UNTITLED
ONE OCTOBER DAY I FELT LIKE FALL COLORS THIS WAS MY LEAF CREATION THAT DAY.
OASIS
PHOENIX RISING
4.5 foot by 8 foot
DEDICATION TO ALANIS MORISSETTE
MY HOME STUDIO ...YOU CAN SEE HOW COLORFUL THOSE PIECES WERE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS TECHNIQUE. LATER ON I TENDED TO MIMIC THE COLORS OF NATURE.
DANCER 1...
A YEAR LATER, THE OWNER STOPPED ME AND SAID,
HEY!
THAT PIECE ABOVE MY BED
IS KIND OF INTIMATE, ISN'T IT?
YEAAA
CACTUS
TRUST
CACTUS AND TRUST WERE SOLD AND WERE HANGING SIDE BY SIDE AT A GALLERY IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
MY PIECES ARE GALLERY WRAPPED
AROUND A THREE INCH STRETCHER BOARD
CANYON SNOW
YOU NEVER KNOW EXACTLY WHAT RESULTS YOU ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE DURING THE POURING OF PAINT ONTO A TILTED CANVAS SURFACE. I AM AMAZED MY IMAGES TEND TO MIMIC NATURE. I FEEL MORE LIKE A WITNESS DURING THE ART MAKING PROCESS THAN THE CREATOR. I WATCH IN AMAZEMENT AND DIRECT THE CREATION OF LINE, FORM AND TEXTURE. NATURE DOES ALL THE WORK.
THE FOLLOWING PIECES WERE INSPIRED BY
THE CANYON FORMATIONS AROUND MOAB, UTAH.
BLUE FLOW
A SOFT EDGE OF SANDSTONE TO THE
LEFT OF A COOL BLUE FLOWING STREAM.
A TYPICAL SCENE IN CANYONLANDS , UTAH.
WINDSTORM
WINDSWEPT
THIS IS MY FAVORITE POUR AND FLOW PAINTING. I'LL REFRAIN FROM THE DETAILS OF WHY, BUT WHEN THE PAINTING IS PROPERLY LIT, IT PULLS ME IN AND I AM AT PEACE FOLLOWING THE SOFT SANDSTONE EDGE INTO THE FOG.
CRADLE
TURQUOISE BLOOM
THE SILVER LADY
DAY'S END
JUNIPER
SLICKROCK
SAND CARVINGS
DELUGE
GONE TO SEED
THE ABYSS
TOWER OF SAND
ROCK LEDGE
DEAD MAN'S POINT
THIS IS MY ONE AND ONLY HUMOROUS PIECE. THERE ARE MANY OVERLOOKS IN CANYONLAND COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK OUT ONTO A POINT TO VIEW THE VALLEY FLOOR. THIS PARTICULAR 2,500 FOOT TOWER OF SANDSTONE HAS JUST CRACKED OFF THE CANYON'S EDGE AND IS SLIDING DOWN THE SANDY SLOPE TOWARDS ALL THOSE ANT SIZED MOUNTAIN BIKERS CRISS CROSSING THE WHITE RIM.
THE PEOPLE ABOVE AND BELOW WILL GET THEIR JUST DUE FOR CROSSING MOTHER NATURE.
MY PERSONAL FAVORITESI AM GOING TO FINISH UP WITH SOME OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES, NOT RELATIVE TO ANY ONE THEME. THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY BETTER OR WORSE THEN PREVIOUS IMAGES. I JUST HAPPEN TO LIKE 'EM.
BUTTERFLIES
LIFT OFF
HANGING ON
THE QUEEN
THE THEATRE
YIN AND YANG
COMING OUT
FLYING
A FINE EDGE
DANCER
CONTEMPLATION
ENDANGERED
IN PASSING, I AM GOING TO PRESENT THIS PIECE AS A GIFT TO THE KING OF THAILAND OR GIVE IT TO A MONK TO HANG IN HIS CAVE.
CHAPTER 5
A THING CALLED TALENTTHE PROCESS OF CREATING IS EXTREMELY SIMPLE AND EASY. A SMALL CHILD COULD EASILY CREATE A HUGE MUDDY MESS.
A SKILLED ARTIST CAN CREATE SOMETHING SUBJECTIVELY BEAUTIFUL. THE CHILD'S MOTHER MAY ALSO HAVE AN OPINION THAT BEAUTY LIES IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. WHAT IS THE FACTOR THAT SEPARATES THE ARTIST FROM THE CHILD? OBVIOUSLY, WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT SILLY QUESTION. WHY... IT'S TALENT AND SKILL.
SOME SAY YOU'RE BORN WITH IT...WITH WHAT?...TALENT?...YES, SOME HAVE IT AND SOME DON'T.
I HAVE BEEN AS CREATIVE AS ANYONE ELSE, FIXING UP MY HOUSE AND GARDEN, SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES, COOKING FOOD, ETC, ETC. WE ARE ALL CREATIVE IN OUR OWN WAYS,
BUT RARELY DO WE GIVE OURSELVES CREDIT FOR BEING TALENTED.
I TOO, HAD NEVER THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS BEING TALENTED AT ANYTHING. I AM A GENERALIST; A LITTLE BIT OK AT A NUMBER OF THINGS. THIS ART THING I AM DOING HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING. PEOPLE NOW TELL ME I AM SO TALENTED. THE ODD THING IS THAT WHEN I HEAR SOMEONE TELL ME HOW GIFTED THEY THINK I AM, THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT I HEAR. WHAT I HEAR THEM SAYING IS YOU'RE SO CREATIVE, AND I AM NOT.
I CAN ACCEPT A COMPLIMENT FOLKS...BUT SOMETIMES
I WILL RESPOND BY SAYING,
OH, IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE PRACTICE, THAT'S ALL I DO.
JUST PRACTICE AND YOU'LL GET GOOD AT IT.
INEVITABLY THEY PUT ME BACK IN MY PLACE AS THOUGH THAT'S WHERE I BELONG AND THEY DON'T. THEY SAY,
OH NO!, I COULD NEVER DO THAT, I AM NOT AN ARTIST BY A LONG SHOT. SHAKING THEIR HEADS THEY SAY...
YOU ARE THE ARTIST.
I AM THINKING, YOU ARE RIGHT, I AM AN ARTIST, AND THIS MAGICIAN DOES KNOW HIS MAGICAL TALENT IS AN ILLUSION.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF I TOLD YOU I HAVE ZERO TALENT? SOME MIGHT AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT AND THAT IS THEIR SUBJECTIVE OPINION. THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE IS THAT THEY BELIEVE ARTISTS POSSESS SOME UNIQUE MAGICAL
GIFT OF TALENT.
THINK OF IT THIS WAY...THERE IS A SUN AND THERE IS A THICK CLOUD BANK PREVENTING THE SUN'S RAYS FROM REACHING THE GROUND. I HAVE A SLIVER OF LIGHT, A NARROW PATHWAY WHICH HAS PENETRATED THROUGH THE CLOUDS ONTO THE GROUND FOR EVERYONE TO SEE AS ART. A SMALL PART OF ME HAS REACHED THE GROUND. I AM TAPPING INTO THAT SMALL NARROW CHANNEL OF LIGHT FOR MY CREATIVITY.
PEOPLE THINK I POSSESS A MAGIC GIFT OF SOME KIND; SOMETHING NOT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO ACHIEVE IN THEIR LIFETIMES. THAT SMALL PART OF ME THAT HAS REACHED THE GROUND IS A PART OF A BIGGER SOURCE. TALENT IS NOT MAGICAL OR UNREACHABLE. THE SUN ALREADY EXISTS INSIDE EACH ONE OF US.
TO SUGGEST I HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL
WHICH THEY DON'T POSSESS MEANS THEY ARE SAYING
THEIR SUN DOES NOT EXIST.
OH...YOU'RE THINKING YOU DO HAVE A SUN, JUST NOT THE TALENT.
I AM TELLING YOU THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY TALENT,
BUT I DO HAVE A PATHWAY FROM
MY SUN TOUCHING THE GROUND.
POSSESSING NO OBVIOUS TALENT,
I STILL HAD A DESIRE TO BE CREATIVE.
AFTER ATTENDING SOME ART SCHOOLING, I DISCOVERED I HAD AVERAGE SKILLS IN DRAWING AND PAINTING.
NOTHING SPECIAL, EXCEPT I KNEW DEEP DOWN INSIDE
I HAD THIS SOMETHING;
AN UNBRIDLED PASSION WHICH WAS SEEKING A HOME.
TALENTLESS, I CHOSE TO BE INNOVATIVE AND
DEVISE NEW METHODS OF CREATIVITY.
THE PASSION WAS CLOAKED IN GREATNESS.
LIKE A VOLCANO, THIS FLUID PASSION SEEKED ITS OWN UNIQUE PATH DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
DEEP DOWN PASSION DEMANDS ITS
HONORABLE POSITION ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP.
MY CHOICE IS TO TAKE IT ON RIGHTLY OR NOT BOTHER TO TAKE IT.
CREATIVITY
I WAS RUNNING THE GAMBIT WITH CRYSTALSCAPE FOR A THREE TO FOUR YEAR PERIOD AS BOTH A PART TIME AND FULL TIME ARTIST. I ENTERED 12 TO 25 ART FESTIVALS PER YEAR AND ADDED A FEW GALLERIES WHICH PICKED UP MY WORK. MY AMBITIONS OF CREATIVE ART MAKING WERE NOT BEING MET AS A SALESMAN ON THE ROAD. I TOOK A BREAK FROM CRYSTALSCAPE AND BEGAN TO PAINT.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS NEW PAINTING ERA, LET ME TAKE YOU BACK TO WHEN I FIRST TOOK ART CLASSES IN 1990 TO 1992 AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I LEARNED THE BASICS OF DRAWING AND PAINTING, BUT TRADITIONAL ART SCHOOLING WAS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR ME SINCE I DESIRED TO DO IT MY WAY. I HAD ALREADY ENDURED EIGHT YEARS OF PREVIOUS COLLEGE IN BUSINESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OBTAINING A DOUBLE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN BUSINESS AND A MASTERS IN HEALTH EDUCATION.
WHEN I FINALLY FINISHED THOSE ART CLASSES, I WENT INTO MY MODE AND CREATED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IN SCHOOL, YOU PAINT WHAT YOU ARE TOLD WITH BRUSH IN HAND. MY THOUGHT WAS, THE HELL WITH IT, WHY DO I NEED TO PAINT WITH A BRUSH? THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY DOES. I SAY, BREAK THE RULES, THROW IT ALL OUT THE WINDOW, AND LET'S SEE WHAT TRICKLES UP FROM INSIDE MY GUT. THIS IS MY VISION AND I WILL DO IT MY WAY.
I HAD NO VISION AS TO WHAT TO PAINT AT THE TIME, SO I TOOK A BREAK AND WAITED FOR SOMETHING I KNEW WOULD COME. I STARTED TAKING SOME CLASSIC DRAWING AND WATERCOLOR CLASSES FROM INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTORS. I ENJOYED THIS ART EDUCATION MORE THAN MY PREVIOUS COLLEGE INSTRUCTION IN ART.
I BEGAN TO EXPERIMENT WITH WATERCOLOR AND PASTELS. SOME TIME LATER I BECAME FRUSTRATED ONE EVENING AT HOME BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PAINT BRUSHES. APPARENTLY, I HAD FORGOTTEN BRUSHES WERE NOT IN MY GAME PLAN.
A VOLCANO OF EMOTION WAS ERUPTING INSIDE MY SOUL AND I NEEDED TO EXPRESS THAT ENERGY IN SOME WAY. I PACED BACK AND FORTH IN MY SO CALLED ART STUDIO. I HAD SOME PAINT BUT NO BRUSHES.
I WAS LISTENING TO PETER GABRIEL'S "US" ALBUM, TURNING IT UP LOUDER AND LOUDER AS THE MINUTES PROGRESSED
WITHOUT BRUSHES IN HAND.
THAT'S IT... I CAN'T STAND IT. I'VE GOT TO FIND SOMETHING
TO PAINT WITH BEFORE I GO CRAZY. I WENT TO THE KITCHEN AND PULLED OUT A SMALL RUBBER SPATULA, THE KIND YOU NEVER USE UNLESS YOU HAVE LITTLE KID FINGERS. IT WAS TOY SIZED WITH A RUBBER FLIPPER-LIKE TOP AND AN EIGHT INCH HANDLE. PERFECT, THIS WILL DO. I RIPPED OUT A LARGE PIECE OF WATERCOLOR PAPER AND BEGAN TO SLAM PAINT DOWN ONTO IT'S SURFACE.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS CREATING, BUT IT WAS HARD AND FAST. NO...SEX WASN'T AN OPTION. I WAS GOING TO CREATE SOMETHING OR DIE. THE MUSIC OF GABRIEL WAS BEATING THROUGH ME AS I UNCONSCIOUSLY POUNDED THE WATERCOLOR PAPER WITH MY RUBBER TIPPED STICK.
IN THE MIDDLE OF MY RAGE, I HAD THE THOUGHT, THAT'S IT, I AM GOING TO PAINT MY FRICKING TREE; THE ONE I SLEEP UNDER EVERY TIME I CAMP ON THE RED DIRT VALLEY FLOOR IN FISHER VALLEY, TWENTY MILES OUTSIDE OF MOAB, UTAH. I LOVED THIS TREE AND HOPE TO BE BURIED BENEATH HER LIMBS.
I HAD A 4 BY 6 INCH PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TREE
WHICH I SET TO MY SIDE FOR INSPIRATION.
HAVING FINISHED THE PAINTING, I WAS DISGUSTED WITH MY MUDDY RESULTS AND PROMPTLY STUFFED IT INTO A CLOSET FOR RECYCLING.
ABOUT A YEAR LATER, AN ART TEACHER FRIEND OF MINE STOPPED BY FOR A VISIT AND SOMEHOW SHE SPOTTED MY TREE AND PULLED IT OUT FOR A LOOK. WHAT'S THIS, SHE ASKED? NOTHING I SAID...SOME SCRIBBLE THAT DIDN'T WORK. SHE TURNED IT AND TURNED IT AGAIN AND SAID, LOOK AT THIS. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS CROP HERE AND HERE AND...
LET ME MAT THIS FOR YOU. SHE TOOK MY MUDDIED MESS. I AM GLAD SHE DID. NOW YOU CAN SEE WHAT SHE FOUND IN ME THAT I COULDN'T SEE FOR MYSELF.
MY MOAB TREE
I WAS UNCONSCIOUSLY PUSHING AND SMEARING THE PAINT WITH MY RUBBER FLIPPER. THE RESULT...BRANCHES ON FIRE
PURITY
MY PHILOSOPHY TOWARDS CREATIVITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN, IF IT'S NOT UNIQUE, WHY BOTHER? I SHOT NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A PERIOD OF FIFTEEN YEARS. NEVER ONCE DID I HAVE THE THOUGHT TO SELL OR EVEN JURY MY NATURE PHOTOS INTO A COMPETITION.
I WAS ON A NUMBER OF TREKS ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. THE IMAGES WERE MINE AND NO ONE ELSE CAN UNDERSTAND THEM AS I DO. I LEFT MY CAMERA AT HOME THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OF THAT 15 YEAR PERIOD OF BONDING WITH NATURE. IT WAS FUN TO CAPTURE IT ALL ON FILM, BUT LATER ON I PREFERRED TO STAY IN THE MOMENT WITHOUT THE INTERRUPTION OF A CAMERA.
AT TIMES I DESIRED TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE WITH ANOTHER PERSON. I SOON REALIZED THIS REFLEX OF DESIRE PULLS YOU AWAY FROM THE PURITY OF THE EXPERIENCE.
ALONE...BY MY MOAB TREE
SELF PORTRAITS
ALONE SOMEWHERE IN UTAH'S DESERT COUNTRY
MEDITATION
SOMESTIMES DURING MEDITATION, IMPULSES OF EXCITEMENT FLUTTER UP THROUGH MY INSIDES AND BECOME CONSCIOUS THOUGHTS. THE MIND NATURALLY ASSOCIATES THOUGHTS TO THIS EMOTIONAL ACTIVITY.
MY THOUGHTS UNFOLD AND BECOME CREATIVE, EXCITING AND INSPIRING.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS SEEMINGLY FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT. I GET AN ONSLAUGHT OF POWERFULLY INTELLIGENT PROBLEM SOLVING MENTAL ACTIVITY. AFTER MEDITATION, I AM WRITING AS FAST AS I CAN TO CAPTURE WHAT IS COMING UP MY CHANNEL FROM THE SOURCE OF MY DEEPER SELF.
I KNOW THIS POTENTIAL INTELLIGENCE IS DEEPER INSIDE OF ME BECAUSE I EXPERIENCE IT AS BEING MORE SUBTLE TO BEGIN WITH, THEN AS IT UNFOLDS MORE CLEARLY IN MY MIND AND BECOMES CONSCIOUS, I AM ALSO AWARE OF THE SUBTLETIES OF IT'S PATH TO THE SURFACE.
THESE PROBLEM SOLVING AND CREATIVE THOUGHTS ARE IN FACT MY THOUGHTS. I AM EXPERIENCING THOSE THOUGHTS BOTH DURING AND AFTER MEDITATION. BUT...THERE IS ONE BIG DIFFERENCE WITH THESE THOUGHTS. THESE THOUGHTS ARE EFFORTLESSLY POPPING AND SWIRLING AROUND MY MIND.
I AM DOING ALL I CAN TO LASSO THEM BEFORE THEY FADE AWAY. THIS IS NOT UNIQUE, WE HAVE ALL HAD BRAINSTORMS WHICH UNRAVEL IN THE SAME WAY.
WHEN I REFLECT BACK AN HOUR LATER TO EXAMINE WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN AND WHAT ALL HAPPENED, I AM COMPLETELY IN AWE. I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW CLEAR I WAS, HOW MENTALLY SHARP I WAS, HOW PROBLEMS ANSWERED THEMSELVES EFFORTLESSLY WITHOUT ME ATTEMPTING TO THINK A THOUGHT.
THOUGHTS RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND AT THE TIME RECEIVED SUPREME INTELLIGENCE RESOLVING AND REPLACING PROBLEMS WITH SOLUTIONS. I HAD NO CLOUDS BLOCKING MY PERCEPTIONS OF THAT INTELLIGENT ENERGY IN THAT MOMENT OF DISCOVERY.
EVERYONE HAS HAD THE MENTAL EXPERIENCE OF...JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE, IT'S RIGHT ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE. YOU RELAX AND SOMETIMES THE THOUGHT POPS INTO YOUR MIND WITHOUT ANY EFFORT. THE THOUGHT COMES BECAUSE YOU HAD ALREADY LOGGED IN A REQUEST FOR THE ANSWER, BUT PREVIOUSLY, THE CLOUDS WERE BLOCKING YOUR PERCEPTIONS. SO WAIT FOR THINGS TO CLEAR AND UP POPS THE ANSWER WITHOUT A PRESENT TENSE REQUEST.
I AM GUESSING THE COSMIC MIND IS ALWAYS WORKING ON OUR BEHALF.
ABILITY AND INTELLIGENCE
THE DICTIONARY DEFINES TALENT AS ONE WHO POSSESSES A NATURAL OR SUPERIOR ABILITY; ONE WHO IS CAPABLE, GIFTED, OR SKILLED. LET'S FOCUS IN ON THE DEFINITION OF ABILITY. THE THESAURUS REFERS TO ABILITY AS APTITUDE, INTELLIGENCE, INNATE QUALITIES, POWERS, GIFT, GENIUS, CAPABILITY,QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, BRAINS, KNOW-HOW, ETC.
SO...ABILITY IS NATURAL AND SEEMINGLY SELF CONTAINED VIA BRAIN POWER.
WHY DO PEOPLE ASSUME I HAVE MORE TALENT THEN THEY...OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T EVERYONE KNOW TALENT OR ABILITY IS INNATE AND SELF CONTAINED, AS DEFINED IN THE DICTIONARY?
NO, PEOPLE THINK I HAVE MORE TALENT. GUESS WHAT...........................
THAT SO CALLED TALENT YOU SAY I HAVE JUST POPS INTO MY HEAD WITHOUT MY PERMISSION OR REQUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE.
DURING MEDITATION, I EXPERIENCE THIS BROAD SENSE OF INTELLIGENCE AS COMING OUT OF NOWHERE. THE INTELLIGENCE UNDERLIES MY THOUGHTS. DURING AND AFTER MEDITATION I DON'T JUST GET INTELLIGENT IDEAS RELATIVE TO ONE SUBJECT. I GET INTELLIGENCE WHICH UNDERLIES ALL THINKING.
NO MATTER WHAT I THINK AT THAT MOMENT, I HAVE SUPERIOR INTELLIGENCE FROM WHICH TO THINK WITH, REGARDING ANYTHING. WE'RE NOT TALKING JUST ABOUT ART OR MY SO CALLED TALENT IN ART. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PURE INTELLIGENCE MANIFESTING THROUGHOUT MY BEING IN THAT MOMENT. A CLARITY OF AWARENESS SEEMINGLY UNBOUNDED BY RELATIVE FIXATION.
I JUST FEEL A WHOLE LOT SMARTER. I DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT AROUND FOR MY BEST DAY EVER WHEN I REMEMBER ALL THINGS SEEMED TO GO SO RIGHT THAT ONE INCREDIBLE DAY.
EFFORTLESSLY AND EASILY INTELLIGENT THINKING BECOMES ME. THIS BROADENED AWARENESS ARRIVES AS IF IT IS ALREADY PRESENT. THAT PATHWAY TO MY SOURCE, THAT SLIVER OF LIGHT FROM MY SUN, THAT CHANNEL IS A RELATIVE EXTENSION OF MY INNATE UNBOUNDED INTELLIGENCE.
EVERYONE HAS THIS UNBOUNDED POOL OF PURE INTELLIGENCE, TAPPING IT TO A LESSOR OR GREATER DEGREE. UNBOUNDED JUST MEANS UNLIMITED, FAR REACHING PERCEPTION.
TO GIVE YOU AN OPPOSITE EXAMPLE, WASHINGTON'S POLITICIANS ARE USUALLY QUITE INTELLIGENT, WITH LIMITED PERCEPTION. THAT WOULD BE A JOKE IF IT WERE NOT SO SERIOUS AN ISSUE.
I KNOW I HAVE THIS CHANNEL OF INTELLIGENCE BECAUSE I HAD IT MEASURED WHEN I WAS 28 YEARS OLD. I ONCE LIVED WITH A ROOMMATE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL. HE WAS STUDYING TO BE A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND NEEDED SOME GUINEA PIGS FOR IQ TESTING.
ONE MORNING AFTER A LATE BREAKFAST AND A BEER, WE BOTH SAT DOWN AT OUR KITCHEN TABLE WHERE HE ADMINISTERED THE TRADITIONAL STANFORD BINET IQ TEST ON ME. HE WOULDN'T TELL ME HOW I WAS DOING AND I THINK THERE WERE TEN QUESTIONS AND MENTAL EXERCISES FOR EACH OF THE TEN SUBJECTS.
WE WERE MOVING ALONG FINE UNTIL WE REACHED HALF WAY THROUGH THE MATH SECTION. HE'D SPOUT OFF A QUESTION AND I WOULD BLURT OFF AN ANSWER IN TWO TO THREE SECONDS. HE STARTED GIVING ME THAT ONE EYED STARE BUT I COULDN'T QUITE FIGURE HIS GAME. WE WERE BUDS, BUT THIS WAS HIS SERIOUS WORK; A NECESSARY ELEMENT OF HIS STUDY.
WE CONTINUED ON AS HE SETTLED BACK INTO HIS CHAIR WITH NO EXPRESSION AFTER EACH QUESTION WAS ANSWERED. WHEN I GOT TO THE PUZZLE SECTION, I FELT LIKE MY BRAIN WAS MOVING THROUGH COLD MOLASSES. I FELT STUPID AND IT TOOK ME TOO LONG TO SIMPLY ARRANGE PUZZLE PIECES INTO THE CORRECT CONFIGURATION. MY ROOMMATE LIKED THAT, TWITCHING A SMIRKY SMILE.
I SEEMED TO LACK PATIENCE AND ENJOYMENT WORKING ON THE PUZZLE TASK. THE MATH HOWEVER, WAS EASY, EFFORTLESS AND ENJOYABLE. I WAS ANSWERING THE MATH QUESTIONS TOO QUICKLY SO I SLOWED DOWN TO AVOID HIS EVIL ONE EYED LOOK.
I HAD THE ANSWER TWO OR THREE SECONDS AFTER HIS QUESTION BUT I PRETENDED I WAS STILL WORKING IT OUT IN MY MIND. I THEN REMEMBER SAYING, ".6". THAT WAS ABOUT THE EIGHTH OR NINTH QUESTION OUT OF TEN. I COULD TELL THE QUESTIONS WERE DIFFICULT BUT MY MENTAL CALCULATIONS WERE LIGHTENING FAST VISUALS IN MY MIND. EACH QUESTION REQUIRED ABOUT THREE TO FOUR DIFFERENT CALCULATIONS IN A ROW. FOR INSTANCE, ADD THIS, MINUS THAT, SQUARED TIMES ITSELF, TIMES .2.
I GAVE HIM THE ANSWER WHICH MY QUICK LOGIC SEEMED TO SUGGEST, BUT HAD NO IDEA IF IT WAS A CORRECT ANSWER. IT WAS AS IF I HAD MY OTHER SELF PROVIDING THE ANSWERS.
THAT OTHER SELF WAS ME BUT I GOT 47 F GRADES AND 32 D GRADES ON MY REPORT CARDS IN 4TH GRADE. THE LIBERAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN BOULDER DIDN'T FLUNK ME BECAUSE MY FEELINGS WERE IMPORTANT TO MY TEACHER, I AM GUESSING.
AMONG OTHERS, MATH WAS MY WORST SUBJECT. LIVING IN A CONTINUOUS STATE OF FEAR OF SINNING MAY NOT HAVE HELPED ME IN MY STUDIES. IN FACT, ONE DAY IN CHURCH AT THE AGE OF EIGHT, I REMEMBER THINKING TO MYSELF, HOW CAN THESE GROWNUPS BELIEVE IN THESE SCREAMING HELL AND DAMNATION SERMONS? AT THAT MOMENT IN MY LIFE, I DECIDED TO SHUT OFF EVERYTHING; I QUIT LISTENING. SOMETHING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT BUT I WAS JUST A KID.
I CHEATED MY WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND HAD TO GO TO COLLEGE TO DISCOVER IF I ENJOYED STUDYING. I EXCELLED IN COLLEGE BECAUSE I WAS TAKING CLASSES I WANTED TO TAKE. IN GRADE SCHOOL, I ASKED THE NUNS WHY I HAD TO TAKE A CERTAIN CLASS AND THEIR REPLY... BECAUSE I SAY SO. THAT WAS JUST THE RIGHT FEEDBACK I NEEDED FOR SHUTTING DOWN.
AFTER MY IQ TEST, MY ROOMMATE LEANED BACK IN HIS CHAIR WITH A GRIN AND GAVE ME THE NEWS. HOW'D I DO, HOW'D I DO, I ASKED? AFTER SWIGGING DOWN WHAT WAS LEFT OF A WARM BEER, MIKE LEANED OVER AND SAID, "ABOUT AVERAGE".
THANK GOD...I WAS HOPING I WASN'T TOO STUPID.
THERE IS ONE THING, MIKE COMMENTED...LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL YOU'RE NOT USING. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, I ASKED? WELL, YOU GOT A PERFECT SCORE ON THE MATH SECTION. OH...SO WHAT'S THAT MEAN? IT MEANS YOU'RE NOT LIVING UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL. HOW DO YOU KNOW, I ASKED? CAUSE YOU'RE MY ROOMMATE, STUPID.
MIKE WENT ON TO BECOME A LAWYER AFTER GETTING HIS PSYCH DEGREE. HE WANTED MORE MONEY SO HE COULD ATTRACT CUTER CHICKS. I AM NOT SO SURE THAT WAS SUCH A SMART IDEA.
TEN YEARS LATER, I DISCOVERED THE MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF MY MATH IQ. YOU HAVE A SUPERIOR INTUITIVE DISCRIMINATING MIND, THEY SAID. WHAT, I ASKED? FORGET IT, IT'S NO BIG DEAL, I SAID.
AT AGE 37, I TOOK A MYERS BRIGGS PERSONALITY TEST TO SEE IF I HAD ANY REAL POTENTIAL TALENT IN ANYTHING. I SCORED HIGH IN ART AND DESIGN. THAT WAS NEWS TO ME, I HAD NO IDEA I HAD POTENTIAL IN ART.
MY MOM SAID, OH YEA, WHEN YOU WERE IN KINDERGARTEN YOU WERE GOOD IN ART. IT SAYS SO ON YOUR REPORT CARD. YOUR TEACHER WROTE ON YOUR REPORT YOU HAD POTENTIAL AS AN ARTIST.
THANKS MOM, FOR LETTING ME KNOW 30 YEARS LATER...YOU'RE WELCOME.
MOM KEPT THE REPORT CARD FROM KINDERGARTEN
AND GAVE IT TO ME FOR THE FIRST TIME AT
37 YEARS OF AGE.
MOM, IF I HAD RECEIVED IT AT AGE 5, MY WORK
MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL BY NOW...
SEE...IT SAYS HE IS A GOOD HARD WORKER AND
IS QUITE TALENTED TOWARDS ART.
ALL I REMEMBER IS THERE WERE BUNNY RABBITS
INSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
AFTER THAT, I REMEMBER HAVING TO CHEAT
ON A BALLOON COLORING TEST
IN FIRST GRADE.
WHO'S GOT TALENT ?
THIS TALENT THING IS WAY OVERBLOWN ON PURPOSE, IN ORDER TO DECEIVE THE MASSES.
WHY?...WE WANT YOUR MONEY. IF YOU ARE TALENTED THAT IS WORTH SOMETHING, RIGHT?
YOU KNOW WHAT ARTISTS REALLY DO, THEY JUST COPY SHADOWS...HERE'S A LITTLE GREY SPOT ON HER CHEEK...OK THAT SPOT LOOKS LIKE THIS GREY COLORED PENCIL SO LET ME COLOR THIS RIGHT HERE IN THE SAME SPOT I SEE IT ON HER CHEEK.
THAT'S ALL IT IS; YOU ADD UP ALL THE SPOTS ON HER FACE, PUT THEM WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO GO AND VOILA!, YOU GOT A FACE.
THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO DRAW A HORSE OR A FACE OR ANYTHING. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FIRST DAY OF DRAWING CLASS.
WHEN YOU GET REAL GOOD DRAWING SPOTS YOU BEGIN TO PAINT SPOTS. THE BETTER YOU GET AT PAINTING SPOTS AND PUTTING THEM IN THE RIGHT PLACE, THE MORE MONEY YOU MAKE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, MY TALENT IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. I HAVE ADVANCED WAY BEYOND SPOT PAINTING. I TAKE A BOTTLE OF LIQUID PAINT AND POUR THE WHOLE THING ALL OVER MY CANVAS.
I WASTE A LOT MORE PAINT SO I GET TO CHARGE A LOT MORE MONEY.
WHEN I BLASTED THE PAINT WITH MY AIR GUN, MAKING FLOWERS ON A BOARD, I COULD CREATE THOUSANDS OF SPOTS IN ONE SHOT. MY PRICES WENT UP REAL FAST SINCE I COULD PAINT
A BILLION SPOTS A DAY. THAT'S HOW IT ALL WORKS.
YOU THINK I AM KIDDING; ELEPHANTS AND KIDS MAKE MORE MONEY PAINTING THEN REAL TRAINED ARTISTS.
I EVEN SAW A SMALL DOG SPOT CLAWING HIS WAY TO FAME AND FORTUNE.
MONKEYS AND CHIMPS BOTH HAVE MADE A DECENT LIVING AS ARTISTS.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, I AM NOT AT ALL JEALOUS OF THOSE ANIMALS OR EVEN THOSE FANCY KIDS WITH THEIR LITTLE TINY MESSY HANDS FINGERING UP LITTLE TOY PAINTINGS.
I HAVE MY NICHE AND PRETTY SOON THOSE YOUNG LITTLE KIDS WILL GROW UP AND NOBODY WILL WANT TO BUY ANYTHING MORE FROM THEM CAUSE THEY WILL BE JUST LIKE THE REST OF US REAL ARTISTS.
NOTHING UNIQUE ABOUT THEM APPLES. THOSE ANIMALS, THEY'LL ALL DIE OFF SOON ENOUGH, THEY AGE SEVEN TIMES FASTER THEN I DO.
THIS GENIUS THING
EVER NOTICE HOW GENIUS PEOPLE SEEM SMART?...THEY'RE NOT, THEY ARE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME.
PEOPLE TELL ME, YOU'RE TALENTED. NO I AM NOT, YES YOU ARE, NO AM NOT, YES YA ARE. GOT 'CHA;
NO I AM NOT. CAN'T CONVINCE 'EM ...
WELL, I HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY DEEMED A GENIUS AT LEAST IN MATH CONSCIOUSNESS. GOOD THING I DIDN'T TELL 'EM I FLUNKED MATH. I WISH I'D KNOWN I WAS A GENIUS WAY BEFORE MY LIFE WAS HALF OVER, 'CAUSE MAYBE I COULD HAVE INVENTED SOMETHING BIG.
I KNEW I COULD HAVE BEEN A ROCK STAR, BUT I WAS TOO OLD WHEN I GOT THAT THOUGHT... DAMN.
INSTEAD, I DECIDED TO PAINT SPOTS.
EINSTEIN
BEING A GENIUS IS AS EASY AS WALKING OR SITTING OR STARING AT SOMETHING. YOU THINK EINSTEIN WAS SMART? YEA, HE WAS SMART LOOKING, WITH ALL THAT WEIRD HAIR AROUND HIS HEAD.
THIS RELATIVE SPACE STUFF HE CAME UP WITH WAS JUST A FLUKE. HE WAS JUST STARING AT SOME OLD CLOCK TOWER SHOOTING THE BREEZE WITH HIS BUDDY AND VOILA!, SOMETHING POPPED INTO HIS HEAD LIKE
TIME TRAVEL AND SPACE THIS AND SPACE THAT. WOULDN'T YOU CALL THAT A LITTLE WEIRD?
HE WROTE A BUNCH A PAPERS ABOUT REAL CRAZY STUFF LIKE BEING IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE AND CATCHING THE SPEED OF LIGHT. HE WAS JUST PLAIN CRAZY; WHY HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN A CIRCUS WITH ALL THAT CRAZY HAIR AND CRAZY TALKIN'.
MOST OF HIS THINKIN' WAS NOT REALLY THINKIN' AT ALL. HE'D TRY A LOT OF THINKIN' BUT NOTHING MUCH WOULD HAPPEN. I FIGURED HE KNEW IF HE JUST WAITED QUIETLY, THEN SOME ANSWER WOULD POP INTO HIS HEAD, JUST LIKE BEFORE WHEN HE WAS DOING
NOTHING BUT STARING.
YOU EVER JUST SIT THERE WITH NOTHING ON YOUR MIND AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET THIS HERE THING CALLED AN... "AHA EXPERIENCE"? RIGHT OUT OF NOWHERE...E =MC SOMETHING OR OTHER.
I GET THAT EVERY DAY, PURE GENIUS. THINKIN' JUST LIKE EINSTEIN.
YOU'RE A GENIUS, I AM A GENIUS, EVERYBODY'S A GENIUS.
ALANIS MORISSETTE
ALANIS MORISSETTE IS A GENIUS FOR SURE. SHOULD I GO ON, OR MAYBE I SHOULD STOP. I DON'T WANT TO BE GETTIN' ON HER ANGRY SIDE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, WINK WINK.
I AM A GENERATION OLDER THAN ALANIS. WHEN HER IRONIC VIDEO CAME OUT ON MTV I THOUGHT, THAT SONG IS HOT, GOOD STUFF.
I AM BIG TIME INTO MUSIC, IN FACT I USE MUSIC TO PULL MY EMOTIONS TO THE SURFACE PRIOR TO CREATING ART.
TEN YEARS WENT BY AND STILL I HADN'T PURCHASED ANY MUSIC FROM ALANIS. I PURCHASED HER "COLLECTION" CD, THINKING, IT'S TIME. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT HER MUSIC THAT CLINGS ABOVE THE REST.
THE COLLECTION CD WAS A STAPLE CATALYST FOR MY INSPIRATION AS AN ARTIST. I ACTUALLY CANNOT SELL ONE OF MY PIECES, THE DANCER, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HER PIECE.
WHEN I LISTEN TO MUSIC, MY FOCUS IS ON THE MELODY AND BEAT. I DON'T RELY ON LYRICS FOR UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION. ALANIS IS A BIG TIME LYRICIST AND I READ THE WORDS ONCE. HER MUSICAL MELODIES SPEAK AS LOUDLY AS HER LYRICS.
EVERY SONGWRITER EXPERIENCES EASE AND DIFFICULTY IN THE CREATION OF WORK. I HAVE HEARD MANY ARTISTS SAY, THIS SONG UNFOLDED SO EASILY; WITHOUT EFFORT.
SARAH MCLACHLAN REFERRED TO ONE OF HER SONGS ON THE CITY OF ANGELS SOUNDTRACK AS BEING ONE OF THOSE WHICH FLOWED OUT EFFORTLESSLY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT SONG BUT IF MEMORY SERVES ME WELL, I THINK THE SONG WAS, ANGEL.
OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE HEARD ALANIS COMMENT THAT SOME SONGS IN THIS SERIES UNFOLDED IN 10,15,20 MINUTES EACH. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WITH ALANIS ON A REGULAR BASIS. ONE MIGHT SURMISE HER EMOTIONAL VOLCANO JUST EXPLODED AFTER A RELATIONSHIP
AND HERE COME THE SONGS.
FOR SOME, MANY SONG CREATIONS FLOW TO THE SURFACE FOR CAPTURE WITHOUT EFFORT. ALANIS HAS A KNACK FOR CAPTURE AND CREATIVE PROCESS. EMOTIONS MAY OR MAY NOT CONTRIBUTE AS TRIGGERS OR CATALYSTS OF CREATIVE THOUGHT. THE QUALITY OF HER SONGWRITING IS GENERALLY CONSISTENTLY ABOVE THE REST.
GENIUS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ONE HAVING
GREAT MENTAL CAPACITY OR ABILITY. MAY I SUGGEST WE ALL HAVE EQUAL CAPACITY; ALANIS HAS AN EFFICIENT OPENING OR PATHWAY FROM HER CAPACITY FOR CREATIVE WORK.
THE KEY ELEMENT REALIZED IS THE EASE AND FLOW
OF CREATIVE THOUGHT TO THE SURFACE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK HARDER WITH THEIR DESIGNS OF CREATION.
ARE SOME MUSICIANS MORE TALENTED OR GIFTED?...NO, THEY HAVE LESS CRIMPING IN THEIR PATHWAY TO THEIR SOURCE. LESS CLOUDS IN THE WAY MEANS MORE SUNSHINE GETTING THROUGH TO THE SURFACE OF CONSCIOUS CREATIVE THOUGHT.
CLEARER PATHS AND WIDER OPENINGS ARE PREFERABLE CONDITIONS FOR UNRESTRICTED CREATIVE THOUGHT. GENIUS IS NOT A TALENT OR A SKILLFULLY LEARNED PRACTICE.
AS I UNDERSTAND, MOZART'S MUSIC FLOWED ONTO THE PAGE WITHOUT THE SCRATCH OUT AND REDO OF ATTEMPTED FIRST DRAFTS. IF THIS IS TRUE TO SOME DEGREE, THEN MOZART DEMONSTRATES A CLARITY OF UNRESTRICTED CREATIVE THOUGHT.
TO BE ABLE TO SEE OR HEAR THE MUSIC CLEARLY ENOUGH
AND THEN LAY IT DOWN IN A PRECISE FASHION
IS PURE GENIUS. NO RESTRICTIONS AND NO SECOND GUESSING,
ONLY EASE OF CAPTURE TO POINT.
IS IT NOT A MORE DIFFICULT TASK TO
CHASE OR CORRAL FLEETING CREATIVE THOUGHTS.
I WILL NOT ASSUME OR ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY THE STYLE BY WHICH HE VENTURED THROUGH THE CREATIVE PROCESS. I AM SURE HE HAD HIS GOOD AND BAD DAYS AT THE WHEEL.
DURING MY MEDITATION I SOMETIMES EXPERIENCE ON RARE OCCASIONS, A FLOW OF ORGANIZED THOUGHTS OUTSIDE OF MYSELF. I OBSERVE A SLIDESHOW OF CREATIVELY ORGANIZED THINKING.
I WONDER IF MOZART MAY HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO HEAR OR VISUALIZE THE SYMPHONY IN HIS MIND AND SIMPLY PUT IT DOWN ON PAPER.
I APOLOGIZE FOR PLACING MY EXPERIENCE OF MEDITATION ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN REFERENCING MOZART. NOT ONLY AM I NOT IN THE SAME BALLPARK AS HE, I FEEL REALLY AWKWARD AND UNWORTHY TO EVEN SUGGEST AN OPINION OR CRITIQUE HIS BEHAVIOR.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I ALSO EXPERIENCE A DIVINE INTELLIGENCE WITHIN MY OWN BEINGNESS. THEREFORE, I WILL SET MYSELF IN LINE WITH ASPIRATIONS OF REACHING BEYOND, TO ACTIVATE HIGHER STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
IT'S EITHER THAT OR BE HAPPY PLAYING GOLF.
EXPECTATION
STOP TRYING TO BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE. YOU ARE TRYING TO BE THE BEST COMPARED TO WHAT?
GIVE UP AND LET GO OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS. ENTERTAIN YOURSELF WITH WHAT YOU ENJOY DOING. FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONS AND STILL MAKE A LIVING.
TO BE TRULY SUCCESSFUL AT LIVING, QUIT COMPARING YOURSELF TO THE NORM. BE A CHILD IN YOUR OWN SANDBOX AND CREATE YOUR OWN WORLD.
THAT'S IT. FROM THERE, INNOCENCE FIRST, THEN GENIUS.
GENIUS IS EASILY OBTAINED IN QUIET MOMENTS OF REFLECTION, NOT THINKING, BUT OBSERVING FREELY WITH NO EXPECTATION.
IF YOU ARE PHYSICALLY UNHEALTHY
YOUR MIND WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. DULL MINDED THINKING IS BLIND TO OPPORTUNITY.
AS AN ADULT, PLAY AS A CHILD FOR DISCOVERY.
THAT MEANS ONE FOCUSED MOMENT SPAWNS THE NEXT.
A CHILD'S CURIOSITY RUNS FROM ONE MOMENT TO ANOTHER MOMENT WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. INNOCENT CURIOSITY LEADS THE CHILD INTO DISCOVERY.
EINSTEIN BECAME A GENIUS THROUGH SIMPLE OBSERVATION. THE THINKING PROCESS AND ANALYSIS HAD ALREADY BEEN LOGGED IN LONG BEFORE THE DISCOVERY. THE INNOCENT, "AHA" REVELATION COMES TO A CLEAR AND QUIET MIND. A BUSY MIND CAN SOMETIMES BLOCK THE OBVIOUS TRUTH.
CLARITY OF MIND IS THE KEY TO DISCOVERY. SUPREME INTELLIGENCE IS ALREADY POTENTIALLY PRESENT IN THE BACKGROUND OF A THINKING MIND. CLEAR AWAY THE CLOUDS AND ALLOW THE NATURE OF THE MIND ITS TRUE CLARITY.
MEDITATION IS A WAY TO GAIN CLARITY OF MIND. PHYSICAL EXERCISE IS A WAY TO GAIN CLARITY OF MIND. HEALTHY FOOD SUPPORTS AN EFFICIENT, FUNCTIONING PHYSIOLOGY WHICH GIVES RISE TO CLARITY OF MIND.
CLARITY OF MIND IS THE KEY TO GENIUS.
SOME PEOPLE ABUSE THEMSELVES AND STILL HAVE A RELATIVELY LARGE AMOUNT OF CLARITY.
IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE CLARITY TO BURN, THEN I SUGGEST WATCHING YOUR LIFESTYLE HABITS.
OBSERVATION
OBSERVE FREELY WITHOUT EXPECTATION
AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT OTHERS DON'T.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOOT LANDSCAPE. THE DESIRE TO BE UNIQUE EMPOWERS ME TO PIONEER NEW VISION IN THE CREATION OF ART. SCORES OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS WANDER THE DESERT VALLEY, SHOOTING EACH OTHER'S LANDSCAPES.
NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT... BUT... TRY STARTING FROM SCRATCH WITHOUT EXPECTATION, WANDERING ABOUT AS A CHILD. HAVE YOUR CAMERA BY YOUR SIDE WITH NO GOAL BUT ENJOYMENT OF THE MOMENT.
INNOCENTLY OBSERVE... AS JOY PULLS YOU TOWARDS YOUR INTEREST WITHOUT EFFORT, YOU MAY DISCOVER YOUR UNIQUE VISION FOR THE DAY.
DURING A HIKE IN IN THE UTAH DESERT,1991, I STUMBLED UPON A MAGICAL WORLD OF ROCK IMAGES AND TURNED THEM INTO A HOMEMADE CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR MY THREE YEAR OLD NEPHEW.
TWO SEALS... SIX FOOT DIAMETER
DUCK BILL...SIX FOOT ACROSS
PIG SNOUT...TEN FOOT ACROSS
FRANKENSTONE...12 FOOT IN HEIGHT
GIANT TONGUE...12 FOOT LONG
THE GREAT SEA LION...TEN FOOT ACROSS
THE END
A SAMPLING OF MY OBSERVATIONS IN THE DESERT.
CHILD'S PLAY
FIFTEEN YEARS OF ART CAN BE SUMMED UP INTO A FEW CHOICE WORDS.
PASSION - EXPERIMENTATION - PRACTICE - JOY - DISCOVERY.
NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER EVERYTIME.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO CREATE WITHOUT FIRE IN THE HOLE.
PASSION FEEDS DESIRE AND
YOUR PERSONAL EXPRESSION IS REALIZED THROUGH PRACTICE AND EXPERIMENTATION.
WHAT IS YOUR PASSION? START WITH WHAT YOU ENJOY DOING AND IT WILL BLOSSOM INTO A GREATER PASSION AS YOUR SKILLS OF CREATIVITY DEVELOP OVER TIME.
PASSION IS DISCOVERED THROUGH JOYFUL PLAY. THE PASSION COULD BE BABYSITTING, COOKING, READING, THE ARTS, GARDENING, WALKING, SPEAKING, WRITING, OBSERVING NATURE, WORKING ON CARS,ETC, ETC. NOTICE THESE ACTIVITIES ARE SELF CENTRIC, I DID NOT MENTION VOLUNTEERING.
THESE ARE POSITIVE SELF ORIENTED TASKS. FIRST, LEARN TO BE HAPPY WITH YOUR OWN STUFF.
IF YOU DESIRE, THEN BEGIN TO HELP OTHERS WITH THEIR NEEDS.
INNOCENT PLAYFULNESS LED ME INTO EACH ONE OF MY DISCOVERIES OF ART.
HAVING NO TALENT,
I SIMPLY BEGAN TO PLAY AROUND AND EXPERIMENT WITH MY PAINTS MINUS BRUSHES. I WANTED TO BE UNIQUE AND NOT USING BRUSHES FORCED ME TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.
I BELIEVE ONE RULE OF GENIUS THINKING IS CHOOSING TO START FROM SCRATCH. A FRESH OPENING FROM WHICH TO
PEER THROUGH TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE AN UNBIASED WORLD.
ALL FOUR OF MY ARTISTIC STYLES SPRANG FROM CHILD'S PLAY.CHILD'S PLAY #1THE STORY OF CRYSTALSCAPE WAS COVERED IN AN EARLIER SECTION; A MIXED MEDIA INVOLVING
GLASS SCULPTING, PAINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
I CRUSHED THE CLUMPS OF SOFT GRASS BENEATH MY HARD BOOTS, SEEKING A REFUGE FOR REST. THE NEXT THING I KNOW I AM PULLING A CLEAR QUARTZ STONE FROM MY POCKET TO VIEW ON A SUN FILLED LEDGE.
MY CAMERA LENS FOCUSED IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT.
CAN I CATCH THIS SUN BURST BEFORE IT SETTLES BELOW THE HORIZON?
I HAD NINETY SECONDS TO DISCOVER THE NEXT NINE YEARS OF MY LIFE'S WORK. IF THE SUN HAD SET BEFORE I HAD THE TIME TO VIEW THE QUARTZ STONE THROUGH MY LENS, MY VISION OF CRYSTALSCAPE WOULD NOT EXIST.
THE NEXT TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE WOULD HAVE GONE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
NINETY SECONDS DEFINED THE NEXT TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE'S WORK. THAT'S TOO WEIRD TO THINK ABOUT.
ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME A MOMENT HAS
CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF MY LIFE.
I REMEMBER LISTENING TO A DAVID BYRNE SONG,
HOW DID I GET HERE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WAS WATCHING MTV AND IN THAT MOMENT I DECIDED TO USE THE PEACE CORPS AS A STEPPING STONE TO LIVE HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD.
FIVE OR SIX KEY MOMENTS CAN FILL UP A LIFETIME.
THIS IS GETTING A BIT TOO ZENISH FOR ME.
BY THE WAY, THIS BOOK IS A SPONTANEOUS BRAINSTORM FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS COMING AFTER THIS SENTENCE. I STARTED OUT THINKING I WOULD RECORD MY ART
WITH A FEW GENERAL STATEMENTS BELOW EACH PHOTOGRAPH. WHO KNOWS WHERE I WILL END UP.
I SUPPOSE I MAY BE BREAKING SOME WRITING RULES...I HOPE SO.
CHILD'S PLAY #2FRUSTRATED IN MY ATTEMPT TO CREATE, I BLEW ONTO THE PAINTED SURFACE TO LET OFF SOME STEAM AND UP POPPED A PERFECT ROUND FLOWER. FLORALS CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
HERE WE GO AGAIN; IS THERE ANYTHING I DO WHICH IS PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL VENTURE AND GOAL? SURE, I WENT TO COLLEGE FOR EIGHT YEARS AND RECEIVED A DOUBLE UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTERS DEGREE SO I COULD PAINT HOUSES FOR A LIVING.
I WAS IN THE HEALTH FIELD CRITIQUING WELLNESS PROGRAMS IN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR FIVE YEARS.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS OF WELLNESS EDUCATION;
MY EMPLOYER DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF PAYING ME ENOUGH.
CHILD'S PLAY #3A BLINDFOLDED CHILD WITH ONE ARM COULD LAY DOWN SOME HORIZONTAL STRIPES OF COLOR ONTO A WHITE BOARD. I'D HAVE TO HAND THE KID A BUFFING BRUSH SINCE HE CAN'T SEE WITH A BLINDFOLD.
OK KID, BUFF IT OUT UP AND DOWN, THEN SIDEWAYS UNTIL I SAY STOP. OK, YOU'RE DONE CREATING ANOTHER PERFECTLY GORGEOUS NATURAL LOOKING SKYSCAPE.
IT TOOK SOME INNOVATION AND SOME ACCIDENTS ON MY PART TO COME UP WITH THESE
UNIQUE TECHNIQUES OF ART CREATION. I HAD NOTHING BUT PASSION, SOME CURIOSITY, AND TIME.
CHILD'S PLAY #4THIS WAS ONE INNOCENT DISCOVERY NOT OF MY OWN MAKING. THE TECHNIQUE WAS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY,
SO I GRABBED IT, PLAYED WITH IT AND DEVELOPED MY OWN STYLE WITHIN TWO YEARS.
POUR AND FLOW PAINTING IS NOT
A UNIQUE VENTURE, BUT I HAD TO MAKE IT MY OWN.
MOST ALL OF MY WORK CAN BE EASILY TAUGHT TO AN AVERAGE EIGHT TO TWELVE YEAR OLD KID.
WITH JUST AN HOUR OF INSTRUCTION, HE OR SHE COULD PRODUCE PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES OR PAINTINGS OF A SUITABLE QUALITY PEOPLE WOULD BUY AT AN ART FESTIVAL.
REMEMBER, MONKEYS AND ELEPHANTS CAN CREATE ART
THE POINT IS ...TALENT IS AN ILLUSION.
GENIUS IS EASY.
DENIAL WHY DO PEOPLE BELITTLE THEMSELVES AND SAY NO, I COULD NEVER DO THAT, YOU'RE THE ARTIST.
WHAT I HEAR THEM SAYING IS...YOU HAVE TALENT AND I DON'T...
MY WIFE AND I LIVED IN HORSE COUNTRY IN COLORADO. WE HAD A SMALL
ACREAGE AND NEEDED A BARN BUILT WITH FOUR STALLS.
I WASN'T GOING TO BUILD IT MYSELF, I WAS TOO BUSY MAKING ART.
I SAID TO MY WIFE...
YOU GOT YOUR HOUSE, YOU GOT YOUR PASTURE, YOU GOT YOUR HORSES,
FIGURE IT OUT...
NO PROBLEM, SHE SAID, I GOT NEIGHBORS.
OUR NEIGHBOR STEVE WAS THE NICEST COWBOY YOU'D EVER WANT TO MEET. WHEN MY WIFE GOT HER
CLAWS ON HIM, WHAT COULD HE SAY BUT YES, I'LL BUILD YOUR BARN FOR FREE.
IN HORSE COUNTRY, EVERYONE HELPS EVERYONE ELSE.
ACTUALLY, I AM LYING, IT DIDN'T QUITE GO THAT WAY. I SURPRISED MY WIFE ON HER BIRTHDAY AND I
PERSUADED STEVE TO BUILD THE BARN.
I INSISTED ON PAYING HIM. HE WOULDN'T TAKE MY MONEY.
HE IS GOING TO HEAVEN.
I INSISTED AGAIN AND HE REFUSED,
SO HE MADE ME A DEAL AND SUGGESTED,
"I'D SURE LIKE SOME OF THAT GREAT ART YOU'RE MAKING."
I WASN'T TOO COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, KNOWING IT WOULD TAKE HIM THREE MONTHS OF TIME AFTER WORK AND WEEKENDS TO FINISH THE BARN. HE ONLY WANTED TWO OR THREE PIECES OF ART,
WHICH WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME ABOUT
TWO HOURS OF WORK TO HIS THREE MONTHS.
I HELPED AS MUCH
AS I COULD LIFTING BEAMS AND
POUNDING NAILS.
NO MATTER WHAT, GIRLS STILL WIN IN THE END.
STEVE THOUGHT I WAS SOMETHING ELSE; SOME REAL DAVINCI TYPE GUY RIGHT IN HIS OWN BACKYARD.
HALF WAY INTO THE JOB I FOUND STEVE MAKING SOME BENT IRON CURLY CUE ART THINGS TO GO UP HERE AND THERE FOR DECORATION ON THE BARN. THEN HE STARTED MAKING FANCY HORSE GATES.
I SAID, DAMN STEVE, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, MAKING ART FOR THE BARN?
OH NO, YOU'RE THE ARTIST.
I WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE, THINKING I SHOULD FIND A NEW CAREER BEFORE ANY OTHER NON ARTISTS ACCIDENTLY EMBARRASS ME WITH THEIR SUPERIOR ART CREATIONS.
CLARITY
I ATTEMPTED TO WRITE SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS LAST NIGHT SHORTLY BEFORE BED. USUALLY
I SIT DOWN TO WRITE AND THOUGHTS START FLOWING ONE AFTER ANOTHER WITHOUT EFFORT.
I WAS TIRED AND DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MENTAL ENERGY TO THINK THOUGHTS; NOTHING WAS COMING TO THE SURFACE. I WAS IN A DEAD ZONE AND IT WAS TIME FOR BED.
HERE I AM AGAIN THIS MORNING WITH A FRESHER MORNING MIND. EVERY DAY WE GET TIRED, SLEEP AND RISE UP WITH RECHARGED MENTAL CLARITY. SOME OF US RELY ON A LITTLE CAFFEINE AS A BOOSTER SHOT JUST TO MAKE SURE THE MOTOR IS RUNNING. I HAVE A REGULAR HABIT OF MEDITATING IN THE MORNING BEFORE BREAKFAST. UNLIKE COFFEE WHICH GIVES YOU SPEED, I USE MEDITATION FOR MENTAL EXPANSION. THEN SOMETIMES I ENJOY A CUP OF JOE TO CREATE THAT TURBO CHARGED EFFECT. FIRE IN THE HOLE! LOOK OUT FOR MY BACKDRAFT; I AM DRIVING TO WORK.
HAD A GOOD SLEEP LAST EVENING, BUT NOTICED NO REAL INSPIRATION OR MIND BOGGLING THOUGHTS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THIS BOOK.
FIRST THING I DO IN THE MORNING IS HEAD TO THE KITCHEN TO BLEND A SUPER DUPER,
"EVERYTHING YOUR BODY NEEDS" POTENT FOOD DRINK.
NOT JUST PROTEIN, BUT A WILDCRAFTED, COMPLETELY BALANCED MEAL WITH BUILDING BLOCKS AND FUEL. COMPLETE PROTEINS, AMINO ACIDS, ENZYMES, HERBS, BERRYS, PLANTS, FIBER, ESSENTIAL ACIDS, VITAMINS, MINERALS, ANTIOXIDANTS, PROBIOTICS AND DETOXIFIERS.
TAKES ME ABOUT TWO HOURS TO CRUSH THE HERBS AND PLANTS INTO GRAIN...JUST KIDDING,
IT COMES IN A CAN FOR TOO MUCH MONEY. YOU CAN BUY STUFF LIKE THIS AT MOST HEALTH FOOD STORES. I GET MINE FROM A NATURAL PHARMACY. DO NOT BUY SUPPLEMENTS CONTAINING SUGAR.
IF YOU WANT TO WEAN YOURSELF OFF OF ADDICTIVE CRAVINGS AND HUNGER, SKIP THE SUGAR FIX.
I HAVE STUDIED AND EXPERIMENTED WITH WELLNESS FOR FORTY PLUS YEARS AND
I KNOW WHAT WORKS IN GENERAL FOR EVERYBODY.
MORNING IS THE BEST TIME TO ABSORB NUTRITION FOR THE BODY. MY DRINK IS A QUICK AND EASY NUTRIENT FIX FOR ALL US LAZY, UNDISCIPLINED, OVERWORKED AND STRESSED OUT HEALTHY WANNABES. THAT PRETTY MUCH DEFINES EVERYONE EXCEPT THE HEALTHY EXTREMISTS WHOM WE ALL HATE.
THINK OF THIS MORNING FIX AS A LIQUID FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH. NOWHERE ON THE AVERAGE GROCERY SHELF ARE YOU GOING TO FIND ENOUGH DIGESTIBLE NUTRITION SUITABLE FOR SUPPORTING A
HEALTHY FUNCTIONING BODY AND MIND.
THE DRINK IS QUICK AND ENSURES YOUR BODY'S ENGINE IS FIRING PROPERLY ON ALL LEVELS.
DRINK IT EVERY DAY TO GET RESULTS IN THREE WEEK INTERVALS.
AT THREE WEEKS, YOU SHOULD NOTICE SOME RELEASE FROM YOUR CRAVINGS AND HUNGER, IF AND ONLY IF YOU STOP CONSUMING THE MAJOR SUGAR FIXES LIKE SODAS AND CANDY. A TOUCH OF SUGAR CONTAINED IN PRODUCTS WILL NOT EFFECT YOU AS MUCH.
AT SIX WEEKS, YOU WILL NOTICE HUNGER IS MUCH LESS HAUNTING AND PHYSICAL ENERGY IS HIGHER.
MENTAL CLARITY IS SHARPER...AGAIN, MENTAL ENERGY AND CLARITY IMPROVES.
MEDITATION WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND BENEFICIAL IF YOUR
MIND AND BODY IS FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS.
MEDITATION EXPANDS AWARENESS AND IMPROVES MENTAL ENERGY. REMEMBER, SLEEP ALLOWS OUR MINDS TO RECOUP AND RECHARGE SO WE HAVE MENTAL ENERGY TO USE WHEN THINKING.
MEDITATION SUPERCHARGES OUR ALREADY RESTED MIND. AWARENESS IS MORE EXPANDED AND SHARPER.
I HAVE BEEN MEDITATING REGULARLY FOR 36 YEARS. MY EATING HABITS ARE UP AND DOWN FROM JUNK TO HEALTH FOOD. IF I HAVE MY LIQUID MORNING FIX AND SOME AEROBIC EXERCISE DURING THE WEEK
I CAN GET AWAY WITH EATING JUNK FOOD FROM TIME TO TIME AND STILL MAINTAIN
A STRONG METABOLISM AND A SHARP MIND.
GENIUS THINKING IS SUPPORTED THROUGH PRACTICING HEALTHY HABITS.
ONE THING ABOUT MEDITATION; PEOPLE THINK THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DISCIPLINE TO BE A REGULAR MEDITATOR. PERSONALLY, I HAVE VERY LITTLE DISCIPLINE IN MY HABITS, ALTHOUGH I AM REGULAR WITH MEDITATION BECAUSE IT FEELS GOOD AND I WOULD MISS THE EXTRA BLAST OF MENTAL ENERGY I GET FROM DOING IT EVERYDAY.
THE BODY AND MIND FUNCTION BETTER WHEN ROUTINES ARE REGULAR.
MUSIC
I TELL PEOPLE I PAINT BECAUSE I DON'T PLAY MUSIC. I CHOSE PAINTING AT THE AGE OF 37
BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS TOO OLD TO BE A ROCK STAR.
I HAVEN'T WRITTEN MUCH ABOUT MUSIC. BUT I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANT EFFECT IT HAS HAD ON MY ART CREATIONS.
THE VIBRATION OF SUBJECTIVELY PLEASING MUSICAL SOUNDS
SEEMS TO STIMULATE A SWELLING OR BUILDING UP OF ENERGY THROUGHOUT MY BODY,
ESPECIALLY IN THE FOREHEAD REGION.
IN MEDITATION, I USUALLY EXPERIENCE A PLEASANT BUILDUP
OF ENERGY ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE FOREHEAD. MUSIC SEEMS TO MIMIC THE SAME FOREHEAD ENERGY
I GET DURING MEDITATION.
AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF LISTENING, WHETHER PAINTING OR NOT,
I TEND TO NOT HEAR SO MUCH AS FEEL IN TUNE WITH THE VIBRATION OF MUSIC.
THE MUSIC IS UNCONSCIOUSLY HEARD AS A WAVE OF PLEASANT VIBRATION.
THIS OF COURSE IS WHAT CHICKS EXPERIENCE ON THE DANCE FLOOR
WHILE GUYS ARE THINKING ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT.
EMOTIONAL SOUNDING MUSIC STIMULATES MORE MAGNIFIED ENERGY IN MY FOREHEAD REGION. WHEN I BREATHE IN A RUSH OF AIR THROUGH MY NOSE, THE ENERGY IN MY HEAD SWELLS EVEN MORE LIKE A
RUSH OF AIR TO A FIRE.
THE MENTAL FIRE IS BLAZING STRONGER AS EACH SONG PASSES THROUGH ME. THERE IS PLENTY OF SETTING UP AND PLANNING BEFORE PAINTING AND LOUD MUSIC IS OK AT THIS POINT.
THE MOMENT I BEGIN TO PAINT, THE SOUND IS TURNED WAY DOWN AND MY
ENERGY CHARGED MIND RUSHES INTO QUIET CLARITY FOR MAXIMUM CREATIVITY.
NOW YOU KNOW WHY I LIKE THE MUSIC FROM ALANIS AND MANY OTHERS.
CAN YOU SAY...ENDORPHINS?
BELIEF
I AM NOT GOING TO RECOMMEND ANY MEDITATION TECHNIQUE, DIET OR LIFESTYLE CHOICE.
I HAVE SAID MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR A TABLE TOP PICTURE BOOK.
ONE REASON I AM NOT MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS IS BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE OPINIONS WHICH ARE REALLY ILLUSIONS. THIS IS NOT A PUT DOWN, IT'S A FACT OF LIVING.
IN LIFE, WE HAVE MANY PATHS OF KNOWLEDGE FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE AND DEFINE OUR DESTINY.
IF YOU LISTEN, YOU WILL HEAR, "MY RELIGION IS BETTER THAN YOURS, MY DIET IS THE BEST,
MY MEDITATION IS MORE EFFICIENT," THE WORLD IS FULL OF BIASED BELIEFS.
ONCE WE PLUG INTO A GROUP, ANY GROUP, WE ALL START PATTING EACH OTHER ON THE BACK.
A FLY FISHING GROUP, A KNITTING CIRCLE, THE MARINES, BUDDHIST MONKS, MOVIESTARS,
MOTHERS FOR HITLER, WHATEVER.
GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT, YOU ARE PLUGGED INTO A BIASED MINDSET. THE LONGER YOU STAY PUT,
THE STRONGER THE BOND. THERE IS NO REAL TRUE RIGHT AND WRONG OPINION EXCEPT, I AM THINKING, MAYBE GOD'S. LIFE SEEMS TO BE A LARGE THEATRE OF HARD FASTENED OPINIONS.
JOINING GROUPS IS A NATURAL PART OF LIFE, IT'S HOW WE CONNECT WITH OTHERS IN SOCIETY.
LET'S SAY I RECOMMEND SOME BUDDHIST FORM OF
MEDITATION FOUND IN JAPAN.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF BUDDHA STARTED IN INDIA, EVOLVING THROUGH ASIA, INTO JAPAN, AND WHO KNOWS WHERE ELSE. EACH TIME BUDDHA'S KNOWLEDGE WAS ADOPTED BY ANOTHER CULTURE, THE KNOWLEDGE CHANGED TO FIT THEIR STYLE. SO WE KNOW KNOWLEDGE ITSELF IS BIASED OVER TIME.
NOW ADD TO THAT;
I AM
BIASED ABOUT MY
BIASED VERSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND YOU ARE
BIASED ABOUT YOUR PAST EXPERIENCES OF
BIASED KNOWLEDGE.
YOU FORM YOUR SELF-
BIASED OPINION OF MY
BIASED, BUT PERFECTLY GOOD
BIASED KNOWLEDGE. HOW DARE YOU....
WE BOTH END UP WITH
WHAT I CALL, ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR.
AS SOON AS ONE HEARS A RECOMMENDATION, THEY BEGIN TO FORM AN OPINION ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION BASED UPON THEIR ILLUSIONS.
OH, THOSE PEOPLE ARE WEIRD,
WHO WANTS TO BE A MONK? THEY SHAVE THEIR EYEBROWS AND BEG AND WELL, THAT'S NO FUN.
RECOMMENDATIONS
WHATEVER I SAY OR RECOMMEND WILL NOT BE HEARD OR UNDERSTOOD. YOU WILL HEAR YOUR VERSION OF WHAT I SAY AND MAKE YOUR DECISION BASED UPON YOUR BIASED ILLUSION.
WHEN WE ATTACH TO BELIEF, WE SURRENDER CLARITY. YOU THINK YOUR ILLUSION IS MORE CORRECT THAN MINE. YOU BET IT IS, THAT'S WHY YOU WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE AND HOW TO DO WHAT YOU DO FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
I WAS 20 YEARS OLD WHEN I STARTED MEDITATING AND NOBODY WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL
RECOMMENDING MEDITATION TO ME. I HAD TO DO IT MY WAY ON MY TERMS AND SEEK WHAT FELT RIGHT FOR ME.
I AM RECOMMENDING MEDITATION AND I AM BIASED ABOUT WHAT I DO BECAUSE I GET RESULTS.
SO WHAT; YOU MAY NOT.
THE PERSON WHO INTRODUCED MEDITATION TO ME DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT HE HAD, BUT I DID.
MY TEACHER STOPPED MEDITATING AND I DIDN'T BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT FOR ME AT THAT TIME.
JUST TO GET YOU STARTED, TRY READING AUTHORS WAYNE DYER AND DEEPAK CHOPRA.
THESE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS:
RATHER THAN PLUGGING INTO GROUPS, DRAW FROM THEM. MANY GROUPS HAVE SOME VALUE.
PULL OUT WHAT YOU NEED AND MOVE ON. IF YOU FIND COMFORT AND THE CONNECTION FEELS RIGHT, THEN BY ALL MEANS, DIVE IN.
DIVERSIFY YOUR PORTFOLIO OF KNOWLEDGE FOR MAXIMUM WISDOM.
YOU ARE A BEACON OF DIVINE INTELLIGENT ENERGY WITH ILLUSIONS OF IGNORANCE.
PEOPLE SAY, "I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH, I AM NOT THE ARTIST,
I AM TOO TIRED (SLEEP AND EAT RIGHT FOR GOODNESS SAKE),
I AM NOT SMART (YOU ALREADY ARE BEHIND THE CLOUDS),
I AM NOT CREATIVE".
WHO CARES...PLAY GOLF AND ENJOY LIFE.
CONCLUSIONGENIUS THINKING IS BORN OF CLEAR MINDEDNESS. THE TERM GENIUS SUGGESTS A SPECIALNESS OR UNIQUENESS IN TALENT AND SKILL. LET'S KNOCK IT OFF ITS PEDESTAL OF ILLUSION.
REMOVE THE HOOP-LA.
GENIUS THINKING IS BORN OF A NORMAL FUNCTIONING, NATURAL, SIMPLER OBSERVANT STATE OF A LESS CLUTTERED MIND.
THE POND IS STILL AS GLASS, REFLECTING A CLEAR IMAGE OF THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE. IN THAT NATURAL, INNOCENT CLEAR STATE OF OBSERVANCE, CLARITY IN THINKING COMES TO MIND.
WITH NO EFFORT, PROBLEMS SEEMINGLY ARE AUTOMATICALLY REPLACED WITH PATHWAYS TO SOLUTIONS. THE "AHA" EXPERIENCE IS BORN AGAIN AND AGAIN
WITHOUT THE NEED TO USE EFFORT IN THINKING.
GENIUS IS EASY.
THE HUMAN BEING IS A STOREHOUSE BATTERY OF BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ENERGY. BE MINDFUL, WE MAINTAIN THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS HUMAN BATTERY THROUGH NUTRITION, REST AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ACTIVITY.
MEDITATION IS SUPREME REST AND SUPREME NUTRITION INCREASES BODY TO MIND COORDINATION. OLYMPIC ATHLETES DEMONSTRATE PHYSICAL GENIUS OR
SUPERIOR MIND BODY COORDINATION USING LESS WASTED MOTION IN ACTIVITY.
THE BEST ATHLETES, DANCERS, MUSICIANS, ETC,
MAKE THEIR ACTIONS LOOK EASY, BECAUSE IT IS EASY.
REPETITIVE PRACTICE IN SKILL DEVELOPMENT INCREASES FUNCTIONAL AUTOMATION OF MIND BODY ACTION. THE ATHLETE'S MOTIONS BECOME MORE AUTOMATIC, ALLOWING THE MIND TO FURTHER FOCUS ON THE PERIPHERY OR SURROUNDINGS.
THE BEST OR WISEST ATHLETES ARE ABLE TO SEE THE WHOLE GAME AND THE SUM OF ITS PARTS. TEAM SPORTING EVENTS REQUIRE AN ATHLETE TO FOCUS ON ALL OTHER PLAYERS AT THE SAME TIME AS WELL AS THEMSELVES.
THE MICHAEL JORDANS OF SPORTS ARE NOT ONLY GOOD, BUT GREAT BECAUSE OF THEIR SKILLS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
THEIR VISION OR PERCEPTIONS.
AWARENESS IS KEY TO PHYSICAL OR MENTAL GENIUS BEHAVIOR. MEDITATION INCREASES AWARENESS AND
EXPANDS THE MIND'S PERCEPTION WITHOUT EFFORT OR A NEED TO CONCENTRATE.
WHEN PREPARING MY NUTRITION DRINK IN THE MORNING, I HAVE TO COORDINATE MANY ACTIONS.
WHEN GRABBING TWO OR THREE ITEMS FROM THE FRIDGE AT ONCE AND PLACING THE ITEMS ON THE
TABLE WHILE REACHING FOR THE BLENDER, SOMETIMES IT GOES SMOOTHLY AND OTHER TIMES I DROP,
TIP OVER OR SPILL THE INGREDIENTS.
EARLY IN THE MORNING MY AWARENESS IS SOMETIMES A BIT SLOPPY. AFTER A MEDITATION, I WILL SOMETIMES NOTICE AN EXPANDED AWARENESS
OF WHERE MY HANDS AND ARMS NEED TO BE FOR A SMOOTH QUICK COORDINATED MOTION
IN PICKING AND POSTING MY MORNING MEAL ONTO THE TABLE.
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES OF A MEDITATING ATHLETE.
MEDITATION IS NOT MEANT FOR ONLY BUDDHISTS IN HIGH PLACES. THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF MANY DIFFERENT MEDITATION TECHNIQUES ARE FOUND IN TODAY'S MAINSTREAM WESTERN CULTURES.
THE PRACTICE AND KNOWLEDGE OF MEDITATING HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FOR CENTURIES AND PASSED FROM MASTER TO DISCIPLE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. ALL NATIONS HAVE THEIR WISE MEN, NOT OWNERS, BUT CARETAKERS OF UNIVERSAL WISDOM PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
NOBODY OWNS MIND OR SELF, IT IS YOUR BIRTH RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE FULLNESS OF MIND DURING THINKING. THE MIND IS NATURALLY ATTRACTED TO EXPERIENCING MORE JOYFUL STATES OF AWARENESS. DURING MEDITATION IT CAN FEEL JOYFUL, DEEPLY RESTFUL, AND ENERGIZING TO BOTH
MIND AND BODY.
WHEN WE ARE AWAKE IN ACTIVITY, THE MIND IS ALSO ATTRACTED TO JOYFUL ENDEAVOR.
THE MIND IS NATURALLY DRAWN TOWARDS JOY IN BOTH MEDITATION AND IN ACTIVITY.
SOME TECHNIQUES OF MEDITATION ARE MORE TRYING THAN OTHERS IN APPROACHING
SUPERIOR MIND BODY HEALTH.
THERE ARE MANY PATHWAYS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE. SEEK WHAT FEELS RIGHT FOR YOU.
UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT MOST OF US ARE USING ONLY A PORTION OF OUR MIND'S POTENTIAL POWER.
EXPAND YOUR PERCEPTION TO MORE EASILY FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE IN LIVING.
ABOUT MY ART
...SWALLOW THIS...
THIS IS THE COOLEST PART YET...NONE OF MY ART WAS CREATED BY MAN.
I AM FLIPPING OVER STONES AND VIEWING EXPRESSIONS OF PHYSICAL LAW IN ACTION; i.e. (LAWS OF GRAVITY, MASS, FORCE, ACCELERATION, VELOCITY, MOMENTUM).
EVERY SPLATTERED SPOT OR FLOW OF PAINT IS A MATHEMATICAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE CERTAINTY OF CAUSE AND EFFECT AND NATURAL EXPRESSION.
THE UNIVERSE IS A PRECISE CALCULATION OF SUBJECTIVE BEAUTY.
MA MA...DUN'T DHAT LUK PRITY...........WHAT...HAVE YOU GOT YOURSELF INTO YOUNG MAN! STEP OUT OF THAT MUD PUDDLE RIGHT THIS MINUTE, BEFORE I LOOSE MY MIND.WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? IT'S ALMOST DINNERTIME.I WASSNN'T TINKING... MAA MA...I JUS SAU SOMTHIN NEAT.I'LL SHOW YOU NEAT; INTO THIS TUB NOW, BEFORE YOUR FATHER GETS HOME.DISCOVERY IS EASY, AND IT'S FUNONE MORE THING...ALL THIS...IS REALLY...ALL THATHAVE A FUN TIME CONNECTING THE DOTS CASTING SO YOUNG, ROUNDED AND POINTEDFREE AS WITNESSED INNOCENCESAND AND MUD REFLECTS BACK TO SELF KNOWNSCENERY CHANGES, YET I AM STILLTIME IS CLOSE, FRIENDS ARE OUTSIDE THIS SONGINSTILLED EMPTINESS FOUND WARMTH AND HOMEHARVESTING, KNOWING, PRESENCE SETS CHAOSTHIS ARTIST MAKES BELIEVE NO MORE 
UNTITLED
