Thought for The Day - You See it as an Entertainment

The Turn 9 x 12 Pastels

Of a feather 18 x 24 Pastels

I'm Listening 24 x 36 Oil painting

You watch a dancer, you hear a singer, a musician strumming a guitar and all is well. But they move acrobatically, turn a phrase or sing a note in a unique or funny way, play notes on the guitar from the neck and you clap in response. And somewhere along this path, the message gets distorted. Both audience and "messenger" alike are caught up in the miraculous and the amazing and like a child clamoring for more fun, the original intent can be lost.

We don't pay money for a message or to be told something true but unflattering about ourselves. And yet an artist's true purpose is to hold the mirror up to the world and say "see, this is who you truly are." At times, it is done by talking about themselves, their desires and wants and their loss. Sometimes it is a true message about the state of the world, the human condition. And sometimes, it's a message about the BIG picture of life and how it twists and turns. But words, body movement, the notes of a song are all messages.

You see pretty colors, I see a divine rendering, declaring the changes in the state of conscious. You see "abstract" or "scribbles." I see how we "flock" to those who are like us, but we never really find our mirror image. You see a blue orb surrounded by other blue lines; I see the mouth of someone speaking and respond "I'm listening..."

You "might want" entertainment, but when artists listen to the voice of God you get...

Thought for The Day - Searching to Find...

Looking up, focusing on nothing in particular, glancing over my left shoulder, watching the fish swim and play and the orange, blue, red and white of the painting sitting on the easel...I absorb it, listen to it and wait for an answer. The question, unspoken, hangs in the air...how will my arm extend to the world today? A candle in hand, a light shone on the common place, bringing light to details we know, but ignore.

There are many details, messages and truths to know. I'm shining the spotlight on the ugly as well refined beauty. Innocence and joy, love and faith. But there's always another side to all of this and especially from a human perspective.

Thought for The Day - Perfection

The two fluorescent lights above my head,
Illuminating the center point,
The easel and canvas given equal light
The clutter of paints
Stacked in plastic transparent drawers
Stacks of paper,
Subliminal image sources
And the spine of books
Neatly lined up above me
Providing the same
And the music
A constant companion
Like oxygen for my soul...

Where the light hits your soul,
When the opportunity presents itself
Shine!

Thought for The Day - Shhh! We're Talking Now!

A Rhythm of Her Own 18 x 24 pastels

We say it, dance it, arrange it in prose. Many say it in strange colors and images and you tilt your head and say "my five year old could do that!" He does and you don't hear it still. The message continues to flow and your ears are full of wax: a combination of your sweat and oil, the fruit of your labor limit your hearing. 

We write it in stories, sing it song, strum it on a guitar and yet your dull ears can't perceive a thing! When we put it on the large or small screen, if isn't scintillating, you turn away, far too accustomed to sensationalism, without truth. But we say it again, and again, and again.

It is our mission to repeat phrases, reuse words, splash the dullness of lives with the brightness of reds, yellows and ebonies! We have been tasked to bring messages to this world, to get your attention, to change your mind! And though you try to ignore us, we are clearly seen and heard by those with a yearning to know. Those whose hearts have been broken, whether the offense is minor or major, yet they ache for healing...those are the one's who perceive. 

Our work is never done because there will always be one or two or many who don't get it. And we continue, from generation to generation, declaring this good news.

Are you ready to listen?

Thought for The Day - Thought Patterns

Linen with a Swirl 24 x 30 Oils

My wife doesn't "get" abstract art, but she loves me. :) So it's okay that I do what I love to do. I have explained the process but it bears repeating: themes run continuously through my head and yet, it isn't until I sit down to begin a new painting that "one of them" comes to the surface. The series: "Linen," is one of those patterns.

I have sat and stared at the pattern of woven material, many times and it never ceases to amaze me! the intricate over and under, the tightness of the material, the weave and texture - simply amazing! The same holds true for landscapes and cityscapes; look at the patterns and the way areas rise and fall as they spread out over the horizon! And one of the most amazing patterns is the pattern of skin texture. Simply look at your own skin (and rather than fixate on your flaws, actually look at the pattern that runs underneath), hold your hand up and look at the intricate detail "woven" there!

So with all the patterns in my head and found in a given day, "Linen" continues to grow!

Thought for The Day - ...Processing...

Trillions of particles floating colliding, bouncing off one another, every fraction of a second...

This light,

This life,

Flowing fluidly,

A stream of reasoning,

Emotions

And consciousness.

What is perceived

Is a fraction of

What is...

Progressing across this expanse of space, each step a lesson in diligence. Persistence keeps me going as I cross unfamiliar territories. Lessons learned, more information communicated than my conscious can recall, I am lost, but continue on the path I'm choosing. Recalculating each step, wind blowing across my face, eyes in a semi-permanent squint shading my view from the intense sun.

This is my journey, my progress, my life. I travel across space and time, light surrounding me nearly every step of the way. And in the distance, there is a twist, a twirling of life. Unexpected, it promises life will no longer be the same.

...merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream!

Thought for The Day - The Nitty Gritty

Yes, an old phrase, if you're under 40, you know nothing about it! (smile) It means getting down to the details, the fine, confusing, truth revealing details.

Let's get to it. This art thing; can't state enough that this is love, but this goes beyond everyone's definition of love. The details, looking at reflections of light on someone's face, seeing the fine details of skin, observing the depth of details of granite...the list goes on. But that's the details I hold on to, it's the images and details I see without trying, sitting on the train, the kitchen table and anywhere shapes, colors and textures occur.

Thought for The Day - Shine On!

A Response (in process) 24 x 36 Oil painting

On any given day, at any given moment, we are capable of the greatest light reflecting from our hearts. Yes, the snow, cold, aching bones, long hours at work, being unappreciated while we're there, working jobs that are boring (but we need the money so we never lift our eyes to see what's in our soul) and a life that is fairly mundane...whew! Stuff weighing us down! Your every thought turns to the burdens and before you know it, everything is killing you!

But...somehow you go on. You rise, get dressed and face another day. You find humor in the morning madness of radio hosts and wish you could have "their job, they make it seem like so much fun." And though those moments of laughter don't last long, it remains in your heart. The day progresses laboriously; you make it through the day, barely it seems, but you survive it and in the evening hours, there's not much to look forward to except preparing for the next day. But every now and then, something stirs in you, prompting you to consider there's more to life than meets the eye. And you go on.

You explore another degree, perhaps take classes or just pick up a hobby. "Maybe I'll join a bowling league or join an exercise class." You call it boredom, needing excitement in your life and you move from one thrill to another. But...

The light exists in your soul and whether expressed through the mundane or gloriously in the light of celebrity status, shine on! When we allow the light to shine on us and through us, we touch, heal and elevate one another to heights unknown. We soar, we glide on wings and breathe "rare air." Come on people, SHINE ON!

Thought for The Day - A Sliver of Sunlight

In the darkest of days - overcast, blustery and cold - a light can shine into your life. It breaks through for a minute or two, unexpectedly. In the heart of a Chicago fall or winter day, a moment or two of intense sunlight is needed to break the grip of the doldrums.

Some clouds hang low, they are thick and dark and on a walk along the river or the lake, the air grips you and sinks into your bones. But mostly the darkness is the pain of a life, searching for a way to live to its full.

So when a moment comes along, the winds die down and that light flashes from above; when you feel it's warmth and it eases away the pain, if only for a moment, there's the promise of a life much better. Hold on to it, cherish it.

There's always more to come.

Thought for The Day - Color Your Thoughts

Filtered Divinity

Bright Reds,

Glowing Oranges,

Shimmering Pinks,

Do your thoughts shine? Are they luminescent, holding light and energy and promise?

Do your emotions reflect a blue so deep, the darkest ocean is no comparison?

It's okay, and it's all good.

We are made to reflect and shine as emerald green and silvery white.

Our heart is a container of the spectrum of lights and dark and a constant shifting of light and energy.

Pull out your child's crayon box,

Pour it on a table before you,

It doesn't compare to the range of colors within you.

Thought for The Day - Sunlight through an Open Window

There are times when the energy comes through like pure light. No matter the film of dirt and grime that could prevent it, the light burns through. It is warmth, radiance and joy.

But all too often, the light, the warmth, the energy we desire is "eclipsed" by our emotions; we hang our heads in shame and anguish. We recall our pain and in that given period of time, nothing is can be heard, felt or seen.

Lift your heads! Look to the light! Your source, your strength! There is all you need to make life worth living!

Thought for The Day - Spark

That flash of insight, the mind turns over and begins to formulate a plan, a vision... I'm off scrambling for pen and paper, pastel and a sheet of pastel paper or my laptop. I'm capturing the idea and trying to bring it into this life.

Always listening, whether consciously or unconsciously for some nugget of clarity to bring light to this world. Where does your work or creativity begin? How do you bring it to light?

We have this treasure (Filtered Divinity)

Amazing, it is, that life altering truth comes from the places it does. Our tendency is to assume light, or revelation only comes by way of those who spend long hours, head bowed in contemplation or in books. But truth, spiritual knowledge doesn't have to have a "willing body;" all it takes is a mind, a heart, and a soul, and God's infinite wisdom will find you!

In the above piece, you will note the bands of earth tones, particularly browns, clay and oranges, primarily below. That's us. But wait, what's this breaking through the bottom? Seems like light is interrupting the thick dark tones. Yeah, well that happens around us and to us more often than we know.

It is said that artist transmit the will of the creator. Whether it's singing, writing, acting, or rendering in paint or marble, to the world, we convey 'messages.' But have you ever watched a child at play? Especially children who play with great effort? If you've ever seen one who laughed, twirled, jumped and ran, then you've also noted that they "huff and puff" and sweat like us crotchety adults :) But they are expressing joy without separating play from work. They are creating joy with great effort - rather than waiting to be entertained. God, through them, expresses his joy - for joy's sake.

We have a treasure hidden in are "earthen vessels..."