A Day of Nothing

Today, I did nothing except watch the trees sway in the wind....and leach a cup of coffee. 

Fall is so much more than beautiful swaying tress sending away their leaves. The descending leaves surrender their scents to the autumn wind.  

Harvesting scents, the wind roams thousands of woods and caresses millions of trees.  The aroma of fall has waged a long jounery to reach our doorstep.  We should at least pause on a crisp morning to consider and enjoy the gift that is lovingly placed on our doorstep. 

To You

I want to make a point the mission of my art  Hopefully,  I do not seem arrogant placing a mission on my artistic endeavors  because I am not a good painter.  Yet, even lowly artists like myself should have a message: a goal, a cause. Artists change things.

I strongly focus on single objects in a vastness. Often the item is damaged, weathered, or oddly shaped. This message is purposeful.

In our lives, we are suppressed. We are told we are too short or too tall.  We judged to lack articulation and aptitude.  We condemned to be too ugly, too skinny, too fat. In these judgements, we lose confidence in our dreams and our abilities. We lose our sense self and we begin to judge ourselves through the perception of others.

Now for a moment please ponder this tree. The tree is warped and twisted.  The tree does not stand as tall as its brothers who sway lazily in the wind.  In reality, this tree rests along a busy road and the tree is ignored by people who are move too quickly for the simple consideration of a leaning tree. Yet, I attest this tree is beautiful.

Now, if a simple deformed tree is beautiful then how should we judge ourselves?  Are we not intrinsically  more beautiful?

The Wrong House

Coffee shops are cathedrals which are built for the religion of wasting time.  Yet not all shops are equally functional in their purpose and different types of shops attract followers of different sects. 

Some coffee shops brew cuteness along with coffee. These shops are filled with matching fabrics and a focus on harmony of color. Other shops are industrial while others are modeled for meetings and business. 

I prefer an accidental approach; a shop filled with local art and furniture zapped from the 1970s.  When taking a seat in a chair of a coffee shop, there should be some question to the quality and age of the chair.  If there is no question concerning the strength of the chair against the weight of a person, then a better coffee house in worse condition is needed. 

A Summer Sky

A warm summer sky is home.  Work ceases and travel ends.  All is good in the world. 

Patriotism

My son has recently been redeployed to the Middle East. This is his second deployment.  During his first deployment his Hummer was the target of a roadside bomb. He received a Purple Heart.  So his redeployment brings massive stress to our son,  our family and to his new wife, who we adore.  

I have also served in the Middle East seeing combat in Kuwait. During the years following Kuwait I have deeply pondered the topic of patriotism. My son's redeployment has rekindled my curiosity on the subject.

Scientifically, patriotism born from our intrinsic need to bond or seek community and this inborn need for community is the glue which makes civilization possible.  Our need for community is  stamped in our DNA. This need is always present, always on and is responsible of amazing achievements like placing a human on the moon. Sadly, it can also  can be massively misused and our history is overflowing with dark examples. 

We should have a strong grasp of right and wrong. Furthermore we should have a clear understanding of the allure of patriotism.  Feverishly embrace patriotism when its river moves us toward a just goal.  It will help us overcome obstacles, sorrows, and temporary defeats.  Yet, we should have the courage to ignore the moving crowd if the crowd is marching toward an unjust goal. 

In the end, simply be a good, warm person.  Forgive yourself for past mistakes and do the right thing. 

Our family will be reunited again. 

Enjoyment

Years ago in Cuba I happened upon a man who appeared deeply content. Wanting or more likely needing a conversation I asked, "What are you doing?"  

He turned and answered, "I am watching the sun fall."  

I stopped talking and enjoyed the slowness of the afternoon. 

Today, I often ponder the lives of people who have intersected my path.  I am certain this man is still enjoying warm afternoons in the sun.  

Do not waste

Don't waste yourself in rejection, nor bark against the bad, but chant of beauty and good.  Emerson

As a barefoot boy, I often took surveys of summer and I found wonders. 

Reverse Engineering

Our Nature

So what is the fundamental nature of our souls?   I say we are good!

Remembrance of open spaces

I am sorry for not writing. I am a natural introvert in some things.

Today, I received a call from the gallery informing that I have sold work. Also a few days ago, a past consumer called asking for a commission.  So simply through the utter depletion of inventory, I am going to resume painting.  Luckily I am in a creative frame of mind.

To paint, I must be willing to share intimate thoughts because art should be more than pretty pictures. Using texture, contrast, and color, I could transform a spoon resting on a table into a pleasant picture. Yet, the picture will ONLY be pleasant from my point of view. 

To work, I need more than the lure to make pleasant pictures. I need to create images, which are emotionally extroverted. Artists are not meant to convey pleasant things but they should convey emotions and desires, which are deeply held.

The weather is outstanding…it is time to get busy.