Please Quote Me on That

It’s a beautiful sunny Friday! I have a feeling that as Jimmy Cliff sings, “It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day” 

He also sings, “Oh yes, I can make it now the pain is gone. All of the bad feelings have disappeared” Though life has been better than before, not all the ‘bad feelings have disappeared.’ But it’s great to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. It’s been a process of meditation, walking, writing, reading, painting and the love of friends and family. I’m going to make it! 

For as long as I can remember, I have collected quotes. Just recently there was one by Benjamin Franklin that struck a nerve. “On the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet as I was, by the endeavor, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been had I not attempted it.” 

Boy, he couldn’t have said it any better. It is in this strive for perfection that I continue to challenge myself. Though in the process, I beat myself up and others, I have grown and evolved because of it. Without it change wouldn’t happen. 

Even as I write, British singer Emile Sande sings ‘I am full of light, I am full of wonder.’ What a beautiful song to hear at just the right time. I love it when this happens. I will take her words out with me out into the day. 

With both Franklin and Sande’s words I thought of a man named Jesus. I think he would agree with them. It was through his endeavors of being the best man he could possibly be that he continues to be a light in our world. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Jesus freak, but I believe him to have been an amazing human being with a great message of love. The piece here is from my LITTLE Jesus series; it’s titled “Jesus Inspire.” There’s a little Amanda Lepore and me in this piece. 

Through our words we can affect one another. Though our words we can change and inspire. Through are words we are connected. As Robert Fulghum writes, "As hard as I have tried to speak in my own voice, I realize now how much of what I have said is neither original nor unique... Thought is forever being revived, recycled, and renewed. 

Have a beautiful weekend. 

Burn Out

                                                                 Good Morning Monday. I'm just getting back from a doctor's appointment; all is well. 

After 43 years of life one could say that burn out is possible, especially in the last couple of months. Life hasn’t been so easy. 


After 10 days of Olympic coverage, I’m a little burnt out, but I continue to be inspired. Of all the moments so far, I’d have to say that my 2 most memorable have been: 1) Seeing Beach Volleyball player Keri Walsh ‘Hi Five’ the entire crew after her matches. It’s turned my heart to see her do this. Her sense of gratitude is a beautiful thing! 2) Double amputee Oscar’s Pistorius’ grace before and after his last 400M race is remarkable. His spirit is beyond amazing! 

As I wonder about life and the game of life, I wonder what if, regardless of the outcome, we saluted with grace, everyone who partook in our daily experiences. What if we said thank you a little bit more? 

The piece featured here is from my LITTLE Self-Portrait series; it’s Untitled. This past week I spent a couple of hours working on some more of these pieces. It’s been a reflective an interesting process. The piece here represents my overcoming of fears. 

Oscar’s sporting motto is, "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have." These words are incredible! How could I possibly think of burn out? What if instead I stop and appreciate the many abilities I’ve been blessed to have? What if instead I went out into the world with a sense of wonder? 

If I'm able to walk, to see, to hear, to hold, to smile, to eat, to love, to paint, to think, to talk, to write and to breathe; then I am fully able to live up to everything I imagine. 

Cheers!

Oh Leigh Pics

Good Morning World. 

My watching of the Olympics continues. I can’t get enough! Today’s post is dedicated to pop icon and all around genius Leigh Bowery. Recently, I received my book of pictures of Leigh in all his glory. Olympics-Oh Leigh Pics. Get it? 

Earlier on in the week, I found myself consumed on Youtube; I spent hours searching for stuff. I started off with Amanda Lepore and ended up watching videos of Leigh. I just purchased his biography on EBay. Though I never personally met him, I was lucky enough to see him perform at ’93 Wigstock in the now famous ‘birth’ scene. It’s something I’ll never forget! You have to see it for yourself. Here’s a link: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtZ_cnMsWo4&feature=related 

The piece here is titled “Legend of Leigh.” Leigh obviously inspires it. What an imagination he had. While on Youtube, I found a clip of Rosie O’Donnell giving an interview about Leigh. In talking about his life, she says, “His was so much less of a desire of the result as it was enjoying the voyage to it.” How often have we heard about enjoying the process, the journey as much as the destination? And for Leigh to have lived his life in such a manner is truly inspiring. As an artist, I have found that there is a greater joy in the actual process than in seeing the finished product. But this only happens when I stop to observe. It is in observation that we see the beautiful miracles happening throughout our days. 

Considering that the majority of Olympians do not receives medals, one can probably say that what also counts is the journey getting there. 

Enjoy the moments and the weekend ahead.

Olympic Smile

Good Morning World. I’ve spent the last couple of days watching Olympic coverage. I plan to do the same today with maybe a little painting. 

Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh wrote, “The source of a true smile is an awakened mind. Over the weekend I shared this quote with a great love in my life, Vero. In telling her this, I realized the answer to my ‘life’s’ slump is in these words. If you sit and think about them, there’s more to them than meets the eye. There’s more to them than meets a smile. The message behind his words is beautiful, insightful and powerful. When we share a smile with another, for a moment in life, our spirits connect in present time. It's magical. 

Many years ago while in a school cafeteria, a woman told me, “Smile kid it’s not that bad.” She smiled as she said this to me; I smiled back. I’ve never forgotten this moment. It’s reminded me about how important a smile can be. Back in college, I used to imagine my smile traveling across the world. A sort of ‘pay it forward’ idea before I even knew of this concept. I often wondered where a smile ended or if it even did. Every time I smile this woman’s spirit is in my smile. It’s a beautiful thing; it’s like her spirit will never die. I’d like to think that my own spirit would also be in another’s smile for years or centuries to come. Even in writing this, I wonder who’s spirits' past are part of my life today. Could it be everyone!? 

And since I’m thinking about how far my ‘self’ will travel, the piece here is a self-portrait. For now, it’s untitled. As I watch the Olympics today, I will work on a couple of these self-portraits. 

If the Olypmic Games can bring unity amongst nations, can a simple smile do just as much? I think it can.

Smile, Cheese, Queso! 

Let The Games Begin

Good morning world. I’m super excited about the start of the Olympics. It was 4 years ago that I got cable for the first time in my life; I wanted to watch the Olympics in Beijing. At the time I wondered about how having more channels would affect my life. I’d have to say that I’ve watched more TV than before, but in the last couple of months, I’ve made it a priority to be conscious about what sort of TV programming I’m consuming. 

It boggles me that so much of our entertainment is focused on reality TV crap. Crap is defined as ‘Something that is of extremely poor quality.’ I don’t get it? I often wonder how these shows are leaving our world a better place. Recently, out of curiosity and research, I watched an episode of the Kardashians for the first time. I found their behavior sad and quite honestly, disgusting. 

It was a perfect example of how I DON’T want to live my life. So in some way one can say that it actually made a difference. But I will definitely not tune in again. 

As for the Olympics, I’ll be watching as much as possible. Knowing the amount of effort, dedication, and sacrifice these athletes make is inspiring. Over the years, I've shed tears watching these Games. As a little boy it was my dream to have been an Olympic runner. Because of unforeseen circumstances, my dream was never realized. Yet for 20 years of my life I ran as much as I could. Crossing the finish line at the 1997 LA Marathon was a high point and one of the greatest moments in my life. 

In honor of the Olympic Games being hosted in London, the piece here is titled, “God Shave The Queen.” It remains to be one of my favorite pieces from my LITTLE People series. I found this quote by James Dean to be appropriate, “Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.” What do you dream of? What will you do today knowing that it oculd be you last. I'll keep these words close to me for as long as possible. Because if its possible; it's worth doing. 

Have a beautiful weekend and enjoy the Games.

By The Grace

Hello World. It’s Monday and in a few minutes I’m off on my morning walk. 

Last night while watching “Oprah Builds a Network” (a behind the scenes of her as CEO of OWN) she said something that struck a nerve. In struggling with the network, she said something to the effect “that at some point everyone is taken down from the mountaintop.” She was referring to not being on top of the game, yet being able to see the beauty of another mountaintop. I immediately saw how this applied to my own journey in life. Life for the past couple of months has not been easy; emotionally/ spiritually it’s been the hardest I’ve had to live with. 

Now, I can see that I’ve needed to come down from my own mountaintop. And though the valley has been quite low, I can now climb another mountain, with a different view, a different journey. I see how hearing these words will help in the transition. By the grace of God, we are given everything we can handle. By the grace of God, we are given an opportunity to live life. I’m breathing today and that is enough. I can start climbing again. 

The piece here is titled, “ By The Grace of God.” Grace Jones and a crucifix inspire it. The old proverb goes, “There but for the grace of God go I.” I like to say, “There for the grace of God go I.” In simply removing the ‘but’ from the sentence, the entire meaning is changed. It’s a reminder to see myself in everyone and everything. It doesn’t always happen so easily, but if definitely makes life easier when I do. 

Have a beautiful week ahead. 

girl paintings

girls paintings

little girls paintings

little girls paintings

clown paintings

clown paintings

clown paintings