words and art by w a l t e r w s m i t h

Abstract Art

Searching For Something That You Can’t Remember Forever

In a place not too far from memory are the dreams lost forever….

Searching for something lost

How do you know when something is lost? Is it when your memory escapes you? Or when you have forgotten where you have placed it? Is it only something you wish you had again. Or is it something only time can tell? Does it haunt you when you sleep? And bring rise to a restless night. Can it be something that follows you throughout the day? Edging you here, taking you where it may.

And when you look in the mirror can you see what is lost?

 … In the ocean and forest of your mind.

And when you swim, do you swim alone?

Adrift?

Wishing for someone to teach you again, the things you used to own….


What If Your Creativity Was Gone

In the struggle to know ourselves we sometimes turn inward to find our creativity … Gone

The inspiration for creativity resides within and beyond….

I recently re-blogged the post by Maggie Madly Writing wherein she proposed the question, “if nobody read your blog, would you still write”? There were some interesting responses on both our blogs. As a result, I started to think about the process of creativity. And the question, what if your creativity was gone? And has there ever been a time when you did not create? How long did that creative drought exist? What was the reason for the dry spell, if any?

Over the years I have known many artists. Each having their own unique work ethic. Some artists work continuously, on a daily basis. Others like myself, work when inspired, or influenced by events in their lives. I often look for a balance of art, life and sport. The majority of my artistic influence comes from my life experience. Most notably in the past when I was going through some rather dark periods. It seemed the darker the period, the more expressive the art. But I’ve learned that is not always true. Gone are the most darkest moments of my life (so I hope). Replaced by a more connected experience with peace and beauty. Creating a different kind of art. A different source of creativity. In the past, I have felt a sense of lost when not creating. Although I’ve always believed it would return. Knowing that it is a part of me.

What to do if your creative spark is gone? Well hang in there and have faith in your ability. This is a good starting point. Then work. Work. Spend time with the process. Explore and experiment with ideas. Take the time to check out the work of other artists. Artists from various disciplines. I love to see dance, theater and plays. Music exploration also is a motivating factor. As well as spending time with nature.

Never give up.

We all have our own path to discover that which ignites the creative spirit….


An Introduction To The Creative Process Of Artist Gotye: The Making Of Eyes Wide Open

It is always interesting to delve into the mind and creative process of an artist. What tools he uses. What fuels his imagination. How he views the world around him. How to translate that experience into art.

Gotye takes us on a shot venture through all these elements.

http://youtu.be/b_iuE_L2wys


Gotye: Eyes Wide Open

Well I am enjoying my day discovering this really cool artist. So I thought I would pass on the delight. Visually intriguing and lyrically profound.

Thanks Daniel for the introduction

Eyes Wide Open.

http://youtu.be/oyVJsg0XIIk


Only After Seeing The Light Did I Ever Think More Of It

From across the room I saw what I knew to be true….

A Kind of Light that keeps breaking through

like a candle in time

the soft glow of knowing….


No Moment In Time We Can Ever Bring Back (A Really Gone Remix)

As our past fades away, is there a bridge or ferry that can take us where we want to go….

A flight of fancy a bridge and ferry

Trying to escape something that is little known….

Earlier today, I was reading a post that Conceptual Art re-blogged entitled “A Place Where My Thoughts Are Frozen Together” by the blogger Emily @ Making Bridges. I enjoyed the read and found much in which to reflect on. It was as I perceived it, a beautiful, personal, and in-depth look at the ambiguities of our life experience i.e. how we connect with ourselves, and how those experiences resonate and are influenced by the emotions that accompany them. As I read, this line really struck a chord with me… “I often find myself looking back on past experiences – painful and happy – wishing I could still feel the intensity of those emotions”.

I believe that all my life, I have been struggling with this as well. I keep seeing my memories. Feeling them. Finding them elusive yet obtrusive. Art as a solution, sometimes produces some release and some peace, as it transforms the related emotion into form, color, shape, and content. Each piece touching on the memories in a hope to find a cathartic release. But it seems that it all remains the same in the end. An internal struggle. An endless pursuit. Perhaps the process does bring me a small step closer to a sense of freedom or understanding. But to truly cross that bridge, or ferry across the depths of my mind, I can only wake each day, start anew, create another piece, with the hope of living a little closer to a more profound present moment.

In a moment we realize we can never go back….


We Are Here Together (A Caressing Your Hair Remix)

It is a beautiful day when my fingers caress your golden hair….

We are here together this beautiful day

like a field of golden strands…

illuminating

the days in which we stand

together

in a sea of diamonds

caressing

the thoughts you hold dear

together

without fear

oh what a lovely moment it is….


You Are There – I Am Here (Another Search The Sky Remix)

When the night sky folds into itself, and I breathe deeply it resonates of you….

The gravity that pulls us together

fragments of darkness

– never fall

into the warm depths of your love for me

and

there you are

– never doubting

the color and shape of my heart’s longing….


I Am Here – You Are There (A Search The Sky Remix)

When I think of you at night, something is shimming above….

The solar fields above

fragments of light

– shimmer

like the fire of  your heart

and

here i am

– burning

in the sunburst of your love….


A Family Tradition … Portraits (A Family Photo Remix)

Bringing the past into the present and going forward into the future….

Donald, Miriam and Children

I am fortunate to have a large and loving family. The journey in which this series will take me can only be thought of as a joyous rite. Beautiful is the memory of all those who, as family, have shared this life experience with me. Growing up with each other, especially my cousins was quite an adventure. There were ups and downs, pranks and games. And we often spent Saturdays or Sundays together; going to the park, enjoying picnics, and coming together as a family every Thanksgiving. My cousin Miriam pictured here with her husband Donald and children is a special soul. She is loving, happy and generous. A nurse by trade. When my mother was dying of cancer, Miriam would come by virtually every morning and sit with her. Caring for my mother with empathy and a heart of gold, she demonstrated great compassion. It is without a doubt, that I owe a lot to my cousin Miriam. And it is without a doubt that I love her dearly.

Family is important. Often we are called to give support, love and guidance to our family members. We can only, with a smile in our hearts, reach down deep with a great sense of purpose and joy when called to do so.

Peace Love and Light to all the Families of the World….


As We Approached The Ferry A Different Kind Of Night

It was the dark of night and the silhouette of the ferry consumed me….

From the dock I looked out beyond the thoughts that anchored my dreams

a soft glow

on the sands below

this night

so

– different

I found myself again….


An Entire Life And I May Not Know Myself

Sometimes the next chapter is the same as the one before and the one before that….

land ferry sky and water

Leaving behind the shore of dreams, I often wake to a life lost at sea….

A life misunderstood.

I sometimes wonder if I really know myself at all. I try to grasp, as I look back across the sea, the meaning of what has gone before. What remains on the distant shore…

The beauty of my indecisiveness. The machinations of my decisions.

Haunt me.

Like the fear of being stranded on land as my dreams sail away. There they go I say. Another day and it all remains the same…

Not unlike the fleeing faces in the clouds above or the uneasy sinking in the waves below….


A Beautiful Time Gone, Is Like A Moment That Never Happened

Sometimes there is a beautiful journey just waiting to happen….

Searching for the ferry on the docks

A journey has its moments. A beginning, a middle, and an end. Sometimes it is a physical journey, but most often it is one of internal longing and desire. A journey of memories. It is a beginning where we once believed in something, someone or someplace. Then perhaps a middle, when while living in the present moment, we believed time stood still, and there was no tomorrow. Or perhaps a tomorrow we could come to love. And then there is the end. An ending. A final moment. Magic and lost, beauty and longing for what was. The memory of beautiful times gone, like the fleeing of dreams in the waking of a new day.

I often see things through the spectrum of my experiences, while questioning the meaning of it all. But desiring to have no grounded answer to mislead me.

Sometimes in our awareness the journey has long since come to an end….


Lake Rock Sky (An Electric Ladyland Remix)

Sometimes an image reflects things that exist only in the mind….

A moment with lake, rock, and sky in retrospect ... An Electric Ladyland Remix

What do you do with a memory that occurs suddenly while creating a piece? Or after the piece has been produced? I really did not have any definitive path for this piece. I just wanted to explore form, color and process utilizing photographic images from a lake, a sky and a mountain. Process is important to me and sometimes an abstract work can reveal a lot about process. It then occurred to me after its completion that it had both an organic and electrical feel to it. And the image that came to mind, while deepening my contemplative view of the work was Jimi Hendrix. Yes—Jimi Hendrix. Why Jimi, now that is a good question? You really do not see any real connection to Jimi at all in the piece. Or so it seems. Perhaps if you are thinking like I am—in that moment; or after having similar life experiences, you would see Jimi as well. But it is ok if you don’t. It’s your art as well as mine. I am just the physical creator of it. To you, it is what it says and reflects from your life experience.  But I digress. Getting back to Jimi and how he relates to this piece, is in itself abstract. In 1970 while visiting my older cousin and sifting through his record collection, I came across two beautiful album covers and titles. Both were mysterious and beautiful. They were Band of Gypsies and Electric Ladyland. This was my introduction to his music and rock music in general. I was 13 years old. I never looked back. The two albums and the music recorded on the discs would have significant influence on my future art. An introduction to psychedelic colors, experimental structures and abstract forms.

So I saw Jimi, in this piece, and it began with a lake, a sky and a mountain. And I called it “Lake Sky Mountain (An Electric Ladyland Remix)”

I can hear Jimi say … groovy….


Park Sky Mountain (A Kinetic Design Remix)

When we observe nature from a design perspective, we often see her in a different light….

A day full of wonders in park sky and mountain

A day full of wonders

a place…

to find young love

with green grass

and warm days

 – park

a view…

to dream

of far off lands

and nightshades

– sky

a trail…

to discover one self

on barren summits

and snowy slopes

– mountain


The Silence Series: Chakra Colors For Meditaiton – Vishuddha (Pale Blue)

Colors that bond us with our imagination and All That Is….

I believe that this chakra truly applies to all of us, but especially to the heart of the artist, writer, poet and all individuals who love to create. It is the motivating energy source for self-expression. We as artists and writers live our lives searching for our voice; manipulating images, dancing through forms, designing structures, solving equations and imploring words, searching for the right combination to get our ideas across. And in the process we discover new things about ourselves. We learn to  share with confidence. This is the power of the 5th chakra.

The Sanskrit word for the 5th chakra is Vishuddha which is translated as meaning pure. When this chakra is in balance you feel confident in speaking your truth. Some of the keywords associated with Vishuddha are creative expression, knowledge, abundance and flowing manifestation. It is governed by the thyroid, metabolism and the immune system. The location of this chakra is the area surrounding the throat. The sense is hearing and the sound associated with it is HAM.

Slowly bring your attention to the throat area and silently repeat the mantra …  HAM … HAM … HAM…

The 5th chakra Vishuddha

Peace be with you on your journey inward….

Namaste


I Thought You Might Like To Meet Me There

Just over the summit we can see the things we dream of….

Through the optical lens, sky and mountain

With the wind behind us, we were heard speaking to one another….

it is here that you first knew

how I truly understood.


Every Artist Deserves A Look Back (A “Best Of” Remix)

This has been a fantastic weekend. I am the featured artist at the dVerse poets pub. Many of the poets that participate and share their poems have given me a lot of positive response. And I certainly do appreciate it. It is motivating and inspirational. Late last night, it came to me that I should share some of my most popular posts. I have only been blogging for 13 months, and have explored a host of themes, concepts and ideas. Below you will find links to the 5 most popular posts so far. They were determined by the number of comments and likes by my readers. I have included thumbnails of each image in the posts. They are in the order of their popularity.

Enjoy

To the right side of my design (a force of nature remix)

http://wp.me/p1f97v-GC

Weekly photo challenge - between

http://wp.me/p1f97v-Bs

The silence series: urban meditation

http://wp.me/p1f97v-CP

The path to everlasting consciousness and love (a yellow brick road remix)

http://wp.me/p1f97v-Ic

We are the everlasting consciousness (a centered moment remix)

http://wp.me/p1f97v-I4


Bridges

burning the bridges…

leaving the memories behind you

or following the yellow brick road

across that new bridge

the bridge of hope and beauty

and colors in transition….

Bridge

I would like to thank Sheila for inviting me to be the featured artist for the poets at dversepoets. I thought I may write a short poem as well, reflecting my thoughts for the challenge.

Peace


A Tribute To The Family (A Full Of Grace And Love Remix)

The love of family is vibrant and colorful … enriching the very essence of our union with life….

A family reunion celebrating my Aunt Mary's 81st birthday

The centerpiece of love is the family….

I have been thinking lately about the legacy of my family. Both on my mother’s side and my father’s. The lost of a child (my daughter) can bring these thoughts and memories to bear. This evening I found myself asking, how can I celebrate the love of family?

– Our Family.

How can I bring together the many cousins, children and grandchildren that are all a part of the love we have as one large family? We are the Thorne Family. My Grandmother Aline Pearl Thorne gave birth to my mother, her three sisters and her brother. Now over several generations there are children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

My aunt Wilhelmina was a painter and my “uncle Bubba” as well. They both were inspirational in my pursuit to be an artist. In honor of them as well as the family as a whole, I am beginning a new series that will celebrate the many facets of our family; a celebratory life, a life full of giving and receiving in the bond of love. It is my hope that members of my family will collect some of the work created for this series and pass them down throughout the generations creating a legacy of remembrance.

Together we can do all things….

Peace and Love to Family and Friends alike.


A Different Kind Of Day (A Turning The Page On Tomorrow Remix)

Sometimes in the waking the mornings with you….

The memories you leave behind when we wake

a morning glow

thoughts of you

– linger

with soft anticipation

a morning light

– embracing

dreams of you

and

unrelenting rays of sunshine

turning the page

– on Love

in a different kind of day….


Moments In Time (A Yesterday Video Remix)

Sometimes moments in time are like the possession of precious jewels only remembered briefly…..

My latest video entitled “Moments In Time (A Yesterday Video Remix)” starts off with clips from previous videos and a multimedia performance before evolving into my most recent ventures of 2012; finding new forms in the mountains of Western North Carolina. My early video work began back in 1988. Of course there were no digital cameras, and we had to use those large, bulky, VHS Cameras. At the time I was fortunate to have some rather unique video editing software, and hardware courtesy of my Amiga 1000 digital suite and the third-party supplier of a video mixer called the Genlock. Now with a HD digital camera, there is much higher resolution, creating a more definitive, sharper image. I recently purchased the Avid Studio Pro video software, and hope that the quality, and versatility will yield several levels of high performance (within a modest price range).

One of the major traits in the processing of my previous video work, has been my ability to layer video sources. So I am looking forward to using this new capability (the latest digital hardware and software) to continue this process. In the end I hope to create thought-provoking video imagery that is abstract, ambient. and minimalistic.

So I hope you enjoy what I think may be a transitional video on the path to new ideas, and processes.

Moments In Time (A Yesterday Video Remix)….

http://youtu.be/6ti_CrYaRzk


The Silence Series: Chakra Colors For Meditation – ANAHATA (Green)

At the core of All That Is … is the Heart….

I think this is my favorite chakra. It seems to resonate with me in a deep and profound way. While meditating I reach out towards the heart within; rejoicing in its beating pulse, embracing the connection to my life’s blood, and falling in love with the healing energy. This is ANAHATA, the Heart chakra. The principles guiding this chakra are Love, Faith, Duty, Awakening and Devotion. The energy source of this chakra provides healing and functionality for the respiratory, circulatory, and immune systems. It’s related sense: Touch.

With gentle ease and focus bring your attention to the 4th chakra which can be found in the heart region. Breathe in the rich sustaining color of deep green. This is the source of unconditional love (in giving and receiving) and the home of profound openness. When open, you feel the power of love and the willingness to go forth without fear or resentment. There is a great sense of peace and harmony with yourself, life, and All That Is….

It is a good practice to try to maintain your focus on each chakra for about 5 to 10 minutes.

The sound of the 4th chakra is … YAM.

Breathe in the rich color of deep green and repeat the mantra … YAM … YAM … YAM …

The 4th chakra ANAHATA

I want to give a special thanks to Deepak Chopra, whose teachings are a major source of my inspiration and information for this series.

 Namaste….


Music For Backgrounds: Ajad – Reiki Vol. 2 (Reiki Music 2: Music for Love)

The wonder of healing and finding the true Self … resting in peace with All That Is…

Today, I awoke to some very inspiring posts. They brought to my attention the essence of our lives spent in gratitude for All That Is and our remarkable ability to be creative, while discerning our immense capacity to love and be loved…

This morning I wrote a short text to my sister, telling her I loved her dearly. February, is a difficult month for us. Both my Mother’s and daughter’s birthdays are this month. Both, including my father, sadly have passed away. It is just her and I now.

I needed to reach out to my sister, share the love, tell her that she was in my thoughts and I hold her dear….

I am in the middle of my Chakra Colors for Meditation series. A collection of mindful images that I hope promotes a desire to journey within—to find a place of healing, peace, and love. I thought an interlude that included some soothing Reiki music would be just the thing to enhanced your contemplative experience of the day

Remember to breathe softly, focus your attention and stay centered.

Ajad – Reiki Vol 2 (Reiki Music 2: Music for Love) 59:53

http://youtu.be/64PT6JSuPK8

Here is the link to The Silence Series: Chakras Colors for Meditation – 1st chakra Muladhara (Red)

http://wp.me/p1f97v-Iq


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