#3 - I'm getting bored...

A Portrait Artist in Search of What's Next

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the body of work I’ve created—the series of portraits that feel undeniably connected. They carry a thread of purpose, passion, and identity. Most of them are musicians—faces caught mid-expression, stories wrapped in color and light. I started there because it felt natural. Music has always been a part of me—through the guitar, the harmonica, through my voice. Painting the people behind the music felt like honoring a shared language.

But if I’m being honest… I’m tired.

Not tired of art. Not even tired of portraits, really. Just tired of the same approach, the same rhythm. When every piece starts to feel like a remix of the last, even something that once inspired can begin to feel like a loop you can’t break.

I’m searching for what’s next.

Not Abandoning—Evolving

Portraits aren’t done for me. They’re in my bones. But I know I need variety—not for the market, not for the algorithm—for myself. I want to stay energized, curious, awake. I want the next drawing to surprise me again.

At the same time, there’s tension. I’m trying to build this into a business. That means visibility. Consistency. Selling. And let’s be real—when you’re trying to make a living from your work, the pressure to follow trends creeps in fast. Suddenly you’re asking, “Will this sell?” before you ask, “Is this me?”

And that’s not how I want to create.

Keeping It Real

I want my art to stay honest. Personal. Not polished for likes or curated for clicks. I want it to reflect who I am—not just as an artist, but as a person of faith, as a father, a husband, a Marine, a man trying to make beauty out of the time he’s been given.

That’s not always easy in a world that rewards speed and sameness. 

A Free Life

To live freely as an artist—that’s the dream. Not just in the sense of income or schedule, but in spirit. To wake up and create from the gut without asking for permission. Maybe that won’t happen now. Maybe it won’t even happen later. But I’ll keep showing up. I’ll keep putting the work out there, believing that someone, somewhere, will see it.

That’s the kind of success I’m after.

So if you’ve ever felt stuck in the thing you once loved, if you’ve ever questioned the path you’re on while still knowing you’re not done walking it—same here. Keep going. Keep evolving. Keep it real.

We don’t need to be trendy. We need to be ourselves.