“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you are.” -Unknown-
Who Do You Think You Are?
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Keep Doing It !!!
Words of wisdom from a great thinker…
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
– Aristotle –
Walking the Path
“Knowing the path is not the same as walking the path.”
Morpheus (The Matrix)
I have been struggling with this concept my whole life. I tend to turn to other things, when I get to the point where I think, “okay, got it, I can imagine where it goes from here, don’t have to actually do it.” Unfortunately, I have acted on that thought many times throughout my life and did turn to something new at this point. Consequently I never really mastered anything. Well, I’m living proof and here to tell you that it makes for an entertaining life but not necessarily for a fulfilled one.
Knowing this now I make an effort to pay close attention to what is happening at that crucial moment when I am about to turn my attention elsewhere. I try to be mindful, observe my feelings and thoughts at this moment and as a result, resist the urge to turn away and do something new. It’s been a life long struggle for me – but I’m learning.
And I can say from experience by now, that indeed, walking the path is quite different from knowing it. It has its frustrating phases but the rewards are so much greater. So, stick to it. After every low, there will be a high. Without the bad we would never be able to appreciate the good. Life does not work without contrast. Be nice to yourself and keep showing up. Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. It’ll all work out in the end.
Never Give Up
I’m still in the pretty-picture-phase, there’s still a lot to study and learn but I think I know what he means and hope to get there one day. Never give up, never surrender. 🙂
Change is the Only Constant
Hello Everyone! It’s been a while since I have last posted. Life caught up with me and a lot has happened: personally, professionally, geographically – really complex changes – yet, this is not the place nor the time to talk about it. It goes without saying, that it’s stressful while you are in the midst of things (hence no posts), but at the end of every tunnel is usually light and I made it to the other side and came out just fine – if not better. So, no worries. I’m back and here comes my next post:
Here are a few pictures of a sculpture (a work in progress at the time) that unfortunately did not survive my last move – that’s life. As a wise man once said:
“Everything flows, nothing remains.” –Heraclitus of Ephesus
Sometimes when I photograph my work I see it differently. Mainly it helps me to see “mistakes” that I hadn’t seen with the naked eye. For example, in the following pictures I noticed that her forehead seems too flat and the arms seem not quite proportional. Have you noticed it too, that photos help you to see your art differently?
Do It
Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it. – David Starr Jordan –
Live Your Best Life
There is no passion to be found in settling for a life less than the one you are capable of living. – Nelson Mandela –
Failure is Your Friend
“An artist’s failures are as valuable as his successes…by misjudging one thing he conforms something else, even if at the time he does not know what that something else is.” – Bridget Riley
Art & Fear
“…the seed for your next work lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece.”
That’s a quote from this book:
Geoff Flack, one of the instructors at Gage, recommended it. If you (like pretty much any other artist) ever wondered about yourself as an artist and/or your work – be it writing, music or painting, you name it – you have to read this book. I did, it’s fantastic. In fact I just started reading it for a second time. It’s a quick read (122 pages) and every word is worth reading and thinking about.
Georges Braque – The Value of Art
“Art is made to disturb. Science reassures. There is only one valuable thing in art; the thing you cannot explain.”
– Georges Braque
My watercolor instructor says if the painting shows “everything” and does not leave room for the viewer to “finish” it it’s a boring painting – to say the least – or may be even a bad one. The Braque quote reminded me of that.
Have a great sunny weekend!
Discover & Create 