One of the finest things I got is the understanding, the ethereal absorption of what it really means to be an artist. It is not a thing of glamour or social image. It is a journey of discovery, a dedication to investigation, a compulsion, a love/hate relationship, a way of being for those who have no other option.
I remember seeing a few true artists, being around them, getting to know them - there was no mistaking the authenticity of their voice or commitment. There was a distinct, almost regal air about them - though most lived as paupers - that is not often found these days. It wasn't about success or money - it was something pure, something at once real and unreal. It was about crossing the line between the two. It was about being compelled to express, being innately passionate, driven, discovering self through being possessed.