in-sight-now

THE NATURE OF CONNECTION IN NATURE

2009-02-06T12:45:00.056-07:00

First Timers to this blog?

go to my blog archive on right and click on

the January post; a self published book titled GENIUS IS EASY,
is free on this site. This art book is the foundation for this blog.

WHY IS BEAUTY ATTRACTIVE?
Why are we more attracted to beauty than not? As we hike a trail in nature, we pause around every corner view, taking it in, as though we are breathing in some energy to fill our insides. With a sigh, we continue on hiking to fill ourselves throughout the day, healing our souls from previous stressed filled days.

What is the attraction, what is that essence energy we are taking in?

I am attracted to nature, familiar with the experience of that imperceptible essence, we all find attractive.

I thought the element of attraction was that beautiful scenery and landscape. One day a thought unraveled in my mind and I realized the attraction was nothingness, the space, surrounding all the physical beauty.
I was craving the quiet peace, the vast openness,
something I called the loud quiet.

Physical beauty was the by product of my interest. Even though nature was quiet,
it was an intense quiet because the space was so vast.
I was drawn towards no sound, visual emptiness,
an undeniable essence of nothingness.

What permeated me was real emptiness of space and quiet, surrounding a maze of images.
I could hear the air move and then it wouldn't, for hours without interruption. The contrast of physical beauty against vast nothingness became the mantra, beating against my psyche and body, into my soul.

The physical world seduced my senses and abounding silence and vast open spaces
filled me with peace, contentment, fulfillment and bliss.

I realized
nature was the catalyst triggering something inherent within myself.
The energy exposed within me seemed to be elevated by being present in that natural setting. Nature was meditating for me, I felt more alive, fresh and energetic.

I craved a very special, comfortable, undefinable volume of nothingness.

The gaps of silence or nothingness between the notes of sound define the melody. The emptiness of nature enriched and magnified my perception of physical shape.

My inspiration to create as an artist was magnified in the light of nature.
In nature and in meditation I experience this value of nothingness.
The book, Genius is Easy, on my blog archive,
contains one of four art mediums called pour and flow painting.
With pour and flow paintings,
I attempted to uncover more transparent pathways of nothingness
through the physical world of nature,
exposing more of this essence within and around all objects.

WINDSWEPT

The painting called Windswept in the pour and flow section of the "genius is easy" post, is a good symbolic example of transparent pathways through solid rock. This piece happens to be my favorite representation of real physical reality. In essence, the physical world contains more space than substance.

Abstract expressionism turns inward towards the emotion of peace and awe. Beauty and calm is magnified as essence becomes more exposed onto the surface. Expanding this perception gives rise to greater appreciation, joy and serenity.

The pour and flow paintings referenced on the genius is easy post represents a clear demonstration of nature’s work.

When anybody paints a landscape, the painting is a created representation of the real landscape. The land is real and the painting is fake land, represented onto the canvas painting.

The technique I use to create this abstract work is a natural technique. Natural laws of physics are utilized in the creative painting process. I set up the initial conditions and once the process of creating begins; the design unfolds due to laws of gravity. The pressure of flowing paint runs against edges and bends of vertically tilted large loose canvas sheets.

The Colorado River flows against the side of cliffs, carving its interesting textures against the rock walls of the Grand Canyon. The texture or art found on cliff walls is real, some more interesting than not. The texture found on my canvas sheets was designed by me but created by nature.

My paintings are real reflections of nature, since the designs are naturally carved utilizing laws of physics.

My hands did not stroke the canvas surface, in amazement I witnessed nature's processes unfold before my eyes. As you view the beauty of line and curve of the snake river flowing beneath the Teton Mountains you are viewing the physics of natural formation. As you view the lines and curves of my paintings you are viewing how formation is created through natural law over a tilted canvas surface.

My paintings are real as the Snake River is real. Both are created by the same force of nature. My paintings tend to mimic nature because they are nature.
The message of my abstract paintings is that
they are not representations of nature,
they are nature on canvas.

What is abstract?

Everything is abstract in nature. Your mind creates the Snake River and all its definition.The Snake River is just a number of curves and lines and shapes cutting across random boundaries.
Take a picture of the Snake River,
turn it upside down, crop out a section, display it sideways
and what do you have but a number of abstract lines, shapes and patterns.

The only reason you may know there is grass and water in the picture is because somebody else's concept of what it was, told you so...when you were young.

My desire and passion was to re experience and to place you into that joyful mysterious realm of undefinable energy, by painting,
AS NATURE CREATES.

My paintings are not my own.

In all four of my artistic mediums;
i.e. crystalscape, florals, skyscsapes, and pour and flow paintings
I felt more like a witness during
the art making process than the creator.

Nature performs all of the work. I watched in amazement and directed the creation and variations of color and texture. The work is truly an artistic jewel of nature. Whenever I can find ways to create in nature’s way, I know I can do no better myself.

If God created nature, God has become my muse and inspiration
and I am humbly taking credit with God’s hand in my work.

Dave Ryan

A DIARY OF THOUGHT ON

PURITY, MEDITATION, OBSERVATION

AND CLARITY

BECOMING CONSCIOUS OF CAPITALISM...Societies hold on mankind...Conditioning or not

2009-02-05T21:00:00.033-07:00

ARE PEOPLE ACTING LIKE ROBOTS

THE ANSWER IS YES

Capitalistic success is about making a profit. Bottom line in the society of business is profit. Focus and energy is aimed at, whatever it takes to make a profit. Some people may cross a line of deception in order to obtain their goals of financial success. Most people are hard working individuals seeking ways within the acceptable framework of marketing business for profit or financial success.

America is an efficient economic machine, a power base of energy stimulating economies throughout the world. Other foreign economies outside America also stimulate our economy. Competition rewards the consumer with the most efficient, cost effective products.

This focus towards profit is an efficient system maintaining a robust economy.

In my dictionary robotics comes after the word robust. Robotics is the science or technology of robots. A robot is a mechanical device operating automatically, in a seemingly human way.

The world now designs robots and computers, which are even more efficient than human beings.

The capitalistic focus is always moving towards

the most efficient designs to gather the greatest profit.

This focus or intention towards profit generates a successful world economy.

Robust is defined as strong and healthy. Is a person, acting like a robot, strong and healthy? According to our intention or mission, the answer is yes, because our focus is profit. What you put your attention to, grows stronger.

Focusing on love, compassion, and friendliness, is a human activity. Efficient robots cannot love. Love and profit are two wonderful elements we can enjoy in the living process.

Voluntarism and charity organizations seemingly focus on dual elements of love, and profit.

The mission is twofold, by human choice of desire.

Our choice to work in the capitalistic system is initially based upon fear of survival.

Do we live in a world designed around the survival technique of a dog eat dog world. Yes of course we do because the system works efficiently towards survival. The focus is survival.

Purpose in living is bent towards feeding the machine of capitalism. Marketing and advertising keeps us focused on the survival of the system of capitalism. This system is good for robot and human survival.

Do we choose to live to survive or do we choose to live by other means and goals.

The answer is simple; we want to survive in a loving world.

Are we living as robots in this present day society, meagerly focused on survival?

Yes we are focused and surviving in that conditional mode.

Our focus is survival conditioned by the standards of our present day society.

As a society, are we choosing greater fullness in living or

are we stuck into the habits and conditioning of the survival mode?

As human beings, a successful survival mode is the platform

from which we spring forward, to a greater end or fullness in living.

With capitalism, the means and the end are both one and the same.

The goal and focus of capitalism is a never ending process of acquisition.

The capitalistic system of design fails to move us beyond survival mode

onto more humanized levels of self actualization.

The machine can only provide food for the flesh while

the spirit still longs for what?

An example of a business marketing activator is, keeping up with the Jones carrot on a stick advertising.

Marketing within the system of capitalism is so creatively deceptive, we think we are what we buy and own.

Our friends also see us and judge us through the eyes of the market’s remedies for fulfillment.

The market has created the perfect human robot,

designed to perpetuate itself over and over and for what end;

survival of the market

. Remember, the markets prime goal is profit, not your fulfillment.

The capitalistic market is a positive entity on our culture. As a culture we are not yet far enough evolved to create a better system than capitalism, so we are stuck with it for the time being. Personal growth and evolution of a society may bring on better systems of commerce, in time.

The purpose of the market is to exist and survive

.If your purpose is to only exist and survive than the market will complete you.

If you want more in life than the market can provide

one needs to step outside of a false self,

take a breath and step back into your purpose for living.

Would you rather, your intention for living, come from inside yourself?

Higher purpose living is a calling, found within the listener, not the market.

The market has us focused towards its survival.

Our intention sets us free to choose our personal destiny,

utilizing the market as an aid, not an addiction, in the discovery process.

Yes I am suggesting

you do not have a completely controlled mind of your own in operation.

The market is a powerful conditioning agent in its own behalf

and we are all affected to a major degree.

One does not have to abandon the joys of materialism to gain self recognition.

All one has to do is to listen and focus onto your quiet intuitions

before giving yourself up to societal pressures and influences.

REFOCUS ON PERSONAL INTENTIONS

Unconscious living relinquishes power of thought

over to the business marketing forces of capitalism.

The market will keep your mind occupied and engaged towards its survival and successful growth.

If one chooses to play into the game of acquisition without discrimination of thought

then ones psyche can be manipulated and controlled outside of one’s desire and expectation.

Your personal life story is strongly influenced and controlled by market forces.

Marketing and advertising techniques involving jealousy and envy,

position weak minded individuals into desiring and purchasing products of illusion.

Diamonds, cosmetic creams and clothing are prime examples of expensive fantasy items of illusion.

The market wants you to believe and hold true, the messages about said products.

Business will argue the benefits but they are all still created illusions of benefit,

they need you to believe for their survival, not your fulfillment.

Thousands of products add up to a whole lot of illusion which makes up your personal vision of life, if you buy into it. We all enjoy the countless products available, but how much of our personal living habits are controlled by this mechanism. One only needs to leave a country for vacation and realize how their culture affects personal bias.

In America we have the freedom to choose self expression or be lead by forces outside of self.

The purpose of this discussion is to

bring awareness of position to our unconscious selves

about the routines and conditions of containment we survive.

Be unattached and still use the market as your tools of enrichment towards self expression.

Blindly plugging into market forces without discrimination

will lead one into an illusion of self addictive behavior.

SET YOURSELF FREE

Choosing one’s own thought process in decision making requires inner reflection.

The risk is choosing to go with what feels right inside for your self.

Listen to that quiet subtle inner voice.

Be a pioneer and create a fresh, self oriented path of discovery.

The difference being, you take yourself off auto pilot control tower.

Simplifying life is a tool for clarity.

Each individual has a comfort zone style for living.

Balance and moderation in all things are healthy perspectives.

Who’s life is it anyway, yours or theirs.

Dave Ryan

A DIARY OF THOUGHT ON BELIEF AND ATTACHMENT

ryansbrush@hotmail.com

BEGIN READING HERE, genius is easy

2009-01-25T20:36:00.207-07:00

Cover jacket image to book, Genius is Easy

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

I would like to start this blog with a free summarized version of

a large table top book I self published, with over 150 art images and 40 pages of text.
I am transitioning through life as an artist into other creative realms around the planet. This blog may become one creative outlet of mine.

The book represents an artistic chapter in my life.
People identify each other by their chosen professions. You are an artist, he is a computer programmer, she is a cook, etc. I am not any of the things I do. Personally I have never felt too seriously attached to any of the few professions or passions I picked up along my pathway in living.

I am looking forward to being called the more mysterious retired, nothing man.
Remove identifying clutter and make room for more bliss. Some seem to prefer secure comforts of material chaos. I feel more warmth, comfort and love in the so called emptiness of wilderness.
I am not meant to be a monk or an aspiring rich capitalist. I am somewhere unknown and in between norms.
This book is an expression of color and passion. No need to call me an artist,
call me Dave

Following is a self published book

I created in October, 2008.

The book is a good foundation of thoughtful information

relative to this blog.

The title of the book is

GENIUS IS EASY...

JOURNEY THROUGH ART, MUSIC

AND MEDITATION

Chapters one through four demonstrate
the last 15 years of my art creations.

In chapter five,

I suggest a new approach to

understanding concepts of

talent and genius thinking

Chapter 5 topics include sections on
creativity
purity
meditation
ability and intelligence
who's got talent
this genius thing; (Einstein, Alanis Morissette, Mozart)
expectation
observation
child's play
denial
clarity
music
belief
recommendations
conclusion

Talent is not what you think it is and genius thinking is easy.

I possess zero talent and still I am able to create beautiful art.

Be a child in the sandbox...unearth your curiosity...
experience clarity.

I created the book in order to have one large collection of my art in hand for personal show.

GENIUS IS EASY

Author David D Ryan retains sole copyright 2009 of all images and text found within this book and this blog.

CHAPTER ONE

THE STORY OF CRYSTALSCAPE BEGINS IN THE ARIZONA DESERT
DECEMBER 1993.

WHAT IS CRYSTALSCAPE

IT SEEMS I HAVE WRITTEN THIS STORY ABOUT ONE HUNDRED TIMES FROM MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND STILL
TO THIS DAY HAVEN'T FELT I CAPTURED THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS DISCOVERY IN WRITING.

IN DECEMBER OF 1993, I WENT ON A THREE WEEK PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOT IN THE DESERTS OF THE SOUTHWEST. FOR ME, PHOTOGRAPHY WAS AN EXCUSE TO BOND WITH NATURE, TO GET OUT THERE AND GET LOST. I WOULD ALWAYS GO ALONE TO PRESERVE THAT CONNECTION OR INTIMACY I CRAVED IN NATURE.
AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS CONTENTEDLY LOST ON WALKABOUTS, I NEEDED A BREAK AND VISITED MY SISTER IN PHOENIX FOR CHRISTMAS. A FEW DAYS OF CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY WAS ENOUGH, AND I WAS DESIROUS OF BEING OFF AGAIN;
NO WHERE SPECIAL. I HEADED NORTH, NORTHEAST, AND NORTHWEST,
THINKING I WOULD TAKE THE LONG WAY BACK HOME TO DENVER, COLORADO.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, I WOULD COLLECT SMALL COLORFUL STONES ON MY WALKS AND TEND THEM TO MY POCKETS.
ABOUT FOUR IN THE AFTERNOON, I WAS TROMPING DOWN A LARGE SANDY HILL TO A NUMBER OF LARGE BOULDERS THE SIZE OF CARS. AS I LOOKED OUT TO THE HORIZON, A BRILLIANT SUNSET APPEARED AS A SLICE OF COLOR AT THE BASE OF A DENSE CLOUD BANK. I PULLED A SMALL QUARTZ STONE FROM MY POCKET, SET IT ON A NEARBY LEDGE, AND FOCUSED MY MACRO CAMERA LENS ONTO THE SUN FILLED STONE. THE SUN HAD CLEARED THE CLOUD BANK SEEMINGLY FOUR INCHES OFF THE HORIZON. RAYS OF THE SUN STREAMED THROUGH MY QUARTZ STONE, UNLEASHING INTENSE COLOR AND
SHIMMERING LIGHT.

I FELL TO THE GROUND WITH MY HEART POUNDING, FEELING A SHOCK WAVE OR SONIC BOOM OVER MY HEAD. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?, I THOUGHT. MY BODY WAS FREAKING OUT; I AM GUESSING ABOUT 180 HEART BEATS PER MINUTE.
MY MIND WAS COMPLETELY CALM. IN FACT, I REMEMBER LYING ON MY SIDE LOOKING AT MY TORSO WONDERING WHY MY BODY WAS SO HYPER AND MY MIND SO CALM. WHAT I SAW IN MY MIND DURING THE BOOM WAS APPROXIMATELY A FOUR BY FOUR FOOT ART FRAME SURROUNDING A BLACK SURFACE AREA. THERE WAS NO ART WITHIN THE FRAME.

I KEPT LOOKING AROUND TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAD HEARD THE SOUND OR HAD SEEN ME FALL DOWN TO THE GROUND. I WAS ALONE BUT FELT THE NEED TO COVET MY DISCOVERY. WITHIN SECONDS, I REALIZED THERE WAS NO RATIONAL OR LOGICAL REASON FOR WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING; CALM AND PHYSICAL ANXIETY TOGETHER. I FELT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE WAS LEAVING ME WITH AN EXPERIENCE I SHOULD NOT FORGET FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

IT FELT LIKE I WAS GIFTED WITH A VISION AND
THE BURDEN TO GO WITH IT.

OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, INVESTING HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF RESEARCH AND NEARLY $40,000 DOLLARS, I WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE WHAT I WAS CHOSEN TO DO. LIKE REARING A CHILD, SO MANY TIMES I WANTED TO LET GO OF THIS DIFFICULT FRUSTRATING ART, BUT HOW COULD I LET THIS MAGICAL, GLORIOUS, UNFOUNDED UNIVERSE STAY LOCKED IN A CLOSET.
I WAS DAMNED TO SUCCEED, AND THAT I DID
.
YOU ARE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING I COULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT UP MYSELF.
PAINTING, GLASS SCULPTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY ARE BLENDED TO CREATE SOFT AND FLOWING OR POWERFUL AND STRIKING IMAGES.
ALTHOUGH ABSTRACT IN ESSENCE, IT REALLY BORDERS ON THE CONCEPTUAL.
AS A NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER, I TEND TO UNCOVER SEASCAPES, LANDSCAPES AND SPACESCAPES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN EACH PIECE OF GLASS.
FOR YEARS, I ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE THIS UNIQUE TECHNIQUE OF PHOTOGRAPHY INVOLVING GLASS AND PAINT. THE DEMONSTRATIONS CAUSED CONFUSION FOR MOST PEOPLE.

FOR NOW, I INVITE YOU TO ENJOY THE RIDE AS I DID FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BE THAT CHILD IN THE SANDBOX AND EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC.

I REALIZED AT FIRST THAT I HAD STUMBLED UPON A NEW AND WONDERFUL UNIVERSE, YET UNDISCOVERED. LIKE WHEN THE FIRST UNDERWATER CAMERA WAS USED TO CAPTURE
THE BEAUTY OF THE CORAL REEFS.

THIS MACRO WORLD OF IMAGES IS HIDDEN FROM THE NAKED EYE.
I USED THE BEST ZEISS PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS TO CAPTURE THE BEAUTY OF THIS UNSEEN WORLD.
I SAW IT THROUGH A POWERFUL LENS WITH INTENSE LIGHTING MAGNIFYING THE COLORS AND TEXTURE.

I FELT AS THOUGH I WAS IN AND PART OF THE SCENE.
I WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH A BLACK PHOTOGRAPHY TARP EXPOSING ONLY A
BRILLIANTLY COLORED UNIVERSE.
I WORE A SET OF HEADPHONES LISTENING TO AMBIENT, TRANCE, AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC.

THIS DISCOVERY WAS BLISSFUL.

YOU ARE GOING TO GET A TASTE.

THE ETHEREAL REALM

(SPACESCAPES)
The image above is a full blown version of the head dress constellation.
You can see the head dress streaking out of the heavens in the upper right hand corner of the photo.

THIS SPACESCAPE IS CALLED AURORA.
I USED A PIECE OF PURPLE YARN FOR COLOR, REFRACTING BACK THROUGH A PIECE OF SCULPTED GLASS.
A BIT OF PHYSICS; ONE COLOR CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO VARIOUS
WAVE LENGTHS EMITTING A RANGE OF COLORS.
AS YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT AURORA, THAT ONE COLOR
TURNS INTO VARIOUS GRADES OF
GREY, MAUVE, TAUPE, MAGENTA, RED, PINK, BLUE, AND VIOLET.
THE AURORA BOREALIS CAME TO MIND AND SO NAMED THE PIECE.

FLIGHTPATH

I BECAME AN OBSERVER AT THE DOORSTEP OF THESE VAST FRONTIERS OF SPACE.
BY ADJUSTING THE PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS IN AND OUT, I COULD LITERALLY PULL MYSELF DEEPER INTO SPACE.
THE SPACE MUSIC OF
STEVE ROACH
HUMMING ALONGSIDE THE VISUAL RIDE WAS BETTER THAN ANY TOP DOLLAR
THRILL RIDE AT DISNEY WORLD.
I WOULD CREATE AND RECREATE FOR UP TO TWELVE HOURS DAILY, THREE TO FOUR DAYS IN A ROW.
MORE EXHILARATING AND EXHAUSTING THAN A HONEYMOONERS WEEKEND IN PARADISE.

AFTER MONTHS OF RESEARCH, I FOUND A SMELTER WHICH MELTED BULK GLASS. THIS LIQUID GLASS WAS POURED AND SET INTO
BRICK SIZED MOLDS.
FROM THERE, I WOULD CHISEL THE GLASS BRICKS INTO INTERESTING PATTERNS AND SHAPES.
ONE MIGHT ASK, HOW DO YOU CHISEL GLASS?
VERY CAREFULLY,
WITH COVERED PROTECTION
OVER THE ENTIRE BODY.
AT FIRST, I TRIED CHISELING IN A SMALL CLOSET WITH ONLY GOGGLES AND REGULAR CLOTHES.
SEEMED TO WORK FINE UNTIL I NOTICED BLOOD RUNNING DOWN MY FOREHEAD, CHEEKS AND ARMS FROM THE TINY BITS OF
GLASS SPLINTERS STUCK IN MY SKIN.

THE PIECE ABOVE IS CALLED...PINK SKY

FLUID BODIES OF DEPTH

(SEASCAPES)

REEF SHALLOWS

CARIBBEAN

IRELAND

ELEPHANT HEAD SERIES

SHARK ATTACK BELOW

ANGELS GARDEN SERIES

MAROON VEILS

OYSTER

PEARL

REEF 2

OBJECTS OF MASS (LANDSCAPES)
CONCRETE ELEMENTS AND TERRAIN

RAINBOW RIDGE

CHOPPER
A POURED GLASS PIECE

BIRD OF PARADISE

BUTTE FALLS

TREE OF MASKS
HAS IMAGES OF BIRDS, A FISH, A RABBIT AND A GRASSHOPPER TO NAME A FEW...
DURING AN ART OPENING TWENTY SIX IMAGES WERE FOUND BY PEOPLE CONSUMING ADULT BEVERAGES.

BADLANDS

CHAMPAGNE

MAHOGANY TUNDRA

RUBY

CHAPTER 2

OK...FOUR YEARS INTO CRYSTALSCAPE, MY ART HAD TURNED INTO A BUSINESS VENTURE.
THEREFORE, I BEGAN EXPLORING MORE CREATIVE AVENUES WITH PAINTING.

INTRODUCTION TO FLORALS FOR MEN

I HAD BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH FLUID ACRYLICS OVER THE YEARS. THE PAINT FROM THE BOTTLE POURS SLOWER THAN OIL AND FASTER THAN HONEY.
I BEGAN TO POUR VARIOUS COLORS OF FLUID PAINT ONTO A FLAT BOARD SURFACE. MY AIM WAS TO PAINT A CRYSTALSCAPE-LIKE IMAGE BY SMEARING COLORS AROUND WITH MY FINGERS UNTIL IT LOOKED INTERESTING. THAT DID NOT WORK WELL SINCE FLUID PAINT DOES NOT STAY IN ONE SPOT, IT SAGS. RESULTS WERE FRUSTRATING BECAUSE MY VERY INTERESTING SHAPES SAGGED INTO
BLOBS OF MUDDY MESSES BEFORE DRYING.

THIS WENT ON FOR A WEEK OR TWO UNTIL ONE MORNING WHILE WATCHING MY WORK SAG, I DESPERATELY KNELT DOWN IN FRONT OF MY PAINTING. ANGRY AS HELL, I TOOK A HUGE BREATH, LEANED OVER AND BLEW A POWERFUL PUFF FROM MY MOUTH RIGHT INTO THE PAINT. MY FACE WAS MAYBE THREE INCHES OFF THE SURFACE AND AN EXPLOSION OF COLOR BLEW OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS, INCLUDING MY FACE.

I RELEASED MY FRUSTRATION AND BEHOLD, ONE ROUND, MULTI-COLORED FIVE INCH FLOWER WAS STARING ME IN THE FACE. I WAS SO EXCITED I RAN UPSTAIRS IMMEDIATELY AND WAS GOING TO SAY...

HONEY, I THINK I'VE GOT SOMETHING GOOD. FORTUNATELY SHE DIDN'T SEE MY FACE SINCE SHE WAS OUT RIDING HER HORSE. FROM THAT MOMENT, THE WHEELS STARTED TURNING ROUND AND ROUND UNTIL...

I DECIDED TO PAINT FLORALS, SOMETHING MOST EVERYONE WOULD ENJOY, EXCEPT OF COURSE, THE MANLY MAN. NO PROBLEM, I'LL PAINT FLORALS FOR MEN TO COVER ALL THE BASES.

THIS SERIES OF PAINTINGS WAS TO BE CALLED...NATURALLY WILD ORIGINALS.

FLORALS FOR MEN

THIS WASN'T GOING TO BE YOUR TYPICAL SISSY FLOWER IN A POT.
THESE FLORALS WERE GOING TO BE BEASTLY, BRUTISH, SAVAGE STALKS AND CURLING VINES CHOKING ALL THAT CROSS THEIR PATH. WILD JUNGLE FLOWERS LOOKING FOR A HOME ON DADDY'S WALL.
WHAT WOMAN WOULDN'T WANT HER MAN TO BUY FLOWERS FOR THE HOUSE.
A KILLER MARKETING CONCEPT WAS ABOUT TO UNFOLD IN MY BASEMENT STUDIO.

I FINISHED BLOWING AND PUFFING AWAY ON MY NEW FOUND PASSION. AFTER I FINISHED TWO OR THREE OF THESE PAINTINGS, I STARTED TO BECOME A LITTLE LIGHT HEADED.
THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK, I'LL PASS OUT BEFORE SUNSET AT THIS RATE. I STEPPED BACK TO GATHER MY SENSES AND WITHIN A MOMENT, REALIZED WHERE I NEEDED TO GO...

HOME DEPOT - IT'S TIME FOR MAN TOOLS!

HEY MISTER, HOW MUCH HORSE POWER DO I NEED TO RUN THIS HOSE GUN? HOW MUCH PRESSURE DO YOU WANT? ALL OF IT, I SAID. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO USE IT FOR, MAY I ASK? I AM GOING TO BLOW SOME FLOWERS ON A BOARD MADE OUT OF PAINT. WHAT? I AM GOING TO TAKE SOME PAINT, STICK IT ON A FLAT HORIZONTAL BOARD, TAKE THAT BLOW GUN YOU GOT, AND EXPLODE THE PAINT ON THE BOARD SO IT LOOKS LIKE A FLOWER. COME RIGHT THIS WAY, SIR...

THIS HERE'S 50 FOOT OF HIGH PRESSURE HOSE AND IT COMES WITH FIVE DIFFERENT TIPS. YOU CAN BLOW SMALL METAL OBJECTS AROUND ON THE FLOOR OR JUST DUST OFF YUR SHOES. I AM GOING TO BE BLOWING PAINT WITH STRONG BURSTS OF AIR, I SAID. WELL YOU BETTER THINK ABOUT PURCHASING SOME GOGGLES FOR EYE PROTECTION. YUP. HOW BIG A PRESSURE UNIT DO I NEED, I ASKED? HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU WANT TO SPEND? NOT MUCH, I SAID. WELL, THIS THREE POUNDER SHOULD DO THE TRICK. HOW MUCH FOR THE HOSE, GUN TIPS AND PRESSURE UNIT AND DO YOU HAVE FULL BODY PROTECTION SUITS?
I'D SUGGEST YOU GO TO THE PAINT STORE FOR THAT AND GET ONE WITH A HOOD. YEA, I THINK I WILL NEED TOTAL BODY PROTECTION WHEN THE PAINT STARTS FLYING. YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT COVERING YOUR WALLS TOO WITH ALL THAT FLYIN' PAINT. I SAID, NO PROBLEM, I AM IN THE BASEMENT.

THIS IS THE FIRST FLORAL I CREATED WITH MY BREATH.
32" x 44"

REMEMBER...

INNOCENT DISCOVERY IS AN ACT, AN ACCIDENT OR MAYBE... GENIUS.

IS NAIVE BEHAVIOR
A BLESSING IN DISGUISE?

GENIUS IS EASY...

I SQUIRT OUT THE STEMS FIRST USING LONG STEMMED KETCHUP BOTTLES FILLED WITH FLUID PAINT.

A SOFT STREAM OF AIR FROM THE GUN, TRACED OVER THE STEMS, SEEMS TO MAKE IT ALL LOOK WILD BUT NATURAL.

DROP THREE TO FOUR COLORS IN A NUMBER OF CRUCIAL SPOTS AND BLAST AWAY FOR A COLORFUL ARRAY OF BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED AND NATURALLY WILD ORIGINALS.

JAY SARRIA, PRESIDENT, JAY SARRIA ART GROUP
FORMERLY WITH CIRCLE GALLERY,
WORLD WIDE OPERATIONS.

"FLOWERS EXPLODING BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES. A SYMPHONY OF FLORAL FIREWORKS. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN TO DESCRIBE AND ROMANCE THE LATEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD OF ORIGINAL ART BY DAVID RYAN.
THESE IMAGES WILL BRING YOU RIGHT UP TO THEM.
THE PATTERNS AND THE STREAKS FORM THE MOST POWERFUL OR SUBTLE BOUQUETS. THERE ARE NUANCES OF AN ORIENTAL FEEL AND THEN OTHERS ARE BOMBASTIC AND COMBINE A MYRIAD OF COLORS TO CHALLENGE WHAT NATURE HAS ALREADY DONE.
IN THE EVENING SOFTER LIGHT, THEY ARE DREAMLIKE AND MUCH MORE CAPTIVATING THAN EVER. IN LOW LIGHT, COLORATION TRULY BECOMES DIMENSIONAL AND HAUNTING. THE WORD ELEGANT HAS A NEW AVENUE THROUGH HIS ART.
HAVING BEEN IN THE ART BUSINESS FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS, I HAVE SEEN SO MUCH ART COME AND GO, BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING OF THIS KIND PRESENTED TO ME. THERE WAS NO HESITATION WHATSOEVER ON MY BEHALF TO CONNECT MY NAME, COMPANY AND REPUTATION TO THIS
FABULOUS
CELEBRATION OF COLOR AND INTERPRETATION."

HANK, HOME DEPOT REP, POWER TOOLS.

"YOUR GONNA DO WHAT? I AM GONNA TAKE SOME PAINT, STICK IT ON A BOARD, BLOW IT AROUND WITH THIS HERE HOSE GUN AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A FLOWER. WHAT? I AM GONNA PUT A BIG BLOB OF PAINT ON A BOARD, THEN BLAST IT WITH THIS HERE AIR GUN AND WATCH IT EXPLODE INTO A FLOWER. WHY?
CAUSE I MAKE ART.

OK...NOW HOW MUCH HORSE POWER DO I NEED TO BLOW PAINT TEN FEET IN THE AIR? WHY 10 FEET? CAUSE THAT'S HOW FAR MY WALL IS FROM WHERE I 'I'LL BE BLOWING FLOWERS AND I DON'T WANT TO HIT THE WALL WITH MY PAINT EXPLOSIONS.

DOES YOUR WIFE KNOW WHAT YUR DOING? YEA, IN FACT I JUST SPOKE TO HER ON THE PHONE AND AS LONG AS I DON'T MAKE A MESS ON THE WALLS, I AM GOOD TO GO. WHAT ABOUT YOUR FLOORS? HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT..

I WAS COMPLETELY COVERED FROM HEAD TO TOE FOR PROTECTION.
I COULD CRANK A KNOB ON MY GOGGLES TO CLEAR AWAY A DIRTY, PAINT FILLED VIEWING SCREEN AND UP WOULD POP A NEW CLEAR SCREEN FOR VIEWING. I PURCHASED SOME BIB OVERALLS WHICH GOT COVERED WITH PAINT SPRAY OVER AND OVER UNTIL ONE DAY I COULDN'T GET MY ZIPPER UNDONE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
THE PAINT SPRAY WAS SO THICK, IT SEALED MY FLY SHUT. THE NEXT PAIR OF BIBS HAD A SPECIALLY DESIGNED DUCK TAPE FLAP OVER MY PRIVATE PARTS SO I COULD
RIP AND GO.

MANY OF THESE IMAGES RANGED FROM
THREE TO FOUR FOOT IN SIZE.
I PAINTED THESE IMAGES FOR TWO YEARS
AND DECIDED IT WAS AGAIN TIME TO MOVE ON
DUE TO A CHANGE IN MARKETS.

CHAPTER 3

INTRODUCTION TO SKYSCAPES
NATURALLY WILD ORIGINALS WERE A SUCCESS AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MORE FLORALS WERE PURCHASED BY MEN THAN WOMEN. THERE WERE TOO MANY ARTISTS PRODUCING FLORALS AND THE COMPETITION WAS SUPER STIFF FOR GETTING INTO THE BEST SHOWS.

I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO PLAY AROUND WITH ANOTHER IDEA WHICH HAD BEEN BREWING AROUND INSIDE MY HEAD.
I HAD TAKEN SOME CLASSES AT A FAMOUS FAUX FINISHING ART SCHOOL IN 2000. THESE NEW PIGMENTS AND GLAZES WORKED QUITE DIFFERENTLY FROM REGULAR ARTIST PAINTS. THEY WERE FUN TO WORK WITH AND I DISCOVERED A WAY TO INCORPORATE THESE NEW PAINTS INTO MY PROCESS OF ART CREATION.

FAUX FINISH PRODUCTS ARE DESIGNED FOR APPLICATION ON THE INTERIOR WALLS OF HOMES. MOST ARTIST PAINTS ARE BETTER IN QUALITY FOR CREATING ART ON PAPER OR CANVAS. I PURCHASE THE BEST QUALITY ARTIST PAINTS AT $2OO TO $400 PER GALLON. I DON'T BUY SMALL TUBES OF PAINT SINCE I USE LARGE QUANTITIES OF FLUID FOR POURING MY DESIGNS. THE BEST FAUX PAINTS ARE ALSO JUST AS COSTLY AS THE BEST ARTIST PAINTS.

JUST FOR FUN, I STARTED TO PLAY AROUND WITH A NEW GENERATION OF INTERIOR HOUSE PAINT GLAZES AND WAS ABLE TO CLOSELY REPRODUCE ARTIST PAINT COLORS WITH THE SAME TRANSPARENT QUALITY AS ARTIST PAINTS. I CREATED CLOSE APPROXIMATIONS OF ARTIST COLORS IN HOUSE PAINT GLAZE AT $30 A GALLON VS. HUNDREDS PER GALLON FOR ARTIST PAINT. THE COST DIFFERENCE WAS HUGE AND I GAVE THESE PAINTS TO AN ART TEACHER FOR EXPERIMENTAL USE IN ART CLASSES. 150 ART STUDENTS WERE USING HOUSE PAINT GLAZE TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS.

THE GLAZE WENT ON LIKE SOFT BUTTER AND WAS SLOWER DRYING THAN ACRYLIC PAINTS. THERE WAS ALSO MORE TIME TO WORK AND MANIPULATE THE PAINT. STUDENTS ENJOYED WORKING WITH THIS NEW PAINT. THE RESULTS WERE GOOD AND THE COST WAS SUPER REASONABLE.

MY NEXT SERIES OF PAINTINGS WERE CREATED UTILIZING HIGH END FAUX FINISH GLAZES WHICH ARE AS COSTLY AS GOOD ARTIST PAINTS. NO SAVINGS THERE, BUT THE TECHNIQUE I DEVELOPED IS UNIQUE IN THE CREATION OF THESE PAINTINGS...

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SKYSCAPES.

I REFER TO THESE PAINTINGS AS SKYSCAPES. MY FOCUS WAS TO GLORIFY THE HEAVENS. THIS TECHNIQUE WAS GEARED TOWARDS MAXIMIZING DETAIL AND INTEREST IN SKY PATTERNS. ALL SKY PATTERNS WERE CREATED BY BUFFING OVER GLAZE MARKS LAID DOWN UPON THE SURFACE WITH A FOAM PAD.
A CHILD COULD
EASILY LAY DOWN RANDOM GLAZE MARKS ON A SURFACE. BUFFING BACK AND FORTH WITH A SOFT BRUSH OVER THE GLAZE CREATES ALL THESE INTERESTING SKY PATTERNS.
A CHILD COULD CREATE THIS WORK BLINDFOLDED.
THE LAND SURFACE IS CREATED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE SKY. A CHILD WITHOUT A BLINDFOLD GIVEN SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS COULD EASILY CREATE LAND.

THE LAND IS EASILY CREATED. APPLY HORIZONTAL SLICE MARKS WITH DIFFERENT FAUX COLORS AND LET IT DRY DOWN OR SET UP FOR TWO OR THREE MINUTES. THEN TAKE A DRY FOAM PAD AND LIGHTLY SCRAP OVER HORIZONTAL FAUX MARKS IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION.
THE TREES WILL POP UP AUTOMATICALLY WHEREVER YOU LIGHTLY BRUSH UPWARDS.
THE LAND WILL AUTOMATICALLY DEVELOP HILLS AND VALLEYS AND VARIED FORMATIONS AS YOU LIGHTLY BUFF THE AREA IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

WHY AM I GIVING UP THESE ART MAKING SECRETS?
TO IDENTIFY THE REAL REASONS FOR WRITING THIS BOOK. THOSE REASONS WILL BE ADDRESSED IN CHAPTER FIVE.
JUST REMEMBER...A SMALL BLINDFOLDED CHILD CAN EASILY CREATE THESE PAINTINGS WITH TEN MINUTES OF INSTRUCTION.

THIS IS THE END OF SKYSCAPES.
HUNDREDS OF IMAGES WERE CREATED IN BOTH FLORALS AND SKYSCAPES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SECTION.

CHAPTER 4

POUR AND FLOW PAINTINGS

I BEGAN THIS TECHNIQUE AROUND 2004 AND HAVE ENJOYED THE CREATIVE CHALLENGE. WORKING FOR TWO YEARS, I HAVE DEVELOPED A STYLE OF MY OWN FOR SHOW. I AM USING FLUID ACRYLICS AND POURING THE PAINTS ONTO A TILTED LOOSE CANVAS.
THERE ARE NO BRUSHES USED DURING THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF POUR AND FLOW.
THE CANVAS IS NOT MOUNTED ON STRETCHER BOARDS DURING PAINTING, IT IS LOOSE AND FREE FLOATING.

A MAJORITY OF MY SOFTER POUR AND FLOW PIECES WERE COMPOSED WHILE LISTENING TO THE
SILKY SOUNDS OF CHRIS BOTTI.

CONNECTION

FLORAL ONE

MEMORIES IN PARADISE

AUTUMN BREEZE

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 FAVORITES
I 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 TALENT

THE 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.

GENIUS IS EASIER THAN TRYING; IT IS EFFORTLESS.

DESIRE BEGETS A FLOW OF KNOWLEDGE; KNOWLEDGE COMES THROUGH THE PATHWAY EITHER WATERED DOWN OR FULL STRENGTH. ALL PEOPLE HAVE THEIR GENIUS MOMENTS, I BELIEVE ALANIS DEMONSTRATES CONSISTENT CLARITY IN CREATIVE THOUGHT. CALL IT GENIUS? SURE.

BY THE WAY, I PURCHASED ALL OF ALANIS'S WORK INCLUDING ALL CD'S, DVD'S AND BOOKS. I ABSORBED EVERYTHING, INCLUDING MOST INTERNET VIDEOS, DURING A PERIOD OF SIX WEEKS.

IT WAS EXHAUSTING AT TIMES TO EXPERIENCE THIS MUCH EMOTION WITHIN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MY OPINIONS AND OBSERVATIONS WERE BASED UPON THE BRUNT OF HER CAREER.

MOZART

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 #1

THE 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 #2

FRUSTRATED 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 #3

A 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 #4

THIS 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.

CONCLUSION

GENIUS 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 FUN

ONE MORE THING...
ALL THIS...IS REALLY...ALL THAT
HAVE A FUN TIME CONNECTING THE DOTS

CASTING SO YOUNG, ROUNDED AND POINTED
FREE AS WITNESSED INNOCENCE

SAND AND MUD REFLECTS BACK TO SELF KNOWN
SCENERY CHANGES, YET I AM STILL

TIME IS CLOSE, FRIENDS ARE OUTSIDE THIS SONG
INSTILLED EMPTINESS FOUND WARMTH AND HOME

HARVESTING, KNOWING, PRESENCE SETS CHAOS
THIS ARTIST MAKES BELIEVE NO MORE