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Abrasive concrete wears the fine edges off. There's a yearning for a night
sky full of stars. Each sense seeks fresh stimulation, closer contact with
the earth. To see and be immersed in the beauty of nature is like falling
over backwards into God’s hand. Vacations point the way, but each time, the
return is harder. It becomes an irresistible call that demands to be followed.
One by one, commitments and contracts of service morph into flight plans to freedom. For a while, the weight shifts back and forth and stasis rules. Then suddenly a major shift occurs and there’s a leap into a different dimension. The changes are dramatic, bringing a range of responses, from giddy to apprehensive. There’s no going back, it's too much to contemplate the loss of such new and powerful gains. The exhilaration of entering into this new world, inhaling its perfume and absorbing its richness is intoxicating. In the midst of heart-piercing beauty, life still makes demands. Cost of living requirements do not give way to the artistic spirit. This flight to freedom in Paradise requires an attention to practical details that most artists would rather not have to address. A new field of study opens up and an orientation toward business develops. For many artists, this requires a different set of skills, but they are mandatory to maintain this coveted presence in such an exalted atmosphere. Still, one must prioritize the requirements for existence with the need to create. All the effort and uncertainty fades to shadow in the face of such high inspiration. By joining this atmosphere of teeming creativity, great heights can be reached and scaled by the dedicated artist. The proximity of so many other artists, each reaching for their own expressive high ground, enflames the need to add to the feast of the senses and continually opens new and varied avenues of expression. Some artists who are by nature loners, preferring to live in a solitary world of their own construction, find the need to connect with others similarly focused. This connection fosters a community of those whose needs can be successfully addressed without compromising the singular spirit of personal expression. This community of artists and their supporters is the foundation that nurtures the Lone Eagle Artist. © 2005, 2007 Gwen Ontiveros |