over 3 years her

Perhaps it exists from having a warped sense of humor. Or, much more likely, it could result from a deep inborn resistance to rules and authority. I always hated staying "within the lines" and simply could not resist the urge to distort or embellish reality.

Andy Warhol once stated that "everyone gets fifteen minutes of fame ".I'm still waiting on mine. My desires for someday "emerging" as a serious artist and being acquiesced by an adoring public have long-since surrendered to the practical realities of to be able to eat regularly and having a decent roof over my head. I could actually pinpoint the afternoon my artistic Warhol aspirations were dragged whining to the light of practical reality. I was focusing on a portrait, a painting of a Native American woman. My sixteen-year-old son paused to see what I was painting. He stood for a moment studying her, then patted me on the back and said, "nice caricature, Dad." Of all the artistic criticism I've ever received, that has been probably the most helpful. I have now been focusing my efforts on drawing caricatures ever since.

I know that greatness remains possible; there are truly great caricaturists in the world. But, meanwhile, even a mediocre artist can feed himself and pay the rent by doing the "big head, little body" thing. Afterall, fifteen minutes of fame still leaves a heck of plenty of time for mediocrity. And then there's the pleasure of to be able to depart from the boundries somewhat, to permit myself to distort and embellish someone's face with an excellent level of abandon and escape with it; even get paid to accomplish it!

Perhaps VanGogh is a better role model that Warhol, anyway. His work is vastly popular than Andy's, yet he never sold just one painting in his lifetime. He never had his fifteen minutes, either!

Bill Trantham is a self-taught artist, residing in Oklahoma City. He is retired from mental health counseling and enjoying creating caricature drawings for folks via his website.