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“When you drop any new idea in the pond of the world, you get a ripple effect. You have to be aware that you will be creating a cascade of change.” – Joel A. Barker

Change is inevitable for all of us. We’re constantly evolving, developing, and progressing toward the next phase of our lives. The world is always moving around and growing older. Weather patterns are sporadic and fluctuate. Science and technology seem to procure results more quickly these days with new studies and findings. Art is continuous, edgy, and flows through main stream media every day with new ideas and sprouting concepts. Change is everywhere, every day.

The painting Cascade is the creation of change. This glowing torrent is earth mixing itself up in space, creating a graceful energy for its inhabitants to emulate. Thus concluding that change or transformation begins with the universe.

Embrace each moment as it evolves and live each day with the reminder that change is essential.

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Notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

It is the time of year again when the air becomes brisk, and the trees begin to change colors. The leaves fall to the ground and there’s just not many things that are more satisfying than jumping into a pile of them! And nothing screams autumn more than apple cider and cozy blankets while sitting next to a fire. Posters of fall festivals with pumpkins and corn mazes adorn the street corners. And ghostly figures dance through the roads yelling “trick-or-treat” while collecting candy.

Autumn is a feeling. Autumn is a friend. Autumn is a whole collection of colors, a gift from mother nature. Autumn is an idea, and it lives on in your heart.

Happy Autumn from my home to yours!

“Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.” – Unknown

When you see first light in the morning, know that it is the same light that is in you. In your gratitude for life, your inner light makes the world a brighter place. You have stardust in your spirit and as you give it to others, your light will continue to grow.

Each time we connect with those around us in light and love, opportunities abound in passing it around. It starts by developing a positive mindset and recognizing the gift of life. By helping others to see their light, it will shine back on you.

Let your life be spangled with radiance!

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“You’ve done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.” – Ralph Marston

Amid the unrest and contention in the world, it is easy to get lost in it and feel discouraged or hopeless. Even a glimmer of something good might get overshadowed by the next event.

This painting is called Positive Thoughts. It is a picture of cheer and optimism within the splashes of paint. It shines with bright colors and bliss. This abstract painting proposes a willingness in each of us to see past darkness by creating an awareness to the positive things that are happening despite the negativity in the world. If you look for positive energy, you will find it.

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"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin

Bravery is having the boldness to walk into unknown and sometimes fearful situations. It is finding strength to rise up in spite of obstacles. Bravery is starting over when life knocks you down.

This painting represents the courageous battles we face daily. On these days, we must choose to rise up from the ashes of defeat and press forward. The reward for bravery is waking up each day to a new beginning.

Be yourself, with courage.

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“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them.” - Jo Walton

I would love to swim in the ocean as the sun sets, getting lost in the colors as they melt the day into night. Often, we forget to live in the moment as we throw ourselves into the daily routine of survival, wasting each sunrise and sunset without glancing at them. I truly believe that those moments we spend watching the sun rise and set are essential and healing for the soul. The colors in this painting, like the sun rising and setting, are emblems of life, keeping each day new and uplifting.

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”Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression.” – Isaac Bashevis Singer

With each new painting there are layers of vision imagined. Sometimes it starts out as splash of paint on the canvas with hopes of a whimsical offering to the art gods. Some days the paint brush is on fire while the paint is the kindling, with strokes of liberty. Other days there’s hesitation and broken contours as nothing seems to make sense.

This painting is called 'Chasm' as it reveals the depths of an unpredictable vision. The colors merge into each other with ease creating canyons of dreams and high hopes. These rippling arrangements are expressions of art in its finest form.

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“My aim in painting is to create pulsating, luminous, and open surfaces that emanate a mystic light, in accordance with my deepest insight into the experience of life and nature.”

“The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color.” – Hans Hofmann

Life and nature are a conundrum. We are continually seeking and pursuing evidence for authenticity of the truth.

My painting Mystic Forest is the absorption of knowledge in searching for truth. The streams of blended colors cast a mystic shine behind the dark tree-like javelins. The colors symbolize proof of a lighted path toward our own personal reality and freedom of expression.

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"Passion is the genesis of genius." - Tony Robbins

“The artist must create a spark before he can make a fire and before art is born, the artist must be ready to be consumed by the fire of his own creation.” – Auguste Rodin

Genesis is the point at which something comes into existence. It is the origin of life. This painting is a bold re-imagining of creation of the universe. In abstract, it reveals the exact moment in which light and color were conceived. This powerful piece is a tribute to the handiwork of any genius or creator. Art, poetry, architecture, a symphony--the root of any idea or concept is faith and passion.

May we always remember to create our happiness instead of searching for it.

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“Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen – that stillness becomes a radiance.” – Morgan Freeman

Learning how to let life flow can be challenging. We must be reminded that each moment is a new opportunity to find freedom and to let go of the things that cannot be controlled.

This painting is called Radiance for its graceful tides of tranquility. The burnt-orange and yellow represent warmth and rejuvenation. Make a daily appointment to be still and let life flow as you find a quiet place, take a deep breath, and let your radiant soul be revived.

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“Life is like a carnival. When you are little, everything is smoke, mirrors, and illusions. Then you grow up.” – Linda Poindexter

Imagine when you were a kid and you’d go to the carnival or circus. All the colors seemed brighter and the rides were enormous. Your cotton candy was a fluffy piece of heaven. There were no calories to worry about and no dizzy spells from the rides. It was just a lively spectacle of imagination and fun!

This painting Carnival depicts animated scenes of a boisterous atmosphere. A sight that is charged up with energetic fusion and wild echoes of expression. The splashes of color expose the assembly of all the carnival artists and vendors hustling about, making magic happen for the youthful at heart.

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“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them.” – Jo Walton

I’ve always wanted to dive into a sunset, getting lost in the colors as they melt the day into the night. Often times we forget to live in the moment as we throw ourselves into tomorrow’s plans and worries, wasting each sunrise and sunset without glancing at them. I think that those moments you spend watching the sun rise and set, each wave of color in the sky embeds itself into your soul and seeps into your dreams. The colors in this painting, like the sun rising and setting, are the emblem of your spirit keeping each day fresh and full of life.

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“You can’t keep the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair.” – Sharon Creech, Walk Two Moons

We cannot control when bad things happen to us. Unfortunately, pain is inevitable. But dwelling in misery is optional. We can choose to view the brighter side of a difficult situation and create birds of paradise instead of sadness.

This painting is a tropical aviary of peaceful energy. It is a vibrant representation of paradise--a colorful atmosphere reminding us to seek the positive and overcome adversity.

Welcome to Spring, the season of re-birth and the awakening of life.

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“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman

On the hottest day of any given year, the heat of a Rusted Sun spreads across the atmosphere as if it restrains itself from bursting into a blaze.

This remarkable sphere contains all the beauty and energy of the most prehistoric fires. The yellow flares against the dark crimson surface remind us of molten and the smoldering conception of a fiery planet.

Sometimes we need to gather our resources together and to build up energy for the demands of our lives. To harbor the forces within us before we take direct action.

The key is to never let those energies and passions die within us. Sometimes our circumstances prevent us from tending to our innermost desires. Sometimes we must be patient in the face of our responsibilities, and delay pursuit of our dreams. It is up to us to keep those dreams healthy and alive, to keep them from rusting in our spirits so that when the time is right we may go forward with confidence.

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"I can say that paintings are prayers, they have to do with anything that makes you wish for more than what everyday life provides." - Susan Rothenberg

Praying or meditating is a practice or discipline in the everyday lives of many people. To say that paintings are prayers is such a great comparison. Some paintings are like dreams or far away places that one would go to escape reality. Meditating or praying for something different to happen is like escaping into a dream. You lose yourself for a moment and long to be in another realm.

'Spirit Dance' is a painting which you could easily meditate on and allow it take you beyond the colors. It is uplifting and transcends a hopeful outcome.

Meditate on something inspiring today. Give your spirit a refreshing boost!

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“A desire to travel, to understand ones very own existence.” – Unknown

“Only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling at all.” – Alistair Reid

Wanderlust is an intense desire or impulse to travel.

We travel to be enlightened and to experience new adventures. We travel to find love. We travel to fill our souls with purpose and to overcome fears.

This painting is a lively collage of memories and footprints that I’ve created along my path of life. Seas, sunsets, and stars. Moments without words etched into my soul.

Adventure awaits you. Make wandering a new habit!

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"My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A spindrift is the spray or mist of the sea from the crests of the waves by the wind.

This painting is called 'Spindrift' as it highlights the strengths between the sun, the sea and the wind. The colors are exaggerated to describe the majestic setting of the sun into the colossal depth of the sea to create a universal connection of power between these energetic forces.

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“The artist produces for the liberation of his soul. It is his nature to create as it is the nature of water to run down the hill.” – W. Somerset Maugham

During a lifetime of spiritual study and experience, I’ve become deeply influenced by the power of possibility. I devote much of my artistic expression to visual images of human intention and the necessary connections between action and purpose.

In Spring of 2006, I was searching for the essence of the authentic soul. In this work, I attempted to express the extraordinary elation that accompanies human transformation.

The bold colors in this painting command attention to what is happening within. The blending of red, orange and yellow signify the intensity and power of the experience. It is as though once acknowledged, the force of intention liberates the soul’s energy into the world, into decisive and positive action.

There is a mighty sense of release in this painting. I’d like to encourage you to liberate the power that lies dormant within your soul. This painting reminds us that this is not only a rewarding journey, but a necessary one.

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“There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in contrast.” – Charles Dickens

Nature is a frequent inspiration for my paintings. Whenever I find myself wondering what to paint, I never have to look far to find something intriguing in the world outside my window. I am forever fascinated with the beauty and power of the original creation, and the challenge of expressing my human reaction to this amazing design is both humbling and enlightening.

In my painting Aurora, I celebrate the eternal bond between earth and sky, and seek to blur the boundaries between them. Earth is our home and the sky is our playground. This divine relationship is older than history and shape the fabric of who we are and what we believe. Aurora depicts a loving connection of natural elements and encourages us to create these connections in our souls.

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"Passion is the genesis of genius." - Tony Robbins

Genesis is the point at which something comes into existence. This painting is a bold re-imagining of creation of the universe. It reveals the exact moment in which light and color were conceived. This powerful piece is a tribute to the handiwork of any genius. Whether it be art, music, poetry, architecture, etc., the root of any idea or concept is faith and passion.

May your undiscovered passion come into existence and bring you joy.

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“This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath, the door of a vanished house left ajar…” – Margaret Atwood, Eating Fire: Selected Poetry 1965-1995

This bold painting challenges us to simplify our objectives. The complex essence of sea and sky is set down as two distinct elements. We are immediately drawn to the line that separates them--to the threshold, the place just between. This work strives to delineate this intangible area where nature cannot be broken apart. A finite stripe linking heaven and earth causes us to define our perception of each.

Think of the two elements as your spiritual and practical beings. Can we move easily from our soul’s intention to reality? Can we cross the threshold of our imagination and return to put these ideas to productive use? We must push ourselves to the threshold to discover and fulfill our authentic soul.

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"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The beauty of life lies beneath the surface. Sometimes what we see on the exterior is only a fraction of what is all there. When you look at the ocean from a hill, you see a vast expanse of water. But when you dive into the depths of it, you experience the hallmark of the spirit.

This painting is called 'Reef' as it illuminates the depths of beauty in the sea and brings imagination to the spirit.

May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

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“Work until you no longer have to introduce yourself.” – Unknown

Whether it is with business relationships or social interactions, networking is a building block of society. A few reasons for making connections would be to learn something new, inspire and help others, or to remind us of what is truly important.

This painting is a powerful display of connection. The invasion of the red paint symbolizes influence and determination as it boldly travels across the canvas to make itself known.

With boldness and a genuine interest in others, making long-lasting connections is easier than you think!

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“The world today doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?” – Pablo Picasso

The above quote is amusing and true. I could say the same thing. I leave it up the viewer to decide what makes sense in my paintings according to their world view. I like to create an atmosphere through my paintings in which the viewer can determine the origin and destination.

This painting 'Passage' appears to have layers leading to a destination of energy and happiness in this nonsensical world. The yellow produces joy and flows through like a geyser, saturating the calmness of the other colors, bringing the sense back into the painting.

Create your passage by designing your happiness to flow through the parts of your life that make no sense.

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“When you drop any new idea in the pond of the world, you get a ripple effect. You have to be aware that you will be creating a cascade of change.” – Joel A. Barker

Change is inevitable for all of us. We’re constantly evolving, developing, and progressing toward the next phase of our lives. The world is always moving around and growing older. Weather patterns are sporadic and continue to fluctuate. Science and technology seem to procure results more quickly these days with new studies and findings. Art is continuous, edgy, and flows through main stream media every day with new ideas and sprouting concepts. Change is everywhere, every day.

The painting 'Cascade' is the creation of change. This glowing torrent is earth mixing itself up in space, creating a graceful energy for its inhabitants to emulate. Thus concluding that change or transformation begins with the universe and continues with us.

Embrace each moment as it evolves and live each day with the reminder that change is essential.

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"Well it's not just a daydream if you decide to make it your life." - Train

Daydreaming is a nice way to pass the time. It can also be very effective in developing new ideas or concepts. Studies suggest that daydreaming can increase productivity, improve thinking, and sometimes alleviate anxiety or sadness.

This painting called 'Daydream' is an abstract conception of wishful thinking. This colorful examination in reverie is a bubble bath of disengagement.

Though building castles in the sky might seem like a waste of time, it actually induces creativity and confidence. Don't quit your daydream!

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"I realized then that even though I was a tiny speck in an infinite cosmos, a blip on the timeline of eternity, I was not without purpose." - R.J. Anderson, Ultraviolet

Finding the meaning of life and why we exist is an integral part of our survival. We will spend a huge portion of our lives searching for our purpose. Maybe we were created to explore that lingering question, "Why am I here?" It certainly will not be solved in a blog or a motivational quote on our favorite social media website. It's only through a series of life experiences, growth, and the evolution of our souls that we will one day begin to understand why we were born.

The colors in this painting derive from that deep place beyond the Cosmos where the answers are within each of our hearts. Some of us may have it figured out early in our lives and others may take decades. Never stop searching. Ask questions, listen to your soul, and explore the possibilities.

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” – Nikola Tesla

“Without discipline in spiritual pursuits, the central nervous system doesn’t have a chance to adjust and grow with the increased demand. It would be like putting a high voltage into a small bulb – it is bound to explode.” – Sivananda Radha Saraswati

Art is impulsive without apology. It either electrifies or repels. It can influence or evoke resistance. Art is power-driven.

This painting is a captivating study of electricity. A voltage that releases us from the notion of confinement. This piece infuses energy and expresses liberty.

What is something that electrifies you or gets you charged up?

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“In painting you must give the idea of the true means of the false.” – Edgar Degas

This painting speaks to the theme of unifying opposing ideas and concepts. Through the process of convergence, we see that the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts. In this painting, Ralph White sought to expand the concept of the spiritual journey beyond the individual to the communal.

'Convergence' displays a lovely color palette that blends reds, purples and oranges in a harmonious tableau. The colors work together and complement each other. There is a demarcation, however, right down the center of the painting. Careful study reveals that while reds are found on both sides of the painting, purples are relegated to the left and oranges to the right. There are two different forces at work here, both relevant and vital, yet distinctly opposed.

How often in life are we faced with this sort of dichotomy? While we are faithful to our beliefs, we must also find ways to work together to remain productive and not dysfunctional. In this painting, White suggests that divergent beings can remain authentic while blending together to create combined beauty. The trick is in being able to acknowledge and affirm the relevance of each person’s intention. If intentions are honorable, then cooperation can occur.

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“But life is long. And it is the long run that balances the short flare of interest and passion.” – Sylvia Plath

“Every life can be learned from, as either a flame of hope or a cautionary flare.” – Richard Paul Evans

'Flashpoint' is the moment at which someone or something bursts into action or being, such as an outbreak or flare-up. This painting is the center of a volcano. The blasts of colors are flares of passion and the emergence of hope as it erupts from your soul.

May you begin to explore the depths of your passions and watch them burst into action this new year.

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“They can put me in a jungle. Still, I can create.” – M. F. Husain

The jungle is a dense labyrinth of overgrown trees and unruly wildlife. It is synonymous with entanglement and puzzling riddles. This painting illustrates a chaparral or thick brush as it consumes its surroundings.

When life bogs you down and you feel as if you were lost in a jungle of fragmented thoughts and feelings, finding your way out can be overwhelming. In those moments you can choose to let it take over or you can create a new atmosphere around you.

Reach for enlightenment this holiday season and give yourself room to breathe.

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“I’m going to search for my star until I find it. It’s hidden in the drawer of innocence, wrapped in a scarf of wonder.” – Michael Jackson

In this painting, Ralph White captures a moment so transient that it is out of focus, allowing us to interpret the action in our own way. The effective use of white adds to the feeling of a girl rushing through the air itself. Her features remain obscured as does her mission. Her dress blends with the trees and the air, and we do not know for sure where nature ends and where she begins. She is a glimpse, and it is up to us to determine why she is there.

The fun of this painting is the creation of the girl’s story, which is clearly up to the viewer to determine. Is she running scared? Is she playing an innocent game on a warm summer evening? Is the scarf for warmth or is it a delicate decoration? Because the imagery is blurry, we can draw upon a wealth of possibilities to explain it.

The Scarf is an invitation to adjust one’s perspective, to change one’s way of thinking and seeing. We are challenged to stop the action, to study a single fragment of time. In that instant, everything becomes nothing, and we are set free from our prejudice. Like the scarf, we are merely a flash of red in the wind.

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“I think art is not an ornament or refinement at the fringes of human intelligence, I think it’s at the center. It’s at the core.” – Robert Pinsky

Some say that art is elective or voluntary. So how do you explain that your soul craves the expression of beauty in everything you see? How do you describe the feeling of color or your gravitation to undefined concepts in need of discovery? Art is exploration and a continuous effort to create and inspire others. It breaks through boundaries and defies logic and intuition. It is the center of your character.

This painting named Core is the essence of discovery. It is at the core of your being that you find limitless beauty and the desire to create.

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“From a little spark may burst a flame.” – Dante Alighieri

“A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them.” – Carl Jung

An inferno is any place or state resembling hell.

This painting is called Inferno as it exhibits a fire raging out of control. This haunting pageant of purgatory represents your soul in transition. There’s a constant war within us battling for peace and justice.

This painting is an expression of endurance. The fire that flares up in your soul is passion. Passion is the drive to make things happen.

How great is the inferno of your soul?

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“The sunset caught me, turned the brush to copper, set the clouds to one great roof of flame above the earth.” – Elizabeth Coatsworth

“The sky takes on shades of orange during sunrise and sunset, the color that gives you hope that the sun will set only to rise again.” – Ram Charan

This painting 'Flaming Sunset' is Mother Nature’s masterpiece. The sky is her canvas with the haze and clouds being the brush strokes of color. The sun and moon are lamps for igniting the flames of color and sweeps of shadows. She expresses every force of creation through her beauty.

May you continue to look around you in awe for each detail of treasure that Mother Nature brings forth.

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“Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Changes are like waves rolling back and forth. They can bring great opportunities or painful growth. As humans, we tend to resist change as it causes an upheaval of comfort. Embracing change is always a gamble.

This painting is called 'Rogue Wave' as it represents a shift in tides. It reminds us that while we may not be able to control what happens around us, we can roll with the waves of change and embrace the growth that comes along.

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“Making a dream come true is like taking control of an airplane high up in the stratosphere and landing it safely on the ground – a measure of forethought, skill and courage is definitely required.” – Silvia Hartmann

The stratosphere is a layer of the earth’s atmosphere which extends upward above the surface of earth.

This painting is called 'Stratosphere' as it features a flow of cosmic rays symbolizing positive energy. These rays are glowing reminders of the visions in each of us for a deeper meaning of life. When you take in positive energy around you, it is visible from the outer parts of the earth.

How are you producing positivity around you?

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“The image is more than an idea. It is a vortex or cluster of fused ideas and is endowed with energy.” – Ezra Pound

A vortex is a whirling mass such as a whirlpool, flame, or tornado. It draws in everything around it and causes a powerful current of chaos and disarray.

This painting is called "Vortex" and it was inspired by an emotional flux. The spinning motion in this painting leads to the center of enlightenment and self-preservation. Amid the chaos, we must learn to meditate on renewed ideas and positive energy. This effective release is a pivotal moment for progression and the restoration of the soul.

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"Zeal without knowledge is fire without light." - Thomas Fuller

The absorption of knowledge is the beginning of energetic fusion through the soul. It's the spark or idea that creates the fervor or zeal in the exploration of a great cause.

This painting is called Zeal as it ignites a soul-fire with exhilaration for knowledge. The colors and flow in this painting express that fervency.

What cause are you zealous about?

May the fire of zeal always light your soul and remain alive.

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"Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas." - Henry Ford

Optimism is the key to success. When you radiate, or shine with positivity and confidence, it will be revealed in everything you do.

This painting is called Shine as it produces light and vivacity. The ripples of yellow and white are surges of energetic precipitation as it cascades from the sunbeams in the sky. Yellow is uplifting and expresses clarity and cheerfulness.

May we always remember to douse ourselves with surges of enthusiasm as we continue to create and execute our ideas each day.

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“Ideas are like birds. If you don’t keep them, they fly away. If you write them down, they become birds of aviary; anytime you want to hear them tweet, you visit them.” – Unknown

A delightful tribute to creatures of the air, 'Aviary' features several images of birds. Some are evident while others require the imagination to coax into view.

The colors in the painting are bold and expressive as to highlight the blending of the seen and the unseen as well as the willingness of the soul to take flight.

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�May the festival of light encircle your life with joy and happiness. Success comes at your home.� � Anonymous

�Life is a festival only to the wise.� � Anonymous

Festivals, jubilees and celebrations take place around the world to commemorate special events and observances or holidays in different cultures. Some festivals are religious while others are seasonal and artful.

This painting is called Festival and it�s a celebration of life and the quest for happiness. It�s a parade of dreams with lively spirits of expectation and explosions of color.

May we celebrate each day of life as we awake to take another breath with inspiration.

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�Love is a portion of the soul itself, and it is of the same nature as the celestial breathing of the atmosphere of paradise.� � Victor Hugo

As we approach the end of another year, we are reminded of time, age and the future. Time brings change and endings bring new beginnings.

This painting is called Celestial as it reflects paradise which transcends new beginnings. The colors represent life everlasting, where time stands still and the beauty of age is embraced.

As we step into this upcoming year, may we envelop each day as a celestial breath of fresh air.

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�Reason clears and plants the wilderness of the imagination to harvest the wheat of art.� � Austin O�Malley

Without hard work and persistence, growth is stagnant and the harvest of hope and transformation comes up short.

This painting is an abstract view of a wine vineyard ready for harvesting. Teams of harvesters come together to gather grapes in the process of making a flawless bottle of wine. Balance and perfection takes work and determination.

We should all strive to be a team that produces a harvest of hope and imagination in this world.

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�Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.� � Stanley Horowitz

�I see the turning of a leaf dancing in an autumn sun, and brilliant shades of crimson glowing when the day is done.� � Hazelmarie Mattie Elliott

I just love autumn quotes. There are so many flowery words and adjectives to describe the atmosphere that ushers in this colorful season. Words like �golden� and �crisp� or �saffron� and �cinnamon�. The metaphors are endless.

On the left side of this painting, a glowing apparition named Autumn dressed in crimson appears to be graciously inviting her guests into the fall season. The vivid colors have cast a spell of captivation on her viewers as she welcomes us to the beginning of the year�s end.

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�The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.� � Bruce Lee

�Finding your center� is a phrase that is generally used in meditation and self-examination. It begins with a journey of conscious behavioral patterns. Inhaling and exhaling--out with the old, in with the new. It�s the search for the nucleus of your soul.

This painting Laser is a spotlight exposing the deep hollows of your soul. It highlights our truest beliefs and brings them to light. The colors in this painting illustrate an aura of awakening and vitality. Both of these are significant in �finding your center�.

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�Plunge boldly into the thick of life, and seize it where you will, it is always interesting.� � Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

For some people, years of research and careful calculation on major life-changing decisions are imperative. Then there are those who let the cards fall where they may, as they plunge into the �thick of life� with no thought or vigilance.

This painting is called Plunge as it illustrates a big splashing leap of faith into life. It takes courage to dive into something without seeing the end result. There�s always a chance of failure, but you can�t build life experience if you don�t try new things.

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�You�ve done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.� � Ralph Marston

In the midst of the unrest and contention in this world, it�s easy to feel discouraged or hopeless. Even a glimmer of something good can get overshadowed by the next [anticipated] shattering event.

This painting is called Positive Thoughts. It is a picture of optimism as it features a glimmer of joy and releases positivity. It shines with bright colors and exudes cheerfulness. It proposes a willingness in each of us to see past the darkness by creating an awareness to the positive things that are happening despite the negativity in the world.

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�The artist alone sees spirits. But after he has told of their appearing to him, everybody sees them.� � Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Most of us had a vision or idea of what we thought our lives would look like. Maybe you had it all mapped out on paper, drawn up as a timeline. Or perhaps you were one of those who decided to wing it, letting the cards fall where they may.

Having a vision and seeing it come to life is priceless. This painting is called Escaping Spirits as it reveals the freedom of spirits or concepts as they are released from our minds for the world to appreciate.

How are you releasing your vision?

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�Though the artist must remain master of his craft, the surface, at times raised to the highest pitch of loveliness, should transmit to the beholder the sensation which possessed the artist.� � Afred Sisley

An artist perfects his technique by practice and determination. As his craft grows and gains momentum, his sense of fulfilment begins to radiate toward others. The desire for personal enrichment is attained, and true satisfaction is behind the beauty of his work.

This painting is called Sensation as it highlights the lively vibrations and expressions of forward-thinking and personal achievement.

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�Territory is but the body of a nation. The people who inhabit its hills and valleys are its soul, its spirit, its life.� � James A. Garfield

There are times in your life when you need to set boundaries to protect your territory�your soul. The soul is a vessel that contains your innermost thoughts, dreams and beliefs. When you let down your guard, you expose your soul to the elements of the world. To be vulnerable can be both beautiful and frightening.

This painting Territory is an illustration of layers leading to an undiscovered realm in our souls. The colored coats of paint are fragmented, as they peel away from the surface to unveil a cache of possibilities.

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�Timeless taste of splashing red decadence.� � Ralph White

This painting is one of my latest vignettes in a collection of delightful refreshments. It is called Merlot as it reflects consolation and merriment. It�s a liquid montage of unfastened spirits waiting to be consumed. It's a symbol of enchantment.

This painting is an abstract portrayal of the timeless elixir as it splashes into a glass in slow motion. The smooth tones and meticulous blending create an inviting effect.

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�Passion is the genesis of genius.� � Tony Robbins

The �genesis of genius� is a fabulous description for the word passion. There are several things going on in this painting called Birth of Passion. The colors symbolize both pain and relief. Pain�your blood, sweat and tears; and relief�calm, cool and concluded. This painting highlights the struggles of pursuing a passion from birth until the final achievement.

There are stages to go through with everything, starting with birth. Growth is the development that takes place after birth. Finally, maturity and a greater whole. Each stage of life is a unique gift. Just as a passion is born, it develops through phases and the end-result is the success.

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�The paradox is really the pathos of intellectual life and just as only great souls are exposed to passions it is only the great thinker who is exposed to what I call paradoxes, which are nothing else than grandiose thoughts in embryo.� � Soren Kierkegaard

Our thoughts are born with intention. Fostering an idea or believing in something is essential for our souls. There is a need for spiritual connection that drives us to search for truth and meaning. When we elevate our thoughts in believing that there is more to life than just our life expectancy, we start to gain interest in new ideas and philosophies.

This painting is called Embryo as it unveils a thought being born. It�s the start of a brand new day; it�s an original song; it�s an invention; and it�s a discovery of new belief.

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�We don�t create a fantasy world to escape reality. We create it to be able to stay.� � Lynda Barry

Escaping into a fantasy world is normal. Sometimes it is necessary so that we can remain sane in life. It also increases your imagination and ability to discover. Innovation and ingenuity starts in the mind.

This painting, The Escape is the formulation of fantasies. The torrential downpour of the vivid colors describes a fantasy realm in an artist�s mind. Fantasies or day-dreams are portals to new ideas and enhance the process of creativity.

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�False eloquence is exaggeration; true eloquence is emphasis.� � William R. Alger

Passion is an uncontrollable sensation that stirs inside your soul. When you�re truly passionate about your beliefs, an interest or a cause, it resides in your bones. It becomes a reason for living. At times, it consumes our daily thoughts.

This painting is called Emphasis because it illuminates significance and attention. The colors black and yellow used together often symbolize warning. As such, we must pay attention to our inner passion and cultivate it�bring it to life.

Are you placing enough emphasis on what you�re passionate about?

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�Infuse your life with action. Don�t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen�yourself, right now, right down here on Earth. � Bradley Whitford

Our time here on earth is not very long. What we do in the span of time from birth until death is what matters. The legacy we build is what gives us more than just a passing memorial. Did we speak words of encouragement often? Did we live with peace? Or did we live with perpetual doubt, locked up in our private cage of fear?

This painting Earth is about living in the moment and learning how to find your place in this world. Diving in, full force, making a splash. Leaving behind a remarkable inheritance of wisdom and grace. The colors in this painting signify flourishment and spiritual growth. The upward trails of the paint at the top resemble elevation and courage to stand out, and to leave behind an inspiring impact on this earth.

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�A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.� � John F. Kennedy

Some of the greatest ideas come to us in the middle of the night, as we�re tossing and turning, hoping to get a few hours of precious sleep. But that rush of adrenaline kicks in� Sometimes it�s an idea for an invention or a concept for business venture. Maybe it�s a vision for an art piece or a set of lyrics for that song you�ve been trying to write. Ideas are what promote us and give us courage. They catapult our dreams.

This painting is the discovery of those late-night butterflies of hope and ambition. Each color represents all the waking hours of contemplating our zealous ideas and revelations. Being able to fall asleep in peace with the birth of an idea is the foundation of how this world rotates.

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�Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen � that stillness becomes a radiance.� � Morgan Freeman

Being still and letting life happen can be very challenging, and sometimes near impossible. How many of us could just �let life happen� without worrying, pondering, obsessing or overthinking�? Silencing our thoughts and emotions and just be still?

This painting is called Radiance for its graceful tides of tranquility. The burnt-orange and yellow represent warmth and rejuvenation. Setting a purposeful appointment to be still and �let life happen� is just what our soul desires.

Take a deep breath, find a quiet place and let your soul�s radiance be revived.

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�Life is like a carnival. When you are little, everything is smoke, mirrors, and illusions. Then you grow up.� � Linda Poindexter

Imagine when you were a kid and you�d go to the carnival or circus. All the colors seemed brighter and the rides were enormous. Your cotton candy was a fluffy piece of heaven. There were no calories to worry about and no dizzy spells from the rides. It was just a lively spectacle of imagination and fun!

This painting Carnival depicts animated scenes of a boisterous atmosphere. A sight that is charged up with energetic fusion and wild echoes of expression. The splashes of color expose the assembly of all the carnival artists and vendors hustling about, making magic happen for the youthful at heart.

Summer is here, it�s time to enjoy our favorite pastimes!

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�When you drop any new idea in the pond of the world, you get a ripple effect. You have to be aware that you will be creating a cascade of change.� � Joel A. Barker

Change is inevitable for all of us. We�re constantly evolving, developing, and progressing toward the next phase of our lives. The world is always moving around and growing older. Weather patterns are sporadic and fluctuate. Science and technology seem to procure results more quickly these days with new studies and findings. Art is continuous, edgy, and flows through main stream media every day with new ideas and sprouting concepts. Change is everywhere, every day.

The painting Cascade is the creation of change. This glowing torrent is earth mixing itself up in space, creating a graceful energy for its inhabitants to emulate. Thus concluding that change or transformation begins with the universe.

Embrace each moment as it evolves and live each day with the reminder that change is essential.

�When everything is moving and shifting, the only way to counteract chaos is stillness. When things feel extraordinary, strive for ordinary. When the surface is wavy, dive deeper for quieter waters.� � Kristin Armstrong

Surface was inspired by a combination of opposing elements: disorder and tranquility, both of which meet in the center as an abstract horizon made of possibilities.

The shallow peaks of volcanic colors billowing beneath the earth�s surface is a montage of expression portraying fear and doubt. On the other spectrum is a peaceful atmosphere, expanding positive energy and reconciliation.

One of two things can happen when we centralize these contrasting ingredients. We can either let the fear take over our lives or we can paint a new picture with quieter waters. Ultimately we have the power to pacify our souls.

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�Feeling is the consciousness of the resulting conditions � of success, failure, equilibrium, compromise or balance, in this continuous rivalry of ideas.� � James Mark Baldwin

The need for balance is a necessity for our spirit and overall well-being. Without our physical and mental equilibrium, a chaotic mindset ensues. It�s imperative to find or create a place to channel our inner balance and symmetry so that we�re able to gracefully handle diversions and the overwhelming responsibilities of life.

This painting produces the shades of serenity drifting in from a treacherous voyage eager to discover a parallel spirit to envelop. The calmness of the marinating swells in this aquatic image is a peaceful reminder that there are many ways to seek balance in our lives.

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"Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, saute it, whatever. MAKE." - Joss Whedon

I love the simplicity yet direct words in this quote. Often times we procrastinate in waiting for the right time to do something. Waiting for the season to pass, waiting for more money to be generated, or waiting for inspiration to come. Maybe we�re waiting for life to just slow down. Sometimes we need to make the time and do it. Start writing that book you�ve been talking about, print and frame those beautiful photographs, start cooking your favorite recipes, plant that herb garden, learn how to paint or crochet, take a class and see where it takes you. Surprise yourself!

The colors in this painting are like rainbows. A rainbow symbolizes creation and life. Stop procrastinating and start creating! Give life to your passions. You�ll find that once you make the time and follow through, you�ll feel rejuvenated.

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"Never confuse movement with action." - Ernest Hemingway

Progression is the key to growth and success in life. When you move forward, set goals and explore all the possibilities, your movement becomes systematic and purposeful.

I chose the painting Sorbet as it portrays movement and imagination. The combination of colors in this painting creates a sense of confidence in progressing forward through life's obstacles. The color gold is known for success and personal power and the color purple or violet dictates a re-balance of life.

How are you progressing forward? Are you writing down your goals and taking the proper steps to achieve them?

Create, inspire, affect!

Explore the possibilities...

The world today doesn�t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?� � Pablo Picasso

"The world today doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?" - Pablo Picasso

The above quote is amusing and true. I could say the same thing. I leave it up the viewer to decide what makes sense in my paintings according to their world view. I like to create an atmosphere through my paintings in which the viewer can determine the origin and destination.

This painting Passage appears to have layers leading to a destination of energy and happiness in this nonsensical world. The yellow produces joy and flows through like a geyser, saturating the calmness of the other colors, bringing the sense back into the painting.

Create your passage by designing your happiness to flow through the parts of your life that make no sense.

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Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.� � Pablo Picasso

If you look between the layers of colors and patterns in this painting you can see a wild forest of memories that describes an artist�s personal journey.

Many of us keep a journal or diary of our intimate thoughts and reflections about life. Sometimes there are just no words to describe a feeling or emotion. As an artist becomes one with the paint brush and canvas, a display of his reflections and memories emerge� a moment frozen in time forever. Just as a song-writer pens a classic, an artist paints his memoir. Each splash of paint is with purpose and meaning. Often times his expressions are hidden behind the layers.

What are you reflecting on these days? What colors would you choose for all the adjectives in the diary of your life?


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�The world is the true classroom. The most rewarding and important type of learning is through experience, seeing something with our own eyes.� � Jack Hanna


Many of us must see something to believe it. In a Photoshop world we�ve even begun to question validity of photographs that we see in the media. Sometimes the only way to believe that something is real is to see it with our own eyes. Questioning the reality of something seen by someone else is how we learn and grow. Our brains are wired to respond to things that are visual which in turn induce emotion. Therefore, we can believe that it�s real because we see it in its true form.

Some people will travel to the ends of the world to see a natural phenomenon such as the rainbow eucalyptus trees in Hawaii, Lake Hillier in Australia or the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone. Seeing these beautiful forms of nature in real life can restore our vision on a much larger scale.

Renew your spirit today by seeing for yourself what the beauty of the world has to offer.

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�The painter has the Universe in his mind and hands.� � Leonardo da Vinci

I am dedicating this month�s blog to Leonardo da Vinci as he was born over 560 years ago today, April 15th. His curiosity about life was impeccable. His brilliance has been an inspiration and a mystery for centuries.

Imagine if Leonardo da Vinci was complacent with mediocrity and had given up on learning, seeking and discovering�

Da Vinci used the 67 years of his existence to challenge life as we know it today. We may not be off the charts on the genius scale but how are we using our potential to innovate?

Many of us are content with just getting by on what we�ve been taught or what we read in passing on the internet. We�ve taken shortcuts, and our challenges are diminishing. Are we really using our potential to discover and create? There�s an entire world of information and history, and our minds are unlimited!

Explore the possibilities�

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." - Plato

As a musician gives birth to a song, so does a fine artist to a painting. A paint brush is the breath of life to a canvas, cultivating an imagination and bringing all the elements together in unity. Just as a song takes form in melody and rhythm, the vibration of colors on a canvas begin to take form and blossom into an array of emotions. One can interpret each stroke of color and placement of shapes into their own experiences, bringing a fresh perspective to another eye.

Explore your possibilities...

Life�s transitions have an enormous impact on our need to express ourselves. The simple truth of experience forces us to learn, and hopefully to grow. It�s so important as an artist to free yourself to new influences, and allow your work to change with you. I have had an incredible couple of years, overflowing with personal and professional change. In this upcoming transition of summer to fall, I plan to review my work over the past couple of years to see where life �showed up.�

My art time of late has been spent reorganizing my studio, and, luckily, sending some things out for exhibits. It�s time for me to get back to creating, and to allow that muse called life to come and play with me.

I�m interested � how have the milestones in your life shown up in your work? As subtle gradations, or blunt edges? Let me know what you think�

Up until recently, I painted whatever I wanted to paint, whenever I wanted to paint it. Inspiration for me has never been an issue. All I have to do is look outside my window at all the glory of nature and I am off and running.

I love the process of putting paint to canvas, and I feel a strong connection to each and every one of my paintings. I always sense that I have left a piece of my soul in every work, and that this is the essence of art�s ability to connect with viewers. These paintings are, in some sense, alive. They carry my emotions to you and to your experience with the work.

As I stood in my studio not long ago, I noticed that several of my paintings seemed to interact with each other. They shared a common color theme or subject. I began re-organizing the studio in order to group certain works. They just seemed to belong together. It was almost as if they were old friends, anxious to link arms and share some subtle secret, some shared history.

I had never thought about painting series of works, but now I am exploring the energy of the relationships between my paintings. It�s an extra level of aliveness, the connection between me and the canvas, between the canvas and the viewer, and between the paintings themselves. Certain works must have sprung from a common thought, a central feeling, and sometimes I did not know until later that there were undeniable bonds between some of the paintings.

This discovery has led me to a new space of experimentation; of relating to my work and allowing myself to more fully explore certain inspirations over a series of paintings. I have so much to put into my art, it made sense not to limit certain ideas to one canvas.

Please look at some of the series on my website and let me know what you think. Let me know where you see partnerships of color, texture and light. Just as humans desire connectedness with other humans, I think art creates its own relationships of spirit and energy, eager to be part of a great inspiration.

Opposites Attract

Fusionart is the merging of opposites. We take our internal extremes and coax them into a single artistic purpose.

As an artist, one is charged with the responsibility of creating. The process is one of letting the power flow through you and not blocking the creativity. As we paint, the brush, the canvas and the spirit lead the way.

When your mind is in charge, you try to make something happen. Therein lies the difficulty; you are trying to force an outcome. When you are truly in the creative �zone�, the �you� disappears. It is almost as if you are nothing more than the facilitator of the process. You have no idea what is going to happen. You are in motion, allowing the paint to mark the canvas. You could even be painting with your eyes shut. Listen to music, work the brush, and let the canvas tell you when it is done.

Working with Rassouli has taught Fusionartists to let go of our requirements. To let go of expectations. We work with the spirit and the spirit knows what needs to be done. How do you create a great painting? You allow it to happen. The more you allow it to happen the better it is. The more you try to control it, the worse it is.

All too often we focus on our technical skills, and remain unsatisfied with the quality or appearance of our work. As Fusionartists, we learn to create from the center of our creative space. Each and every one of us has artistry that needs merely to be expressed. Our process of letting it flow and letting it go gives us access to unexpected creativity and beauty. Explore the Fusionart website to experience what happens when opposing forces emerge as extraordinary art.

The Universe is a Fusionartist. From the beginning of time, the Universe imbued the Earth with color. Every tree, every flower, every animal and rock has hue and shade to distinguish it. Can you imagine if the world had been created without color? It is as though the Universe realized that mankind would respond creatively to all the colors in nature.

When I look at a tree and see the movement of the leaves, I am always impressed with how many different colors of green appear. I envy Nature in her ability to blend color and create with intense magnificence such beautiful contrasts and subtle tones. I wonder how I can mimic that variety of shades on my palette. When I see what is possible with color, I experience joy! The colors in a painting are as vital to the viewer�s experience as the painting�s subject matter. The happiness color can bring to the eyes and heart of the viewer it touches my soul.

When one looks at a painting, the colors guide the eye through the work. The artist has laid the path and set the stage. For centuries artists have experimented and played with color in a never-ending partnership with Nature. Nature teaches us, and as artists, we endeavor to capture her power, purity and innocence on canvas. Everything that we as Fusionartists strive to accomplish is modeled for us by the Universe.

Nature orchestrates the temperature, contrast, brightness and hue to produce effortless displays of color that inspire and enlighten us. Nowhere can one see a more magnificent display than in the fall colors that are around us. I invite you to observe and spend time outside and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to witness the quintessential Fusionartist, the Universe at play.

At the August Fusionart retreat, I had the most fun painting that I can ever remember. My old friend Mehrdad and I spent the day just playing. Free from structure and restrictions, we painted without trying to make anything happen. We were creating the process of creating. The work just flowed, and the fun and laughter abounded. Mehrdad and I talked so much that I was afraid Rassouli, our teacher, was going to through us out of the class.

When Rassouli paints, he gets into such a connection with the canvas it is as if nothing else exists but him and the paint, rag, and canvas. Rassouli, Mehrdad and I all have totally different styles, and yet we share a connection to the process. It is not in our minds, it is more our souls connecting with the canvas and the creative process. We are allowing the painting to express itself through us rather than be created by us. We don't do it the same way, but I sense the same essence in what we are doing.

I believe that everyone has an inner connection with the creative process, whether we realize it or not. Like the wide variety of brushes one sees in the paint store, each one of us makes a different mark on the canvas of life. It is almost like we all possess the same power to create, and yet we all do it differently. Creative expression is part of what makes us unique individuals. The Universe created us all to be part of the painting of life on the canvas of the earth. It is our responsibility to make our mark in such a way that the world is a better place for us having been here. That is my wish and my dream and the purpose for my art.

My fellow artist, Bonnie Landau, teaches a class called “Anyone Can Paint.” She invited me to attend a couple of weeks ago, and encouraged me to share my technique with her students.

Maybe Bonnie should call the class “Anyone Can Teach!” I wasn’t sure how to prepare for the class, and this got me to thinking about how I approach painting and how I have developed my process over time. Here’s what I figured out about myself:

Early in my career, I had a lot to learn. I studied with Rassouli and Fusionart and learned the things I needed to know. Now I am at the point in my art where the important thing is for me to forget those basics, and paint without constraints. Painting through forgetting gives me power and unlimited access to my talent.

Discipline, media, form and function; these comprise the ground rules of art. True talent is the ability to simultaneously know and break the rules. Painting from knowing the rules and breaking through them is power. Painting from not knowing the rules is merely accidental. There is a world of distinction between the two.

Think about some familiar paintings. It’s obvious when the artist has learned the rules, and then found an expressive path that bypasses convention. Obvious examples include Picasso, Van Gogh and Modigliani. Each took something recognizable and transformed it into something that surpassed its reality. Each artist was a major rule-breaker!

Now when I paint, I ignore the rules. They are there, but at arms length. I have no expectation for my work to look like anything or be compared to anyone else’s. I don’t think; I DO. And when I’m done, I am amazed at what I’ve created.

Realizing this, I put away the worry of how to prepare for Bonnie’s class. Other than knowing I had canvas and paint, I had no expectation of how to teach people to create. I invented the class as I went along, and we were all very much in the moment. We used our hands, brushes, sticks, anything we liked to put the paint on the canvas. We didn’t worry about going over someone else’s work or about “getting it right”. We played, secure in our basic knowledge of creativity. The result was astounding; a rich, textural painting that is alive with all our energy. Thanks to Bonnie Landau, Claudine Manning, Christina Maria, Orma Hammond, Hope Goss, Sonia Madix and Shain. We were able to forget the rules and create without limits!

This painting is the collaboration of two old friends who were surprised to discover that they shared a passion for art. I have known Mehrdad Dabbagh for 18 years, but in a completely different context - the world of business. I really did not know Mehrdad’s spirit until I met him in one of Rassouli's classes three years ago. No one can describe the expression on his face when he first saw me in the art class. It was like seeing someone from another world that you never imagined you would see in the world of art.

I have lived my life as a non artist. I am an engineer. An analytical business consultant who helps people design their businesses for profit. I help people design the systems and structures that make a business run and make money. I have been doing this for the past 18 years. I have been an entrepreneur for over 50 years. No one in my life, including myself, and certainly not Mehrdad, ever expected me to make the transformation into being a painter and artist.

Through the teaching of the Master Rassouli, I have bridged the gap and made that transition. In the process I have found a new friend in my old acquaintance Mehrdad. I found him to be a talented artist who paints with passion and emotion. This painting began with the two of us playing in class one day. We just started sharing the canvas. We each worked on one side, and then we turned the canvas and we worked on top of each other's work. There was no plan. There was no drawing. There was no blueprint. (Mehrdad also happens to be an architect.) We just kept playing and having fun. As the music changed the beating of our brushes on the canvas got faster and faster. The energy was jumping as we raced to place more paint on the canvas.

I consider this to be an example of the meeting of two worlds. Two people from different countries with different backgrounds. Even though for years they thought they knew each other, they did not. Their souls met through a mutual experience on canvas with brush and paint. I have placed the value of this painting at $10,000 - the highest price in my collection. It is the painting that took the longest time and most distance traveled to create. This is an example of the meaning of our Fusionart Movement. When we all surrender to the creative process; that is when the journey begins. This painting is a celebration of that transformation and the connection we can all share through art.

When we come to the realization that this Earth is a canvas and we are the brushes, and that what we do on a daily basis is our painting, we will see that everyone is a painter with something to express. The real question is – what are you painting today?

My fellow Fusionartist Diane Bulgatz painted this thought-provoking and serenely engaging work. It is called “The Quest”. I was looking at Diane’s painting this week and was struck by the fact that it captures my own recent journeys of the soul. My quest has been one of letting go.

This week my life has been a case study in letting go of the past. I had a garage sale and sold off numerous old, unwanted items. Why I had felt the need to keep them, I don’t know. The sale made me feel complete with parts of the past. I cleaned my studio and shredded papers. Fixed my computer and deleted old files that were cluttering my hard drive. I cleaned my closet and even washed my car.

Creation starts with letting go. You have to surrender a little bit to the realization that in order to create art, something has to be released from your spirit. My mentor, Rassouli, says that art is about creating and destroying. Paint something and then destroy it by painting over it. Keep making it new; be in the space of getting rid of old habits, ideas, and obstacles. This keeps you prepared for the new and the next.

It doesn’t always have to result in a painting. We are changing the Fusionart International website, creating and destroying, to better showcase the awe inspiring talent of our artists. Change is the only thing constant in life, and art is the perfect medium to reflect change. As artists we are trusted with the responsibility of capturing the moment and creating the future on the same canvas. We channel creativity through our soul and into our work as a demonstration of the Universe’s infinite possibilities. This opportunity is both a gift and a heavy responsibility. As we go about our creative process, we must stay true to the authentic inspiration and not let too much “thinking” take over the project.

This week I invite you to let go and create your most spectacular example of you. Have fun and joy in the process. Remember, if you are not having fun, you are thinking about it too much. Let go, create, destroy, and transform your art into a true expression of your soul.

There are times when I just don't feel like painting. I don't know what to paint, and I lack the energy to commit creation to canvas. These times can last from a day to two months.
My mind starts to wonder if I have lost the desire or the talent to paint. My mentor, Rassouli, says that I am building up bewilderment. It feels like a teakettle. You don't sense much happening as it simmers along on the stove. Then all of a sudden things burst forth with a trumpet blare and a release of imaginative action.

In the beginning I worried about how long my creative juices would lie dormant and when the teakettle would sing. Now I just go with the flow. I have seen these down times as periods of major growth in my technique. While I continue to create and develop myself, I know I will never arrive at what some may call perfection. I choose to define mastery as the art of seeking perfection knowing that you will never get there. The soul must be willing to pursue the destination as well as the result.

This has been the first time in my life that I have given myself permission to let the work come at its own pace. In my business, I drive and direct and take constant action to make things happen. In my painting, art is in the driver’s seat. It’s as though I live in two different worlds that each run parallel in my existence. They must have been there my entire life and I just didn’t know. I think often of Frost’s “The Road Less Traveled”, and I feel that both those roads exist within my spirit. Sometimes I choose the one less traveled, and that fuels my creative side.

I am so grateful to have found access to the other side of myself, to my inner road less traveled. It gives me the freedom to express myself without having to meet a standard or reach a goal or be good enough. I really don't even have to have done my best.

This week, look for your own road less traveled, and take a few baby steps toward your artistic destiny. Relish the rest and rejuvenation that comes with not knowing what to paint. Allow yourself to be led by your spirit, and let the journey inspire and delight you.

The process of creating is not exact. Art occurs in its own time. When you create something, you begin to fall in love with it before it ever exists. The creative process; the thinking, the experimentation, the starting over – all these are part of the joy of artistic endeavor. Sometimes inspiration comes fast and sometimes it comes slow. The trick is to not impose your own expectations on the result.

As an artist, you are merely the vehicle for the creative process. What I love about my art is that I never know what it is going to be. Even after it is done, I resist the temptation to categorize or judge it. I paint until the painting tells me we are done. Then I stand back and discover what it is I have created. Sometimes when I paint, I even take my glasses off so I cannot see the canvas very clearly. I have done entire works with my eyes closed. These techniques liberate me. When I free myself from my thinking mind and let go of the expectations, I see that I have created my best works.

The Universe is the ultimate creator, and we are all expressions of that creation. We are each and every one of us a unique creation with the ability to use the creative process to express our own individual voices. This way of thinking allows me to let the work flow and not live in the expectation that I am in charge of making something happen.

Without expectation, and with no blueprint, I have access to truly amazing results. Give your soul a chance to express itself. Paint without judgment, without concept of time. Be open to what occurs, and let your spirit be the artist.

When I started learning to paint, I spent a lot of time and energy analyzing what I was doing wrong. I continually focused on what was missing, how the painting wasn’t good enough. Fortunately I had mentors who encouraged me to break free of these negative thoughts and judgments. My work flourished and so did my enjoyment of the process.

Over time I have noticed that when I paint, I am completely free. As an artist, I do not ask myself: Why? When? What? Where? How?

The reason I don't ask these questions is because I know the answer is always "It is perfect the way it is."

That is what I love about art. No matter what it is, or where it is in the process, it is always perfect. Art is about the process every bit as much as it is about the product.

This photo is a perfect example. I could not figure out what to paint so I painted the canvas black. Before I finished I stopped, and it was perfect the way it was. With art, you never make a mistake because it is always perfect. You can do no wrong. You scratch the work and the scratch is supposed to be there. Art is always growing and changing. It has no right or wrong. No good or bad. No up or down. I love that. It gives me such freedom. I paint something, and if I don't like it, (which is not wrong because everything is perfect) I just paint over it. To live in a world where you can make no mistakes is nirvana.

I once did a painting, and while it was still wet I took it to the car to take it home. I stood it up by the car and while I was not looking, the Universe caused the paint to slide down the canvas. Upon my return my first reaction was upset (this was in my early days before wisdom set in.) Then I realized that it was perfect the way it was. That painting has become one of my most admired paintings. You never know how the masterpiece is going to emerge. You are the vehicle for the canvas to expose the painting that already exists. You are merely the messenger that facilitates the process.

So go out today and liberate your art from all right and wrong. Allow the Universe to create through you. Think of yourself as the messenger for your creative expression. And don’t shoot the messenger!

The Everywhereness of Art

Yesterday I was in the kitchen making a berry smoothie. As usual, I was on the phone, multitasking through my workday. You guessed it – I left the lid off the blender in my haste to do three things at once. Purple goo flew everywhere, including all over me. My first reaction was irritation at my own mistake. Quickly, the artist within me began to transform my interpretation of the situation, and I started admiring the colors and patterns that now adorned every surface in my kitchen.

Art is everywhere and art is anything. A canvas can appear when you least expect it. The artist must then decide to paint or not to paint.

Before I embraced the power of art, I would see a tree and think “Green Tree.” Now I look closely and marvel at the hundreds of greens that shift and change in the breeze. I see the shapes of leaves and the movement of branches. Everything is more alive now that I can appreciate the world through the context of art. A “Blue Sky” is now imbued with shades of gray, white, rose, and copper. A flower garden? Unlimited possibilities and passion. I see so many colors and I yearn to understand them. How would I re-create that red? What is that exact shade of yellow? The universe around us is the original artist, and she holds the ultimate paint box with the most diverse palette.

As I mopped up blueberry smoothie, I became uplifted instead of annoyed. The colors were inspiring, and I figured the blender was simply trying to express itself!

Allow yourself to be inspired by the everywhereness of art. In a dropped pile of papers see a collage. Celebrate the sculpture in that broken lamp. Savor the colors of your garden. You may not want to willingly remove the lid from your blender, but even when calamity happens, let your relationship with art transform each moment into personal inspiration.

Has serendipity had an impact on your art? I’d love to hear your story.

Ralph White