I never forgot or forgave that.  And more recently, at what was supposed to be my next mural, the powers that be didn't like my art at all.  Their suggestion for my mural design was to remove all of my cartoon characters and try adding flowers and mountains.  Okay, I confess, in the privacy of my office, I had an art diva moment over that.  Then, I politely replied to the email and suggested they find another artist.

Sometimes you lose.

But, sometimes you win.  And, sometimes, it's a big win.  Most people who follow my blog and clip art on Facebook are familiar with the PromoWest and Columbus Makes Art 2018 Exhibition and my portrait entitled "Aztec Sun".  You had to be judged on talent to make it into the top ten.  But, to make the final four, it was by community voting.  In my mind, that really means the final four came down to a popularity contest.  It's not that huge of a contest in Columbus.  It doesn't really have that much publicity.  So, those with the most connections were most likely to have the most friends go to the website to vote. 

Okay, I'm the first to admit I'm not all that connected in Ohio.  But, if any of the other nine entries were well connected, it was news to me.  I never heard of any of them and didn't find all that much when I searched for them online.  So, we were all in the same boat.  Well, honestly, nine of them were in the same boat and then there was me.  I networked a little in Ohio.  But, my network is much more global than normal.  I only wish the people at PromoWest and Columbus Makes Art could see where my votes came from.  I had huge support from Africa and Latin America, especially Brasil.  But, my network stretched across the United States to Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. 

I said that I was the most "non-famous world-famous artist" that any of you will ever know.    Maybe there is just a little bit of truth to that "world" part.  My support came from all over.  I don't think anyone else in this particular competition had that same claim.  And so, yes, I'm so very happy to tell you that my art was voted into the top four in this 2018 competition.  Thank you all for your support.  It is so very appreciated.

Who knows?  Maybe as a result of this a few people in Ohio will actually learn my name?

Picture
It's not going to be just my imagination. The illustration will go up along Huntington Park sometime next month.
18 Comments
Emily Ness
4/28/2018 04:20:41 am

So very exciting!! Congratulations!! And I know over 650 students and staff at Tremont Elementary that know your name and have loved working with you. Thank you for sharing your talent, your love of art, and love for culture with this little part of the world!!

Reply
Phillip
4/28/2018 01:06:47 pm

Emily, it's so much easier to share talent, art and love of culture when you have a right-hand talent by your side who also acts as cheerleader, organizer, supporter, coffee-supplier and friend. Thanks for all of your help.

Reply
Kevin Williamson link
4/28/2018 07:57:48 pm

Great post as usual and congrats on the top 4!

Reply
Phillip
4/29/2018 03:38:10 am

Kevin, I really appreciate that you always take time to read the blog (and enjoy it). I'm pretty happy about this top four spot. I've passed the winners' location on several occasions and never knew how they got there. Now I know. :-)

Reply
Jenny
4/28/2018 08:53:29 pm

Congratulations, Phil! You are so deserving!

Reply
Phillip
4/29/2018 03:39:07 am

Thanks, Jenny. I know you did you part to spread the word. It's so very appreciated.

Reply
Phillip
4/29/2018 03:43:04 am

So I can draw. Can I edit? Not so sure . . . "your part".

Nina Cox
4/29/2018 04:40:46 am

So glad to hear the result and that you earned a top spot. I love your clips.

Reply
Phillip
4/29/2018 08:47:39 am

Nina, I'm so happy that my clip art is used all over the world. It's one of life's surprises that I never expected. Thank you for your support.

Reply
Judy C
4/29/2018 05:36:56 am

I am so happy for you! I hope this elevates your name and helps you continue the wonderful work you do all over the world!

Reply
Phillip
4/29/2018 08:49:02 am

Judy, I'm going to be very happy if a little elevation of my name brings me to more corners of the world. I've been in Ohio a while now, and I'm itching to use my passport again. Thank you for your kind words.

Reply
Dalillah
5/2/2018 06:37:53 am

Wow, Phillipe! This is really sad. I think Ge goes through some similar situations when of his "non-recognition" both for his art, for his knowledge, services and even person. I believe, that for you is a little more painful, because, your drawings are exposed in so many places, but the name, in these images, are cut out and erased. I also hope that you will continue with your success and that you will soon come to Brazil, at least in our state where you have gained a lot of recognition.
Hugs, stay with God and may He continue to bless you.
Lillah

Reply
Phillip
5/2/2018 03:07:35 pm

Dalillah, I try not to feel sad. I really don't want to be famous. The life of famous people isn't the kind of life I want to live. But, it was very cool in your part of Brasil.

Reply
David Blomstrom link
5/6/2018 06:21:58 pm

Wow, I didn't realize you were so diverse. I had you pegged as a specialist in state symbols, because I'm constantly coming across your pictures when I do image searches.

My book about state symbols (Geobop's State Symbols) will hopefully be finished in a month or two. I want to publish a companion volume for younger readers. If I can sell enough copies of the first volume, I may buy some of your images to use in the second. You can see what my project looks like @ www.kpowbooks.com. (And if you see any of your images on that page, please let me know; I think they sometimes get picked up by free clipart sites that don't give you the proper credit.)

Tip: You should add "State Symbols" to the major subject headings on your home page.

Ohio has some surprisingly interesting symbols. There's a feud between Ohio, North Carolina and Connecticut over the question of which state was really the first in flight. It involves a Wright Brothers conspiracy that I'm going to write about in my book.

Ohio has some of the coolest Native American symbols, too. And it's one of the few states that doesn't need a new flag (in my opinion). ;)

Anyway, keep up the good work.

Reply
Phillip
5/9/2018 03:26:22 pm

David, yep, my portraits surprise people. It doesn't look like the same person who draws kid-friendly cartoons would make those portraits. But, I'm glad you like the art.
Your project sounds rather interesting. I never thought about state flags too much, but I agree that a lot of them should go and somehow Ohio came up with a really unique flag.
You keep up your amazing good work as well.
Phillip

Reply
Honey Sacro
5/7/2018 08:59:02 pm

Congratulations, Phillip, on this well-deserved award. The art work you gave me are still displayed in my family’s house in the Philippines. I woud love to display some of your work in my house in Redlands, CA. Hope to see you again sometime in the near future.

Reply
Phillip
5/9/2018 03:20:55 pm

Honey, Thanks for your support and kind words. I would love to see you sometime in Redlands. The main way I travel these days is if I can get a mural project. So, if you have connections who might want to sponsor a project, I'd be thrilled for that to happen.
Phillip

Reply
LeRoy Boikai
12/23/2018 05:25:01 am

Oh, I got my answer to the question I posted earlier and congratulations! I’ll look it up next time I’m in the Arena District and proudly proclaim that I know the artist, a traveler to and lover of my home country, Liberia.

Reply



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