Carefree Artist

7/4/25

A Reminder for the 4th of July

 The colonists were divided between Loyalists and Patriots. The Continental Congress could not agree on squat. Many Patriot soldiers were young, inexperienced, and ill-equipped. But they kept fighting. How do I know? One of my ancestors was an officer in the Continental Army. My maternal 4th great-grandfather was a captain. Other distant genetic relatives signed the Declaration of Independence. And I’m sure my Native American ancestors were probably saying, “WTF! You’re fighting over our land!” And they were likely unwilling participants as well. Learn history Just a reminder: The war for independence was long, hard, and a total shitshow. (including your family’s). It might surprise you.


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Yes, I created the Thinking Cap image above! Originally created for and licensed to Discovery (Channel) Education for many years, it has since been used in numerous publications and on countless websites. If you would like to use it, you can find it and many more images at EducatorClips.com. Use terms apply.

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About the Artist...

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Mark
I'm a semi-retired award-winning, internationally published freelance artist and illustrator who has created thousands of works of art for books, magazines, greeting cards, websites, and countless other publications over a long career. I had hoped when I retired to just happily fade into the background and the simple life. The plan was to continue to do volunteer art projects with the National Park Service and maybe do some other volunteer work alongside my wife. And maybe also find time to paint, sculpt, and create other art -- but just for art's sake. But after becoming my wife’s cancer caregiver and then losing her to the evil disease, my life was turned upside down. So now, in honor of my previvor daughter and my beloved late wife and muse, I'm now dedicating most of my time to being a hereditary cancer awareness and prevention advocate.
View my complete profile

About this blog/art journal...

The Carefree Artist is about my artistic endeavors and adventures as a professional freelance creative. Posts might feature a cartoon, or a recently published illustration from a book or magazine assignment, or an original piece of art that I might be selling to try and raise funds for my art supply donation project*. All with an emphasis on originality.

Why did I name this journal the Carefree Artist? Actually, it’s really just a wishful sentiment. A professional life in the arts, mine included, is usually anything but carefree. But oh, how wonderful it would be to really be a carefree artist! Living the simple life in a quiet and inspiring location and creating a ton of art just for art's sake!

The name was also inspired by the Carefree Highway. A road that played an important role in my life... More about this journal's name at the bottom of this page.

Please see my website, MARKiX.net, for more info and more samples of my work.

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A Note from the Artist...

As you look around this blog you can’t help but notice a distinct change in the artwork and the tone of the content over the past few years. There’s a good reason for this -- being a cancer caregiver and then the death of my wife due to hereditary cancer. A cancer that was preventable.

I never wanted this blog to be a place where I unloaded anger and sadness because of cancer and grief. I had other plans, more lighthearted and whimsical. But when you have the love of your life take their last breath in your arms because vital genetic info was not shared, it changes everything.

So, I have chosen to use my humble little corner of the world to speak up about hereditary cancer awareness and the unbearable heartache of the untimely loss of a loved one.

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More about this journal's name...

The name for this journal was also inspired by the Carefree Highway here in my native state of Arizona. (Yes, the one Gordon Lightfoot sang about.) A road that played role in my life as a child and a very important role as a young adult. First, when it was just a rough dirt track to basically nowhere. Then later, when it was a small two-lane road in the middle of the desert. All many years before they widened it and put up all the ugly cookie-cutter houses, apartments, and strip malls and ruined the natural scenic beauty of the area. ("Carefree Highway, you seen better days... Carefree highway, let me slip away, Slip away on you.")


And no, I do not live in Carefree, Arizona. I live in Phoenix. Land values in Carefree are, unfortunately, not particularly friendly for those pursuing freelance artistic endeavors.


(left) The Road to Carefree. What the Carefree "Highway" was like in my childhood. Acrylic on canvas. 24" x 36" Private collection.

All the material on Carefree Artist is copyrighted by Mark A. Hicks -- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Reproduction for any purpose without the express written consent of
Mark A. Hicks, illustrator is strictly prohibited.
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