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How long does a dream take to become true? Do they do that out of their own dreamy volition? or do they require a bunch of love and effort and nourishment in order to materialise in this reality?

Hello Everybody!

My name is Carlos, and for years, I have been searching for a way to make a living out of my arts — Can you imagine? you go there, sit at the computer, and start writing, or recording, or designing, or auctioning those awesome drawings, paintings and sculptures of yours? — and not only because that is what makes you feel the most alive, but because there is a crowd of people who enjoy, and are nourished by your art as well!

The next day you go out —because fresh air— and connect with people: play an unplugged jam session, or take pictures, or maybe sell your creations in the physical world to physical people because, even though internet is the coolest thing since sliced bread came out, You, as an Artist, are deeply aware of how important it is to keep your friends and acquaintances' network alive and dandy...

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Also to do word-of-mouth advertising, because in some locations, rumours and news do travel fast!

But you live! and breathe! and the very thing that makes your heart throb and your brain run free is supporting all that — and you feel successful and grateful in amounts you cannot even fathom!

I might sound like a hopeless idealist, I know. But isn't THAT life you desire, a life worth living? Wouldn't it be totally awesome to finally reach it after having to take a bunch of assorted jobs to make ends meet, studying your craft hard and practising hard until the end result satisfied your heart's craving for a well-done job?

And one day, a friend recommended me to come here

Steemit smells like teen spirit. Young and creative —and probably reckless— with the end goal of decentralising internet's content once more. Your brain and creative flow are the proof that supports a brand new currency which gets awarded to the best creators and curators! And one of them could be you!

I re-read last paragraph and can't help feeling a bit hyped — the amazing possibility of connecting with dozens, maybe hundreds, of other fellow artists, and collaborate on an even broader and bigger project than any of us could have done individually; Smells like synergy, like team play and networking. It appears to beat certain online video and online crowdfunding platforms in the fact that you can't really get censorship on a decentralised network, but the users will be the judges on what content seems worthy or not. To quote Rainbow Rowell:

[...] art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something

And since we happen to live in an era where, mass media constantly shows us how political correctness is able to kill art at will — Fair play to decentralise content! I guess it's definitely worth a try.

Also, for "hey, its me!" purposes:

I don't take selfies often, but that's me!

A bit of my story

I'm an aspiring musician and writer, disguised during day as a jack of all trades. A man recklessly doing assorted jobs while I can get to live off my arts — music, and writing. So far I have been:

• a web developer (back when a WAMP/LAMP full stack was a thing, and before adaptive design was cool and all over the place)

• a tech support analyst (basically running around office buildings and a couple warehouses, fixing any IT-related issues, disassembling and fixing devices, and related tasks like arguing with management heh heh)

• a 3D Artist (or well, did my best) for a team of indie game developers who banded together from the internet! In the end the project's scope bloated too much and it had to be discarded, but it was a great team and great experience. I learned TONS of things about Blender and Unity. My teammates were a cool bunch, really... kinda miss 'em TBH.
  

  
  
  Some Blender work optimised by me
  

• an EFL and ESL instructor —yes, they are different!—

• most recently, a motorcycle mechanic. Mostly Bajaj and TVS trikes, but I'd like to learn about 2-wheeled motorcycles as well. Also, we're delving a bit into working fiberglass!
  

  
  
  My right hand, taking a picture of myself as if I hadn't noticed
  

An open carburetor, another day in the office

That means I work during the day, do the housework at night, and lean more towards jobs which require more physical than mental energy. Why? because that way I get to have more brainpower in the evenings for doing my thing; Every single bit of time in-between those, you can probably find me humming, or daydreaming about a new idea, or lately, actually outlining stories.

Once upon a time, I studied modern music for a year and a half at a local conservatoire, with the money I earned with my first job after Uni! And I reckon schools only give you a simple framework to understand the basics of how any trade —or science, or craft— works, however, if you really want to improve, and really want to master it, only continuous observation and practice will really yield noticeable results, over time.

My real self, on the things that make my heart throb and my brain run free

—"OH GAWD! Why can't it be instant??"

I don't know, I asked that question myself and also wished I could become an epic writer and composer in a jiffy, but our bodies and brains like taking their time to evolve into the things we want to be doing —yes, we become what we think, really!— so we have to keep the dream alive, keep the patience going, and constantly do our thing.

I can't say I'm going to be around forever, but I do hope to make friends, and I do hope to meet other fellow Artists, and whether you want to join efforts to get new epic creations into the world, or just want to chat, feel free to write.

See you around, fellow Steemians!