Aikshrees Kanduraja

When we first met, he was doing PR work, but he decided he wanted to be a reporter no matter what.

So at 37, he moved into a flophouse and began freelancing for small publications.

And now he spends his days chasing down politicians in the halls of Congress.

He made it happen.

So with these art supplies, he began to imagine this other life for himself.

And he made a Pablo kind of plan.

So I was like, if I become an oil painter, I would basically be the only oil painter I know.

And in some sense have like a monopoly on oil painting in Washington.

You know what I mean?

Like if you want an oil painting, especially a portrait, you have to come to me.

What Pablo lacks in skill and experience, he compensates for with heat-seeking opportunism and blinding self-confidence.

It can rub people the wrong way, but I appreciate the hustle.

Pablo, it's so funny to me that you're trying to pick one career in a...

I can say it, a dying industry, by supplementing your income with another dying industry.

Reporting an artist, it's like the two poorest.

It didn't make any sense to a lot of people.

But it made sense to Pablo.

Pablo looked down at the new tools in his hands and then tilted his head skyward.

Even as Icarus did before him, he saw a way to soar where no mortal had dared to soar.

Our show today, myths in real life.