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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 Religious texts should not be read as historical documents, but as important allegories which, just like dreams, tell us something about the human experience and our quest for spirituality.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.


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