It's official: I've put in my notice at my day job and will soon be taking the leap into focusing (almost) completely on making art and working on other art-related projects.

I haven't talked too much here about my day job in publishing, mainly because I thought of this as a refuge away from that world. I have been quietly socking away extra cash for years in preparation for this moment. Now, thanks to some extremely flexible contract arrangements I've made and will be making, I'll be able to focus as much as I want to on artmaking and still take piecemeal book production contracts as I need them. Also, I've been assured that I can come back at any time if I want/need to. I hope that I won't, but it's nice to know the option is there.

This is pretty much the next best scenario to simply making my entire living as a fine artist. Not to tempt fate, but I'm pretty much set for a good, long while. (knocks on wood)

In other blog news: to any artists who thinks they'll get recognized if they just have enough talent and work hard, check out Mat Gleason's post today at the Coagula blog. An excellent in vivo demonstration of how good work gets overlooked, without any grand conspiracy or evil intent, but just out of the need to find some way of wading through the sheer volume of production. I think the lesson here is that if you care about some sort of official recognition, don't ignore the networking, relationship building aspect of your career. I think it gets somewhat unfairly tarred as "schmoozing," but since when in the history of the human species have people not taken interpersonal relationships into account when making important decisions?

current music: Cake, Pressure Chief

Congrats on quittin the day job. It's a huge move and yet, it'll work. More time to make and more pressure to get the stuff out there is helpful and day jobs are always gettable. I've been reading for a while but not commenting, fergive me, but listen, the next time you think about moving to the ATL, shoot me over an email and I'll give ya some reasons I left. And then you can stop daydreaming and get back to making art and trouble. (Well, no, it doesn't work, but it's funny to me that we as artists seem to get wanderlust often, but then it motivates sticking around in one place and working hard to get the dialogue going.) But really what I wanted to say, was and still is, congrats!

Thanks Rachael. Go ahead, give me a sneak peek. What gives in the ATL?

You're my hero, man. One of this year's new year's resolutions is something similar. Good luck to you.

Thanks, Franklin. Make the Break!

To be redundant, congratulations!