iPhone Apps and Wisdom

"For fast acting relief try slowing down." Lily Tomlin

I too am joining the band wagon of iPhone app fans. Ironically, I was inspired today when scrolling through my " Daily Enlightenment App" a Lily Tomlin quote popped up advising me to slow down. Funny how technology has become a spiritual experience. Even at dinner last night with friends, I brought out my iPhone to check something out on the internet to a question the table had. My friend and mentor, George was also surfing the net to find out how much the new Photoshop CS5 upgrade cost ($199).
I find these techno moments quite ironic when I spent most of the day framing 16 Black and White Florida Nature Landscape images (old school style) that I produced with digital equipment and an ink jet printer.
I can see the ying and yang. I wonder what Lily thinks?

Taking time to be a part of the Village

I have this moral or ethical ideal that we are should contribute our talents to and for our community. Call it volunteering, giving back, or contributing, I just see it as doing a part for the village sort of speak. If we all contributed, I believe we would raise happier, healthier, and more successful children. So, we one of my friends called me up to see if I could take some portrait photos for a local advocacy group, I said yes.

And what a great afternoon I had with these two sisters! I love how children despite their circumstance are resilient to keep playing and living. I thought and felt special since I know they live in different places. Enough of my banter, let the photos speak for themselves.

You are my escape

Yes,I am using you as the reason to excuse myself from the grueling task of living room/play room clean up time. I quietly chuckle. And here's why:

As an artist, we are required to be very many types of characters to promote, organize, and keep good accessible records, and produce work that makes all of the later responsibilities worthwhile. I am in the thick of bookkeeping and kicking myself for neglecting my record keeping. I know better. And I am finding that the neglect has entered my studio work time. Is it my taxes or my awareness that is offering this insight into a more efficient practice? Probably a bit of both. Regardless, I am making changes to return to that balance space where business practice and art practice are partners. So, writing is part of my promise and meditation for the mid-day as the boys are cleaning up their toys. What a triumphant morning!

Here is my first spring Flower and a testament to keep me photographing everyday (much harder than most believe). I can remember some advice a veteran photographer gave me a long time ago: photograph everyday for yourself and share what you want with the world; no one needs to see the bad ones-except you. He meant that each image is a lesson in light, composition, and action. Even though I am not excitied about the Hibiscus flower blooming in my yard, I can see the even light on the petals and the depth of field I wanted in my mind. Here I was practicing a feeling of oneness that all things within me and the flower were on the same wave length sort of speak. And yes, even the most mastered contemplative photographers practice everyday.

Spring Vacation 2010

I must confess I am glad to be on a non-schedule for a while. My creative sparks or ah's happen when they happen whether I am at a park, cooking, driving, etc. I am ready to check my notebook this weekend and really start a few new projects. I am creating a new studio area to start my nursery art collection, which has been on the back burner for sometime. I am experimenting with portraits and acrylic lifts from paper and trying various media's for mounting. And, most importantly, I have made a personal commitment to make more time to work on images in my portfolios-an upgrade of images that have been sitting unseen. I feel like a Gary Winogrand wannabe. In all seriousness, I am ready to market my work through new venues.

Equipped with the power of thoughtful possibilities, I have reached out to those women whom I most want to emulate in some way. I am excited for this mystery to unfold. After reading an article by a veteran woman artist, who confessed that the unknown was a fear of her's, I felt inspired to jump closer to where I want to be in my career: making contributions to post-modernism (or wherever it is we are now) and contemplative photography; I want to move people in to some sort of action from my conservation photography work on South Florida, Lake Okeechobee, and the Everglades. I want significant work that catalyzes a revolution in thought on our personal responsibility to care for our land and our neighbors.

The rain just arrived and made me think of this image with the heart shaped water on the lily pad.

Contemplate the potential and power of the water. 

March 2010

Today in my studio, only a small path is clear for anyone to walk. The dog is complaining, loudly. I am prepping for a local art festival this weekend. 10 framed prints; a collection of unmated prints in a sizes. I am bringing both color and BW, which leads me to my recent question. Why does color sell more than Black and White? I have heard it before from other artists. I just never believed it. I am packing up hoping to find that "ahhha" and it dawned me that it is time for some old fashion work time.
Marketing, Income streams, taxes..I need to return to the fuel that sparks me to execute all the business side of artistry. Maybe I just need some therapy. Art Therapy therapy that is....I can't wait.

But until then, Come visit me at Veterans Park in downtown Delray Beach. Atlantic Ave. and the Intercoastal Bridge. All day, and the weather is going to be fabulous. This time I plan to bring my camera, and will post some photos .
See you there.

The Reality of My Art World

I have decided to take mulit-tasking to a new level: I am officially throwing my employment hat back in the ring as part of diversifying my income streams: I'm hunting for a job to bring in more money. Fortunately for me, my eternal flame for photography and my art is eternal. I can not escape from this passion. And oh how I have tried to ignore it, but my little voice inside grew louder instead of quieter until I surrendered. So, I know that proof prints and paint brushes and still life props will clutter my office relentlessly and will only scream at me until I pay attention. The job is just experience and, let's face it, a recessionary must. Not a replacement-just another side dish in the greater scheme of things.

I will be at Art in the Park in Veterans Park in downtown Delray Sat. March 20th selling both color and BW prints.  So come visit me...enjoy Delray and the great weather!!!!!

Understanding Oneness

The Foreword from “What the Road Passes By” by Dewitt Jones

 " There are times in my life, sometimes with a camera, sometimes without, when the world is so achingly beautiful, when everything holds such meaning, that I am incapable of any expression except tears of joy. The boundaries of my being begin to blur, whatever separates one thing from another begins to dissolve, and in that confluence of light and line and law, lies an experience for which I have no words."

A friend, who happens to be a Zen Buddhist, sent this forward to me. I have found no better description of what oneness and mindfulness are. I do read a fair amount of Zen text to gather a better understanding of oneness and how to apply to my everyday life. I feel the significance of mindfulness leads to a greater understanding of present reality and how to live as a part of it while seeing the wholeness of our individual experiences. I repeat or recall this feeling again and again while working in my photography studio-people, still life's, or even my son. As simple as the steps appear, the complexity of being can be challenging. I waiver between this is simple am I really getting this to frustration repeating the oneness. Yes, I practice again and again. Even when I feel the success, I continue to practice. My goal is to innately tune into myself and permit that blurring of boundaries; I want to feel the limitless possibilities and the peaceful balance. This is an exercise in trusting yourself. 

For today and the ones that follow join me in sitting, walking, or whatever is asked of you, let go and breathe. The stress and demands of you (self-imposed or not) will not disappear, but perhaps the breathing will allow for these things to just be. For it is our attitude and presence that can evolve, not the thing causing our stress. Once we (or I) continue to practice the breathing of mindfulness, no limits will be self-imposed. Possibilities and ideas have room to peculate into actual acts of being. 

                                       Banana Leaf Abstraction from the yard next door....