Challenge Accepted.

I've been needing a creative challenge to fuel my inner fire.  I came across the Dogwood Photography 52 week challenge.  I'm considering using video as my medium if I am inspired to do so. Week 1 is rule of thirds and I took the opportunity to visit the Columbia River the day after a large snowfall. I couldn't pick just one so I'm going to share my top three.  Can you tell I like the number 3?

The Eyes Have it.

Artist Statement

The passion within me began long ago when I was a poet. Trying to identify what this extra perception was, this keen awareness of the world within and the world without. Attempting to cope with the feeling of being an oxymoron, existing in duality. Knowing myself as containing competing oppositional natures and wondering how to reconcile that.  This process of seeking unity, balance and understanding initiated a journey into the mysteries of life and the universe.

An exploration I could only process by manifestation of visual images. Words could only contour the shadows left in the wake of these esoteric divinations, my art however could express where the arcane intersects with the everyday. There is a recognition and exploration of the darkness and chaos. A level of understanding that is deep, disturbing, awakening and humbling.

 Research and investigation inspire each piece. Connections between areas of science, philosophy, architecture, mathematics, sacred geometry, spirituality, myth, and most importantly, the human condition. Patterns and layers play a great role in the merging of these concepts.

My arts manifests outside of myself, where I could consider them from another angle. .  My art and I have a conversation, and the final piece is the trace that is left over from that process. Materials can be wide and varied, often multiple types of media in each piece. 

 If I were to choose a goal, something I'd like my art to accomplish it would be to awaken and enlighten others. To bring them into a space in their mind that shifts just enough away from conditioned reality, to give them a peek into the strange and mysterious, so they will know that there is something else out there to be discovered. I guess technically I'd like to boost a viewer’s curiosity and abstract thinking.

Can't stop won't stop

Couldn't sleep until it was done.

Today's artistic exercise.

Drawn with random markers/colored pencils/pens

Inspired

Today I came home feeling more like myself then I have in a long time, and I drew this...  ^.^

Plugged In

I've been noticing a majority of the people around me are plugged in almost all the time. Being aware and present in the waking world has become a lonely place even when in public.  There really is no one to talk to, they are all having a conversation on facebook or some other time consuming meme sharing place. No one is even coming up for air.

I'm glad I'm no longer engaged in this way, I've devoted myself to pursuing more intellectual pursuits when engaged with the internet. Finding forums about topics that interest me, contributing to sites I lost touch with such as Deviant Art. Avoiding places where people go to chit chat, try to hook up, and complain about not having some perfect movie made life.

These days I'm talking to paper with my pen, listening to authors as my inner voice speaks their words.  It's an inspiring place, but it's made of ink, paper and my mind.  There aren't living things here except when I dream. That's when I interact with others.

In the end it's always their decision whether to take the red pill or the blue pill.