{"product_id":"2940154372371","title":"The Artist's Manifesto","description":"\u003cp\u003eI am an artist. I guess you are too, because you’re reading this, even if you’re not presently calling yourself so. I’ve always been an artist, I felt it just like you do. That feeling of something bigger and broader, waiting for me.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat something inside me, a feeling that I can’t explain. It drew me to weird people, to freaks, people with tattoos and crazy hair and crazy clothes, to bars with alternative music, to lyrics of songs, to arty non conformist things.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo the hidden meaning in words and sentences, to a deeper reality that escapes most of the world. It all just felt like it was my place. Instead of following what felt natural I chose to fit in, to be normal, to get a job, to follow the pre written rules for survival and success. But it didn’t last.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomething else was calling, quietly, whispering to me to follow it. I had no choice, it expressed itself through my work by default. I committed to making the best things I possibly could. Attention to detail was paramount for me but those around me didn’t understand.\u003cbr\u003eMy customers, my employees, my friends - most of them wanted less than I was prepared to give. But I knew that it was right and proper to complete my work to the highest level possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI had no choice you see, I had to follow what my heart said.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever this caused problems for me. I was working in the world others made, and I was bound by the rules of that game. On one side I had this need to make unique things to a high standard, and on the other I had this idea that I needed to follow the rules.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis was like trying to ride two horses at the same time and it didn’t work. I ignored my inner voice for many years and made many wrong decisions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter many years of hammering that square peg into a round hole I finally gave up and decided to follow the voice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHave you ever felt like I did?\u003cbr\u003eAre you tired of trying to make those shoes fit?\u003cbr\u003eIs the constant need for acceptance killing your creativity?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you’re fed up following the rules others made, if those shoes don’t fit anymore, and if you’re ready to follow your heart the read on.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Larry G. Maguire","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47164899459312,"sku":"2940154372371","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940154372371_p0.jpg?v=1764070113","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940154372371","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}