Artists Passion

My mother has always been an artists. She’s also always been a very practical woman. She paints from photos, and her art usually consists of flowers, beach scenes, and forest creatures. There is only one time I can think of where she let her creativity have full reign. And, the result scared her. Scared her to the point that she destroyed the painting.

It started out as a tree with souls. It was really cool. Then, a kid emerged playing on a swing. Then, a figure emerged behind the kid. From there, the painting took on ominous undertones. My mother couldn’t deal with the images sprouting from her subconscious, so she killed them.

Some artists embrace their darker sides. There are horror movies, horror paintings, heavy metal and other kinds of music dealing with the scary recesses of the brain that hold the creepy crawlies of our minds. Justin Stanley creates sculptures and prints of fantastical torture, for example.

I’m all for creative license, but I can understand why darker art intimidates some of the ordinary folks out there. Some subject matter is hard to get through, and a good piece of art does have an impact on its audience. Everything we see, hear, taste, touch, or smell changes a piece of us before its through.

However, I believe every piece of art out there deserves to be put out in the public sphere, so everyone out there can make up their own minds. Even if a piece makes me uncomfortable. Then, I read The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum.

It’s based on a true story; the novel is about a 12-year-old boy whose neighbor chains a teenage girl in a bomb shelter in her basement and lets the neighbor children torture her for fun. To them, it’s a game.

The novel is a study on how ordinary people can get caught up in evil; it was very hard for me to read. I had to stop and start to get through it, and I was emotionally tired afterwards.

Does the subject matter of a group of people getting together to torture a young girl bother me? Of course. Do I believe it is immoral for a woman to allow kids to torture one another? Of course. Do I think Ketchum should be banned or censored because of the content? Not at all.

Things like this happen all of the time, and Ketchum wrote in a special section of the novel that he wrote The Girl Next Door because some people scare him, and the story of a real=life woman who also let neighborhood children torture a girl in her care was haunting him. I also think it’s important for people to let themselves feel uncomfortable every once in a while. We live in a society where we insulate ourselves from bad feelings. In safe settings, like while viewing a work of art or reading a book, bad feelings can help us grow.

They also help us see where we stand in society, and they can help us move forward in intentional living. Seeing there’s something wrong can help us find remedies. Are you worried about the environment? Take some time out of every day to actively take care of nature. Worried about all of the food recalls out there? Read up about your rights as a consume and what the government’s really allowed to do for you. And, when life gets you down, go out and create, even if it’s just for therapy. Even if the outcome disturbs you and will never see the light of day.

But, even if even you can’t stomach your work, someone may still get something positive out of it.

Just something to think about.

As I promised before, I’m going to include tips on living with passion in all aspects of life but with an emphasis on art.

Spontaneity is important not only to an artist’s life, but also the the lives of everyone on this planet. While routine and order can be calming and set us on the path to achievement, it is also important to follow the winds every once in a while. They will take us where fate decrees.

If we don’t act spontaneously every once in a while, we miss out on hidden opportunities. The muse might strike at the beach while we’re holed up in our homes in front of our computers or in a quiet coffee shop while we’re watching TV. When days begin to blend in together, it’s time to put away our ordinary things and do something a little bit crazy.

Spontaneity is also a path towards creativity. In a previous post, Anjuelle wrote:

The mind likes order, as it should. Spontaneous occurrences disrupt the routine flow of things. But creativity is about messiness, abrupt changes in the moment.

If spontaneity is so important, how can we begin to embrace it in our lives? By taking small steps.

For some, deciding at some random moment to go skydiving is a regular part of daily life, but for the rest of us, such extreme measures aren’t realistic. Embracing spontaneity can be as simple as singing along with the radio, kicking off our shoes in the park and dancing, or lying in a grassy patch of sunlight. A next step might be taking an afternoon to go to the beach or teaching a child how to whistle. With each new step, the extraordinary becomes ordinary, and we open ourselves up to new possibilities.

Watching children feed ducks might lead to a new short story or a weekend silent retreat could become a tranquil oil painting. The way we view the world changes with each new experience; it’s up to us to cultivate these experiences to make an interesting whole.

When I found out I was going to start writing for Artist’s Passion, I delved into the question, “What is art?” I go by the artistic mantra that anything I find pleasing and is made by human hands is art. Knitted scarves are art. So are masterfully prepared dinners. Paintings, sculptures, and even hand-made candies can also fall into this category.

So, what isn’t art? Do paintings made with animal dung or human urine still fall under this broad topic? What about a picture painted by a dog? A painting made by a disabled man for therapy? A sculpture constructed by a robot? Is the robot itself a piece of art?

I plan on delving into the subject of art with passion and ingenuity, presenting the art I like, the art I hate, and broadening my horizons as much as possible.

Since this is my first post for Artist’s Passion, any feedback about great artists, artworks, or art events is much appreciated. As a closing thought, here is my favorite work of art in my current collection. It is entitled Blood and Milk and currently resides over my bed. The artist, Orianna Kurrus, has an Etsy account where she routinely sells her art from her home at a commune in Virginia.

Why I love it: The colors are vibrant. The little girl’s hollowed eyes are intriguing to me. The mixed media approach to the little girl’s dress add texture to the overall work. Even with her teapot full of blood, it almost seems the tentacle-like trees are an ominous danger. It gives me something to ponder as I drift off to sleep at night.

by: Liane Schmidt

…everyday.

by: Liane Schmidt

Some Say I’m a Dreamer - but I’m not the only one.
IMAGINE: John Lennon

Today’s article is about what you can do today to make this world an even better, more beautiful place right this very moment.

Many charities ask for a small donation and even if it is only five dollars, it can wear on your pocket if you are living paycheck to paycheck as many of us are. (As a starving artist, I know this very well.)

And, even if we aren’t feeling the strain of cash flow, many of us find that we hardly have time in the day to remember to buy groceries, let alone the time to even begin to think about donating to a charity. It might be a fleeting thought after we see a commercial flash by or a street representative asking for our generousity, but then our minds are back to trying to remember what we just forgot.

Whatever the reason, life happens. We are all human, we all deep down inside want this world to be as beautiful as possible, no matter what position we are at in life.

Now, giving to charities has been made easier than ever and our pockets do not have to feel pained in the process.

The “One Click” charity organizations are exactly that. Just click once on their link and a donation will be made toward whatever given charity you clicked on! Some allow you to click once a day. It’s truly, a miracle.

Below I have listed some charites that you can begin supporting and clicking right this very moment. (I have also added a few that you can learn more about by simply visiting their sites, if interested.)

“Click and do some good today.”

“God bless us, everyone.”
-A Christmas Carol.

The original one click site:

Click candle and aids research receives a dollar.

by: Liane Schmidt

In life we are all doing the very best we can given where we are from, everywhere we’ve been, from all the experiences we have gone through. At this very moment, we are the very best we can be; and everday we are learning how to become even better, how to believe in ourselves more, how to love ourselves more, how to get to a better place in our lives. This is a life long journey.

by: Liane Schmidt

Everyday we encounter more choices, more options, more things that can potentially steer us away from our dreams and goals. Do not let this happen for you.

The quote: “Jack of all trades master of none” rings true for a reason. Now that’s not to say that if this is your dream or goal it is not okay. If you simply love doing many things and don’t care whether you truly excel in any, more power to you. But, if you want to master a field, you must not let anyone stand in your way. You will only be the happiest you can possibly be if you stay committed to what makes you happiest.

So how do you stay focused? How do you not lose sight of your dreams and get mixed up in the woes, excuses, or bad habits some people find themselves inextricably tied up in?

Trust your instincts.

If something feels wrong, it probably is. If you are not sure about something, give yourself time to figure out why that is. Do your best to be patient with yourself. If you have children would you rush them to start driving when they did not feel comfortable? There are times, however, when moving forward when you feel unsure are okay, but once again, your intuition can best determine those moments (i.e. you want to apply for a job, but you are nervous).

It is also important to make time in your day to slow down and reflect on your life. This time needs to be alone. It can be as little as five minutes or as long as you want, so long as you take it. It is imperative to your overall well-being. We all need time everyday to be able to take in the day, really think about what we want, interruption free. It is crucial to the ultimate goal of reaching the highest attainable avenues of happiness.

And, as always try your best to only allow positive, supportive messages, people, etc into your life. These will help keep your spirits high and keep you moving forward. Just think of how many hours a masterpiece painting takes. It can take days, weeks or even years of painstaking emotion, tears, and struggle. This is why the carefully crafted finished product becomes such an amazing, exceptional feat and a timeless, beloved piece of artistry. The Great Gatsby was not written overnight.

You can and are making all your dreams come true.

by: Liane Schmidt

…from one of my favorite authors, self-made millionaire Brian Tracy!!

“Everything counts! Everything you do helps or hurts, adds or takes away.”

“You have the capacity to become very, very good in anything that is really important to you.”

“Be selective about what you see, watch, hear, and listen to. Keep your external influences predominately positive.”

Anything and everything is possible. You CAN make all your dreams come true!!

by: Liane Schmidt

The only way to make anything work is to not give up when times get tough. This applies to anything you want.

If you want something enough, you can make it happen. The key is perseverance.

In my opinion, I believe the only way to persevere is to love whatever it is that you want completely, with everything you have because there will be tough moments. There will be times that you want to give up. There will be times that you will question the choice you made. But when you love something with all your heart, you will do anything for it. You will fight for it, you will sacrifice for it. You will do all of this because you know that it is worth the world.

And, when you love something completely, it doesn’t matter what anybody says about it. It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks except you. Yes, sometimes in your weaker moments a criticism or two can weigh you down more heavily than other times, but in your heart you know that these comments are insignificant in the overall picture of the life you want for yourself. You will not settle for less.

You will not settle for less.

Persevere. Your dreams are worth every sacrifice in the world.

by: Liane Schmidt

Give and you shall receive.

Like energy attracts like energy.

Put out into the world what you want back; what is truly best for you. If you want the person of your dreams, BE the person of their dreams. If you want a healthy life, live a healthy life.

It is that simple.

Yet, if we are not careful, sometimes other variables can come to play that make this equation complex.

Everyday I work as hard as I can to eliminate all excuses, the fears, and other such obstructions that hold me down and make my path to all my hopes and dreams seem too difficult or complicated to achieve.

If you want something with everything in your heart, there is nothing else you can do, but go after it with everything you’ve got.

If you want to do something - hey Nike’s not making hundreds of millions for nothing - “Just do it.”

“Just do it”.

No more talking about it. Just lace up those running shoes and hit the pavement. Done.

Time is precious, there’s not a moment that’s not.

Take it all in. Feel every salty wave that stings your eyes and makes you remember to be more careful, but makes you feel alive. And, when the water calms, float lightly, bask in the peace, bask in the nourishing rays. Just remember, just keep in mind: there will always be waves and you will be just fine.

by: Liane Schmidt

by: Liane Schmidt

Starving, striving, working, dreaming…

by: Liane Schmidt

There is no more need to put off what you have been dreaming to do. No more excuses, nothing left to stop you, except yourself. That is how it has always been.

Tomorrow is not promised, today’s a gift…yes, yes, you’ve heard it all before. But there is a reason it still rings universally true. Because it still is true and will always be true.

Everyday we create our lives, our destiny, our happiness. We control it, create it, make it, shape it. Every decision we make is like a building block to what will come into our life next or what will stay out of our lives.

For this very reason it is of utmost importance that you take the time to really think about the picture you want for your life. Is the picture in your mind hazy, hopeful or clear? The clearer the picture, the more you will be able to manifest the life you want because you will have a distinct direction to go toward.

Many people will often fight this simple principle by arguing that they don’t know what they want, so how can they even take the time to come up with a picture? But, deep down inside us all, we know what we want. We have always known, but for whatever fear, lack of confidence, etc we have made excuses.

Today, you can stop these excuses. Today, you can and will continue forth to steadily make all your dreams come true.

by: Liane Schmidt