No Mistakes...No Regrets...

There are sometimes that I wish I could seize the moment and ride it to infinity.

...times I wish I could get a "do-over"

...times I wish I would have "leaped before I looked"

...times I wish I would have said "no instead of yes"

...times I wish I would have "let go instead of holding on"

But I didn't and have no regrets. Every decision that I have made in my life, I have made for a reason and I am glad that I did...

-Namaste

Last day of January...

It is already the end of January. In a few short hours it will be February. And for me it looks like the turnover of the calendar is like a new page turning.

I am feeling really optimistic about the coming months. Getting back on track and regaining a sense of control seems within reach. I feel a tinge of excitement brewing within me. I can't wait to share with you guys, mostly everything... Somethings I still want to hold in to for a while.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Merging into a whole and complete self...

As we get closer to the end of the year, I begin to reflect. In about 6 weeks I will reach another milestone in my life. I think back to when I was younger and thought about my plans for the future. I also wonder at this stage in my life am I or have I quite lived to my full potential.

I have always talked about how I am a big underachiever but as I get older, I also realize that I also don't get out of my way. Which brings to mind, self-sabotage...

I need to figure out what I want...what I need to do to stay focused and not doubt the choices that I make no matter how they turn out. When I was younger before I started taking chances, I always kept my eyes on the prize. I said I was going to do something and I did it. I need to learn to combine the old with the new. Train my mind to merge the former with the latter to make a complete "me".

I have truly come far but I don't want to enter my "mid-life" on the verge of a crisis.

Until next time...




-Namaste

I am thankful...

I have the greatest girlfriend in the world.
I have the greatest family in the world
I have the greatest friends in the world-

For that I am thankful.

I was born with a great gift
I have experienced great things
Up until now my life has been great-

For that I am thankful.

Things always find a way of working out.
Something and someone always come through
Through all adversity and strife I have my health-

For that I am thankful.







-Namaste

Shuck your Shells...

What do you do when it seems like all you are doing is skirting by? I have always prided myself on having a set plan and a way of doing things but lately I feel like I have really given in to the strong ideology of "Leap of Faithism". I have been lucky so far but in the back of my head I feel like I'm playing Russian Roulette with a 6 shooter loaded with 5 in the cylinder.

I am beginning to really hate not knowing and leaving things to chance and faith. Sure I am trying to make things happen as well but for the most part I have been going under the assumption that things will work themselves out. I miss having more control of my life. I need to find away to get back to that person while still being the guy who takes chances when need be. Until then, I will continue to feel the way I do from time to time.

That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next week...



-Namaste

One Year Ago on this Date...

One year ago on this very date (Sep 26), I took a giant leap of faith. I packed up and in the early morning of this date one year ago, I left Baltimore for Charlotte. It has been a very trying year for me...especially the last few months. In some ways I feel as though that's OK. I didn't quite know what to expect when I embarked on this undertaking. This was new territory to me. I left my comfort zone and started anew.

In a way, I usually feel like I'm still just visiting but every time I get paid I brought back to the reality that I'm not still a visitor. (I'm paying NC taxes, lol) I am finding being from somewhere else is also a good conversation starter as well. I've had small talk(which is weird because I hate small talk) with people who almost always immediately pick up on my accent. I proudly say I am from Baltimore.

I miss Baltimore...I'm not going to lie. I miss my family, I miss my friends...I miss that energy Baltimore has and one about my O's...Eutaw Street is going to be rocking next month. I think once I get back on track, I'll go back to visit for a few days. Or I will make it my mission to get back at least twice a year.

Well as I begin year 2 of my transition, I hope things look much brighter on the other side of the trees. That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next week...



-Namaste

Just another Humdrum...

It's been another one of them weeks for me. I am really going through some things. So I haven't really been myself in awhile. I have almost just been going through the motions.

One thing is for sure it seems like time is really flying...I mean really flying. Just seems like it was the beginning of the year and now we only have 4 more months before it's 2015. Wow 2015!! And my milestone day is fast approaching, crazy. Whowouldhavethunkit!!!

Well that all I have for this week guys, hopefully next week I will have more to say and share.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

All You Need...about the size of a Mustard Seed...

So faithful few...I think it's been a minute since I called you guys that...anywhoogle.

I feel like I am at a point...no I know I am at a point in my life right now where my faith is being tested. I have definitely hit a rough patch. I am not ready to share it just yet out into the blogosphere but when I do, I will definitely share it with you guys.

On a side note, I didn't work on my other design any this week so I didn't have anything new on that from to share with you guys. When I do get some work done on it! I will def share with you guys.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

Show me your Warhol...

I have been really enjoying this class I have been taking on Warhol. Tomorrow I am going to do my first assignment for this class and I am looking forward to doing that. We have to create a work of art A LA Warhol and write a little summary about the finished piece. I wonder what I will do. We also have to critique 3 other people's work. It's been a minute since I had to give a critique or critiqued someone's work.

I also have been trying to work in these new ideas that I have for my "Goddess" series. I just haven't been having the proper motivation for them. My mind right now isn't as clear as it needs to be. I've tried to keep a really clear mind but I seem to be able to only hold so much positive energy at a time. I guess it's just that right now at this time in my life I am at a critical juncture. I have been trying to make sure that I stay about the positive line though. Don't want to let stress take me over so it starts to effect everything in my life...you know what I mean? That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next time...



-Namaste

Crunch...Crunch...CHOMP!!!

So I have been doing me the past couple of weeks. I haven't been devoting much time to my sketchbook as I would like but I am trying to change that.

I told myself the other day that I need to start working on some 6X6s while I had some free time. Out of curiosity I went to the website to see when the deadline was because I hadn't gotten an announcement in the mail this year letting me know when it was. Lo and behold, the deadline is actually next Saturday. I thought I had a few weeks still to get some done but as it stands I only have probably until Thursday or so to produce some(The pieces have to be postmarked by the 19th) .

This is another classic example of time creeping up on me pretty fast. And I have to submit something because of all that free time I had when I first moved to Charlotte there should be no excuse...none whatsoever as to why I didn't submit anything.

The thing is I don't know what I want to submit yet. I've started working in a somewhat new medium for me and I am not yet ready or not yet sold on my methods with it. I am also thinking of combining some elements and just producing some digital prints. So many ideas...I might just end up going with a bunch of different things. I want to send at least 4 pieces in. The next couple of days I will be spending time brainstorming and manipulating images. Next week I will definitely post images of what I sent in for you guys.

Until next week...



-Namaste

The Working Week...

This week has been really tiresome faithful few. Getting back into the swing of things in the workforce is quite...tough lol. I haven't had much time for anything else other than recouping and working.

I guess having a long layoff like that can be both a blessing and a curse. Now the next 2 weeks are going to be really tough for me guys. Once we get over that hump, I will share it with you guys.

Until next week...

 

 

 

-Namaste

Posted with Blogsy

Working Hard...

Hey faithful few, not a lot this week for you guys. I didn't do any art this week. Been trying to crunch/cram some things and also after almost 5 months of unemployment...this one right here has started working again! And I tell you the layoff SHOWED! It's going to take me a minute to get back into the swing of things in the working world. Gotta say I am glad though.

Until sometime next week...

 

 

-Namaste

It came and it went...

I had a pretty rough week this week. Rough mentally. Rejection and stress. Good thing for love...I celebrated another birthday this week, so that was something on the plus side.

I am beginning to enter into a new stage of my life and I realize that there are things that I thought I definitely wanted to experience are some things that I am not liking experiencing lol. The next couple of months will be big for me. BIG!!!

How I come out of it I think will govern the rest of the year for me. I know it's a little early in the year but I like to sometimes peer over the hill before I climb it. I have great plans for 2015, so this year will be a pivotal one for me.

Wow this post while short went a little better than I thought it would. I thought it was going to be all somber and macabre but it came out pretty good. That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next week...

 

-Namaste

 

New Year...

Hey faithful few...welcome to the year 2014!

So I decided that I would give you guys my main New Years' Resolutions.

1. I must make sure that I am staying motivated.
2. I will try to get to know my new city a little better.
3. I will create more ART
4. And my last real resolution is; I want to learn Screenprinting.

As you can see, these are pretty simple ones. I don't have anything to extravagant. Plus most resolutions are a gimme; "like get and stay healthy," "do better than you did last year," and "be responsible, financially."

I'm looking forward to chatting with you guys all year. That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next time...

-Namaste

 

The Dharma and the Sea or The Old Man and Bums...

Hey faithful few, I know I said that I would post images for you guys this week and I have started working on them but I want to expand upon my post from last week.  

The other day I was thinking about letting go and taking leaps of faith and how for the most part of my life how I've played it safe...and then I thought how I decided a few weeks ago to take a giant leap and break that habit of playing it safe. I then realized that I was finally feeling the wind beneath my feet. 

Today its been 1 month to the date that I moved Baltimore to Charlotte.

I feel like such a free spirit right now....like Hemingway or Kerouac...a lot of times the feeling is euphoric but also in a catch-22-kind of way its harrowing. I say harrowing because for someone who has almost always played it safe, this sort of feeling seems like it can lead to "slackitude-ness" or carelessness. Even though I have mixed thoughts on this feeling, I am enjoying it. I'm enjoying it because its a new feeling for me. It's fun. My mind right now feels so clear right now. I gotta say that right now I am in a very good place. I wish I would have done this years ago.

The image below is one of the pics I took a couple of weeks ago. I figured I'd post at least one image for you guys this week...again I am going to try and get some more for you guys next week.

Until then...

-Namaste

Travelin' Man or Howdy folks...

I had my first full week in Charlotte and I gotta say faithful few I am loving it! I have had a really clear head lately. I feel I am in a good space right now. The change of scenery so far has been great. I'm getting to know the city on a more...how should I say it...a more "native" kind of way. Before I was just a visitor, now I am a resident.

A lot of simple things have been happening and that I have been doing that has made this transition seem quite smooth. Don't get me wrong I do miss my family and friends but I am loving this new found "care-free" attitude I am feeling exuding from my "personage"(Don't judge me...) Feels good...real good.

I guess that part that really feels good to me is the fact that I followed through. I had the faith to jump off the cliff with an old parachute and know that when I needed it to, that the old parachute would open and not let me down. Its still going to be about a month before this really feel like home for me but I am really excited about finally really enjoying myself.

Today I finally went and got myself a photo printer. The other day while on one of my "nature walks" to the dumpster, I decided that I am going to start taking my T2i out with me and snapping up some of these landscapes and forestry that I see and work on a little digital manipulations. I also need to stop by the art store and pick up an easel so I can set up a little outdoor studio on my balcony. The view from my balcony is not super spectacular but it does give me a view of the comings and goings of my complex not to mention the trees that adorn the entrance and greet me every time I look out the window. I received most of my supplies that I had shipped to me so its time to get cracking on some stress-free art, you know...

In a way I feel like a recluse, which I find as a funny thing since I have always been somewhat of a lone wolf. Sometimes I sit and think about what if long ago ("...in the time before...," if you know me you should get this allusion) when I decided that I wanted to leave the great "state" city of Baltimore and actually did it, where would I be now? Would I even be living in the states? I have always (since about 14) dreamed of spending time in Japan. Maybe, I'd be living in Germany or I'd find myself in Macau..I'm not a gambler but who knows...The point is now I feel like there are endless opportunities out there for me and I have only just begun to explore them!

That's all I have for you guys this weekend, enjoy...




-Namaste

And just like a bird in winter, I'm flying south...

So this is my first post after the beginning of my life-changing decisions. This time next week, I will be in my new home...in my new city...in my new state. I have to say that I am pretty excited about it.

I'm going to finally get a chance in the beginning of my getting acclimated to a new environment, to spend some time focusing more on my art. I am very fortunate in the beginning to be able to devote time while I am looking for employment. Its going to be great.

That's all I have for you guys today but I will be back next week from Charlotte, NC.

Until then...



-Namaste

Art and Life...

I've been starting a lot of pieces the past week...been feeling inspired a lot lately. It such a good feeling, you know? I am trying to get back into the routine of starting projects even when I'm in the process of working on one already. (Take a moment to re-read that. There was a lot going on in there, LOL) I'm trying not to get stuck focusing on one thing at a time when I'm creating. Usually when I don't have multiple things going on, I start to dwell too much on the one thing and then I end up experiencing a block.

It's all about keeping the creative process flowing for me. It's something I am going to try to keep up going forward. I always talk about needing to focus and staying focused more regarding my life and art. I have gotten to a point in my life where I am more reflective when it comes to certain things. I do a soul-searching and in my soul-searching, I always try to see the big picture when it comes to my life. I find that sometimes I struggle with grasping the bigger picture. I think its a reflection of how hard I am on myself mentally. Blogging has always given me an avenue to release some of that self-doubt. It's really quite therapeutic for me and I am glad to be able to have you the faithful few along to help.

That's all I have for you guys this weekend. Next week I will post some WIP (work-in-progress) pics for you guys to check out. Until next week...

 

-Namaste

Just a little update...

So today I officially sold my first piece of unfinished work.  Now its not going to stay unfinished but as it stands now its in an unfinished state. It felt oddly strange yet refreshing to be compensated for something that will fir sure change before its done. Its as if my buyer has so much faith in what I'm doing that they just know they will be getting a masterpiece.

I totally stand by myself as an artist no matter how successful or unsuccessful I am at this junction in my life but its extra special for me to have someone other than the missus and family/friends have faith in what I am doing as an artist. Hopefully next weekend I will have a finished piece to share with you guys. If not next week, the week after that for sure.

Until next time...




-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