The Quest For Gold

Yes, the quest for gold in the title could mean looking for the money but I mean it in a different way. I'm questing for the gold in my heart and the creativity that comes out of my heart.
It comes from looking inside deeply of who I am on this journey. The refining of gold comes from terrific heat and how it stands up to the fire. So this journey is a thousand steps of standing in the fire and refining myself.

I'm a very prolific painter because I have lots of creative thoughts and have huge ideas for series. Okay, I stray off the mark because I either don't have the room or the big substrates that I require for the images. What happens is that if I paint on paper I get very different looks than I do with canvas or masonite. So I come out with many different looks. Will people be able to recognize my work? Or am I fighting myself. The world is always looking for the latest in trends and not so much of content. So many products used today are not archival and will not last the test of time. Am I looking to be the new trend or something much longer lasting?
The quest for gold can mean that I'm looking in the wrong places.

"Hold On Tight To Your Dream"

A Saturn commercial has taken an old song "Hold On Tight To Your Dreams". How true, true ,true. Without dreams we are just existing and not living. If you go to my website www.Landisart.com
and on the home page you'll see "Creative Spirit" video. Click on that and you'll see what I mean. Live for each moment. Be grateful. That will bring joy.

I can see that I've made made mistakes by taking myself too seriously and making working with computer and business as heavy duty and not as a challenge that I can do "with a song in my heart" just as much as painting and being creative. I'm being creative in everything I do. So what, that I can't print my labels anymore I'll just write them out by hand.

Being uncomfortable with a new challenge is supposed to be that way otherwise, I'd never grow.

"You Gotta Have Faith"

Belief in myself as an artist keeps me coming back for "more" because this is my mission.

Many people are afraid of non-objective (abstract) art. They don't really look at it and get drawn into it. Most times they take just a glance rather than standing in front of the painting and absorbing it.

Rembrandt and J.W.M. Turner all started with an abstracted background. Turner's work is very ethereal.

So grab your glasses and really study my art, you'll be surprised how much depth is there. I had one person describe my art that it reminded her of a Buddhist Temple in Hawaii. Maybe you'll see deeper than before because it is about spirituality and growth.
Blessings to you reader.

Illuminated me

Yesterday, My husband and I were given a private tour of "Illuminated Manuscripts" at the Phoenix Art Museum By Jim Melikian, the collector of these manuscripts. It was fascinating. One of the hand made books was made about 1000 A.D. The precision
and tiny letters and designs were just amazing. The patience of the monks and scribes, who made these books I couldn't imagine.
It gave my imagination flight.
I can't wait to begin a new series now. I've been trying to figure where I wanted to go next, so yes, it did illuminate the way for me.
Isn't it funny when you are looking for a clue, it comes to you in the a most unusual way. You just have to be open to it.

Wishin' & Hopin'

I've worked very hard these past 9 years of being a professional artist. I've gotten some good things going on. Other things seem like I'm banging my head against a rock. That's when my mind (chatter) tries to take over. Should I do this , should I do that until I get very confused.

I'm starting to do some paintings with a recognizable feature in it. I don't know where it will take me in my quest for my truth as an artist. I don't know if I'm thinking too much or not enough. I've done over 1500 paintings some very small some pretty large. Then I'll paint over them because they aren't right to me. I can't put out paintings that don't feel right. Feel is the operative word here. Being true to myself is a constant battle for me.

Here's the thing, wishin' and hopin' do not cut it. Only by taking action and working on my MISSION makes me a happy camper.

A Chattering Mind

Too much of a chattering mind keeps me sometimes from listening to my heart. If I lose focus then I'm not free to be creative.
Being on the computer and learning all these new ways of doing things plus keeping up with the organizational stuff gets to me. The flow is gone because I freeze up sometimes.
What do you do when it seems overwhelming?
Do you feel like your career and listening to advice (chattering) takes up most of your time?
Getting clear and meditating is the only way to stop the noise. Many people use yoga. I don't because I've been hurt twice doing it. I use mandalas to meditate or walking in nature. What are mandalas, you ask? They are circles where you draw in whatever you want without the critical noise. Early Christians, Navajos and Tibetan Monks use it for healing. Labyrinths are mandalas too. The Chartes Cathedral in France has one.
My main goal is to be at all times my authentic self. The self that God made.