Thought for The Day - Pencil

"Here! Go work with this for a while!"

Simple low-tech device and practically useless in a digital age! But remember, batteries lose their change and wall outlets aren't always available!

Some days, that's how it begins, a simple pencil. I have to admit, having spent years in college, I learned to choose my pencils carefully. I have a collection of several tones of pencils, everything from a 6H to a 6B. They produce tones from a pale grey to a very dark grey. But that's how it begins, that and a white page. A line, on a page, usually in the top left side of the page to ensure no space is wasted.

Quite honestly, I don't usually begin the process with a preconceived concept. Most days, this just feels like drills to warm up. But in the process of allowing my fingers and unconscious to connect, shapes, tones and shadows appear. An idea or theme comes to mind. I am off to shaping and planning; developing this idea with that shade of grey.

It's like that each morning, as I sit to write,  except I have "you" in mind. What will you say? What do you need today? As importantly, what should be expressed and where am I being lead? I don't get to set the tone of your life, or determine how the light and shadows play across your face. But I know that words, the expression of concepts, intentions and hope, contain power! And using this "pencil" is my way of lending my voice to the throng sending out truth and light!

Thought for The Day - The Power of a Line

Dance against The Rhythm - pastel 12 x 16

This is not a valuation of one person's work over another and not a promotion of myself or any other artist. Confined to "tan land," the world of cubicles, I created a small sphere of inspiration; I took small photographs of my work and placed them in my cube. Today, contemplating the idea of lines and how we use them to distinguish one shape from another, my eye landed on one piece in particular. A blue and purple line runs diagonally from mid way to the bottom right; it is surrounded by oranges, lilacs and other shades of blue. But looking at the line and the contrasting colors around it, the "power of the line" hit me square in the middle of my forehead!

As I have said many times before, I LOVE COLORS! And to be clear, the brighter the better! Again, this isn't a "plug" for my art, but the power of this ability to express what the soul is privy to. Our senses, our mind tries to put into some form, the message received. It's a communion of humanity and divinity; God and man talking, speaking and touching! This interplay, this dance if you will, is not limited to visual artists; authors, poets, dancers and performers all express a message from above. But this is my expression! This is my purpose!

Now to contrast my style to two other artist who have taken "the line" to a new level: Kevin WAK Williams and Serge Kponton! Now mind you, they aren't the only artists whose work I admire, but they stand out and shine!