Messenger

In my old leather bag, there are packages, envelopes and cardboard rolls containing images. I won't "grade" or "qualify" my effectiveness in terms of delivery. I'll just say there's always room for improvement. Sometimes, I hold on to messages, which somehow, doesn't prevent my bag from filling up. It is full of words and images that should be delivered; my hesitancy is the issue. And each image and message is relevant to whom I deliver. My duty is to deliver timely messages and I've got a way to go in doing so.

Thought for The Day - What Do You Do When...

Fire and Ice (in process) 8 x 11 colored pencils

Incomplete sentences

Delivered in parts

Fragments as I sit and contemplate

Communication

A theme

Subject matter - expert I am not

My pencil over the paper, will not render a well sketched portrait,

A bowl of grapes, a bottle of wine and a candle will not come forth

But a soul used yet full of life

Will tell a story

Share these fragments

Render you captivated

And provide food for thought

Thoughts

That come to mind years from now

Sitting at breakfast

An idea comes to mind

And you'll say "I remember when..."

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 - Universal Elements

Fire and Ice 8 x 11 Colored Pencils

"There's a story there! I just know it is!"

Yeah, there is a concept, an idea; some message hidden in that image, your design, in your DNA. History lies there, old traditions and quite possibly, spanning cultures. One thing I have found to be true is no one person, people, nation or ethnicity has a corner on truth and beliefs. It is amazing, when I spend time with people of different cultures, once we get past the 'niceties' - "where are you from, what region is that, how long have you lived in this area" - you find out many of the same human characteristics exist from society to society. Certainly there are varied customs and not every tradition crosses the cultural barriers. But in so many ways, we are the same.

The image above, I rendered some years ago. It started as my trying out colored pencils, something I used extensively in college. As I "scratched" the pencils across the paper, I noticed there seemed to be an image of fire forming. I thought "it would be interesting if there were a contrast of ice against it." And as I rendered, trying to catch the 'designs' of both fire and ice, I wondered who wins in this epic battle? Will the fire melt the ice or will the ice, melting into water, douse the flames? At some point, it became clear, the story would not be resolved by this rendering. Like a reporter, my role is to capture the moment, not define the story - at least not in this picture.

It is a struggle for many; the conflict between warmth and cool, passion or logic, emotions versus cold reasoning. In truth, both are necessary, though we all struggle with expressions of the two elements. But look further, dig deeper; there is more to the image, more stories and concepts.

Thought for The Day - The Communication

Soul Dance (in progress) 8 x 11 colored pencils

The power of words! They are like the building blocks of our world; the communication of far deeper concepts and if we don't know how to express what's there, it doesn't lessen it's power on us! From the words, the formation of sounds that equal thoughts, ideas, feelings and impressions, we increase our understanding and the unfathomable.

Images are the shapes and colors we use to hinge our thoughts upon as well. Whether it's the face of your loved one or a tree, we know through our six senses, the sixth being our ability to filter and catalog the other five senses.

The other day, my wife apologetically stated that she doesn't understand abstract art: my work is abstract. I told her it's okay and went on to draw a correlation between abstract art and patterns in clothes. Colors, shapes and patterns communicate thoughts, feelings and even expectations. We don't understand to the degree we can easily articulate, but we do "get it." Consider the smile of your child or your beloved; whether you know why they're smiling, the fact that they are smiling, warms your heart. Or, depending on circumstances, you may think the smile hides a hidden agenda or perhaps sarcasm. The same can be said about a hand gesture, a frown or someone looking away when you meet for the first time. A thousand different impressions occur in a simple human exchange.

The power of communication is that it goes deeper and further than recording facts and figures. It is our means of conveying life!

Thought for The Day - The Brightness and The Light

Of a feather 18 x 24 pastels

Let it in,

The illumination that comes from above,

The possibilities of life lived to the fullest

Not necessarily free of stress or absent of challenges

But celebrating struggle

And growing together

A life accompanied by Guidance and Help


All too often, we are motivated by what hurts us. Either we're trying to avoid it or we are inflicting it to preserve our existence. But it takes moments when we least expect it, to allow the light of God to shine in on our lives. Those moments, when you've "had enough," you can't take another worry or concern and your mind goes blank. But you're mind is never blank or without perception; we are always - especially when we're sleep - aware of our world. And our world is larger than what's visible and perceivable with our five senses!

Allow those moments when you absently stare at a car passing by, or a child playing, to guide you. Open your heart to hear the message waiting to be part of who you are. It will not guid in step-by-step instructions, the path you should take. So many times, you are exactly where you should be. But it will guide you, in the sense of pointing to details you're overlooking, over-analyzing or parts unknown.

Allow the light to shine "in you."