I have lived in many different places from New York City to South Bradenton, Florida. Recently I moved into a small one bedroom in Newtown, a northern area of Sarasota, Florida.

The year I graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design, I had moved into a four bedroom apartment with three other students. It was one of the best living experiences I’ve had and something I will always cherish. Living there, I experienced many things; one in particular was living in an area of a lower class neighborhood. This was something I was use to from living in parts of New Jersey which made me comfortable. More comfortable than living around multi-millionare snots that don’t like talking to their neighbors and walk with their noses in the air. This neighborhood, as poor as the people were, showed a sense of community and love for people, regardless of color. People there said hello to one another and cared about how they were doing.

Now I’m back in the neighborhood. I moved literally down the road from my first abode in Newtown into a beautiful botanical garden with its own pool size koi pond. It’s magnificent and I love every moment.

It has definitely been an inspiration being here and I have been very busy painting. The only internet access I have is local coffee shops around town and at my place of employment. I really like not being online at home, it cuts out a lot of unnecessary web surfing. Painting, reading and cooking is what I spend most of my time with. It’s been a great transition.

Maceo likes it too.