'Time and tide'

Times when things got a little too much for me... a self study to express my inner-most feelings. I am sure every artist and indeed, every person has those moments at some time in their life. This was a reflection of mine, my darkest hour. To find 'self' in art is a life-long journey; I am still looking. But what drives me on this journey? My wife tells me that 'I have a gift for painting animals'... maybe I do, who is to really say? Yes, capturing the spirit of an animal is satisfying, and clients always show joy when seeing the final painting - many even break down in tears when I show them the portrait of their long lost dog; so I bring happiness to many, and bring their beloved pets back to life as they remembered them. That is a good thing, however, my life-long journey as an artist still continues and only 'time and tide' will reveal my true self. 'Time and tide' was an expression a total stranger said to me once, whilst I was waiting at a bus stop... an old man waiting there with me in the rain and he just came up to me and said, with a very large smile those words... then my bus came along and I left him behind... his words still haunt me to this day - such a strange thing for a total stranger to say to another and nothing else. He did not even get on the bus, but maybe he was waiting for another. Maybe he was an angel in disguise? Maybe those three words were words of wisdom, purely for me, to be remembered as my journey in life continues. Time and tide.