Transition... and the Waiting

The word transition itself is a process in all of our lives. In fact, during our lifetimes... transition actually becomes a succession of events which become fused together and form new episodes or         chapters to create the novel of "Us".

During this unceasing and ongoing process... the transition can be influenced... let's even call the process editing. This influence may occur through inward reflection, or through events and individuals that we meet and admire. That said, it then becomes our individual responsibility to filter through and evaluate the potential impact that these influences might bring to bear in determining new changes in our thinking and actions. Hopefully, we can enable and activate transition smoothly... and gradually.

Simply put... Awareness of need. + Action(s)  = CHANGE

For almost a year now... I have felt an uncertain and rather nagging need to activate some form of change within my own artistic and personal lives. I feel that during preparations for the solo show which closed on Saturday that I realized the deep awareness phase fully and did in fact move... ever so slightly into the activation phase. I think that each of us must decide upon and establish our own individual time frame for change... being ever mindful that both time and urgency should play a secondary role in that change being brought into reality. Speed kills!

This blog is a part of the need for change that I have been struggling with. I feel that the blog was created for, and truly serves honourable purposes. Comments back to me underscore that the contents do immense good where it is received... and "understood". However... every coin has two sides.  Today... I wish to address both equally.

I blog and teach out of a deep compassion... and compulsion to reach out to those I see around me who are struggling. I offer transparency through publicly revealing sensitive portions of my past and current lives... in the hope that it removes that protective barrier that drops down when one feels that their problems are are peculiar to them alone. Such a stance has always been effective for me in forming relationships of trust with people who lack that in their makeup... for whatever reasons.

I promote optimism and my own success in creating effective changes to promote both healing and growth. I promote the true value of and necessity for absolute and unconditional truth in all relationships. I shall maintain and continue to offer that - it is not subject to change!

However... this method works best and most truthfully for both sides when face-to-face contact can be a part of the interface. Body language is an invaluable tool for me in discussion... decision-making and "reading" inner doubts... fears and yes... even deception. Emails, telephone calls, letters... and yes... blogs can contribute to worrisome areas of doubt and lead to misconception. One can create whatever persona one wishes to present on the Internet and that fact can be seen clearly in the preying upon youth online and in ongoing online scams that target unwary seniors.

In reading each of the comments that I receive after each post and in carefully responding... I have come to realize that perhaps my constantly optimistic presentation of being blessed and in harmony with my entire world might possibly discourage and cause those that I seek to encourage to be feel less adequate in solving their own problem... with their own mind and resources.

In short... perhaps I have  unwittingly have set the bar too high... and in fact cause further despair and paralysis. Worse... maybe my continual claim to bliss might suggest a perceived as a rather smug position of superiority which is far from the actual truth. I too struggle... just as everyone must... but I choose "to look at the glass as half full, as opposed to half empty"... and not complain. Just a chosen difference of perspective.

So following this post I intend to strive towards a template in which I will:

1. shorten the post and make it less personally driven in content
2.display new works or projects... sans the "play-by-play" commentary
3. leave the teaching/ preaching/proselytizing to the teachers... therapist ... and the Pope

Post Script:

I welcome any feedback that any of you might have in regard to this decision because I remain open to people's opinions who have supported my journey and have freely contributed added their own thoughts and opinions along the way. I would truly value your input in this undertaking. It has been a hard decision to make alone. Perhaps... I am off the mark entirely.

Tranisitioning

Let's consider this short post below to be the kind of post that I might anticipate presenting.

I painted outdoors a couple of weeks ago with my longtime painting companion Frank Edwards. Thank you for your patience... as I segued  (transitioned) up to this point. I felt the chronology of my own past art transitioning to be a good path to use to describe the process whereby I have arrived stylistically at today.

I will show you the impression that I created of my day out with Frank first and then I shall include a jpeg of the actual site... as it lay before me.

This 16x20 oil on canvas entitled "Spring's Tawny Coat" depicts that transitional "Blah" of dead grasses dominating the landscape immediately following the departure of winter's snow cover. The lively new greens pinks in the tree tops are shown here as a mere whisper here and there of what is to come. Most artists stay home until Spring actually unfolds.

Shown below is the actual site... as it existed . Hardly as colourful as I have depicted above and the foreground... is simply a fabrication... the much used expression "artistic licence" quickly comes to mind. And yet... this very foreground has found its way naturally into many of my landscape paintings in the past. It is indeed a powerful visual echo derived from many other treks. This demonstrates the value of the plein air experience in formulating a pool of strategies to deal with less than interesting compositions.... and "bluebird days".

Ironically... this landscape does accurately symbolize seasonal transition and my composition as well... demonstrates the value in transitioning your painting approach away from merely copying nature to playing and making your own statement. Therein ... lies "fine art"... in my own mind!

Good Painting... and Playing!... to ALL!!!