By Ayers Baxter
Art
requires
3
ingredients.
The
first
is
passion.
PASSION
is
a
powerful
feeling;
a
strong
desire;
an
outburst
or
expression
of
strong
feeling;
lust;
sexual
desire;
violence
or
anger…
They
say
an
artist
must
be
driven
to
succeed.
I
suspect
it’s
due
to
the
tremendous
difficulties
that
lay
ahead
of
them.
If
this
is
true,
then
an
artist
needs
a
good
driver.
Passion
for
something
important
in
our
life
is
the
driver.
So,
what
is
your
passion?
One
night
when
I
was
six
and
just
learning
to
read
and
write,
I
heard
my
mother
and
father
fighting.
Their
hateful
words,
their
screaming
and
shouting,
the
hole
in
the
wall
and
door,
the
black
eyes
and
red
finger
nail
scratchings
seemed
to
kill
their
love
in
an
instance.
Why?
Why
did
they
do
that?
I
could
hardly
stand
it.
I
wanted
to
run
away;
but
where
could
I
go?
Where
would
I
find
food
and
clothing
and
a
place
to
sleep?
I
was
a
six-year-old
coward.
I
pulled
the
sheets
over
my
head
and
tried
to
block
out
the
noise.
Then,
I
slipped
my
head
under
the
pillow
and
asked
myself,
“Is
it
my
fault?”
Maybe…
I
am
not
always
good,
they
tell
me.
I
waste
food
and
tear
my
clothes
when
I
play
and
spill
my
milk
on
the
only
couch
they
own.
Maybe
their
lack
of
money
is
my
fault.
Maybe
their
lack
of
love
is
too.
I
will
try
to
be
good.
I
will.
I
am
only
six,
but
I
will
do
anything
to
make
them
happy
and
loving
again.
“Please
God,
why
do
they
hurt
each
other?
And
why
do
the
children
at
school
make
fun
of
me?
And
why
did
my
dog
die?
And
why
do
we
have
to
move
to
another
city
where
I
have
no
friends?”
A
certain
passion
for
life
grew
within
me.
I
wanted
to
live
and
live
happily.
And
I
wanted
others
to
be
happy,
too.
It’s
no
fun
if
everyone
around
me
is
unhappy.
“Is
there
anything
I
can
do?”
Now,
I
sit
in
North
Hollywood
and
I
have
never
lost
sight
of
this
passion
to
find
answers
and
then
tell
others
what
answers
I
have
found.
Los
Angeles
–
“The
city
of
angels.”
Many
of
us
say
we
want
the
world
to
change
for
the
better.
I
am
sure
that
we
do.
My
experiences
show
me
that
the
only
good
that’s
being
done
in
the
world
is
when
people
go
out
and
do
it.
The
same
is
true
with
art.
If
we
want
to
see
a
work
of
art
then
we
must
do
what
we
can
to
encourage
it.
We
must
use
our
passion
in
everything
we
do.
People
may
not
always
agree
with
our
passion
nor
may
they
feel
the
same
affinity
toward
it,
but
as
long
as
we
do
not
bore
them,
as
long
as
we
keep
their
interest,
they
will
listen
and
experience
our
passion.
And
perhaps
even
admire
and
cherish
it
as
we
do.
I
have
always
wanted
to
feel
I
am
worth
something.
In
many
ways,
I
feel
our
sense
of
worth
defines
what
we
do
and
who
we
are.
If
we
desire
to
be
rich
and
famous
then
we
take
those
steps
to
gain
riches
and
fame.
If
we
desire
to
be
loved
by
many
people,
then
we
take
those
steps
to
gain
their
acceptance
and
love.
If
we
desire
to
be
appreciated
for
our
contribution
to
the
human
spirit,
then
we
take
those
actions
that
put
us
in
service
of
others.
Somewhere
deep
down
inside
us
we
want
to
be
appreciated
for
our
efforts
and
recognized
for
our
achievements.
Otherwise,
we
feel
depressed
and
worthless.
In
my
classes,
one
of
the
books
I
hand
to
each
member
is
“How
To
Win
Friends
&
Influence
People”
by
Dale
Carnegie.
In
it
he
teaches
how
to
win,
“Develop
a
deep,
driving
desire
to
master
the
principles
of
human
relations.”
And
then
he
explains
the
principles
for
winning
friends.
Principle
#2
is
to
“Give
honest
and
sincere
appreciation.”
So,
let’s
start
each
new
day
by
recognizing
our
neighbor
artists.
Tell
our
friends
and
neighbors
who
write
to
keep
writing.
Let
us
not
hold
back
our
praise
of
an
unknown
artist,
because
in
reality
they
are
not
unknown.
We
know
them.
So,
let’s
encourage
them
to
keep
working
at
it.
Keep
the
fire
alive.
And
if
we
can
help
a
struggling
artist,
let’s
do
it.
Give
praise
and
encouragement
to
those
who
deserve
it,
whether
they
are
famous
or
not.
If
we
meet
someone
who
has
great
ideas,
let
us
encourage
them
to
do
them
and
if
they
do
them
for
us,
let
us
pay
them
for
what
they
do.
Remember,
Van
Gough
was
not
rich
or
famous
when
he
was
painting,
but
he
was
surely
rich
in
talent
and
passionate
work.
Perhaps
you
know
someone
who
may
be
the
same.
Encourage
them.
It’s
no
fun
if
everyone
around
you
is
miserable.
Heck,
encourage
yourself.
Why
not?
You
only
have
one
life
to
live.
Live
it
with
robust
and
spread
your
joy
and
passion
around.
So,
what
are
the
two
other
ingredients
in
art?
All
rights
reserved
by
Copyright
2004
Roy
Ayers
Baxter,
Jr.
Any
reproduction
of
any
kind
without
the
permission
by
the
copyright
owner
is
prohibited
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