THE OBSESSION

Harley Brown's fascinating things no one else will tell you

It bears repeating, the moment I decided to be an artist at seven years old. It was a feeling deep within and it happened in one particular moment: My dad, who loved to draw, showed me a drawing he did. The power of that moment has stayed to this very day. That very drawing remains on the wall of my studio.

The reason I mention this is that I’ve seen similar instances happen with others and at various ages. I remember well in one of my workshops. At noon, a lady came over to me and said she’d had art in her mind since she was a child and now she decided, “I’m 78 years old and I know how I’m going to be spending the rest of my life. Art!” She smiled and walked over to the lunch area. That moment stayed with me, and I kept track of her over the fact, a few years later she came to one of my workshops and her art pieces were absolute wonders. This is what art can do for someone when the light hits them...in any way and at any age.

I’ve observed artists with various levels of talent from all parts of the world. Many of them were obsessed with what they were doing. Making money is always a plus, but every one of them created works because it was something they wanted in life. That’s why I got into this particular world knowing there were no guarantees to go with it. I simply needed and loved art even when my young mind knew it would not be a “practical” career. I’m still here and couldn’t be happier with my impractical existence.