Mushin no shin...

My mind runs wild with thoughts of enlightenment.

My mind runs wild with thoughts of what I can not touch

My mind is constantly running.

I can not stop it.

I am the controller of my mind.

My mind is the controller of me.

My mind...my mind reaches for enlightenment...

Ribbit or Rib it...

Today on my way home I saw a frog...wait for it, I know it sounds strange but for me it was probably the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. I've seen a live frog before when I was young but not up and close. So to see this frog up and close was downright AWESOME! I wish I had gotten a pic for you guys so I could share it with you guys.

I don't know just something about seeing the beauty of nature in that moment made my night. And I just wanted to share with you guys.

Until next week...

 

-Namaste

Focus Grasshopper or Mental Tornado...

Lately I have lacked the proper motivation. Maybe I shouldn't say motivation but more along the lines of having a lack of focus. I have been having issues with keeping my mind centered.

I have so much going on in my head right now it's seems hard to pick one at a time. It's like I've reached a crossroad.

And I am stuck on where do I go from here...how do I get to point B...what's going to happen next....

It's all this uncertainty in my head that is cloud my mind and keeping me off my game. I need to re-learn how to not let things take over my mind and spiral out of control .

Maybe I need to get back into meditating. You know really clearing my head before I dive into anything else. I think I will give that a go...what say you?

Well that's all I have for you guys this week. Looking forward to the week ahead.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

 

Stillness...

-Namaste

Golden Goddesses...

Lookie here...lookie here! 2 weeks in a row I have come to you guys to share some new work that I have been working on.

 I have been really motivated the last couple of weeks. I have not been questioning anything I have been working on the past few weeks. I have been just rolling with an idea and focusing on getting it done and on to the next one. So without further ado...

         Reclining Golden Goddess                                                             Rockin' Golden Goddess

Until next week...

-Namaste

A Time to Reflect...A Time to look to look towards the future...

Faithful few...the year is almost over and I gotta say it was a year for me. I went and elevated myself out of my comfort zone, that which was work and home. I quit my job and moved south. Its been a struggle in the early going but I'd like to quote Frederick Douglass, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress..."

I have been enduring and trying to stay focused. It's been tough but oddly enough I am still encouraged. 2014 will be my year. I am going to continue to push myself into taking chances and living my life. This time last year, I felt that I would be where I am now but my mind still wasn't made up yet. As I am typing this, I am trying to think of the next big thing that I want/need to tackle. I really need to step up my game art-wise. I have a few new ideas that I want to get to before I start on some old ideas. I know that sounds a little backwards but I have decided that that next year, I am going to try and produce the work as it comes to me. No holding it back. Gotta get rolling and keep my creative juices flowing.

I am going to try to keep up with posting images for you guys as well. I have been promising work and not  delivering for you guys. That's all I have for you guys this year. See you in the new year...



-Namaste

Chūshō geijutsu or The ZEN approach...

So this past week I have had a lot on my mind. Been dealing with some personal things and the other day they manifested themselves into a work of art. I created piece that I used to clear my head. As I was painting I was allowing the paint to do what it wanted. I was freeing my mind of all thoughts and pouring them onto the canvas.

A sort of darkness emerged but a life can also be seen coming through the darkness...a spark...a light rising...

This was a nice piece for me to do because I had no real expectations of what would come out of doing it. I think I might do this little exercise a lot more. I am including a couple of pics for you guys so you can see what I came up with. Enjoy.

Until next time...

 

 

- Namaste

Untitled (A Light Rising)

Acrylic on canvas

18"X24"

2013

 

 

Detail of Untitled (A Light Rising)

 

 

 

Reflecting or the Art of Reflection...

I have a Note to my 28yr old self post coming soon. I just started a new painting today and unfortunately I can't post any pic of it. Its a gift and I don't want to spoil it:-). Let's see...last week this time I was celebrating my glorious birthday. Its amazing how time flies when you are enjoying the moment though right? In some ways I wish I could freeze time and just live in the moment. There are a lot of of instances where I would do things differently and some where I would hold on to certain things.

Don't get me wrong, its nice to move on but sometimes its always fun to bask in all the glorious gloritude of the thrill of things. All too frequently we get caught up in the zen of life (which is not a bad thing) but sometimes its OK to hold on to fleeting moments. Sometimes it's better to savor and enjoy the moment. There have been plenty of times where I dwelled on a moment. Now when I say dwell, I don't mean over think...I mean spend some time to reflect. Reflection is a powerful thing.

That's all I have for you guys today but like I said earlier, I have a Note to my 28yr old self post coming soon. I just have to decide how I'm going to do. Until then...
post

-Namaste

Sketching and stuff or something like it...

I started my sketchbook this week for the Sketchbook Project and so far so good.  I started with one idea but as I was walking around the mall yesterday I came up with the perfect idea.  Once I get a few more sketches done, I will share with you guys.  Its a pretty good idea for what it is.

This was also my first week of my vacation.  I have enjoyed the time away from work.  I didn't do what I initially planned but I have enjoyed myself nonetheless.  I look forward to my next week of vacation.  You know sometimes you need a complete break from it all.  Its like pushing a reset button on you life.  Everyone should do it now and then.

I also haven't forgotten about the other blog Ive been working on.  I just haven't gotten around to finishing it yet.  Its still coming soon.  I might have if finished by next week in time for my next post.  Until then...


-Namaste

The week that was or the middle of Februrary...

So...I found out that I didn't make it into Teach for America this year. My rejection letter talked of their highly selective process(they have a 12% acceptance rate). I am somewhat disappointed but yet still encouraged. Just getting the opportunity to apply was a good thing for me. I would rather have applied and not gotten in then to have not applied altogether. There will be plenty of opportunities for me in the future. I will not give up. I can not give up...

So yesterday I started a new painting where I love all elements of the painting the way it is now. I am trying to channel my inner zen approach to painting. While I love what's going on in the painting I know in my heart of hearts that one way or another I am going to destroy part of this painting. My process is all about building up and then tearing down. Every once and awhile I do something where I am so amazed by what happen by accident or by failure of application of process that I become hesitant about destroying it. I know I must bit it just sometimes get to a point where eventhough it's not finished, I am quite satisfied with what I have. I will post some pics for you guys next week of where I am at with it. I can see that it's going to be a lengthy work in progress.

That's all I have for guys this week.

-Namaste

'Ello Mates

Hey there faithful few, how goes it! I haven't had too eventful of a week. Nothing major. I did forget to mention that I got my Teach for America application done last Friday! Awesome!!! Righteous...I should know this coming Tuesday and I will get called in for an interview. I am kind of excited and kind of on edge. I will be sure to let you guys know what happens either way. Wish me Luck.

I want to apply for this artist residency in Charlotte for next fall. The deadline is in May so I am going to start working some new stuff for that. I really need to gain some focus right now. I have been trying to do things here and there where I emptied my mind of all thoughts. A sort of Zen approach to creating art. I think all too often recently, I have tried to hard while trying to create. I started to over-think and rethink most of the things I was doing. I think I started losing faith in what I was doing as an artist. I love that I am able now to just "CREATE." I look forward to show you guys more of my work coming up soon.

-Namaste