Two Moments

When I create my art, I draw a lot on my childhood, my science, my love of philosophy and motivational thinking. I believe motivational thinking is not just 'positive' thinking, it is a process of 'right' thinking, over and over again like weeding a garden. I have found, now, that I have the added blessing to be able to draw on my children's experiences, It's a fascinating thing to watch them grow, navigate through life, experience triumph and failure and dreams. Over the course of a few years, my son experienced two moments that really stood out for me, will probably lead to a painting or a sculpture or something, and also in many ways relates to my earlier work.

My son loves soccer. At the age of four he slept with his soccer ball. In all the years I've known him I think I've seen him more with a soccer ball at his feet than without. As he progressed in age, trying out for the team naturally progressed. It got harder and harder as the competition and skills amped up until one year he was not on the 'top' team. He was on team number three. A tough blow to him but I told him, work hard Harry, believe in your dream, that is all. The next year's tryouts came and this time coaches told him and me, oh yes, he'll move up. When he found out he didn't he came home, told me the news while big tears filled his beautiful blue eyes. It took every fiber in my being to tell him, don't worry Harry, work hard, believe in your dreams. As he left the room I couldn't help but feel the same intense disappointment. Finally the third year came, there he was, out on the try-out field competing against all the 'top' players and I saw him from a distance, standing next to the head of the program. A big burly man who was associated with Man U as legend goes. He was leaning next to my son telling him something. Later I asked "What did he tell you Harry?" My son smiled, he said "Harry, you earned the right to be out on this field." That was the first moment.

A second moment came a few days ago. Practice was on, running an hour and a half. After practice, my son stayed to kick the ball. From the age of four he always stayed to kick the ball. I loved to share with him one of my favorite quotes from Napoleon Hill "There is no traffic on the extra mile." My son loves soccer so much, I don't think he even knows when he's playing extra. But this particular day was special. After about 1/2 hour, in the dark, striking at the goal over and over, his coach emerged from the darkness on the side of the field. In his hands he had five soccer jerseys, each, he told Harry, had a story, which he told. One was from the 1980's World Cup Spain, and on and on. He said "Harry, because you're doing the stuff it takes to get to your dream I want you to take one of these shirts." Standing there, watching both son and coach both 'go the extra mile' - watching them both 'take action' to do the things that meant so much to them moved me so much.

What does it take to achieve your dream?

Do you take action on the things that move you?

Are you willing to endure the frustration, the setback, the pain that your dream sometimes demands?

These are things I think about, love, hope to convey in my art.



It's official! The reviews are in for "Black Gold' available now at Lulu.com:

http://tinyurl.com/2bkx9za

What people are saying:

Gorgeous...wow! ~ Fred Betz

I am so moved! It is fabulous! ~ Robin Pedrero

Some Surprise

What Can We Do When It Seems Too Much?

Take any event in your life. The BP Oil Spill, Stock Market Crash, or even a flat tire at a wrong time – as if there is ever a right time – and events can seem overwhelming, potentially spiraling out of control Some events seem too big, too mind numbing to even act on or think about. But it’s not just in the thinking, the worrying, wondering that magic is found – it’s in the acting towards the things one finds important in their life. Napoleon Hill had a very special phrase for this – Applied Faith. That phrase in and of itself is not a passive one. It’s very nature implies action on and towards the things in life you feel most driven by. Acting with the full faith and confidence that the universe can and will provide for you the tools you need to accomplish your specific goals, goals you feel most compelled by, most connected to – in short, the things you love.

I am so happy to note that a work of mine just recently landed in Canada to a wonderful collector there. It’s called ‘Ogallala’. This piece was inspired by studying the last great depression which was combined with a tragic dust bowl. After years of struggle and suffering, it occurred to someone to search, and what was found was one of the greatest natural water reserves ever discovered, just beneath their feet. The symbolism of this could not be more powerful to me - in the words of Wattles, that I quoted in an earlier blog post, 'never look at the visible supply. Look always at the limitless riches in formless substance and KNOW...' This piece is meant as a visual reminder that there is ALWAYS a solution - and further, the solution really lies deep within each one of us. If we learn the process of shedding fear and begin to trust a world, a universe really, of unlimited potential - there will always be another Ogallala.

So the question isn’t really what is the magnitude of the problem – the question is are you going to muster up enough faith to apply action to your dreams, desires, goals and dreams. Are you going to take action? Because that is where the magic is.

It's official! The reviews are in for "Black Gold' available now at Lulu.com:

http://tinyurl.com/2bkx9za

What people are saying:

Gorgeous...wow! ~ Fred Betz

I am so moved! It is fabulous! ~ Robin Pedrero

Well done my friend! ~ Beth Stafford

Ogallala - Re-Posted for @Sugarwilla

This piece is constructed from concrete, rock, pete moss and semi-precious crystals including amethyst and rose quartz embedded in an expoxy resin which covers the entire work from top to bottom. I estimate it to weigh about thirty pounds. In real life, the concrete area on the top of the piece looks like water at certain angles. The blue area in the center bottom is about two inches thick and simulates the water of Ogallala. This piece was inspired by studying the last great depression which was combined with a tragic dust bowl. After years of struggle and suffering, it occurred to someone to search, and what was found was one of the greatest natural water reserves ever discovered, just beneath their feet. The symbolism of this could not be more powerful to me - in the words of Wattles, that I quoted in an earlier blog post, 'never look at the visible supply. Look always at the limitless riches in formless substance and KNOW...' This piece is meant as a visual reminder that there is ALWAYS a solution - and further, the solution really lies deep within each one of us. If we learn the process of shedding fear and begin to trust a world, a universe really, of unlimited potential - there will always be another Ogallala.

Reviews are in for 'Black Gold' ~ Paintings & Prose

It's official! The reviews are in for "Black Gold' available now at Lulu.com:


http://tinyurl.com/2bkx9za

Thanks so much – here is what some of you have said about'Black Gold"


Rob! Gorgeous...wow! You truly amaze me. I love this bending of your medium into text and image. It's very generous and rich and communicative. And your bringing in your science understanding with your philiosophical relflections and putting the two together with this sort of sensual visual imaginings....it's nice! Like all the parts of you coming together. The parts of you I know. My Father's Kingdom is a kick-ass painting! I wasn't able to really see the first image though on this computer...I need to see it on my mac. But I also really liked the second image. I love that you would tackle such anintensely big and troubling and immediate issue. I want more, Rob! ~ Fred Betz

My student is late or thinks we stopped for two weeks and I jumped at the chance to read and pour into your book. I am so moved! It is fabulous! I feel I need a better writingvocabulary to communicate how wonderful it is! ~ Robin Pedrero

I finally had the chance to read your lovely book. The format is wonderful; the paintings and what they represent are haunting; and the words are lyrical and extremely thought-provoking. Well done, my friend! ~ Beth Stafford

Hey Robert, The first thing you know old Jed is not a millionaire! The 1% of theworld that has 99% of the wealth does not want the rest of us to know the realimpact of the ravaging of the worlds resources. There is a storm coming where ...food, fuel, andcurrency will continue to be the keystones of struggle and the 1% in chargewill not be physically affected by it, not in my lifetime anyway. Nor do Ithink they will be morally affected as they have already sold what little soulsthey had for their continued participation as the masters of their universe.One can only hope they will crumble from the inside out before they suck thewhole thing dry... Wow, all that from your art... NICE!!! ~ Anthony House

People like you who express depth are what move me to the core and MOVE me ~ Thank you for being not only my colleague Robert, but a friend ~ Your work is truly catalytic ~ Thank you ! ~ Sian Lindemann

Thank you everyone – that really moved me so much


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