The Continuum of Creativity
Posted April 08, 2013
I often tell my students art is not for the faint of heart. In fact I would say that to truly operate in the world if creative imagery, one must enter the arena of the warrior. Not the warrior-killer, the warrior who confronts her/his fear, moves through it, and finds joy and power in the process. Thus I present them the continuum of creativity. The novice level reads like this: Engages in little or no risk-taking. Is uncomfortable with ambiguity and complexity, seeks simple, one di...
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Hero of your own Journey - excerpt form my forthcoming book "The Boy Who Painted Fire"
Posted November 28, 2012
“Anything else?” he asked, one eyebrow cocked upward, his dark eyes intense. “Like what?” “I think there is a little more than sharks here, Jack-Jon. I might even say there is a whole lot more than that,” he laughed. Ahman’s laugh was deep and slow, down in his throat, not high and giggling, like a lot of people. It seemed to come from a place of joy. “That painting, man, look at it! It’s full of passion. Passion, hell, that’s downright anger I mig...
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Art is not what you Like
Posted November 20, 2012
Art is not what you like. Art is not what you are. Very often a viewer makes assumptions about who an artist is by looking at their work. ‘Oh, so and so must be depressed, it’s so dark!’. ‘So and so must really like birds.’ Etc. I have been labeled a butcher, a patriarch, a fascist. Because of my art. Those viewers actually have no idea who I am. I submit art is an arena of discourse. If I use particular imagery is it because I like that imagery? Or is it because ...
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In my Art life
Posted October 30, 2012
My body as an art maker - a being of extreme intelligence and knowledge and wisdom drawn from an endless well of mystery, which teaches me how to dance alive my art; how to release the voices and wounds that have been given to me by the unknown pain of others and pressed into my being so that it must be squeezed out like a psychic towel, twisting with all my strength to purge every drop of bitter wine in my belly and heart and throat and clenched jaw of ground teeth at night, get out get out ...
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Studio words to live by
Posted October 29, 2012
The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary Creation is the opposite of control Expect to be surprised Do not take on the energy of the insecure The world works to disabuse us of what we know is right Live in ever increasing integrity Process is the permanent guide, product a fleeting memory You do not have to know where you are going to have a great journey
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Emotion can Kill Creativity
Posted October 17, 2012
Emotion can kill creative energy. Notice I did not say it will kill creative energy. It can kill creative energy, or the creative process. Of course, some art is emotional. A deep emotion can create energy that one can focus on, and utilize, as fuel for any creative endeavor; anger can drive a guitar piece, joy can guide a dance, grief can fuel a painting. Quite often creative expression is seen, or referred to, as a form of self expression – as in, one is expressing a feeling or emotio...
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Magnificance and the Dragon - 2
Posted June 07, 2012
When we are confronted with some act of creativity - painting, sculpting, writing a poem, designing a kitchen, writing music, there may exist a dark cloud of doubt and fear that exerts its power over the individual. As a teacher of art I see this all the time, in almost every student to some degree. This cloud then gives rise to excuses and beliefs, such as “I’m not an artist, I not talented, I not very creative, this isn’t really my medium, I’m an amateur, what will so and so think? Th...
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Magnificence and the Dragon
Posted June 05, 2012
You are magnificent. Unfortunately many of us do not feel magnificent. We feel small, insecure, confused, less than, nervous, scared, angry, frustrated, impotent; an entire range of feelings that interfere with the power and magnificence that resides in us all. However, these feelings are not our true being. They are a part of us, a part of being human, but it is not who we are! We are the one who is witness to those feelings, not the feelings themselves. These insecurities are simply...
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Allowing the gift...
Posted June 04, 2012
To create, you need permission. Not permission from a teacher, an artist, a designer, a parent... You need permission from yourself. Give yourself permission to allow creativity. Give yourself permission to make a mistake. Give yourself permission to explore - you don't HAVE to know, you can discover. Creativity is about discovery and allowing - not controlling and predetermining. Allow yourself to feel pleasure, pleasure of the movement of creativity, physical movement, intellectual ...
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The Importance of Creativity
Posted May 31, 2012
Why do I paint? To engage in the act of creation is one of the most human things a being can do. Think of it, by making art, one is engaging in an activity that is as old as our species, thirty five thousand years! Is this not the work of one’s soul? Doesn’t it seem obvious that this is a worthwhile endeavor? So that is part of why I create, as I create in this outer world, as I build an allegory of shape, color and surface, I am also building the story of my life, or at least exami...
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Psyche
Posted November 07, 2011
I am currently involved with the myth of Psyche and Eros. Psyche was the most beautiful woman on the world, so beautiful, if fact, no one courted her. She was thought unattainable, but she was actually lonely. Because Psyche was so beautiful, Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, became jealous and had Psyche cursed to marry Death. She sent Eros to shoot Psyche with his arrow so that she would fall in love with Death. Eros, however, was so stunned by Psyche’s beauty he became distracted and cut him...
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