southern4perspective:

Thank you for the kind words. To be honest the work is rarely fun. The fun I do find in the work manifest self just before and during me in the client come to an agreement. Then the reality hits… A formidable journey begins. But not saying it’s fun does not mean it’s rewarding. There always involves a new challenge, asking even more from the materials, and new problems to solve. Ultimately arriving to a new understanding that they work should physically represent. The freedom of the work is a byproduct of bravery in searching deep in for internally, in my mind, to envision the form that excites me. It’s just like hunting and when I find the form I have to develop a relationship with it. Sometimes it’s so alien with a mixture of feeling of being so right and so wrong at the same time. From this perspective I view all past works as milestones in my life. For the work to even happen so much has to be in place.
You asked what encourage me the most. Forgive the ambiguity of my answer which is circumstance. Circumstance because I have always have had a need to create and at the same time I have always had a problem with authority. I have never been successful working for someone else. So, the birth of my professional career as an artist started at those crossroads.
As far as the tools to give a child, I compare children to grapes in a vineyard. It’s not the grapes that have plenty of sun and plenty of rain and ideal temperature that create the good wines. Good wine comes from complexity and complexity stems from a grape that he’s been stressed.
Personally my childhood was fair. I was one of those children raised by after school programs and a daycare until I was in my preteens. I believe that this is why I am rebellious, have a little trust in social systems, and always needing to be in nature.
I am working towards giving my children the tools you speak of. As a father I believe that raising them as independent as they can be is a good method. I want them to see my wife and I striving for an independence and self-reliance. I desire that my children see my wife and I excited and happy about doing so. I want them to see us discovering new things and new subjects. I believe the children should be brought into the understanding that failure equals life experience. It’s the life experience that is sought after more so than a victory. Ideally I prefer that my children, at a young age, will be able to recognize an opportunity, understand it’s a value, and be brave enough to seize it.
Forgive my reply for being long-winded. But I do I hope my reply finds you doing well.

Respectfully,
K

Thanks! I really like your grapes metaphor, and think I see what you meant by circumstance. I have always viewed the kids as plans in a garden rather then fruit. I might have to explore grape thinking a bit. I always think of fruit as the end of things rather then the beginning….

Also totally agree about “Social systems” They all to often seem to me to be trying to produce Roundup Ready people. In holding with my metaphor, not yours. Perhaps dried out raisins in yours.
Thanks again