Falling In Love With Art and Embracing Your Creative Heart
Go From Hobby To Transformative Emotional Experience
Hello Friends, Artists, and Thrill Seekers,
In this post; my thoughts on how to embrace your inner artist, the latest from the mosaic retreat, Kathie sold a piece plus I made some special-order frames.
Living Your Imagination
I’m just going to put the knife between my teeth and dive right in, damn the piranhas!
\(o▂⊙)/
I’ve always had this rather extroverted desire to create. One of my earliest memories was when I was about 2ish years old. I remember watching my dad paint the living room walls using a tray and roller. After a while when he got up to do something, my first instinct was to grab the paint roller and proceed to start painting a picture.
Well, I decided to paint, I’m not making this up, a toilet. Yep, there I was happily going about making the tank, the base and my coup de gras, an ellipse for the seat! I created a masterpiece, that is until he walked in and saw me. Instead of appreciating my stroke of genius, he painted my seat with his hand and yelled something at me.
Dang, I was too young to form words so I couldn’t tell him that it was a picture, but that was my first experience before a severe art critic. He was too blind to see the marvel I had created, instead it was something to be obliterated. You think I would have been traumatized or something.
( ◎_◎)
Fast-forward a lifetime: Over the years, I’ve learned much about the different methods an individual will employ in fostering their creative outlet, so after seeing the magnificent works being created during the last art class, it occurred to me that there are a lot of creative-minded people I know that say they would like to join us, but never do because of, well…
…reasons… (.′◔_′◔.)
But that is a conversation for another post as there is a different topic that is not discussed with the same alacrity, vis-a-vis technique, and that is falling in love with your art, and not to sound cheesy here, but that art is YOU! So, I thought that I would reach out to anyone cultivating their own means of artistic expression, be it the hobbyist, the dabbler or the closet creator, I would like it if you would let it shine!
This could be you, or it could be a friend of yours who doesn’t feel they have the chops to become an artist. Most successful creatives have walked through the shadows of uncertainty, that lonely road where the gloomy cloud of downplaying ones own abilities and laboring like having a backpack full of bricks under the thought that their work isn’t good enough. Creators are apt to think nobody will like their talents and they may as well go back to sipping box wine, eating chips and watching endless cat videos (I know, cats are hilarity incarnate). I also realize that rejection is brutal, but then, so is life.
ᶠᵉᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ /ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
Seriously, if you keep those beautiful artworks to yourself because you feel they are unworthy, I am here to disabuse you of that notion. And this goes especially to the veteran artist who may still have doubts, everyone does, so welcome to the club. It matters not whether you draw, paint, write poetry, sing or are excellent at making cat videos, if you are a closeted creator, please read on this already long post.
But first, ha ha, we need to take the 30,000 foot view from my seat next to the landing gear. It seems to me that over the past couple decades, the course of human interactions has unfolded rather atypically as of late, to put it charitably.
We have a culture where it is now acceptable for large segments of the population to experience life deeply connected to the virtual world. For what it’s worth, they may be intimately aware of trends, news, and culture, but they are often utterly disconnected from nature and it is becoming evident that this is trending towards some rather baffling behavior.
I have noticed how many of the incessantly on-line types have expanded their vistas and have learned much about life outside of their own, but their interests tend to be fragmented and less focused towards anything that could enrich their personal growth. These folks, living mostly indoors, typically lead cloistered lives and sequester themselves to their inner sanctum, treading tirelessly on the Mobius strip gaming or going down several mirrored rabbit holes in order to enjoy the delirium of others in the rage-click-bait blogosphere.
This on-line tethering has become ubiquitous. Look at any waiting room today and notice almost every head is bowed as if in reverence to a mighty king in their presence that they must never make eye contact, or with anyone, ever or, heaven forbid, utter “Hello.” or “Nice weather today!” or “Bugger off, you twit!”. No, they just suffer their narcissism in silence.
You: “Wait a minute, what’s he going on about this time?”
Me: “Stick with me here, this makes sense, or at least it did on three hours sleep last night.”
Paradoxically, it is often true that one can discover deep and profound dimensions of wonder by disconnecting from all external stimuli and reconnecting with ones own thoughts. The mind is like an attic, you would be surprised at just how much junk you have up there. Things you’ve forgotten, feelings you once had for that tender smile of a loved one of days gone by, and all those familiar places where you grew up, or that time you spilled a drink on your date. Reflection is often the first step in self improvement.
Why do I bring all this up? Because your inner creative live there and you won’t find it watching endless sportsball or streaming movies or looking at prawns (you know what I mean, boys). Isolating ones self with ones self may seem like an elementary undertaking, a simple task afforded by sitting in a quiet space without the noise from outside or gadgets such as a TV, phone or stereo. One need simply relax and lose oneself in thought, right?
Not so fast, Mr. Peabody (ΘεΘ;)
For some people, drowning out the chaos and looking inward isn’t so easy at all. For a few, frightening.
The goal with this exercise isn’t to go searching for the meaning of life, rather this is a method for sharpening the creative force we all have deep in our soul. For those willing to take such a journey, being able to focus one’s energy on finding what truly interests us might seem impossible in the day-to-day, but from what I have discovered, the best method for overcoming the creative block is to disconnect from the artificial world as much as possible and visit those places of fond memories, or as the kids say, go out and touch grass. If you can’t be outside for whatever reason (like six months of slashing rain or criminal gangs where you live), one can at least meditate.
The point is to touch grass, or walk under the night sky and then go cut glass, or mix up some paint, or wield a pen, throw some clay, build a birdhouse or even break out the guitar or instrument of choice. You will find the clarity of thought is rejuvenated and creating becomes easier.
Now to you closet creators, what say you? Are you willing to turn off the TV or put down that mirror of horrors called a phone? You don’t need outside approval or validation, just be the artist you want to see in yourself, then call me in the morning.
RETREAT!!!
I REPEAT! It’s time to Retreat!
No, don’t run away, I mean come to the RETREAT for artists at The Manor!
People who are interested in;
Learning how to make glass mosaics
Discover the surreal art of glass melting and fusing
Or just want to learn about designing all sorts of creative things
Attending these retreats will put you in the company of other artists that gather to have fun and create! The classes typically begin on a Thursday or Friday and last until Sunday around noon, during which you will be served breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Here are a few pictures from the one just held from March 14-16 2025:
Click on any image to enlarge
This is what I see when walking through the front door - “Hi Dave!”
Find Marvelous Mosaic at: 64535 Columbia River Hwy, Deer Island, Oregon 97054
Apology
Before I go any further, I wish to offer my apologies to all subscribers, especially my paid subs, for the lack of consistent posts. I needed a rest and for my birthday we went to the coast for a few days. Our good friend Jamie joined us for a day. That was cool because she got me my gift, a delicious pizza!
Also, friends, it is no secret that I have been heavily engaged with our lovely and affordable US hell-care system. For over 13 years I have been trying to find a cure, or at least proper remedy, but to no avail. This has left quite an impression on me. For a rant about it, see below1
If you get any enjoyment from these posts but being a paid subscriber isn’t an option for you, you could…
Okay, back to the art.
Kathie Sells A Flower Garden!
Among the most prolific works my beloved Kathie creates are her Flower Gardens. This one sold for $350 to a couple in the Portland area.
My Sweetheart has completed almost 100 mosaics!
Specialty Frame For Lynn
Lynn sent me specific dimensions for this one. In her house is a window that she wanted to cover with a mosaic but needed the mosaic frame to be an exact match to the window frame so there would be no shadow.
Bottom end 3¼”, the top 1¾, and sides 1¼ made from true 1” thick reclaimed maple.
Her mosaic is pictured in that gallery above.
Ye Olde Shoppe
This is a not-so-great panorama shot of the inside of my shop. It is tiny, but despite how messy the picture makes it look, it is highly organized for three table saws, a Delta belt-driven table sander, a bandsaw, planer, miter saw, compound miter saw, two router tables, split level workbench, a huge array of hand operated power tools, shop vac, oodles of screws, nails and other fasteners, squares, jigs and guides, files, rasps and a multitude of hand tools, two compressors, paints, sealers, adhesives, caulking and glazing, drill bits and augers, plus stacks of wood.
Well, that’s all I got for now as I am still dealing with really awful maladies and don’t know how soon I’ll be posting here again, but I will make every effort to not take so danged long.
For over a decade I have endured the daily torment of this interminable cachexia. Instead of some sort of cure, the process has been endless pattern of useless wait times just for me to have the privilege of speaking to some apathetic semi-robotic office worker. Upon arrival at her castle desk, I will be greeted by her typical thousand-mile vacant stare where she will pretend-listen to why I am there.
Afterwards, this automaton will refer me to a different clinic staffed by children that had screwed up the message from the robot I just spoke to and so I’ll be back dealing with these same midwits who’s soul has long since estranged them, only after the needless frustration of sorting out their own mess will I be able to finally be seen by an alleged physician, at least that is why they insists on the title of “Doctor”. Said Doctor will then be way too busy to listen to my petty issues about how my very life essence is forsaking me. So I continue in this holding pattern until the day I can find someone, somewhere that gives a half a rodent’s rectum as to why things are going so horribly wrong. The good news is that since last March I am no longer a hostage to the Kaiser fraud network.
My observation at this point is that this is a feature, not a bug.
I have found Burdock root tea, which I often take with milk and honey meself, to be very effective at addressing wasting issues. It has high inulin which stabilizes blood sugar especially if one's appetite is faltering. Also Burdock cleans the blood. I have used Burdock from Mountain Rose Herbs, and have taken it for a few months at a time when needed, a pint a day. Also, Slippery Elm tea/gruel is very good for smoothing out the digestive tract. Thinking of you from NoPo Dave. best
Thanks for this, Dave. Truly sorry to hear about your cachexia (I had to look that up). The medical community is good at fixing cuts and bruises, but when it comes to anything like this their only answer seems to be drugs and more drugs. My wife has suffered a chronic illness for decades and we know all about the medical industrial complex. I hope you get some answers.