Thought for The Day - Small

That little boy, skinny - ridiculously so - who, in his head was a little muscleman! LOL! A yellow No. 2 pencil in his hand, trying to draw a flower growing out of pot, the underbelly of a car, the "Mach 5," and on and on. Trying to master this drawing thing; trying to learn how to color within the lines as his older cousins did so well. And thinking about how to get his hands on a paint set and when he does, being disappointed that it didn't look like the picture on the box! That little boy, wanting to fit in, but so sure he didn't, he stayed to himself and created a world of his own...

Fifty-two at my last birthday; two young adult children of my own and a fifteen year old who is taller than me. I'm far from 'skinny,' now, but a great deal of my mass is muscle! Years of "on again, off again," weight training and big meals and I'm consistently over 200 pounds - way over! I wouldn't say I've "mastered" pencil or painting tools; what I like to believe is it is a life long process of developing skills and more importantly, speaking images into form. At the moment, I'm not nervous about the lack of work created because when my hands aren't busy, my mind is so active, I would need to concurrently work five canvases to get all this stuff out! And I don't 'sweat' that I'm not in a studio for eight hours a day because, this is another step in the growth process. Baby steps...

Last night I spent some time working on "Linen - A Storm's Coming," and realized that techniques I either learned in college or just "figured out" on my own were the finishing touches to bring this piece to completion. The image is more than I would have thought possible and had to "grow" organically. And like me, it's "end" is far larger than it's beginning...

"Who dares despise the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10 NIV

Thought for The Day - What is It You're Trying to Say?

Add Caption (working title) 11 x 17 pastels

The language isn't unknown, neither are the words; it's our acceptance that requires an adjustment...

At the moment, I'm listening to a recording by John Coltrane from 1965: "Ascension (Edition I)." Recorded after "Love Supreme," some would call it an "epic fail," still others would call it the "primer for free jazz." Quite honestly, it is a recording, on many occasions I can barely stomach. Not that it isn't an excellent recording, but often my mind is in the "nomenclature" and "designation," framework. In other words, I need traditional structure to fence in my mind and prevent it from "going on an adventure."

In that respect, I am so much like those who look at my work and wonder "what is it you're trying to say?" Early on when I presented my visual work, one Facebook friend challenged me by asking for a name and further "what does it mean?" Now given her nature, a highly spiritual and grounded woman, she wasn't questioning my authenticity or casting doubts on the value of the work, what I quickly discovered is she was helping me understand what was being said. A lesson learned from that early process is the message is often so primal and so true, my "carnal mind" avoids its energy. Yesterday, my daughter said to me: "I'm not into abstract art;" little does she know, neither am I, but it is in me.

We prefer our message to be crystal clear, "tell me what I should get out of this." We are certain, in any given moment we possess the capacity to understand whatever it is being said to us. "How right you are my friend!" You can understand, you can comprehend, but more importantly, are you listening or are you trying to mold the message to fit your current thinking? All too often, the message is simple and profound, meaning its "application" could be spread and applied in multiple ways throughout our lives. In that moment, the minute your unconscious mind receives 'TRUTH,' comprehension begins. But it is the next moment, when "we consciously" choose to accept the message or reject it, that's the moment of decision. I'm sorry to say, so often we choose too quickly to ignore what is being said.

Thought for The Day - Speak for Yourself

I've been a fairly quiet person all my life; never prone to long speeches or dominating a conversation. I want to be heard, but I understand the power of listening as well. I have friends who can talk at length about "anything" and "nothing" in particular and that's also been the case most of my life. I guess I get if from my father, who would get into conversations with his peers, they would go on and on, and all you would hear him say is "oh yeah," and "great day!" His smile and laugh always present.

My work speaks for me, its message can be misconstrued, misunderstood and perhaps minimized and marginalized, but for now, what I write and what is expressed in the colors and lines are my most meaningful expression.

Examine carefully and in both word and visual expression, you will find layers and twists, purpose and meaning hidden in the basic presentation. But then, we are so accustomed to a glut of words being the equivalent of profound thought, perhaps the simplicity will hide what I'm saying...not really. One day it will be clear.