I drew this pencil drawing during a dark and painful period in my life. Obviously it is not a pleasing portrayal of desperation, but in the past I used my art as a way to release and express my feelings. And at that time, my heart was saturated with feelings of loss and hopelessness. I seriously needed some form of venting. But I was young and stupid, reeling from a broken relationship and realizing I had no chance of getting her back.

As in this drawing, I was reaching out in a desperation. I originally titled this piece, “Going Down for the Third Time.” Luckily, I received the needed help from a dear friend after confiding in him. He reassured me that this would pass and I would be stronger because of it. I suppose scar tissue is a necessary teaching tool.

In any case, the most significant lesson I learned from this experience was “All is never lost.” Even though you may feel defeated and abandoned, you are never alone when you have your family and friends. As a great songwriter once shared with us: “All you need is love.” Trust those around you to help pull you through, because they hope you will help pull them through too.

Lastly, I did paint this drawing some years later for my best friend, Mark Warden. Sadly Mark passed away some years ago, but I’m sure his wife, Satomi, still displays my shared experience for all to see in Sacramento. I hope you like it, and I thank you for allowing me to share my experiences with you.