Post Canvas And Paint: Abstract 07 – The Circular Eclipse
The sky turned the brightest day into the darkest night, as I lit a candle to illuminate the ambiguities of my desires….
The circular eclipse
The heart of creativity is an experience of the mystical union; the heart of the mystical union is an experience of creativity. – Julia Cameron
Post Canvas and Paint….
Post Canvas And Paint: Abstract 06 – The Winding Tapestry
On the winding road every past moment in life followed me as the future fell off the cliff ahead of me….
The winding tapestry
The human mind cannot create anything. It produces nothing until after having been fertilized by experience and meditation; its acquisitions are the gems of its production. – George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon
Post Canvas and Paint….
Post Canvas And Paint: Abstract 05 – The Returning Tide
As I found myself lost in the sea with no boundaries I never felt the need for gravity or place….
The returning tide
Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create – so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, his very breath is cut off from him. He must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency he is not really alive unless he is creating. – Pearl S. Buck
Post Canvas and Paint….
Post Canvas And Paint: Abstract 04 – The Loving Heart
In the translucent sound of night, the color of things to come were just beyond the stars….
The loving heart
Creation is such an elusive thing, for the more we think we are in control, the more we remove ourselves from the actual creation. – Betty Jean Billups
Post Canvas and Paint….
Post Canvas And Paint: Abstract 03 – The Consuming Sky
As the sky fell to earth I heard a memory, and it was not so long ago that I fell in love….
The consuming sky
A poet feels the impulse to create a work of art when the passive awe provoked by an event is transformed into a desire to express that awe in a rite of worship. – W. H. Auden
Post Canvas and Paint….
Post Canvas And Paint: Abstract 02 – The Dreaming Void
In a moment forged with the fluttering sounds of dreams in flight, I soon escaped my troubling fears….
The dreaming void
The true locus of creativity is not the genetic process prior to the work but the work itself as it lives in the experience of the beholder. – Monroe Beardsley
Post Canvas and Paint….
Post Canvas And Paint: Abstract 01 – The Setting Sun
I looked into the mirror of my thoughts as the setting sun slowly disappeared over the horizon….
The Setting Sun
Something about making art has to do with overcoming things, giving us a clear opportunity for doing things in ways we have always known we should do them. – David Bayles
Post Canvas and Paint….
I Really Want To Meet Your Sensitivity With Compassion And Love (A Hit The Mark Remix)
In a moment, my only desire is to meet your sensitivity with my thoughtfulness and longing….
Being centered with you
They tell me that love and compassion is a journey without measure….
Not unlike an arrow whose flight is true….
Everything Changes Except A Persistent Memory (A Think You Know Remix)
We often find ourselves on the boundaries of what we remember….
Everything changes except a persistent memory
Sometimes in a moment of realization, in a glimmer of mindfulness, we can see the totality of our lives: The days spent with dreams. The nights, restless—consumed with thought. The years forged with the desire to be something—perhaps anything other than who we are. And in the end, an uncertainty that begs the question; do all things change except a persistent memory?
Perhaps we really do not know ourselves at all, and in its place we find only a recurring memory to give us pause.
A fine line of demarcation of what is and what we imagine; who we are and what we might have become.
It is a fortress of endless cycles of memories and desires that seduce the very knowledge of who we are and the way we think.
We know that everything is in constant flux. Everything changes. Our lives change and the world around us as well.
It is a given.
Yet it feels like our memories, the persistent ones, never do….
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.
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….
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….
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)
Weekly photo challenge - between
The silence series: urban meditation
The path to everlasting consciousness and love (a yellow brick road remix)
We are the everlasting consciousness (a centered moment remix)
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
Here is the link to The Silence Series: Chakras Colors for Meditation – 1st chakra Muladhara (Red)
The Silence Series: Chakra Colors For Meditation – Manipura (Yellow)
Moving through the moments in life we are empowered by … All That Is….
It is important to maintain your attention on your breath as you move into the energy surrounding the third chakra. Bring your focus to the area above the naval and envisioned the rich hue of yellow. This is the solar plexus chakra known as Manipura, the place of the shining jewel. This area governs how you digest your life, and focuses on empowering your life, and fostering confidence in meeting ones aspirations and intentions. When blocked one has a feeling of frustration, anger and digestive unease. The third chakra controls the liver, stomach, gall bladder, spleen and relates to the sense of light.
Bring your attention to the color yellow and let go of all of your frustrations and fears. Feel the energy propel you, transforming negative and unwanted emotions into positive and life affirming possibilities.
Breathe in the color yellow and repeat the mantra … Ram … Ram … Ram….
Namaste….
Breathe in the color yellow
The Silence Series: Chakra Colors For Meditation – Svadhisthana (Orange)
As we look within the centered Self, we find … All That Is….
The second chakra is closely associated with the Self or Soul. It is an energy chakra that promotes the reproductive system and assimilation. This chakra’s location is centered in the pelvic region. It governs our sexuality, sensations, appetite and our family associations. Svadhisthana means the Self’s dwelling place. This is a powerful energy center that promotes our sexual expression and creative impulses. It is associated with the sense of taste.
As you continue your practice, move your attention from the first chakra into the second. Visualize the color orange and quietly repeat the mantra Vam … Vam … Vam.
Namaste….
Breathe in the color orange
Peace, Love, and Light to All….
The Silence Series: Chakra Colors For Meditation – Muladhara (Red)
Our Mind, Body and Spirit is of one Source … All That Is….
Over the next week, I will be working on a series that will be revolving around the beautiful spiritual essence of the various chakras. And how through a meditation practice we can access their vital energy for harmony and healing. I am going to post each chakra individually, as I build towards a concluding series of all seven chakras. As I progress I will be making different visual versions of each chakra. In the end, I will choose seven that I believe have the greatest continuity as a whole for a meditation practice.
Each chakra represents a core dimension of human life.
First up is the Muladhara (Sanskirt) chakra. It’s color is Red and its sound is Lam. This chakra is associated with basic survival skills. It affects the skeleton, lymph, and elimination elements of the body. The sensory component associated with it is the sense of smell. It is in this chakra center that we are released from uncertainity.
When beginning a meditation practice, it is good to be in a relaxed position. Make sure you are comfortable and have your eyes closed. Quiet your breathing by focusing your attention on your in-breath and out-breath. Then bring your awareness to the first chakra at the base of the spine. Bring your attention to this energy center and visualize the color of deep red and begin to repeat the mantra Lam … Lam … Lam.
Namaste
The Path To Everlasting Consciousness And Love (A Yellow Brick Road Remix)
The obstacles we find on the path to Everlasting Consciousness….
The road we travel is often paved with the things that stand in our way.
as I started my journey….
i looked
to the memories behind me
– only once
as i walked along the path
i remembered
the things I’ve forgotten
– only yesterday
as you join me
i embrace
what we share together
– only forever
on the path to Everlasting Love….
We Are The Everlasting Consciousness (A Centered Moment Remix)
In a centered moment. in a vision of clarity, I saw the “I” am as All That Is….
Towards the moment of clarity
a future moment of being
is here
an everlasting presence
to seek
and embrace
– the soul is free
to wander
– the Spirit Is Always….
When We Look Skyward An Everlasting Consciousness (A Sky And Earth Remix)
Sometimes I feel as if the universe is not beyond my reach….
A hidden name found in earth and sky
art as improvisation
and
a hidden name –
inside
the universe within….
n e w d i g i t a l s c a p e s 