Never Forget Who You Are

It's kind of easier said than done, but kind of important to remember. Maybe even better it's always important to remember who we ought to be and practice good habits in life. Don't forget to be good person. I created this illustration for someone in a home for the elderly and this person had always aspired to become a writer. So as an awesome way to keep this person inspired I printed them a poster of my illustration as a gift.

My story, my fight and connecting the dots

My name is John Lightle. I have been making things since I was a young whipper-snapper and now an even much older young whipper-snapper. Things like drawing, designing, story-telling and so much more.

It all started with drawing some characters I grew up with like Ninja Turtles, Batman, Ghostbusters, Sonic the Hedgehog and the list goes on. Drawing comics, making movie covers on empty VHS boxes.

In middle school I loved playing and watching basketball. I lived in the Michael Jordan era and was inspired by shoe designs, NBA logos and jersey designs. Doodling the Charlotte Hornets logo on my notebooks and book covers got me through my school days.

I would read the Far-Side, Garfield and Dilbert on library days and made my own comic-strip. My classmates loved it so much they requested I make a new one every week. Great time to master deadlines before the real world I suppose.

Going into my teenage years, my brother Josh, our friend Justin (I'd consider him like another brother) and I designed our video-game fan-zine. Drawing a comic-strip joke about video game characters, adding graphics, writing articles and game reviews.

In high school, I was inspired by alternative and punk rock music and started my own thing in music. Designing album covers, stickers, posters and t-shirts. And to make this much shorter and fast forward a bit I got into film school and got a degree in fine art too.

Film didn't stay with me because it was too collaborative and largely big budget. Fine art worked well for a bit. I started teaching a painting workshop at a local art supply store, but eventually no one had interest in signing up so that fell apart.

Why this timeline? Did you notice it stopped.

Being creative has been my whole life. And as we get older and the world starts telling us you need to make something of yourself. It gets harder. The light gets dimmer and all at once our creative being is destroyed.

There was a time in my life it all stopped. I was doing too much and during that time things got really quiet. During this time, I thought long and hard about my purpose. Now I didn't have aha moment over night but this quiet time was a long time lasting more than a couple years.

Something interesting happens in silence. For the first time you can hear yourself think. And slowly but surely you see the fog clear and visually take notice.

I was working late at job where I cared for elderly. I had this job because I was not a point where my creativity could pay the bills nor could I just walk into any creative job and expect to be hired. This had to be it for now and this night I worked late into the morning was hard.

I had a book with me I purchased from the book store, "Show Your Work!" by Austin Kleon. This book changed my life forever. I read this start to finish until the end of my shift. It was a game-changer.

I would always read magazines at work when no one else was reading them and suddenly I took notice at the illustrations featured. I would search the artists and look at their work. I was mind-blown. This way of putting your creativity out there was the very thing I wanted in the first place.

The foundation was underneath me all along. Being a fine artist was not the only way to be a serious artist. Drawing, creating graphic illustrations and design was a serious way too. But it was the way that made sense for me and that was revolutionary.

I didn't dream of being a doctor, an engineer or scientist. Those are all good professions and a huge thank you to those in non-creative work and to those who still trying to find something they love. It's not easy and wasn't meant to be.

The massive take away was that I had to learn to fight for my dreams. Even working a job that offered me no stepping stone to my creative endeavor. I continued to learn and trace new steps. Silence allows yourself to hear yourself.

I did this for my wife, my kids and myself. And now that I see myself, I can by myself. Because I found myself creatively it has strengthened me in every facet of my life. Embrace and learn from struggle. That's what it there for and anything worth having for in life is worth fighting for.