Manymuses Studio

2003-10-03T11:12:00.000-04:00

Today I am thankful for:

1. my son's life
2. the love of a good man
3.rest
4. small miracles
5. potential

2003-10-03T11:10:00.000-04:00

I have a son! Joy!

2003-05-22T13:07:00.000-04:00

Yes, yes...I KNOW it has been several months since my last post. At least I have a good excuse. I am 5 months pregnant and happy as a clam. Life is good.

I thought I would ease us back into the swing of things with some weekly prompts, beginning with these Thursday writing starters courtesy of the 3 For Thursdays Blog.

That’s entertainment!

1. What are your 3 favorite current TV shows?

1. Trading Spaces
2. Survivor (Embarrassing, but true)
3. Designer's Challenge on HGTV

2. What are your 3 favorite shows from your childhood?

1. Sesame Street (I learned to read and write at 2 years old thanks to them and my older siblings!)
2. The Three Stooges (Shemp is my fav, much to my husband's chagrin.)
3. Schoolhouse Rock cartoons (Conjunction Junction being the creme de la creme)

3. What are your 3 favorite TV/movie/fictional characters?

1. Holden Caulfield, clearly.
2. Karana from Island of the Blue Dolphins
3. Ralphie from A Christmas Story

4. What are your 3 favorite movies of all time? Movies you can sit and watch over and over.

1. A Christmas Story
2. Breakfast at Tiffany's (except that damn pop song from the late 90's runied it for me)
3. Best in Show

5. What are your 3 favorite books?

ooh, must I narrow it down so drastically to 3?

1. The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather
2. Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver
3. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

2003-01-27T19:00:00.000-05:00

Companions

I love animals. Always have. Growing up, we always had at least one dog and one cat, sometimes more. Sometimes there were a few rabbits or birds thrown in the mix. Sometimes a hamster or a hermit crab. Once we even had a big, sluggish toad who used to live in our garage that we named Manfred! When I was about ten, we had 2 dogs, a cat, four rabbits, a parakeet, the toad and the crab all at once! What a menagerie.

As an adult, I have had the pleasure of living with two pets of my own choosing. My first friend on my own was my best girl Toonces who died last year of cancer. She was truly the love of my life. We had a language- our own form of unspoken communication. How can I express the deep and abiding love and respect, and yes, kinship I felt for this small creature?

She was my child for nine years and learning of her incurable disease was an agony that I would wish on no mortal. I grieved for her like a child of my womb. I still feel the loss of her light in the world. She was a true embodiment of goodness and love in a world sorely lacking in both. She made my world a more liveable place.

Six months after she died, last October to be exact, I felt ready to adopt another companion to share my world. Her name is "Cub." She is a new light in my life. A bringer of joy, a calming influence and a source of gratitude.

See for yourself what a guardian angel looks like.

I must have done something right to have deserved the love and companionship of two such exceptional beings.

Today I am thankful for:

1. Nine years of love from Toonces, the best cat ever
2. the way her eyes would smile and radiate her unconditional love
3. Four Paws animal rescue- where I adopted my new child
4. the serendipitous occasions of my meeting both of these beings
5. the tiny joyful chirrup Cub makes when she seeks my affection- bliss...

Life is good.

2003-01-24T09:15:00.000-05:00

A (Virtual) Trip to Tuscany

Food for Thought

Tonight is my friend Susan's theatrical debut. She is playing the part of La Verne, or is it Lucille (is there much of a difference?) in a play called "Dearly Departed," a play written by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones. The play centers on the death of Bud Turpin in the backwoods of the Bible Belt. The production proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and often hilarious when problems continue to overshadow the solemn occasion.

Despite their best efforts to pull themselves together for their father’s funeral, the Turpin children just can’t seem to get organized.
First-born son Ray-Bud drinks himself silly as the final expenses continue to mount. Junior, the younger son, is facing financial ruin, a pack of no-neck monster kids, and a wife who suspects him of infidelity in the family car. Their spinster sister, Delightful, copes with death as she does with life - by devouring junk food. Of course all the neighbors must add their two cents.

The situation becomes fraught with mishaps and drop-dead funny when Ray-Bud tells his long-suffering wife (played by my friend Susan), “When I die, don’t tell nobody. Just bury me in the back yard and tell everybody I left you.”

As the chaos only worsens, the Turpins turn for comfort to their friends and neighbors, an eccentric community of misfits who just manage to pull together and help each other through their hours of need, and finally the funeral.

Susan is originally from the South, so the deep drawl accent was no stretch for her. Acting is something she had always wanted to do for herself, but was always afraid to pursue this dream for various reasons. She thought she was too old for such nonsense- what would people say? She was self-conscious about being up on stage, she feared the possible rejection of the audition process, she faced possible ridicule from her friends and family. But you know what? She did it anyway, because it was a dream she had always wanted to pursue. She took small steps toward her goal and now tonight is opening night and she has arrived at her goal!

I am proud of this small (yet so large) act of courage and so, to celebrate, I am having 8 friends over for dinner before the show for a "Tuscan Feast." The thermometer outside has been reading single digit temps. for the past few weeks and we haven't done much socializing since before the holidays, so we could all use an excuse to come together and enjoy life.

We will begin with a colorful Mixed Antipasto with some crusty bread, followed by Pasta with Italian sausages and mixed greens. It doesn't sound like anything exceptional, but with the right fresh sausages, al dente imported pasta, beautifully wilted fresh greens, and a tangy sauce made from fresh lemon juice and garlic, it is Molto Bello! Sprinkled over all are some sharp cheeses that mingle with the other aromas to fill the house with warmth and much needed life on a cold and dreary evening in mid-winter. Try it yourself for a little taste of sunlight from Tuscany.

After the show, my friend Mary Beth has baked me a birthday cake that we will all share along with a few drinks. My birthday is next Thursday. I may not be getting any younger, but I can savor the good things in life while I am here.

Today I am thankful for:

1. having too many friends to fit around my dining room table!
2. the pursuit of dreams
3. good food
4. birthdays
5. TUSCANY!! (I've never been there yet, but I WILL!)

2003-01-23T10:14:00.000-05:00

The Endless Pursuit Of Happiness

He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has.
- Epictetus

Imagine someone holding a glass full of clean, fresh water and complaining about thirst. You'd likely look at them with jaw dropped and point to the glass in their hand.

Happiness is similar. Everyone wants to be happy, but not everyone knows how to recognize it and savor it; they're always looking for more. The search for happiness is lost when it becomes an insatiable pursuit for getting more... More is never good enough if there's always more to get.

The difference between the two is like the difference between savoring and lingering over the sweetness and flavor of a mango, and quickly gobbling it up before moving on to the next sweet thing. The pursuit becomes the focus, rather than the experience or the satisfaction that comes from what we already have.

This endless pursuit for happiness can consume us for all of our lives. We may think that once we have more money, a relationship, or that perfect job we'll be happy, yet when we get there we find it's not what we'd hoped for, or we don't take the time to really enjoy it.

There is always something more to be pursued, bought, owned, done, that we rarely enjoy what is in front of us. Even the search for spirituality is often pursued in this manner. People go from spiritual leader to leader searching for meaning, often going as far as some exotic destination half way round the world to find fulfilment.

The pattern is easily recognizable, and we can all fall into it with thoughts like "when I do...own...have...get...go to... I'll be happy", or "if only (insert desire)...would happen." But the truth is once whatever is sought after is obtained, we're off looking for the next thing. We rarely stop and simply enjoy what is happening right now or fully appreciate what we have.

Some believe this constant desire and pursuit for more is rooted in our biology - that it helped us to survive when we didn't have all the conveniences that are available to us today. Some believe that this pursuit is rooted in a society that emphasizes consumerism, and another view is that it reflects an alienation from ourselves and one other.

Regardless of what we believe to be at the root of this constant wanting, it seems to take conscious and deliberate effort to
experience contentment or satisfaction in our lives - to fully appreciate life, people, and the activities we engage in. And, this doesn't mean appreciating things that are hurtful, wrong, or violent, because that would reflect not fully appreciating ourselves or other people.

Instead, it means taking a new look at ourselves, life, and the world around us and seeing the beauty that is there. It doesn't mean ignoring what isn't right, like violence in the world, but it also doesn't mean denying the good we do see.

It means getting in touch with the awe of a child who see magic in everything, who notices the simplest of things and takes great pleasure in them. It means appreciating and valuing yourself, the people you know, what you've done, and what you are doing. It means slowing down and savouring every moment, or as many moments as possible rather than hurrying along to the next task.

By noticing more, and by appreciating what is good in their lives (like the glass full of fresh clean water), many people find that they begin to feel more content. They have found what they were searching for all along- themselves.

Today I am thankful for:

1. the way the sunlight slants across my desk in the mornings as I work
2. the sound of my cat purring
3. the satsuma-scented bubble bath my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas. It is aromatherapeutic!
4. dreams
5. warm socks for cold feet

2003-01-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

Working With Dreams In Art

by Marty Levenson, BA, DVATI, BCATR, Registered Art Therapist

Honoring the dream

We all dream every night, but seldom understand the experience. One powerful use of art therapy is to work with dreams. Approaching dreams through imagery can open a different understanding of them by building a new relationship to them. Using art work to respond to a dream changes how the dreamer perceives it. Thinking about the images and choosing materials to convey the feeling of the dream shifts the dreamer into working with the dream rather than on it.

There is a temptation when talking about dreams to try to reduce them to a message, to figure out what they mean. While the dream may hold a message, honouring the dream by responding through artwork tends to establish a shift of focus that preserves the dream's autonomy. Instead of solving the dream like a puzzle, the dreamer can begin to create a new relationship with the dream. This participation, this ongoing listening, establishes a visible, concrete, yet poetic connection to the dream.

Nightmares

Most people have experienced nightmares, or have gone through their day feeling haunted by a disturbing dream. Often, making art from these dreams, making them concrete, can be a relief. Focusing on the dream through making a painting or sculpture connected to it helps to contain some of this unpleasant feeling. Literally "getting the imagery out in front to have a look at it" makes the dream more approachable.

Having a feeling of choice over how to express the dream seems to help people move from fear toward curiosity. For example, crayon may allow a sense of control, where paint might feel more expressive. A sharp pencil may encourage a different kind of focus on detail than does a clay sculpture.

Continuing the dream

Within the art-making the dream evolves. Often the painting is not just a response to the dream, but a continuation of it. Some elements are emphasized, while others are added, left out, or diminished. This experience, the recognition of the possibility of interacting with the dream, is important.

Participation can be empowering; the dream didn't just happen to the dreamer, he or she can respond actively and creatively. As the dream is befriended, forgotten parts of it are sometimes remembered. Connections emerge as alien images shift into surprising familiarity. The dream becomes not a judgment or a portent, but useful wisdom.

---------------------------------------------------
Printed with permission from the author
Marty Levensen, BA, DVATI, BCATR, Registered Art Therapist

Today I am thankful for:

1. my sister Karen
2. candlelight
3. photographs
4. my husband's homemade chili
5. expectation

2003-01-22T09:12:00.000-05:00

Artist's Q and A Forum

Q: Should I use my oil painting brushes for acrylics? Darryl, Denver

A: It is probably best to have a separate set of brushes for each medium. Brushes aren't as important for acrylic painters as they are for oil painters and certainly not watercolour painters. Acrylic paints are hard on brushes. An oil painter can have a favourite brush for years if it is well taken care of. When painting in acrylics you have to constantly wash the brush and scrub the paint out of it before it has time to dry. Even then, a small amount will stick to the hairs and eventually the brush will lose its shape. Besides, good brushes don't make much difference for acrylics like they do for oils and watercolours, so inexpensive synthetic hair brushes serve well for most purposes.

Oil paint is thicker and more dense, so different brushes and brush-work will affect the look of the paint and it will hold its shape. Acrylics are lighter so you don't usually need a stiff bristle brush to push them around. Also, when the acrylic paint dries it shrinks and levels out so any textured brush-work is mostly lost. There are mediums you can use that will give the paint a stiffer texture however. If you take good care of your nylon hair acrylic brushes they will last a reasonable long time and then you simply replace them.

For acrylics I use nylon brushes almost exclusively as opposed for sable that I use for oil painting. With chisel-tip nylon brushes you can paint a larger flat area like with any flat brush, you can turn the brush on its side and paint a thinner line natural fiber oil painting brushes for fine detail work and other natural hair brushes for various effects and glazes.

Here is another interesting historical note regarding brushes. Did you know that for hundreds of years painters used only round shaped brushes? Rembrandt used only large, clumsy round brushes to make those incredible masterpieces... hmmm...

Q: Can you tell me what the ‘fat over lean’ rule is in oil painting and how it affects the way I use different colors? - Nikki, Peterboro, Mass.

A: There is a lot of confusion over what ‘fat over lean’ means and how this rule applies in oil painting. It has to do with the drying rate of the different colors in oils. First, consider how oil paint dries. Unlike water media paints, like watercolors and acrylics that dry through evaporation of the water, oils dry through a complicated chemical process that involves oxidation. The paint actually absorbs oxygen and expands at a certain point during the drying. Imagine then if a thin, dry layer of paint sits on top of a layer that is moving and expanding – the result is cracking and lifting of the top layer.

Also, ‘fat’ paint dries to a smooth glossy finish while ‘lean’ paint has a rougher, more absorbent surface; more suitable for subsequent layers to attach themselves to. This is why we hear: “be sure to paint ‘fat’ over ‘lean’ to avoid cracking.

Different pigments absorb varying amounts of oil to reach optimum consistency. A ‘fat’ paint is one that has a high oil content; a ‘lean’ color has less oil. The idea is that a color that is high in oil will dry slower so it is not recommended to place it under one that is lean, or a faster dryer.

So which paints are fat and which are lean? Well, usually the transparent colors contain more oil while the opaque ones have less. Unfortunately though, this is not a reliable indicator. Some transparent colors, like Prussian blue, are high in oil (fat) but are rapid driers while some opaque colors, like Yellow Ochre, have less oil but are slow driers nonetheless. So you see the real concern is not whether the paint is fat or lean but whether it is a fast or slow drier. You can find a chart of ‘pigments in oils’ in Ralph Mayer’s classic resource that no artist should be without;

The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques

A couple more recommendations to avoid your oils cracking are:

1.Paint in thin layers in the underpainting and add extra turpentine to the paint or to your painting medium to help it dry faster.

2. If you are painting in multiple layers it is safest to just wait for the underpainting to dry. Work on several paintings over a period of weeks.

One interesting historical note related to this question is that artists knew about this difficulty with drying of pigments in oil for hundreds of years and avoided using oil paints for that reason. It wasn’t until distillation processes were developed in the Middle Ages and they had a thinner for their paints (turpentine) that artists began to use them in earnest. More importantly, the turpentine was used to dissolve resins like copal, mastic, and damar.

Artists ground their pigments not in oil alone, but in a mixture of oil and resin. This gave the paint an excellent consistency and working quality and, more importantly, it equalized and increased the drying time of all the colors. The great oil painters of the past rarely painted with colors mixed with oil alone!

Q. I take great care in selecting the best papers for my mixed-media paintings. Is there anything in the media or supplements I use—oil pastel, wax crayons, wax or other resists, alcohol, ox gall, salt, vinegar, honey, etc.—that could damage my paper? Can I prevent any problems with a layer of gesso or neutralizing liquid? —Diane, Brunnthal, Germany

A. When using a varied and mixed technique, there are few sure ways to predict the aging of the work of art. The safest painting techniques are typically the simplest, and by that I mean keeping additional mediums—and other additives—to a minimum. Mixed-media works may survive in good condition, but often these works will age in ways you might not anticipate. If you’re the type of mixed-media artist who enjoys the element of accident and surprise in your work, that might be OK, too.

Robert Rauschenberg’s works are a prime example of bringing together very different elements. It’s true that many of the materials he uses, such as newspaper, are fragile, and that over time they’ve changed. But these changes haven’t diminished the meaning of Rauschenberg’s art, making him one of the recognized masters of our time.

Of the materials that you use in your work, keep in mind that oil pastels and wax crayons are sometimes made with fugitive (non-lightfast) pigments. In addition, oils used in your pastel work may leach (seep) into the paper support, staining it and eventually making it brittle—even if you use rag paper. Waxes range from hard to soft and are generally stable, but keep in mind the softer varieties can attract dust while the harder types can crack on flexible supports like paper.

In terms of your other materials, alcohol is a volatile solvent that I assume you use as a diluent. Since alcohol evaporates, it poses no hazard to your paper. But if you overuse any diluent, however, you can undermine the binder in your media, which creates a dry and fragile surface. Using ox gall as a wetting agent in small amounts should pose no problems to your work.

I’m not familiar with using salt or vinegar for painting. If you’re mixing these materials in your media I can only guess that high humidity could possibly draw salt crystals out of your paint, potentially causing cracks. Vinegar is acidic and may degrade the paper. Historically, honey has been used in small quantities in the making of watercolors to keep the cakes moist. Today glycerine is used in aqueous (water-miscible) paint formulations. Still, I don’t recommend using honey in large quantities because it remains reactive to moisture.

As for preparing your paper, a ground layer can isolate your mixed media from the paper, but not without problems of its own since it can be quite fragile. An oil ground shouldn’t be used on paper because the oil itself will leach into the paper, and stain and embrittle it. As well, many aqueous grounds, like glue grounds, will easily stain. Flaking and loss of the ground has also been a problem with paper since expansion and contraction of the paper often jeopardize the adhesion between the two. Your best bet for keeping a ground layer from cracking and flaking is to use a rigid paper board.

Finally, commercial sprays and liquids have been developed for deacidification or "neutralization" (making the paper acid-free). These products aren’t without their problems, either, since they can darken both the paper and pigments used in your artworks, dissolve some inks, and create spotty areas if they’re absorbed into or applied to your artwork unevenly. If you use good quality rag paper, then you’re starting with a paper with a neutral pH. If your art is then matted and framed with good quality rag boards that are also neutral, you should be able to maintain a stable paper support. To further ensure the longevity of your works of art on paper you can mat and frame your work with buffered rag board that’s been treated with an alkaline substance so that you start off with a basic pH that will help act as a further acidity barrier.

Of course, it’s always best to create your work with the best materials possible. So use rag paper to ensure that you’re starting off at a neutral pH. Remember, though, that even rag paper can become acidic if the materials you use are acidic or if you frame your work with acidic materials. You need to stay open to the possibility of unanticipated change if you want to work with mixed media.

2003-01-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE BUY AND OWN ART?

Selling art is harder than making art. This sentiment has been and will continue to be echoed by fine artists everywhere for as long as artists make art. Once a work of art is finished and ready to leave its artist's studio, the seemingly insurmountable task of convincing someone that they might want to display it and, perish the thought, pay money for it in order to own it, presents itself. To make your job of selling art a bit easier, and in the interest of wanting more people to own more art, please feel free to incorporate any or all of the following thoughts, as you see fit, into as many of your fine art sales presentations as necessary.

Art is a powerful form of expression for artists as well as for those who own it. Art allows people to convey or demonstrate deeply held feelings and beliefs as well as moral, ethical, and political sentiments in socially acceptable ways.

Art encourages people to ask questions, to take brief moments out of their busy lives to reflect on ideas other than how to make more money faster or how to get over on the competition.

Art makes people think about ways how life might one day be better than it is now.

Art can stimulate the expression and interchange of thoughts, feelings, and ideas among total strangers who would not ordinarily talk to each other.

Children are fascinated with art. Art makes children ask questions about the world. Art makes children fantasize and imagine. Art teaches children how to be creative and have fun with life.

Art beautifies and personalizes environments. Art can transform private homes or places of business into personal museums.

Art can be used as a tool of power-- to intimidate. For example, imagine an office with a bold, vibrant, oversized painting hanging on the wall directly behind the desk, and two imposing larger-than-life sculptures, one at either side of the desk. Anyone who sits and meets with the person seated behind the desk must contend not only with that person, but also with the art.

An original work of art is not only visually appealing, but it also communicates the personality, abilities, creativity, inspiration, mind, and sometimes the genius of the artist who created it.

An original work of art reflects and often enhances the personality of the individual who owns it.

Art attracts tourism, visitors, and dollars. People travel to the great cities of the world to see great museums, works of art, and, of course, they spend money while doing so.

People decide what locations to spend time (and money) at based on the types and amounts of art they expect to encounter. For example, commercial spaces such as restaurants, hotels, and meeting places can be more or less interesting and attractive to consumers depending on the art they display (or lack of it).

Art is environmentally friendly, energy efficient (assuming it's not by Nam June Paik et al.), and easy to maintain. It does not increase global warming, use fossil fuels, or need regular tune-ups.

Across the country and around the world, artists move into troubled or blighted neighborhoods and revitalize them with their artistry. Property values increase, new businesses move in, and the overall quality of life improves immeasurably. Sooner or later, the public discovers what wonderful places these neighborhoods have become. In some cases, people travel thousands of miles to visit them, vacation there, and buy art.

Art makes people proud to live, work, and play where they do. They point to their museums, public monuments, and cultural institutions with pride.

As you can see, owning fine art has numerous benefits. Perhaps it's not so difficult to sell after all.

If you'd like to own some original, affordable artwork, please consider supporting mine!

I offer everything from art cards and small prints for under ten dollars to original works of art and framed limited edition prints. My work has been featured at galleries across the United States and Canada, has been exhibited at a prestigious national museum and honored by the National Endowment for the Arts. I make art for everyone.

Shop Manymuses Museum Shop

2003-01-22T08:22:00.000-05:00

WRITING YOUR ARTIST STATEMENT

By Ariane Goodwin, Ed.D.

An artist statement is an essential part of a good portfolio. Gallery owners respect the professionalism of a good statement. A good statement allows people who love your work to find out more about you, offers your audience more ways to connect with you, and increases their appreciation and perceived value of your work. Equally important, an artist statement gives you the opportunity to see what you do through the eyes of language, to validate your creations from a new perspective. However, artists attempting to write their statements are faced with the daunting problem of coherently organizing all those words!

Words are a completely different experience from the tactile world of art making. Paper and paint inhabit the world of our senses, while words remain the detached curios of our minds. Once in a while, when the two worlds connect and words entice our senses, we love it.

So what stops us from using words to describe our art, the same words that have been with us since we could walk? Why are we so suspicious of language, one of our fundamental connections to being human?

The answer, in part, relates to a fatal combination of art critics and education. Art critics use language as scepters of judgment; if their words determine our self-worth, then by all means, kill the messenger. Formal education uses language as a means of control; we are taught when, where and how we can or cannot use which words, and, consequently, we grow to mistrust our relationship to language. The mistrust smolders underground, mostly unnoticed, until our words are thrust into containers, like the artist statement. Suddenly, words make us visible targets for judgment and criticism.

An opportunity to write an artist statement often causes us to second guess every idea we ever had about our work. We convince ourselves that we have nothing to say, or certainly nothing to say of value. Our first instinct is to either turn off the light and head out of the studio or pump ourselves up to overwrite. But running away confirms our fears that there must be something to run away from. And pumping up encourages us to use flimsy or pretentious words to smooth over our mistrust of language. This, in turn, fuels our perception that language cannot adequately describe our art.

Luckily, you have an alternative to giving up on your statement before you start. Instead, pretend that you have a lot to say that is neither self-important nor trivial, but is rather relevant, revealing, and wonderful. Imagine that all of your objections to writing have been overcome and you are simply going to write whatever you believe to be true, at the moment, about your work. The good news is that by letting yourself go, you can discover and create a working artist statement.

There is an unselfconscious language about your work which you use all the time. Every time you talk or think about your work, you experience a relationship between words and your art. The trick is to learn how to catch yourself doing this, and then faithfully write it down.

A Few Tips For Getting Started:

Treat your artist statement with the same care that your treat your art. It's all about you.

Use a notebook that is lovely or practical and keep it with you at all times-- in the studio, in the car, beside your bed.

Find and use a writing pen or pencil that flows smoothly across the surface.

Take a few weeks to jot down any fleeting thoughts that come to you about your work. Give yourself permission to gather. Selecting and sorting can come later when you have enough in your basket.

Make specific times and dates with yourself to transform your notes and write your statement. Respect these times. Do not tolerate interruptions.

Prepare your internal space. Close your eyes and conjure up your worst critic. In your mind's eye, lead this person out of the room. Give them another task, besides breathing over your shoulder, say, climbing a tree, or skipping stones, or going to the local library. Tell your critic not to come back until you are ready. Critics are terrified of being abandoned, that's why they are so tenacious, so reassure yours that there will be a place set just for them at the editing and revision table. Critics are also stubborn. You may have to do this more than once.

Write more than one statement. Like different works of art, an artist statement also thrives on change and rising out of "the moment." What suits this month's work may not work for next month's work.

Give yourself permission to make mistakes. Let yourself write badly. Crumple up lots of paper balls and throw them in a corner. That's the beginner's way. Then, when your statement comes out great, which it eventually will, you will know the difference.

KEEP YOUR ARTIST STATEMENT SHORT AND CLEAR

Q: I give a resume, several photographs and an artist's statement to anyone who asks about my art. Several collectors have told me that my statement is a little hard to understand and that maybe I should simplify it a bit. My response is that it accurately represents what I do and, although I never say this, the ones who make these comments don't usually know that much about art. Any suggestions?

A: Clarify your statement. Anyone who asks about your art is a potential buyer and when they ask, you should do everything in your power to answer their questions. The fact that some collectors have difficulty understanding you could very well mean that a lot more have similar experiences, but just don't say anything. After all, most people keep contrary opinions to themselves.

Think of collectors who comment as trying to help you rather than as not knowing enough about art. Many artists spend so much time around other artists and art people that they're often out of touch with what average buyers do or do not know. Artist statements that are peppered with art jargon or artspeak may sound great and make perfect sense to insiders, but mean little or nothing to everyone else. If you get too complicated for average buyers to understand, you can end up losing sales.

Let people enjoy your art, draw their own conclusions, and learn about it comfortably. Keep introductory materials clear and to the point. You want to hold readers' attention without being intimidating. The longer they spend looking it over and the better they understand it, the greater your chances of making sales.

When you rework your current statement, ask collectors where they get confused and how they think you can better explain yourself. You don't have to do every single thing everyone says, but if you ask enough people, the types of changes you need to make will become clear. Pay special attention those few brave folks who come forward and voluntarily share their feelings with you. They probably have the most well thought out suggestions of anyone.

Several additional pointers:

* Be brief. Two or three paragraphs of no more than three sentences each is a good length for an introductory statement.

* Tell why you create your art and what it means to you.

* Appeal to the emotions. Convey feeling about your art.

* Avoid complex explanations, obscure references, and artspeak.

* Try not to catagorize your work or compare yourself to others.

* Use language that everyone can understand, not "galleryspeak".

2003-01-21T21:11:00.000-05:00

7 Things for your NOT-TO- DO List

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to find yourself reacting to life's daily busy-ness?
You end up accomplishing nothing of real value. Try this "Not-To-Do" List, to see where you could cut out some of the intrusions on your daily life, so that you can find time for what's really important to YOU.

1. Don't answer the phone.
Isn't that why God made answering machines? Take the calls on YOUR schedule instead of everyone else's. Ask friends and family not to call during certain hours. Don't be rude; just explain that you're trying to make your time work for you instead of against you. We all have the same 24 hours. You can either live it according to everyone else's schedule, or you can decide when and how you will use your own time. Put life on YOUR schedule, instead of just reacting to the next thing that catches your attention. Anyone who knows me knows that I NEVER EVER answer the phone. I take messages and call back when I have the time.

2. Don't accept an invitation to a party.
If it's the one Saturday you have free that month, and you really want to spend it alone or with your spouse, or working on a personal project, say no thank you with love and grace. By saying no to others, you have said yes to yourself. Remember that you always have options, and you can always say no to people. It's unrealistic to think that everyone will hate you if you don't just go along like a sheep. Don't let life bully you!

3. Don't make the bed.
No, this is not an invitation to become a slob. While I'm a believer that a cluttered environment leads to a cluttered mind, all I'm suggesting here is to dump the "good girl/good guy" routine for a while. And don't use the excuse, "that's just the way I am." Try allowing yourself to be a little looser. Does it really matter if you leave dishes in the sink? Or does it really matter that you spend the extra 5 minutes listening to your child's story when you should be paying the bills. Realize that it's OK if everything is not perfect, as long as you have a good quality of life.

4. Don't watch the news.
You pay attention what you put into your body; pay attention to what you put into your mind. I'm not advocating that you become completely uninformed about the world around you, but studies have shown that people often experience heightened emotions, anxiety, even anger when watching these programs. Dr. Andrew Weil even suggests a total "news fast" for one day -- don't read, watch, or listen to any news for one day, then increase it as you feel comfortable. If that's too drastic for you, perhaps try a method that's a little less invasive, such as print or online, where you have a bit more control than the images being right in your living room. Choose your news carefully.

5. Don't do what you "should" do.
The "shoulds" in our lives sometimes have a tendency to masquerade as true responsibilities, which they often really aren't. Take a good long look at the "shoulds" in your life. Try replacing them with "I want..". "I want to visit my Dad each weekend, but sometimes I need to spend that extra time with my children or with myself." "I want to cook a healthy home-made meal for my family each night, but sometimes it's just not practical." By taking the "should" out of the sentence, you are now able to see that you're not a bad person and aren't shirking responsibility. You are simply making another choice that better reflects YOU.

6. Don't try to hide what you perceive to be a weakness.
Life is hard enough without trying to be somebody you aren't. Consider your weaknesses AND your strengths, and work with them to make the best person that you already are. The less you try to hide that you think is a fault, the less it will actually be apparent. Accept who you are, understand how it affects you and others around you, and find a way to use it to your advantage. If you can accept your own flaws, you'll also have a lot easier time accepting other people's as well.

7. Don't procrastinate.
If you don't feel like you're making progress on your goal, or you have that "stuck" feeling, do something, anything that is in the direction you want to go, no matter how small. One phone call, one sit-up, one drawer. If you're truly feeling overwhelmed by a project, concentrate on the next few weeks, instead of the next few years. For example, instead of thinking you need to lose 50 pounds, think about your calories and exercise just for this week or even for this one day, this one meal... It's what I'm doing and it's working for me!

Today I am thankful for:

1. the internet
2. curiosity
3. ambition
4. self-confidence
5. resolve

2003-01-20T17:22:00.000-05:00

Dream Yourself Into Your Life

Too often we lose sight of what's important to us for example, enjoying nature, exploring our spirituality, connecting with
friends, traveling, and being creative. Yet, we know that our lives are incomplete. The truth is, we can all have much more
meaning in our lives - we just don't know how to do it.

There are many barriers to living our lives the way that we would really like. Bad memories from childhood, failures, alcoholism, grief, poverty, and the like all take their toll. Yet, from deep within us we hear a voice - a voice inside calling for more; for something inspiring.

Living an inspiring life is not just for some people. It's for all of us. We can all live our lives more fully and do more of
what we want. You might think that you're too busy, don't have enough money, or don't know what you want, and while that's all
understandable it need not get in your way.

We need to begin by listening to our internal voice. What is it telling us? What do we need? What is missing in our lives. And,
once we know that, we need to find ways to live our dreams.

James Hillman, in his book

The Soul's Code: In Search of Character and Calling

says that the answers to who we are and what we want can be found in our childhood musings. He says,

"Sooner or later something seems to call us into a particular path. You may remember this "something" as a signal moment in
childhood when an urge out of nowhere, a fascination, a peculiar turn of events struck like an annunciation: This is what I must
do, this is what I've got to have. This is who I am...If not this vivid or sure, the call may have been more like a gentle current in the stream in which you drifted unknowingly to a particular spot on the bank."

Hillman believes that in order to uncover what gives us meaning or pleasure (what he calls our calling) we need to remember what
fascinated us, grabbed our attention, or spoke to us as children. He believes those memories even if they are only tiny glimmers or flashes of our desires hide our deeper longings to be or to do something.

To use this method, you might want to think about yourself as a child. What did you dream about? What did you like to play? What were your fantasies and dreams? While it may not be clear to you what any of it means. Those memories or dreams may hold something you need to know about yourself. You might want to spend some time writing about it.

Dr. John Suler, who teaches at Ryder University, designed an exercise for his students called The Therapeutic Ingredients of
the Vision Quest that can help with this. I found the Vision Quest to be very helpful in awakening my deeper wisdom and awareness of synchronicity in my life.

Suler's steps for the Vision Quest are as follows:

1. For a period of at least 4 hours, leave your room or home and go out somewhere, anywhere. Don't plan ahead as to where you
will go or what you will do. Don't do anything in particular (e.g., don't go bowling, to the movies, to visit friends, etc.) Just go where your instincts tell you to go. Let your "intuition" carry you. Just wander (of course, don't do anything dangerous).

Do this alone. This is very important! If you meet people you know, you may talk to them for a few minutes, but no longer than
that. Continue on your way.

2. While you wander, concentrate on some question about yourself, something you want to know about yourself, or some
problem you have been experiencing in your life. You could simply focus on the question "Who am I?" or any similar question. Think, reflect, ponder this question - but also let your mind "drift."

3. The whole time keep in mind that you are on a "quest." You are looking, waiting, expecting something. Something will happen. There will be a sign that will give you an insight into the question. It could be something that happens to you,
something you see or hear. The world out there will give you the sign!

4. Take along a notebook or some paper, and a pen. Every half hour stop and write. Note the time, the place, and what has
happened. Write about your reactions to what is happening to you. Write about your thoughts, feelings, and insights. Write
these notes for yourself! During the exercise, if you're anxious, frustrated, or bored, ask yourself "why" and write about it. If nothing important has happened, think and write about why that is so. How could you make the exercise more
effective?"

As Suler says, even if nothing happens, it helps to write about that. There can be answers within that place of nothing.

Another way to uncover your deeper longings is to think about what you really want to do, even if it seems impossible. Try not
to let thoughts like, "I don't have the money to travel" or "I can't write" or "I'm too busy" stop you from at least thinking about what you'd really like to do. Too many dreams are stopped before they even get started because of self-defeating thoughts.
Let yourself dream and spend time with this.

When you're ready, tell one person your dreams. As SARK says in her book,

Living Juicy: Daily Morsels for Your Creative Soul

"Dreams love attention and will expand the more you share them."

Try not to get caught up in thinking or talking about the practical aspects of your dream; just think about the possibilities. Keep checking in with yourself to see what fits for you and what doesn't. Something nice that can come from sharing your dreams with someone is that your friend's dreams can be awakened, too, and that's fun to be a part of too.

Next, imagine yourself living your dream. Imagine yourself doing whatever it is that you want to do. Spend time visualizing this
and be sure to include all of your senses - sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste.

When you're ready to move in the direction of living your dream, think about one tiny step that you can take toward your dream.
Make it tiny. As SARK said in a recent interview, it helps to think about the steps as micro-movements.

For example, because I procrastinate about painting, my micro-movement was to put out my easel and clip paper to it that
night. That's it. I did it and the next day I put out my paints. The next day I was painting again.

Think about what micro-movements you could do and then set a date and time to do them.

Every one us of us has dreams that our soul needs to fulfill. Without our dreams, our lives are incomplete. Don't worry if
you're not sure of yours, or don't know how to fulfill them. It helps to try one or all of the exercises here, or another one of
your choice, and see what happens. Write about what you learn and keep on trying. Dreams are lived one step at a time.

Today I am thankful for:
1. forgiveness
2. passion
3. redemption
4. good silence
5. commitment

2003-01-19T09:57:00.000-05:00

Diarist Random Writing Spark

If you had to choose between the services of a cook, maid, chauffer, or masseuse — absolutely free, which one would it be? Why?

Oh this is too easy for me- a MAID! I am a notorious...I was going to say slob, but that's too harsh. I'm just not neat as a pin, but by jove I would insist upon it if I had a maid!! I like things to be tidy and organized, but if they aren't JUST SO, I don't wig out if I don't have time to do it all! I enjoy life too much to worry if my sheets are pressed and what the neighbors think about my rain-streaked windows. Id' rather make a painting than worry about soap scum on my bathroom tile!!

Also I'm not a packrat per se, as I don't horde old greeting cards, newspapers, bits of string, chewing gum wrappers or useless ephemera of daily life! I have shelves full of art supplies and like to keep extra useful things on hand, but if it isn't likely to be used- OUT WITH IT, I say! I am also not a collector in the strict sense. I don't collect hideous plastic gew-gaws, salt and pepper shakers, Waterford crystal, depression glass, dolls, beanie babies, beer steins, coins or sports memorabilia. I only collect the few things that bring me joy to look on on a daily basis that do not clutter up my home or my life.

I have the few pieces of blue and white china that appeal to me, wooden toys and jumping jacks that I put out every Christmas, a few select pieces of art that inspire and delight me, and the collected souvenirs from my travels around the world scattered here and there throughout my home. But an entire collection of yelloware pottery, china baby dolls or Little Orphan Annie memorabilia I do not own or desire. I don't need to be surrounded by mere things to find happiness. Ahem, however...

I DO have a secret passion for nice clothes and yes, cool shoes. Mules, clogs, boots, loafers, sandals, slides, thongs... bliss!

I like to look nice because it makes me feel good about myself. It is uplifting to be pulled-together and well coordinated. I love just the right funky mule with a cool pair of flare-hem jeans and a unique shirt or sweater. Accessories, too! Oh my... patterned socks that just match each outfit, funky african chokers and beads, hand-tooled sterling silver, a snazzy bracelet, a one-of-a-kind pair of earrings. I love unique things that reflect my mood and attitude when I am wearing them. I don't want to look like everyone else all the time, so my clothes and shoes and accessories must reflect who I am.

I'll bet you think I am a compulsive shopper then, right? Nope. I do most of my shopping online as I loathe shopping malls and most department stores. I used to enjoy shopping but now that I am older and my time is more valuable, it is just an aggravation to drive to the mall, find a parking spot and fight the crowds when I can find almost everything I need via my modem. Yet another reason to love the internet!

The reason I really need a MAID is to follow along in my wake and make my world tidy so that I can spend more time on my work. I would be so happy not to have to do laundry, fold, iron or put away clothes ever again. This job is the worst in the entire household litany. I would like a maid to:

Keep my closets neat and organized, have a constant supply of crisp, neatly-folded entire outfits at the ready for my daily use. Of course I would also like him to have the bathrooms consistently spotless and the kitchen immaculate. Thecarpets should always be vaccumned and the hardwoods gleaming. The windows would always be impeccably clean and my dining room table would never accumulate junk mail, keys and loose change the way it does now. The bookshelves would always be dusted and the books alphabetized by genre. My desk in my office would never be piled with accumulated clutter and my plants would always be in top condition instead of yellowed from over or is it under-watering.

In short, a maid is my ideal helpmate. How have I lived without him for so long??

Today I am thankful for:
1. bubble bath
2. ice tea
3. my tidy office (at least for the next five minutes)
4. my "new" living room since re-decorating this weekend
5. friends coming over this afternoon to watch the game, even though my Steelers lost

2003-01-19T09:05:00.000-05:00

from 1/18/02

7 Weeks To A Happier Life

Life is usually what we make it. Wait a minute -- did I say "make it"? I know, I know, the conventional theory is that "life
happens to you" -- um, yeah, well, it doesn't.

And while there are things in life that none of us can control -- weather, the economy, traffic, other people -- there are many things that you are in charge of. These are the things that help you be at peace with yourself.

Put even one of these ideas into place in the SPECIFICS of your life, and at the end of 7 weeks you'll feel better.

1. Choose Consciously:
Make an effort to decide that YOU choose how to spend your time, money, energy, and spirit. As long as you accept the consequences, and make the choice with your eyes open, you'll feel more in control. Consciously choosing your TV
time, or how much you consume, is a lot different than just realizing you spent 4 hours clicking channels or ate an entire bag of chips. Ask yourself, " How much do I really want?"

2. Set Priorities.
If the annoyances of life are living your life for you, you're never going to win the foot- race of life.
You'll simply run out of time, devoting it to things that you chose in the moment, instead of what you really wanted the most.
Don't put what you want right now above what you really want in the long run. Say to yourself, " I have raised my standards to
not buy anything else on credit. But I really want this outfit for my meeting next week. What's more important to me?"

3. Nurture It: Protect It:
What you focus on in your life will flourish if you focus on problems, and lack, and hatred, and guilt, and self doubt, that's what you'll find growing in your garden of life. Instead plant seeds of change, conviction, courage, and choice. No, it's not just about thinking positive thoughts -- but it's a heck of a good place to start!

4. Be Consistent.
Anything that you do consistently, day after day, week after week, adds up. Good results or bad results are the product of repeating the same behavior over and over. If you consistently save, you'll have money in the bank; if you consistently over-spend, you'll be in debt. Choose what you want, and take one small step, consistently day after day, and see what happens.

5. Stop Reading about it, Start Doing:
We live in an amazing world of information. Most people have access to more choices and information than they've ever had. Even our children are faced with decisions based on their broader ability to receive information. But. information without action is useless. Stop looking for a Quick Fix in the next book. Put the information you already have to work in your life. Ask yourself, "What can I do today to start to build up a reserve (of cash, of time, of food, of friends) that will help me live without fear?"

6. Stop Analyzing, Start Living.
A lot of psycho- babble teaches us that we need to know the "why" about our behavior before we can address it. And the "why" can sometimes help correct a problem, or give you a reason for your action.. But most of what we all do on a daily basis is not the product of some deep dark psychological reason. It's habit. Change your habits, and you'll change your life. Change your attitude and you'll change your life. Change your environment and you'll change your life. Ask yourself, "What habit is the biggest obstacle to achieving my goals?"

7. Ask For What You Want.
It's time to stop expecting other people to read your mind or think for you. Think about how frustrating it is for you when someone expects you to know what they are thinking. It's just a set up for failure. You are an adult. Be willing to ask concisely, pleasantly, and honestly for what you want and need in your life. Ask yourself, "Do I expect people in my life to 'just know' what I need and want? Am I able to do that for other people on a 99% correct basis? No! So I will respect others by telling them what I need, and asking them to tell me as well."

Today I am thankful for:

1. cooperation
2. compassion
3. patience
4. books
5. respect

2003-01-17T11:05:00.000-05:00

A Shot in the Creative Arm
By Sara Eckel for Lifetime

There's nothing like the rush of a creative burst! You dive into a screenplay, frantically doodle in a sketchbook or strum that guitar for hours. After a while, however, you're suddenly seized with the desire to clean out the garage or reorganize your spice rack, leaving your beloved project languishing in the rec room. What gives?

Having trouble sticking to an artistic project may seem to be a sign that you're lacking creative inspiration, but the opposite may be true. "Experiencing fear, boredom and anxiety when doing anything creative is perfectly normal. That's part of the process," says Tom Crockett, author of "The Artist Inside: A Spiritual Guide to Cultivating Your Creative Self." Here are six tips for overcoming blocks to creativity and igniting your artistic passion:

Forget perfection.
Many people get skittish about sticking with a project because they worry it's a waste of time. "There is the fear that once you present [your work] to the world, someone will criticize or not like it," says Gail McMeekin, author of "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: A Portable Mentor." "But that's a given! Nothing is going to sing for everyone." McMeekin points out that every successful artist boasts a string of failures — so there's no need to fear less-than-stellar work. One way to inject fun into the creative process is to set aside a day for creating "bad" art (think sappy poetry or garish paintings). Relieving yourself of the obligation to be a genius will get you back in the flow and may even yield some surprisingly good results.

Shush the inner critic.
You may have heard that little voice inside that says your time would be better spent doing something else more productive. Barbara Bowen, a Brooklyn-based art therapist, says that many of us possess an internal critic who excels at guilting us away from our art, but it's important to continuously challenge this voice. When it says, "You're just looking for attention," remind yourself that self-expression is a positive thing. And when that critic claims you're selfish for spending time away from your family, counter it by realizing that everyone will benefit from a happy, relaxed, creatively fulfilled you. Try giving your work a higher purpose in order to silence the selfishness argument. For example, McMeekin says she wrote her book as a gift for her nieces.

Make room for inspiration.
Since artistic expression doesn't always yield immediately apparent gains, it's important to make a serious, long-term commitment to your creative time. Set aside time for your projects, and honor those appointments the way you would a date with a friend. Also, create a comfortable, lively space in which to work; hang up favorite postcards or quotes and bring in fresh plants and flowers.

Switch gears.
Is your realistic landscape painting a disaster? Try painting something abstract. Is your songwriting well dry? Pick up a camera and snap away. Allowing yourself to see the world through a new medium will help you unblock your creativity — it can also push your work to new highs. "The real breakthroughs in invention never occur at the core of a discipline; they always occur in some overlap," explains Crockett. "Masterpieces occur when a painter who is schooled in the European tradition goes to India or Africa."

Use your downtime.
It's easy to avoid being creative by focusing on practical must-do's, such as earning money and folding laundry. But the real question, says Nick Meglin, author of "Drawing From Within: Unleashing Your Creative Potential," is: "How many hands do you need to hold a bologna sandwich?" Say what? He explains: "Anyone who says they don't have time to write or draw or compose is not being honest with themselves. Say you have lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 — that's an hour of creative time!" Get into the habit of carrying around a notebook or a sketch pad so you can record little bursts of inspiration while you're sitting on a bus or waiting on line. "My best ideas never come when I say, 'OK, now is the perfect time to be a genius,'" says Meglin. "They happen when I'm in the shower."

Today I am thankful for:

1. music
2. plenty
3. warmth
4. companionship
5. solitude

2003-01-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

From 1/16/03

Choosing to be present in your own life

After my Mom died, my family tried the best we could to console each other, even though we had our own grieving to do. We worried so much for my dad who seemed to have lost interest for anything in his life. He stopped thinking of the future, stopped planning to be a part of it. Without a will to live, he did not stand a chance.

While my Mom was in the hospital, he expressed an interest in painting again, but as he lived in a nursing home, oil painting would not be feasible because of the fumes from the turpentine in conjunction with his oxygen. Since I get much of my creative sensibility from my Dad, I thought that if I got him some fresh art supplies he would have something to think about, something to do that would be both stimulating and relaxing.

I was encouraged to hear him expressing an interest in art, so I went out and purchased with great care and expense a set of acrylic paints, brushes, a book on technique, new covered palette, mixing chart, color wheel, case to store all the supplies in and a set of canvases and canvas boards for practice and play.

Sadly though, the supplies just sat there in his room collecting dust. He had withdrawn away from all of us and had no interest in his own life anymore without my Mom. He even told my other sister to give all the art supplies away to charity because he had no use for it. I was very hurt by that since I had taken the time to choose things I thought would help him and please him. But I had to learn that unless he had a personal motivation to start living again, nothing I did or said would have any impact.

No one can motivate anyone to do anything.
All a person can do for another is provide them with incentives to motivate themselves.

If you want to make a difference in the world, you can only start with yourself. You cannot save others, no matter how much it hurts to see them fall. They have to want to help themselves, just as you have to want to live your own life.

Here are ten effective strategies to help you get up, get going, and be present in your own life:

* Be willing to leave your comfort zone.
The greatest barrier to achieving your potential is your comfort zone. Dispel your fears.
Great things happen when you push through and overcome your discomfort.

* Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
Wisdom helps us avoid making mistakes but only comes from making lots of them.

* Don't indulge in self-limiting thinking.
Think empowering, expansive thoughts, not negative self talk. Visualize.

*Choose to be happy.
Act happy, it's as simple as that. Happy people are easily motivated.
Happiness is your birthright so don't settle for anything else.

* Spend time in self-development.
Read good books or listen to inspiring music. Take a class. Try a new hobby. Driving to and from work
provides an excellent opportunity to listen to books on tape. Reading for a few moments before bed can lead to positive waking thoughts. Nurture yourself. Be curious about life.

* Train yourself to finish what you start.
So many of us become scattered as we try to accomplish a task.
Finish one task before you begin another. Do your best.

* Live fully in the present moment.
This is it. These are the hours. When you live in the past or the future you aren't able to make things happen in the present. Act.

* Commit yourself to joy.
Be serious about adding joy to every day of your life. Savor the simple things. See good in the world.
C.S. Lewis once said, " Joy is the serious business of heaven."

* Never quit when you experience a setback or frustration.
Same old routine not getting the desired result? Pull back, start on a new path. You always have another chance.

* Dare to dream big dreams.
Move confidently in the direction of your dreams, goals and expectations. Take small steps daily to have the life you want.

The real tragedy in life is not in how much we suffer, but rather in how much we miss from living in fear and failure. Do not die having never lived.

One thing is absolutely for sure in this life. You are not going to make it out alive! If we say we will live to be 75 years old on average, then you can count how many springs you have left. Somtimes we can get so caught up in working and worrying about tomorrow that we forget to enjoy today. I mean enjoy today like there will be no tomorrow!

In the real world, all we can do about tomorrow is to set some intentions of where you might like to be, consciously make every choice you can based on your values, and leave the rest of it up to the Universe. We, as a people, tend to try and control the future; but this is joke! If you really consider how little control you have, you would spend much less time worrying and more time staying here, in the present moment.

Every minute given to us is a gift to be treasured and savored. Don't risk being in the position one day of looking back on your life and wishing you could live certain moments over again, wish you had done more, been bolder, spent more time with loved ones, traveled, adventured, LIVED!!

No matter where you are in your life, I would ask this of you:

Do not be afraid. Accept the present as the gift that it is.

Live your life TODAY.

Today I am thankful for:

1. a warm house on a cold, windy winter day
2. being a damn good cook! Thanks to my mom for her example.
3. sitting in front of the fireplace
4. the birds that come to the feeder outside my office window that drive my cat crazy
5. friends to share life with

2003-01-17T10:05:00.000-05:00

From 1/15/02

The Law of Polarity
states that everything has an opposite. It’s a law; simple, irrefutible. You can’t fall 6 feet down from being only 4 feet up. You can’t turn left without coming from the right. “Yes” only exists because “No” does too; otherwise it would be meaningless. By law, if something bad happens, then it is simultaneously good. If something is a little bit bad, then it serves that it is also a little bit good. If something is catastrophic, then there is, within that great tragedy, something phenomenally awesome! Everything has an opposite. Equal and opposite. Yin and yang.

The original meaning of "yin and yang" is representative of the mountains--both the dark side and the bright side, or the contrasting shaded and sunlight slopes of the mountain. The "Yin" represents the female or the shaded aspect, the earth, darkness, the moon, and passivity. The "Yang" represents the male, light, sun, heaven, the active principle in nature.

The classic swirling black and white symbol shows the perfect balance between opposites, or the great forces of the universe. There is no "real" masculine or feminine nature, but that each contains a part of the other. The two are contained in one circle thus showing that both powers are in one cycle. Instead of these two being held in antagonism, they are held together to show the that they are mutually interdependent partners. One cannot exist without the other.

The yin and yang explain the rhythm of the ebb and flow in nature and ourselves. As we begin to find balance in our lives, we become more whole, more complete, and more at peace with ourselves.

Today I am thankful for:

1. health insurance so that I can go get new contact lenses without worrying about paying for them
2. being able to see so that I can make art
3. the ability to make art and express my vision
4. acceptance and encouragement from others in my art
5. the continued nurturance of art in the world despite conflict and misunderstanding of art's intrinsic value to the world

2003-01-14T10:16:00.000-05:00

Tour the World from Home!

In the next few months my husband and I are taking the trip of a lifetime to Africa.
We are very fortunate to have been able to visit some of the places we have dreamed of: Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and much of the United States.

It has always been a dream of mine to see the world and learn from the experience. Ever since I was a little girl I would read about far away places and research other cultures through encyclopedias and books. Now, with the advent of the internet, visiting those exotic destinations can be as easy as booting up the computer.

As expensive as it is to travel these days, you can get much of the allure of your dream destinations by taking virtual tours of museums, exhibits, and tourist attractions in cities from around the world-all without ever leaving your chair.

We'll begin at Virtual Tours, which offers a collection of over 300 tours of places worldwide. Travel and visit the Smithsonian then jet to museums in Paris and St. Petersburg all in one day.

Have you ever thought about touring magnificent Gothic cathedrals from around the world? At NewYorkCarver.com, you can do just that without packing a single suitcase. View pictures of the Tympanum Cathedral of St. Lazare Autun, France, or take a tour of Westminster Abbey in London. This site will keep you occupied for hours.

A slightly different approach to virtual tours is The Virtual Field Trips Site. Would you like to watch "fierce creatures" in their natural habitat? Would you like to see what it's really like at the bottom of the ocean? This site offers field trips that are designed to teach, while at the same time, are just plain fun!

What about a virtual tour to China or the Foridden City? Or with wonderful 360 degree panoramic vistas, why not see ancient Rome, the great US Capitol, Everest, The Grand Canyon?

How about Amsterdam? Greece, Italy, Spain and Ecuador? Egypt?

Would you like to visit Le Louvre, the home of the Mona Lisa? Learn the history of this famous museum, or take a virtual tour of its facilities.

At the World Famous San Diego Zoo, you can see the animals and take virtual tours of their featured exhibits. Visit the Giant Panda Research Station to meet Bai Yun and Shi Shi, two giant pandas. View their outdoor play area, or read fact sheets about the animals.

Or, better yet, join Mark and I on our photographic safari in South Africa and Botswana at these excellent virtual safari sites:

Virtual Big Game Safari
Afroventures.com
Cyber Surfari
National Geographic's Virtual Safari to the Okavango Delta in Botswana
See live cam shots of game reserves in South Africa- hey maybe you'll even see us

From True at First Light: A Fictional Memoir
by Ernest Hemingway

There are always mystical countries that are a part of one's childhood. Those we remember and visit sometimes when we are asleep and dreaming. They are as lovely at night as they were when we were children. If you ever go back to see them they are not there. But they are as fine in the night as they ever were if you have the luck to dream of them.

In Africa when we lived on the small plain in the shade of the big thorn trees near the river at the edge of the swamp at the foot of the great mountain we had such countries. We were no longer, technically, children although in many ways I am quite sure that we were. Childish has become a term of contempt.

"Don't be childish, darling."

"I hope to Christ I am. Don't be childish yourself."

It is possible to be grateful that no one that you would willingly associate with would say, "Be mature. Be well-balanced, be well-adjusted."

Africa, being as old as it is, makes all people except the professional invaders and spoilers into children. No one says to anyone in Africa, "Why don't you grow up?" All men and animals acquire a year more of age each year and some acquire a year more of knowledge. The animals that die the soonest learn the fastest. A young gazelle is mature, well-balanced and well-adjusted at the age of two years. He is well-balanced and well-adjusted at the age of four weeks. Men know that they are children in relation to the country and, as in armies, seniority and senility ride close together. But to have the heart of a child is not a disgrace. It is an honor. A man must comport himself as a man. He must fight always preferably and soundly with the odds in his favor but on necessity against any sort of odds and with no thought of the outcome. He should follow his tribal laws and customs insofar as he can and accept the tribal discipline when he cannot. But it is never a reproach that he has kept a child's heart, a child's honesty and a child's freshness and nobility.

2003-01-14T10:01:00.000-05:00

Think Like A Child

I was taking a walk around my neighborhood recently and was befriended by a six-year-old girl. This charming child decided to impart her life wisdom on me. Here are the lessons I learned:

It's natural to feel good about yourself.

I told my new friend that she had pretty eyes. She looked up at me and said, "I know". There was no question for her, no debate, and no dismissal. She accepted the comment because, to her, it was natural to feel good about herself. I began to wonder; at what point in the development of our children do we teach them not to appreciate their finer qualities. At what point do we teach children to feel badly about themselves? Appreciate yourself every day. Feel good about yourself --, it's natural.

Promote your strengths.

At one point during our conversation, my new friend looked at me and said, "You know, I can run really fast." She was good at things, and she wanted to make sure that I knew it. I wonder, why do we tell ourselves that it is not good to promote what we're good at? At what point do we change from being proud of our strengths, to hiding our best qualities. Can you remember the last time you gave someone a compliment and they did not just dismiss the comment? I can't. The next time someone thanks you or acknowledges an accomplishment, say thank you and pat yourself on the back. Feel good about your strengths and they will serve you well.

Find enjoyment in everything.

My friend found enjoyment in everything from school, to friends, to her family. Her joys were simple things, like riding her bike, passing a test, and swinging on the swing sets. Find joy in the simple things, appreciate them, and be grateful for them. You will find that your world starts to look like a much better place.

Be active.

In the 20 minutes we spent together, my new friend walked the balance beam, swung on the swing sets, rode her bike, and demonstrated her running skills. She never sat still. I believe it is our body's natural desire to be active. Let your body fulfill its purpose. Get some activity. The benefits you receive will be long and many.

Have Fun.

I asked her what she likes to do and her response was, "I like to have fun!". I think that sums up the conversation into a powerful message; Do what brings you joy and above all, have fun.

Sometimes the most profound lessons are the simplest ones.

Go for a walk. Get a lesson in life.

Today I am thankful for:

1. my upcoming trip to Africa
2. my sister who turns forty on Thursday
3. walking last night through the neighborhood
4. my upcoming artist residency at Kenmore doing photography and poetry
5. books to read and their ceaseless inspiration

2003-01-13T10:39:00.000-05:00

Well, it HAS been a long long while since I have shown my face around here. I do apologize for my absence.

Priorities...

Many things more important than an online journal have kept me away, like the illnesses and death of my parents. It is hard to go on just living your normal routine in the face of such losses but that is the only way you get through it- you just go on. Certainly not at full speed and with reduced clarity and energy, but still you go about the business of living.

I am here on the page to say that I am back among the living myself and ready to express my gratitude to the universe for the privilege of being here, alive on this day.

For Christmas I received the book:

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy

Every night before going to sleep I have been thinking of Five things to be thankful for. There are usually many more than a mere five, but I try to choose those that have the most meaning on each particular day. I will begin today to write them here to make a permanent record of my true abundance. You can do this too by going to Sarah Ban Breathnach's web site and using her interactive Gratitude Journal or
read sample chapters...

The humble beginnings of my daily gratitude journal:

Today I am thankful for:

1. my health
2. my husband Mark who is a gem amongst the stones
3. my incredibly affectionate and delightful cat "Cub"
4. my family and in-law family. we may not always agree but always we love
5. TIME. time for this, time for art, for reflection, for play, for joy, for love, for sleep, for well-being. Time for being alive.

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Resolutions That Work

What usually happens to your resolve in the New Year? Does it disappear before the pine needles are even vacuumed? Do you
spend more energy on excuses than on execution? Can you even remember your intention by Valentine's day?

Try something different this year. Take some time to think through your plan before jumping into action.

Here are some guidelines that can help.

1. Downstream Self Imagine
Visualize a vital, successful, and grateful you five years in the future looking back and beaming with pride at your foresight. What are you grateful for? What seeds that you planted are now flourishing? What are you looking forward to in 2008? What are you glad you started in 2003?

2. Year in Review
Where have you been over the past year? Look at all aspects of your life-- work, recreation, friends and family, your environment. What made you happy? What successes can you build on? What were the qualities that made them successful?

3. Brainstorm
Now make a list of all the goals you can think of. Remember the rules of brainstorming-- all ideas count, repetition is okay, no judgment, repetition is okay, keep going when you come to a lull. You can prime the pump with the old standbys-- eat better, get more exercise, floss regularly, then add some wild ones-- try skydiving, learn to tap dance. Go for at least 26.

4. Who Cares?
Take a look at the list and ask yourself which ones matter and to whom. Is it something you really care about or is there a big should attached to it? Whose voice is telling you it's important?

5. So What ?
Now take only the goals you care about and structure them with a "so that" phrase-- I will _____ so that _______. This is a critical step. It's the rationale that gives you motivation. I will eat better so that I have more energy. I will eat better so that I don't have to take blood pressure medication. It also checks the appropriateness of the goal. Will doing this really give me that? I will eat better so that my partner will get off my case. What is your underlying rationale, and is it the ultimate one? I want to get a new job so that I can make more money? And then so what? I want to make more money so that I can feel good about myself. If you honestly identify the "so what" you can create goals that accomplish your actual purpose.

6. Realistic and Measurable
It's a whole lot more inspiring to achieve a goal and set a new one then to fail again because you've set the bar too high. Don't say you'll get to the gym every day if you know that's next to impossible. Start smaller-- I'll get to the gym three times a week for a month. I'll walk in the door and get a locker. Every day for a month I'll set aside time to do my Artist's Way morning pages and I'll reward myself if I do five days out of seven. Then keep track. Count them. Put a gold star on your calendar. Make a grid and put check marks. At the end of the time period stop and evaluate? If you've set realistic goals and measured them you'll have a sense of accomplishment and valuable information about how to maintain your success or make any necessary adjustments to your plan.

Don't just put another paving stone on that road to hell. Turn those good intentions into accomplishments in the new year. On
behalf of your downstream self, we thank you.

2002-08-23T18:28:00.000-04:00

Another upcoming exgibition where you can view my work:

OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, September 12, 6 to 8 pm at the Ellipse Arts Center is open to the public. Hospitality will be provided.

JUROR'S TALK: Friday, September 13, 1 pm Juror Claudia Gould (Director of Philadelphia's Institute of Contemporary Art) will discuss her selections of the works of thirty-seven artists from 120 nationwide entries. Prize-winners will be announced. This lecture is free and open to the public.

The Arlington Arts Center is currently under renovation, so the annual all media exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Ellipse Arts Center.

Ms. Gould selected all three pieces that I submitted via slide:
1. Chekhov with Bitter Lemon
2. Consider the Tomato- Oil on canvas
3. Disciples- mixed media

yay!

2002-07-02T15:50:00.000-04:00

Upcoming Exhibitions- 2002

1. July 24- August 17 Eklektikos Gallery's 6th annual juried show--
Washington, DC

My Round on Square series of oils on canvas (big babies and big tomato!) accepted for this event

July and August at Eklektikos gallery feature the works chosen for the 6th International All Media Exhibit.
Curated by Stephen Bennett Phillips, Associate Curator of the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, this exhibit promises to be an eclectic mix of exciting works from around the country and around the world.

Mr. Phillips has organized various exhibitions including Twentieth-Century Still-life Paintings from The Phillips Collection (which traveled to 12 museums in the United States and Japan), Degas to Matisse: Impressionist and Modern Masterworks from The Detroit Institute of Arts and An Irish Vision: Works by Tony O'Malley. Presently, he is working on an exhibition of photographs by Edward Weston and is organizing a show of early images by the photographer Margaret Bourke-White.

2. Ongoing- The Beecher Center for Technology in the Arts at the Butler Institute of American Art --
Youngstown, Ohio
My digital art series will be exhibited in the museum and on the web.

Over forty temporary exhibitions of works by historic and contemporary American artists are on display at the Butler Institute each year. From the latest in laser light, neon, holograms, and other technological wonders to selections drawn from other museums and from private collections - the Butler offers an ambitious group of visual arts exhibits to dazzle and challenge the novice viewer and the art connoisseur. The Butler offers a regular program of exhibitions showcasing our finest regional talents and solo shows of works by American's best-known painters and sculptors.

3. Ongoing... The Tishe Group
Touring exhibit of Washington, DC area artists at local venues such as NBC Studios in Washington, charity events and historic local mansions.

4. 10/04/02 - 11/24/02 Frog Hollow- Vermont State Craft Foundation "Asian Influences"--
Manchester, Vermont
Invited to show my recent work in digital fine art prints that feature an Asian-inspired theme.

5. October 14, 2002- "The American Dream" opening exhibit at Masterpiece Alley Gallery--
Takoma Park, MD
Displaying my recent work in digital prints featuring images that evoke "The American Dream."

Many more to come...I'll keep you posted.

2002-07-02T15:02:00.000-04:00

Wel, well, well.

Speaking of talking about work... I have been so busy these last few months that I didn't have TIME to TALK about work, I was too busy working... and baby, sometimes all of that monotonous, seemingly endless work pays off.

In May I graduated with a fine arts degree that I had been dreaming of since finishing art school in 1988. I find myself crossing off goals large and small these last few months as I stand up and aggressively run down my dreams. They can be caught if you give earnest pursuit.

Goals for 2002

1. complete individualized study degree program in art and literature- check

2. write and illustrate a 40,000 word young adult novel- check

3. graduate in May of 2002- check

4. travel to Ireland, a lifelong dream- check

5. begin submitting my fine art paintings and limited edition prints to galleries and museums- check

6. market my work to online galleries and fine art brokers- check

I just returned from Ireland at the end of June and took the following week after my return to submit slides and bio information to several galleries. Within two weeks my work was accepted at three galleries and one museum. I cannot stop smiling.

2002-03-13T09:59:00.000-05:00

"Artists don't talk about art.
Artists talk about work.
If I have anything to say to young writers,
it's stop thinking of writing as art.
Think of it as work."
-- Paddy Chayefsky

2002-02-23T17:33:00.000-05:00

Write for the Senses

"The beginning of human knowledge is through the senses, and the fiction writer begins where human perception begins. He appeals through the senses, and you cannot appeal through the senses with abstractions." -- Flannery O'Connor

"All art, therefore, appeals primarily to the senses, and the artistic aim when expressing itself in written words must also make it appeal to the senses, if its high desire is to reach the secret springs of responsive emotion." -- Joseph Conrad
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Details and description are best written through the senses. Sensory perceptions are grounded, alive and concrete. It is not enough to tell a reader how things look or what people say, include smells, textures, and tastes. Stephen King said that if he didn't have smells on every third page, he went back and put them in. What senses are you leaving out? Try describing a forest, an empty building, a rose garden.

Use sensual descriptions for enhancing tone, for comparing, and before-and-after examples. Whenever possible, imbed description in action, not in long, static blobs. Avoid "announcement" words and phrases and vague words like nice, pretty, great, bad, good, wonderful.

While wallowing in the senses, can you make analogies, comparisons, try your hand at metaphors? Does the sunset remind you of a fire or a quilt? Do the bare branches remind you of an abstract painting?

Try this: Write about a holiday meal, focusing on the senses. Describe golden turkeys, glistening cranberry molds and lavish pies. Recall the musky scents of lamb bedecked with rosemary, cinnamon and chocolate, burned roasts and singed puddings. Describe your mother's china and your grandmother's linens. Recall your cousin Lenny hiding peas under his plate and your sister slipping liver to Alex the collie. Recall disasters and failures, lumpy gravy and drunken uncles, fights, and accidents.

Include the bowl of roses in the center of the table, the music simmering in the background, the candle glow and hushed beginnings as the diners tuck into the first bites.

2002-01-17T10:51:00.000-05:00

More from the book I have been reading- "How to think like Leonardo Da Vinci"

How to Think like Leonardo Da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day

The How to Think like Leonardo Da Vinci Workbook: Your Personal Companion to How to Think like Leonardo Da Vinci

Self-Assessment: Curiosità
Contemplate the following aspects of your life:

I take adequate time for contemplation and reflection.

I am always learning something new.

When I am faced with an important decision, I actively seek out different perspectives.

I am a voracious reader.

I learn from little children.

I am skilled at identifying and solving problems.

My friends would describe me as open-minded and curious.

When I hear or read a new word or phrase I look it up and make a note of it.

I know a lot about other cultures and am always learning more.

I know or am learning a language other than my native one.

I solicit feedback from my friends, relations, and colleagues.

I love learning.

Rate yourself on Curiosità from 1-10: Who do you know who best embodies the principle of Curiosità?
Write their name or names in your journal:

100 Questions

In your journal, make a list of 100 questions that are important to you. Your list can include any kind of question as long as it's something you deem significant: anything from "How can I raise my energy level" or "How can I make more time for the people I love?" to "How can I make a difference in this world?" and "How can I deepen my faith?"
Do the entire list in one sitting.
Write quickly, don't worry about spelling, grammar, or repeating the same question in different words.

When you have finished, read through your list and highlight the themes that emerge.
Did you discover anything you did not expect? Consider the emerging themes without judging them.
Are most of your questions about relationships ? Business? Fun? Money? The meaning of life?

Top Ten Questions

Now choose the ten questions that seem most significant and write them in your journal.
Then rank them in importance from 1-10. (Of course, you can add new questions or change the order at any time.)

Power Questions

The following questions are drawn from different people's "top-ten lists."
(Perhaps you generated some similar questions in the previous exercises.)
These questions are powerful catalysts to personal growth and fulfillment.
Read each question and then write your answer below in stream-of-consciousness style.
Then review your answers and see if they inspire an action or change you wish to make in your life. If inspiration strikes, make the change!

When am I most naturally myself? What people, places, and activities allow me to feel most fully myself, to be truly happy? What can I do to create a more supportive, enjoyable environment on a daily basis?

What is one thing I could stop doing, or start doing, or do differently, starting today that would most improve the quality my life? What's stopping me and how can I overcome that resistance?

What is my greatest talent? Do I use my greatest talent enough? How can I develop this talent further?

How can I get paid for doing what I love? What professions require the skills that I love? What do I need to do to pursue these professions?

Who are my most inspiring role models? Do I apply the lessons of my most inspiring role models every day? What could I do to bring more of their inspiration to my life on a daily basis?

How can I best be of service to others? What role does service play in my life today? How can I help those less fortunate than me?

What is my heart's deepest desire? Am I pursuing it every day? How can I orient my life toward my deepest passion? What's stopping me?

What are the greatest obstacles to the furfillment of my dreams and goals? Which of those obstacles are external and which are self-imposed? How can I overcome them?

What are the blessings of my life? Do I recount them every day?

What legacy would I like to leave? Have I shared it with my family and friends so they can help me achieve it? Am I on track to leave it? What do I need to do differently to leave the legacy I choose?

What, When, Who, How, and Where?
Think of a problem or question that you are concerned with in your personal or professional life.
Write your question or problem statement in your journal, and then answer the questions that follow:

What . . .

is the problem?

are the underlying issues?

preconceptions, prejudices, or paradigms may be influencing my perception?

will happen if I ignore it?

problems may be caused by solving this problem?

metaphors from nature can I use to illuminate it?

When . . .

did it start?

does it happen?

doesn't it happen?

will the consequences of it be felt?

must it be resolved?

Who . . .

cares about it?

is affected by it?

created it?

perpetuates it?

can help solve it?

How . . .

does it happen?

can I get more objective information?

can I look at it from unfamiliar perspectives?

can it be changed?

will I know that it has been solved?

Where . . .

does it happen?

did it begin?

haven't I looked

has this happened?

Why . . .

is it important?

did it start?

does it continue?

Ask Why, Why, Why, Why, Why . . . to get to the bottom of an issue.
What have you learned about your question or problem from asking these questions?
Summarize your insights in your notebook.
(Use your Notebook to do this exercise with other questions or problems.
Try this exercise with others in a group problem-solving session.)

...stay tuned for more installments in the weeks to come as I read further and learn from the class I am taking on How to think like Leonardo!

2002-01-17T10:01:00.000-05:00

Journal Writing
by Carlos Warter, M.D., Ph.D.

Writing in a journal is a way to discover the answers to your questions, to express yourself creatively, to find the voice of your soul, to strengthen your connection with your open heart, and to face your fears and overcome obstacles. Above all, it's a way to relax and explore the depths of your being.

Journal writing can be as prosaic or as wildly creative an exercise as you wish. For example, you can use your journal as a daily record of events, feelings, dreams, and aspirations. Or you can be more creative, using it as a vehicle for what Jung called "dreaming the dream onward".

One way to make the journal a creative vehicle is to use it for active imagination. Visualize an image and then allow yourself to "take off with it". Explore the images of your mind's eye with words.

Try this: Relax in a comfortable position, and focus on whatever image arises. Who or what do you see? What is happening in the scene you envision? As soon as you "click" with the image, begin to write in your journal. Describe what you have seen in detail, including what seems to be happening. Be specific. Follow the image and allow whatever arises to flow out of your hand as you write. You may be quite surprised to discover that a story emerges from focusing on just one image. If you let yourself write that story, you will find that no matter what images come through, it is a story about yourself.

You can also use the journal as a record of your dreams. As soon as you wake up, write down the dreams you remember. Then use the dreams' most powerful characters and events as "jumping off" points for an exercise in active imagination. What do they mean? What might have happened next?

To use journal writing as a way to open up, the key is to do it regularly. Start by committing yourself to ten minutes a day of writing in your journal. You can record what has happened to you and how you feel, do an active imagination exercise, or use any other technique that appeals to you as a way to write. If you feel blocked or can't think of anything to write about, use your memory as a stimulant. Remember someone you really loved, the times in your life when you were most angry, or what you just ate for breakfast -- how it looked, tasted, and felt in your body. Don't think twice. Just write in your journal for ten minutes. Keep your hand moving. Don't worry about it being grammatically correct or even interesting. Just see what comes up for you. If a particularly strong feeling comes up -- such as fear -- don't avoid it. Go for the energy. This kind of freely associative creativity is a wonderful way to loosen tensions.

Something else that happens, if you allow it, is that you disappear and become the energy of your writing. The you that is exploring, thinking, and free-associating dissolves into the ink or pencil lead or type on the screen. Like other creative methods of realizing yourself as soul, this one works because it allows you to jump in and disappear in the expressive stream of your own life-force.

This article was excerpted from Carlos Warter's book Pathways to the Soul, copyright 2000, published by Hay House Inc.

Pathways to the Soul: 101 Ways to Open Your Heart

2002-01-15T10:47:00.000-05:00

I have been reading the book "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci" and taking the free on-line course at
Barnes & Noble University

It is a fascinating book about a fascinating human.
I have always had a gargantuan curiosity about everything in the world- art, science, music, architecture, engineering, history...everything! Made my parents crazy in my seemingly unquenchable hunger for more knowledge. As it turns out, this quality of great curiosity- Curiosità
"An insatiably curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning," is the chief characteristic that made Leonardo an artist in the art of living. Young children learn at an astonishing rate. If a child is raised in a home where five languages are spoken, the child will learn to speak all five languages. Why are children so good at learning? They are born with profound, unrelenting curiosity. And genius is born when that quality of curiosity continues throughout life.
Leonardo da Vinci was insatiably curious. He possessed the openness and energy of a child combined with the focus and discipline of maturity. What was he curious about? Everything! But his integrating theme was the quest to find the essence of truth and beauty.The seven essential principles for thinking like Leonardo are: Curiosità, Dimostrazione, Sensazione, Sfumato, Arte/Scienza, Corporalita, and Connessione. Dimostrazione- A commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistakes, Sensazione- The continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as the means to enliven experience,Sfumato-A willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty, Arte/Scienza- The development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination; whole- brain thinking, Corporalita- The cultivation of grace, ambidexterity, fitness, and poise, and finally, Connessione- A recognition of and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena; systems thinking.
In the book and in the course at BN.com, you'll learn to strengthen and develop your natural curiosity and reawaken the childlike openness that can bring more truth and beauty to your life every day.

The first step in thinking Like leonardo and leading a more creative life-
Commit to Journaling
Writing in a journal is a significant part of the course and of the book. Many of you have probably kept journals, some of you religiously. If you've never kept a journal before, prepare yourself for the wonderful surprise at the benefits they bring. No matter what experience you bring to this course, you'll learn how to get more from what you observe in your life and how you record it in your journal. But you must commit to journaling.

Remember that your journals are for you and you alone. Do not self-edit; write freely and without concern for grammatical rules.

The companion book to the primary text, The How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook, is designed to act as your main journal as you travel through the text and the course. It is a wonderful guide and may help motivate some of you first-time journalers, in addition to giving that extra bit of discipline to those of you who've had a difficult time keeping a commitment to journaling in the past.

Here are some additional things to consider about your journaling:

Keeping more than one journal (one for work, another for your hobby, yet another for a current project) is confusing. Limit yourself to two journals, and carry them with you everywhere (make one a visual journal)
While keeping a journal on your computer is handy if you're a 70-word-a-minute typist, don't keep your journal on a computer unless you have a notebook computer or Palm handheld that's chained to your wrist. You should take your journal with you everywhere
Don't share your journal with others unless you're supremely self-assured. You should feel comfortable writing your thoughts in your journal, and if you're worried that others will read it, there's a chance you'll censor yourself
On the other hand, occasionally you may want to share what you've written. If you're proud of an insightful journal entry, feel free to share it in the Lemurian sanctuary.

How to Think like Leonardo Da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day

The How to Think like Leonardo Da Vinci Workbook: Your Personal Companion to How to Think like Leonardo Da Vinci

2001-07-23T17:26:00.000-04:00

A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry,
and see a fine picture every
day of his life, in order that
worldly cares may not
obliterate the sense of the
beauty which God has
implanted in the human soul.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

2001-06-05T16:19:00.000-04:00

Sestina Regina
copyright 2001, Linda Plaisted all rights reserved

A daughter is born to the throne of a white-sheeted bed.
Her first sensations are woven of cotton, of mother.
Blood weeps from the woman like rain.
The torrent transfigures the mother’s tears
and bathes her child’s face to anoint this unstained life.
A new name engraved upon an old book.

Secure in the morning they open the book
and lie close in the sheets of the mild milky bed.
The woman, the queen, holds close this new life
and the infant, Regina, knows nothing but mother.
Having not yet ripened the notion of tears,
she hears her sovereign stop reading and is showered in rain.

Years pass as they walk through the rain,
child bound to mother like a page to a book.
The child stumbles, slips into the pool of her mother’s tears
and is delivered again to the pale consolation of bed.
The child never questions the reign of the mother
who has nourished each breath and each step of her life.

This vigorous daughter ascends into life
as a sun bleached bud thirsts for rain.
She trusts in the sun that is mother
and the principles scribed in the book
as she cultivates her life, a fertile bed
watered by the rain of her mother’s tears.

As she grows there are tantrums and there are tears
from this, the defiant green usurper of her mother’s life.
She heaves her regal ire down on the desolate bed
weeping that no mother, no real queen would render such bleak rain.
She searches for her noble name in the grand white book
but finds only one word inscribed there- Mother.

A spell of time and the daughter herself has burst forth as a mother.
The aging queen bestows upon this new noble child the benediction of tears.
The water flows down and washes away the lines of the book
as the ink of old legend bleeds and is reproduced by sweet verdant life.
Inside and out the heavens open to flash forth floods of sustaining rain
as both the new-sprung queen and the ancient lady seek the solace of bed.

The bygone queen mother abdicates her throne and her life.
A new queen must now learn to divine tears from mere rain.
The book slips from her hand then bows to the superior gravity of an immortal bed.

2001-06-05T16:13:00.000-04:00

The Sestina

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One of the most difficult and complex of the various French forms, the sestina is a poem consisting of six six-line stanzas and a three-line envoy. It makes no use of the refrain.

The sestina is a strict ordered form of poetry, dating back to twelfth century French troubadours.

This form is usually unrhymed, the effect of rhyme being taken over by a fixed pattern of end-words which demands that these end-words in each stanza be the same, though arranged in a different sequence each time.

If we take 1-2-3-5-6 to represent the end-words of the first stanza, then the first line of the second stanza must end with 6 (the last end-word used in the preceding stanza), the second with 1, the third with 5, the fourth with 2, the fifth with 4, the sixth with 3--and so to the next stanza.
The order of the first three stanzas, for instance, would be: 1-2-3-4-5-6; 6-1-5-2-4-3; 3-6-4-1-2-5.
The conclusion, or envoy, of three lines must use as end-words 5-3-1, these being the final end-words, in the same sequence, of the sixth stanza. But the poet must exercise even greater ingenuity than all this, since buried in each line of the envoy must appear the other three end-words, 2-6.
So highly artificial a pattern affords a form which, for most poets, can never prove anything more than a poetic exercise. Yet it has been practiced with success in English by Swinburne, Kipling, and Auden as well as Ezra Pound and Elizabeth Bishop.

Here follows the ordered scheme of ending words for sestinas. Notice how the format aids transitions between stanzas, since the end word of a stanza's sixth line is the end word of the next stanza's first line.
...one
...two
...three
...four
...five
...six

...six
...one
...five
...two
...four
...three

...three
...six
...four
...one
...two
...five

...five
...three
...two
...six
...one
...four

...four
...five
...one
...three
...six
...two

...two
...four
...six
...five
...three
...one

...two ...five
...four ...three
...six ...one

Try writing a sestina of your own. It is a nail-biting challenge but uniquely satisfying to a writer's soul.
The Sestina Page

2001-06-03T20:30:00.000-04:00

Modern Art?
"Our fine arts were developed, their types and uses were established, in times very different from the present, by men whose power of action upon things was insignificant in comparison with ours. But the amazing growth of our techniques, the adaptability and precision they have attained, the ideas and habits they are creating, make it a certainty that profound changes are impending in the ancient craft of the Beautiful. In all the arts there is a physical component which can no longer be considered or treated as it used to be, which cannot remain unaffected by our modern knowledge and power. For the last twenty years neither matter nor space nor time has been what it was from time immemorial. We must expect great innovations to transform the entire technique of the arts, thereby affecting artistic invention itself and perhaps even bringing about an amazing change in our very notion of art." *

--Paul Valery, PIECES SUR L 'ART, "La Conquete de l'ubiquite," Paris.

*Quoted from Paul Valery, *Aesthetics*, "The Conquest of Ubiquity," translated by Ralph Manheim, p. 225. Pantheon Books, Bollingen Series, New York, 1964.

2001-05-13T09:51:00.000-04:00

The poem A Field Guide to the Trees of Pennsylvania is a poem I wrote recently to come to terms with my mother's illness. She had a stroke several years ago; a result of mismanaging her diabetes and neglecting herself. She was incapable of loving herself enough to let anyone else help her. Just last month she had to have her leg amputated and almost did not make it through the surgery due to her weakened heart. I spent the spring of 2001 in a state of acute sensitivity, both to darkness and to light. Although I was experiencing tremendous upheaval and emotional confusion during her illness, it has also been a time of unprecedented creativity. The muses come in when we leave the door ajar.

2001-05-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

A Field Guide to the Trees of Pennsylvania

Linda Plaisted- copyright 2001, all rights reserved

A coarse county,
a gnarled gray tree.
A seedling
grounded.
A steep hillside strewn with shale.

Tree of life,
will you not emerge
from your pale bed
this chill season
to bend with the unbending wind?

The soils of sustenance
evade your need,
erode your depth,
betray bare roots, entangled and infirm.
Have you bowed at last
to your false master?

The pale growth
on your rough surface-
an illusion.
Bristling with parasites,
those ghostly translucent miners
must bore ever deeper to stay out of the light.

From the fruitless nurseries,
issue arborists and specialists
to diagnose disease:
A pestilent blight,
a vile affliction within your veins.

Dutch Elm, Wetwood,
Black Knot, rot,
moths, worms, weevils, beetles,
mildew, scab, rust and dust.
Desiccated by your desire,
your limbs ringed by decades of decay.
Do not delay,
the men say with their eyes grown closed,
It is the only way…

Axes are sharpened,
Saws flash aloft.
Armed with shears,
and unsoiled,
they confront you
to slice through your spirit,
green thumbs
gloved in white.

Sharp incisions.
Stems are shorn.
Pruned back beyond the bud,
your branches lie
severed
where once you stood fixed.

Once upon a time,
climbing up into the curving shelter of your arms,
Then,
Standing before you,
Now. Imposing,
above you.

Pierced to the heartwood,
you exist-
a wooden thing-
your smile a splintered wound.

Bereft of shade, you hide from the sky.
Eyes cast down,
you startle to see a barren stump-
the remains
of your family tree.

2001-05-13T06:36:00.000-04:00

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