New progress, same journey.

It's been quite some time since i've lasted posted something on this blog. For those of you that followed and care I'm sure you wondered if I eventually gave up after the long struggle of pursuing a career in portrait painting. I thought about It, but my soul grew too restless.  I decided that as important as it was for me to be an excellent painter at such a young age as it would increase my chances of success i realized that i needed to expand my skill sets beyond painting and drawing. I was initially inspired by the idea after reading about this french artist Nicolas Poussin who was a highly intelligent and highly skilled painter. So I started reading more and began to educate myself not only In the aspects of art and art history, but of skills that would be useful In the job market. Such as understanding communications, sales, business, and information in the world today i.e. reading newspapers daily. 

I also started a new position which has financially accelerated my pace of completing my goal although the position is emotionally strenuous it is  a move forward. I realized although possible I was not ready to leave a 9-5 and pursue a career and It would be wiser to attain knowledge beyond painting while i continued my progress. It's been a couple of months since i've last sat down and actually focused on drawing but now as thing's have begun to settle and my health is on back on track (another obstacle) I can focus on what i originally intended on almost 4 years ago. My plan is to study in In France, Russia, and Italy.

Although the initial withdrawals from the studio were rather painful as I look back these past months I am more confident that I've made the right choice. I have become rather experienced in balancing the things I must learn with what's important, such as studying (negotiations, communications, newspapers) reading increases iq which increases chances of keeping my job. **Practicing** (painting and drawing!!) and training (boxing, working out improves brain activity) 

For those of that you that continue to follow my work I appreciate It and I look forward to sharing with you the momentous day I can say I've made It.

Thank You,

Alejandro Sandoval