Relaxed Intensity, or Presence: How this helps me paint

Watching Olympic champion athlete Florence Griffith Joyner run a good example of presence. She is focused, yet very relaxed. She appears to be having fun. She is at the top of her game. She is not over thinking.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of the book FLOW, discovered that people find genuine satisfaction during a state of consciousness called Flow (or Presence). In this state they are completely absorbed in an activity, especially an activity which involves their creative abilities.

If you are like me and wish to exist in FLOW, what should we do -?
Ask yourself...
Do I feel good when I work -?
Do I feel relaxed -?
Am I working in while being in the present moment-?
Have I removed thinking -?
Does work feel easy to me and am I enjoying myself-?
If not...
Notice when you tighten up.
Move into relaxed stillness.
Do not bring in thoughts.

Live in the moment with intensity and focus.
I use my “ASAP” plan which I developed:
"A" - Allow the "is-ness" of life to happen.
"S" -Surrender to what is.
"A" -Accept what happens to me and in life.
"P" -Presence — step into this place and live in the NOW.

If you are stuck try this meditation:
Breathe in to the count of four; hold to the count of four; then exhale to the count of six; repeat until you can return to stillness and presence.
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Mr. Bear (My beloved pet)
April 25, 2020 - June 22, 2021

Today while on my hiking trail next to Gooseberry Creek I found the last baseball Mr. Bear played with. You can see it in this shot, which is the last image I ever took of my beloved friend. The ball is right next to his beautiful coal-black paw.
I tossed this ball gently into Gooseberry Creek by a spot where Mr. Bear liked to swim. The white toy bobbed a bit as it curled around a tornado of swirling water, and then I watched it float downstream. I got a picture of Bear's last toy before it was completely out of view. Look closely at the very center of the frame below and you will spot it.

Late last week I wrote Mr. Bear a note which I floated in the creek just as a thunderstorm ensued. Before I got completely soaked, I watched my note move down the center of the waterway. My message to Mr. Bear floated right on top of the muddy waters for quite some time. Before the note was entirely out of view, I had to run for cover, as the skies filled with lighting and my ears heard loud claps of thunder.
As I drove home in my art van I reflected on how much I miss my dear friend, who inspired my recent landscape collection, including the painting in the video above. Mr. Bear brought me mountains of smiles and loads of laughs.
Thank you Mr. Bear.
I miss you.
I love you.

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MY FEELINGS GOT INTO ABE'S EYES

How An Artist's Own Mood Can Be Seen In The Paint

This week had its share of challenges for me. My dear dog, Mr. Bear was struggling with a mysterious health ailment. We had visited the vet multiple times. Each office appointment resulted in getting us a bit closer to discovering what what was so very wrong with my beautiful black Pyrador. Yesterday I was waiting on a call from Veterinarian, Dr. H. She would be providing me with blood test results. A cancer screening was also in progress.

While all of this was going on, I was also painting yesterday. I would work a bit at my easel, and then take care of Mr. Bear's needs. I couldn't help but notice the vast difference in my pet's behavior, from being larger than life, to lifeless. This experience left me feeling many intense emotions.

As I worked on Lincoln's gray gaze yesterday, I stepped back to access my progress. I noticed that my own feelings of intense concern for my dog's wellbeing seemed to have shown up in the emotion in Abe's eyes. After further examination, I realized that Lincoln looked as worried as I felt-! This was not the effect I was going for.

At that juncture, I decided to start from scratch, and rebuild the eyes, beginning with the black pupils and working all the way through to the eyelids. This process was slow and methodical, but as I worked with care and love, I began so see Lincoln's beautiful gaze materialize. Stroke by stroke, I worked to put just as much attention and love into Abe's eyes, as I had been putting into tending for Mr. Bear. When I was done painting, Lincoln was looking at me with his well-known steady and firm stare. After all, it's always love.

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WHAT HELPS ME TAKE RISKS-?

I have been away form my studio for three weeks. During this time I enjoyed a festival in Virginia, I reorganized my workspace, and I gardened. I just knew inspiration would come to me for my next Lincoln if I concentrated on other things.
I feel rest is extremely important to an artist. I am a prolific creator. I am either working hard to replace the pieces I've sold, or I'm creating commissions for clients. This process of continually making art can have a drawback--lack of risk taking. For this reason, I like to take a few weeks off from painting several times a year. When I do this, I notice my collections remain fresh. The rest actually helps me see things differently. In other words, I am more likely to take creative risks if I insert distractions that are not related to art.

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WHAT SPARKS THE NEXT PAINTING -?

"Inspiration is creativity on the alert."

I love the quote above. I read these words years ago, and wrote them down, and posted them on my easel. So, how do I get started with a new project -? First, I wait until I'm well rested, and then I let my mind stop thinking. At that point new paintings begin to materialize rapidly in my imagination. When I open myself up to experiencing the NOW, great things happen. With an absence of thought and an alertness to what is in front of me, truly magical artworks can develop. All of these statements say the same thing -- stop thinking-! Now, that may sound unbelievable to many of you, but this is exactly how I work best. The moment I start thinking about every move I'm going to make, the piece goes flat. When I am in the NOW I simply love watching the magic unfold before my eyes. I find that it is almost as though I am not doing anything at all, because the difficult job seems easy, as I implement great focus.  What I do is this: I suspend thinking; I quiet my mind; and I pay absolute attention to the moment at hand; I live in the NOW. Then, and only then, do magical things happen. 

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GOOD ART vs BAD ART
What Is Great Art -? What's The Difference-?

The power within you, the journey you travel towards presence or love, this power can create great art through you. Art of a lesser quality is created by your ego. In other words, don't create to show others that you are a victim, or because you think it will make you happy, fulfilled, rich, or famous.

True great art creation cannot come out of neediness. That would be ego driven, bad art. Creation coming from the ego will lead to unhappiness, boredom and burnout for the artist.

Non-egoic creation uses you as an instrument, to bring paint and canvas--through your love--into art. That is the difference between great art that inspires people, and other works of lower quality.

Why not take the journey and create from that great place -? Who knows...you may create a masterwork.