Skip to main content

Greetings

Hello everybody I suppose I better start blogging again! I was blogging over at wordpress for a little while but I just couldn't get to grips with the format. I like that this blog is easily linked to my other accounts, it gets automatically shared with my twitter and facebook, so that makes life easier. So what is this blog all about? Basically, this is my online diary where I can write about the stuff I'm doing. I often share pictures and things on my facebook page, but my blog enables me to go into more detail and write several paragraphs, if you're interested in reading more about what I do.

What is the purpose of my art? When I was a little kid, I wanted to become an artist so that I could communicate the lovely things in my imagination with the rest of the world. I wanted to bring the imaginary to life. This is why I do what I do, because I believe in the importance of imagination. What you have in your head is not insignificant. The thoughts and images that pop into your head are powerful things. Where do they come from? Are you in contact with some strange otherworld?

A few people who have helped me learn about the workings of the mind are neuroscientist Sam Harris and philosophical speakers Eckhart Tolle and Alan Watts. They have helped me understand the mystical or spiritual experience of enlightenment, in a very down to earth and scientific way. As I understand it, this is a state of mind in which we are able to "lift up the veil" of maya (illusion) and perceive reality as it truly is. This is confirmed by scientific enquiry, which is our most efficient way of studying the nature of the universe. Science does not need to be at odds with spirituality, and religions need to be flexible enough to adapt to scientific advancement. The way I see it, religions are self-improvement programs, to improve personal and communal well-being. Religious texts should not be read as historical documents, but as important allegories which, just like dreams, tell us something about the human experience and our quest for spirituality. The term "spirituality" comes from Latin spiritus meaning "breath", which was thought of as the animating force which sustained a living being. For this reason, spirituality came to denote the realm of the inner life and the attainment of inner peace.

I try to create my artwork as gateways to inner peace, as visual triggers for enlightenment. This is why my art tends to be dream like or surreal, because it is portraying an inner experience. And doesn't all art? Every painting, photo, or sculpture is a way of communicating our internal perceptions. Visual communication is a way to speak without words, to transcend language barriers, and to express ourselves universally. I want to be able to help people with my work, to inspire them and bring them joy. This is why I do what I do.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Dorset Ooser

  A massive wooden head with snapping jaw mechanism, real horns and hair. Photo from 1883-1891.  The Dorset Ooser has possible connections to the horned costumes sometimes worn by participants in English Mummers plays. The etymology of Ooser is also disputed, with various possibilities available, but I think it's most likely the same as the Oss, a snapping skull paraded around during midwinter. The pronunciation is very similar, and it's simply a way of saying "horse" without pronouncing the h. These teeth-gnashing heads are also known as 'obby 'oss or hobby horse.  One use of the Dorset Ooser was to strike fear into villagers who were perceived as shameful. Usually the target was an unruly wife who had disobeyed her husband by raising her voice, scolding him, beating him, or cheating on him. A woman who was perceived as a bad wife was forced to ride backwards on a donkey or horse while the angry Ooser snapped his jaw at her and a crowd of villagers beat their...

A Coven of Witches

Last year I posted an advert on witchvox calling for local people who would be interested in starting a new coven. Interest has been slowly and steadily growing. I currently have a potential coven of 10 ladies. I'm excited in a nervous kind of way. I am not the most socially confident person. The thought of meeting strangers is quite terrifying. I don't know how many of the potential witches are really up for trying this. I always assume that out of all who express an interest, only half will follow through. Since last year I had a good feeling about May, that this would be the time for new projects. I've proposed a coven meeting in May and so far three individuals have said they would like to meet up. What I worry about is being able to meet everyone's needs, because I want the coven to work for everyone. I want clear communication, this is the most important thing, that we are able to share our ideas. I don't like the idea of a coven where a select leadership...

Partial Eclipse Full Moon in Pisces

The partial lunar eclipse happened when the moon was low in the sky, and there was a fair amount of cloud here. But after the eclipse, the clouds cleared and the moon rose over the rooftops. I had a bonfire lit and locally picked herbs to burn. Key words for this full moon were: - Compassion - Vulnerability - Imagination - Sensitivity - Avoidance - Procrastination  Questions and Considerations: The power of imagination and intuition. How can we follow our hearts and live a compassionate lifestyle? This is a time of great sensitivity toward the emotions of others, and a yearning to give comfort to anyone who needs it. This willingness to help can grow to feel like a great burden. This can lead a sensitive person to hide away from the world because they feel overwhelmed by the work that needs to be done. In this case, we really need to take care of ourselves, to become emotionally stable and focused on practical goals. The key is to find some small way that you can use your beautiful...