Of Many Minds But Do What You Love

mixed media on wood panel


Creating synthesizes the many parts of ones self.

The magic is that it is often effortless.

Again and again I am reminded to start by starting, by touching your materials.

Make a mark.  Lay down color, glue some paper down.

Follow what you love.  

Colorful Days

Letting color lead in the most basic way.  No rules.

Without intent.  Make it simple. What color do you love?

How does it look next to another color?  Do you want to add more?

Do you want less?  

If you don't like it, change it.  What do you see in your painting?

Where do you want to focus?  How do you want to do that?

What does it tell you about yourself, your life?

If you don't like it, what would you like more?  Only you can answer.

Do it.

Three days with Jesse Reno.  Life changing.

For a Moment

A simple trip. . . .on an airplane gives us a vision of the world 

that our  imagination could not have revealed otherwise.  

Once we return to our modest existence as pedestrians, 

we will remember. . . the splendor of the  sun 

as well as a perception of unlimited space in which 

for a moment 

we felt ourselves to be free.

~Henri Matisse

The Creative Spirit

"There is an energy in the creative process

that belongs in the league of those energies 

which can uplift, unify, and 

harmonize all of us.

This energy, 

which we call 'making' 

is the relating of parts to make a new whole."

Corita Kent

The Path

acrylic paint, texture paste, tamale husk, transfer of original drawing, collage

A tree grows from her forehead rooting itself in her eyes, her vision, how she sees the world.  

Flowers blossom from the tree.  At times, a thought, a creation is like this.  Without forethought and  before you know it, something strange is created.  It is afterwards that we ask, what was I thinking?  That is the beauty of the creative process we are NOT thinking, we are creating.  Somewhere in the depths there is a knowing, an understanding beyond words that needs to be trusted.  Others can say, oh that's weird, that's creepy, or that's beautiful.  It does not matter.  It is what it is.  It came from a place that is beyond words.  

Continue to create.  Continue on your path.  

It is the only honest thing each of us can do.

It's One of Those Days. . . .

journal pages, collage, acrylic, collage, ink

So much to look forward to in life.

I am going to hear Jake Shimabukuro play his ukulele live.  He can create sounds
from his instrument like no other.   In the presence of an artist I think of the
possibility and potential each of us has within us.  You, too, can join nine million others
who have heard Jake's ukulele gently weep.  

Visit Rebecca, recuerda mi corazon, to see view more Postcards from Paradise.

Seasons

Here in Souther California the weather has a mind of its own.  Regardless of the season, the sun may decide to appear.  I mean, it's February and on my drive home I saw trees blossoming.  

I had to stop and pull out my point and shot and get a photo.

acrylic, texture, collage papers, self made stamps, stencil,  India ink

I love blue skies but also enjoy moodier weather.  

I painted this landscape on a rainy day while I was in a wintery mind. 

A Gathering of Hearts

A day of found hearts,

Of signs of love

Of giving, a small offering of yourself

In the name of love.

Happy Valentine's Day

XXO

Beauty Day and Night

This statue adorns a local plaza in Palos Verdes Estates where I am fortunate enough to live.

From the cafe where I have a morning coffee and write in my journal  see this view.

And in the darkness a mysterious beauty overtakes Neptune 

and you can imagine being anywhere in the world.

This post is linked to Rebecca Brooks

Postcards from Paradise.  Please visit to other 

glimpses of paradise.

Facing It

I'm in a rut. . .  no, that's when you don't love what you are doing and you keep doing more.

Obsessed is more accurate.

I am sketching, drawing, painting faces

until, well, I guess, until I stop.

Home

journal page, photo, acrylic

The Pacific Ocean beckons, arms wide to embrace the totality of life,

a reminder that each day is unique, each moment a lifetime.

I still stop my car at the sight of a sunset as I did

a quarter of a century ago with

my son in his infant seat.   "Look

at the sky," I would say and point to another

flawless horizon as we sat to watch the last 

of the persimmon colored embers transform the sky, 

then drive the  three blocks home in the silence

reflected under clouds.

This is linked to Rebecca Brook's Postcards from Paradise.  

I encourage you to visit Rebecca to see more  of Paradise.

This is also linked to Kat's Eye studio, Photo~Heart Connection.  
Visit to see other photographs  connected to the heart.