Keating:  They're not that different from you, are they?  Same haircuts.  Full of hormones, just like you.  Invincible, just like you feel.  The world is their oyster.  They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you.  Their eyes are full of hope, just like you.  Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable?  Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils.  But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you.  Go on, lean in.

The boys lean in and Keating hovers over Cameron's shoulder.

Keating (whispering in a gruff voice):  Carpe.

Cameron looks over his shoulder with an aggravated expression on his face.

Keating:  Hear it?  (whispering again) Carpe.  Carpe Diem.  Seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.

The boys stare at the faces in the cabinet in silence.

I immediately determined that I was going to make a living doing art in some form.  Over the next few years I studied with various artists and took lots of seminars.  I found out that my true passion is oil painting.  I've never found anything as challenging as bringing something to life on a two dimensional surface.  The very act of painting is so enthralling that the sense of time is lost.  My high school buddies used to call this trancing.  The limitations of the available pigments make it difficult to depict nature in its exact form.  It'll take a lifetime of study and experience to become as proficient as I'd like to be. 

Over the next few years I worked at various jobs and worked on my painting part time.  The problem was that it didn't leave me enough time to do all the painting I wanted.  Four years ago, I looked in the mirror and realized I wasn't any closer to working as a full time painter so I decided to take to plunge and work at painting on a full time basis.  As times it felt as if I've jumped off a cliff but I've managed to advance my skill level dramatically. 

Most of my friends call me Mudcat so drog me a line at mudcat@wgrant-art.com or hit the comments link.  I got the name while playing football at Wabash College.  I was an offensive guard and they didn't water the field where we practiced.  Because of the sweat and dust, I was mud covered after ever practice.  A teammate regular read the Sporting News and remembered that there was a baseball pitcher named Mudcat Grant so that became my nick name.  I even had some teammates that only new me as Mudcat and not my real name.

In the mean time, take a look at my gallery and let me know what you think.  You may find something that you like.  If so, you can go to the shopping cart and purchase it.  I've also made the committment to complete a painting a day and put it up for auction on eBay starting at $25.