One Year

“I spent one year away trying to change a day, but the past cannot be chosen.” 

–  Shaded Red, “One Year”

Seven years ago, Four Six 3 started as a blog so I could share my life experiences after an MRI showed a tumor on my right auditory nerve at the base of my brain stem. As life went on, I continued to write stories about life, love, and my family.

In 2016, I discovered my love of photography, so in October of that year, I created a Four Six 3 Facebook page and an Instagram account as a means to share my personal photo projects. I never really posted as often as I could have or should have because I was constantly concerned about whether or not my photos were good enough.

A few months later, I began playing around with some print designs.

After receiving a ton of encouragement from my friends and family, I came up with the crazy idea to turn my laundry room into a print shop. Several in-depth conversations with my wife followed; she sees and thinks big picture. We developed a business plan, calculated our expenses, and poured our resources into launching.

On July 14, 2017, Four Six 3 officially opened for business.

The support we received was both amazing and humbling; folks were buying designs that I poured my heart and soul into, and they were hanging them in their homes and offices!

October came, and we were overwhelmed by all the love we received at our Ruston Maker’s Fair Booth.

Then less than two months later, I was laid off from my full-time job, and Four Six 3 became both a blessing and a burden. We had a record number of sales in December, but as a husband and a father, I felt the pressure to sell even more to help provide for my family. Designing was no longer about creativity and fun; it became a chore. I constantly stressed over sales reports, the lack of sales, and what I could design next to boost sales. Four Six 3 was no longer the creative outlet I intended it to be; it was the monster who kept me awake at night.

I did not want to design. I did not want to take photos. I feel into a tremendous rut.

On April 2, I started a new job, and I began to slowly dig myself out of a hole.

I found a new excitement in capturing photos.

I turned one of my favorite prints into a T-shirt.

I still just did not have the creative passion for running Four Six 3 that I had last year.

Then two distinct things happened recently to refresh my thinking.

I watched an interview with photographer Ralph Gibson in which he talked about finding a specific point of departure in your photography. In other words, do not wander aimlessly through life trying to decide what you can take pictures of; have a specific project in mind. The concept had never crossed my mind, but it made so much sense!

The second event was a late night conversation my wife and I had with my three-year-old son. We asked him numerous questions, and when he was asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?,” the answer he gave was strikingly simple and profound at the same moment.

He replied, “Nuffin. I just wanna be me.”

I was stunned.

It was so innocent and so beautiful.

I realized I was trying so hard to do things which pleased other people that I forfeited the thing which made Four Six 3 special in the first place: me.

The next day, I created a print with simple grey lettering which reads, “JUST BE YOU.”

This print will forever serve as my reminder to just be me and to create things I find beautiful.

Throughout the last year of learning and struggling with Four Six 3, I realized why I love photos, prints, and T-shirts so much; I am helping others share their stories through my work.

If you wear one of our Exit 84 or Natty shirts, you are telling the world of your town.

When you hang one of our prints on your wall, you’re telling the world of your allegiances.

So from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your incredible support over the last year. Thank you for allowing a piece of me to live in your homes with you. My family and I are forever grateful to you. I have some new ideas for future prints and T-shirts that I hope you will like, and I have started a new photo project I have finally given the name, “Everywhere, A Sign.”

I am excited to once again share with my work with you.

Here’s to one year of Four Six 3 (the print shop), and to seven years of this blog.