Do you fearlessly pursue your desires?

Life isn’t following my schedule. But my paintings give me the ability to bend time.

“Art is my cure to all this madness, sadness and loss of belonging in the world & through it I’ll walk myself home.” – Nikki Rowe

I hope this newsletter finds you well, brimming with inspiration and ready to embrace the extraordinary. Today, I want to share a tale of how my dear friend John Paul, an untamable force of nature, inspired me to live life to the fullest.

Our story begins with three castaways. A swaggering ex-biker turned hairstylist who benched 360 and yelled at the moon, a young, over-caffeinated version of myself, and a gay used car salesman hypnotist all converging on a house that would soon become a haven for outcasts and misadventures. We were a motley crew… or at least a strong pilot for a sitcom. The hypnotist and I each rented a room in Mr. Paul’s house and he graciously let me squeeze my studio in between his motorcycles in the garage.

John Paul’s journey was the journey of the Phoenix. From a punch-drunk bike gang brawler, he emerged from his ashes as a master hair cut and colorist, captivating the hearts of his salon clients. With his skull and fire-emblazoned arms, he moved with sensitivity and reverence, transforming hair into art. The ladies left his chair feeling not only beautiful but also seen and cherished. He was as straightforward as he was seductive. He was also an impressionist painter and sculptor, though his paintings didn’t turn out quite right unless he took his glasses off.

Gustav Von Stubenhfoffen – From Big Kenny’s Pirates of Cookietown

But it wasn’t just his artistic spirit that left an indelible mark on me.

What truly struck me about John Paul was his unwavering belief. Doubt was a foreign concept to him; he embraced life with every fiber of his being. Witnessing miracle after miracle materialize through his unyielding faith, I came to realize that dreams weren’t just possible for him—they were inevitable. He could spin his truck 180° at full speed and arrive in the opposite lane facing the correct direction. He could pick out the most beautiful and unapproachable woman in the room and marry her. He defied the odds with unwavering confidence.

My friend John Paul personified a life lived to the fullest. His passion served as his compass, guiding him through uncharted territories of the soul. His belief in himself and his dreams acted as a beacon of inspiration, he lived with a fire that continues to burn in all of us whose lives he touched.

John Paul passed away last week in a motorcycle accident. He was 72. It’s tragic, but for a man who lived as he did, I can’t imagine him going slowly in a hospital bed. As I reflect upon my old paintings of him, I am emboldened by his example and the indelible legacy he left behind.

Isle o’ Plenty – From Big Kenny’s Pirates of Cookietown

I urge you to contemplate what you are hungry for.

Can you hunt it down with reckless abandon?

Do you fearlessly pursue your desires?