http://www.edensart.com/ee/index.php/eden/index/ en artist@edensart.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-13T19:55:32+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/what_is_the_matter/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/what_is_the_matter/#When:19:55:32Z Higgs Boson Field In my book, An Artist Empowered, I devoted a large and in-depth chapter to Art & Physics. Why such an investigation into theoretical physics and its pioneers in a book about art? In a meaningful sense, both art & physics aim for the same thing: reveal the magic of the unseen. The more we comprehend matter, the better we can put its secret qualities to good use. The great artists of the past were deeply intrigued by time, space, and matter as it transforms into energy—call it alchemy, call it art. Finding the fundamental bit of matter is one of the holy grails in theoretical physics. As deep as we peer into the quantum world, there will always be a new underlying mystery to solve. Meanwhile, the quantum world often shows up in my paintings. Here is the Higgs Boson Field that cannot yet be seen by machines, but can be viewed in all its glory in art. awareness 2012-05-13T19:55:32+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/eden_art_slideshow/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/eden_art_slideshow/#When:21:01:10Z Beyond Europa I’ve put together a meditative yet lively slideshow of my most recent series, Improvisations, which explores the diversity of basic, or primitive shapes. I used FotoMagico, which I totally recommend to all artists, to create the lively slideshow with accompanying music. Here’s the youtube link. Also, I’ve entered Beyond Europa in a Talenhouse contest. If you would like to support me, go to my Talenthouse submission page and click on support Eden. You know the score: what goes around comes around—sooner or later. Thank you.     art 2012-04-27T21:01:10+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/opinions_not_thinking/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/opinions_not_thinking/#When:20:17:27Z Tall Tales Ancient masters reveled a great truth: opinions, not money, are the root of all evil. And we all know the rest of the story: ‘everyone’ has an opinion. In most cases, when you have an opinion, it is based on what you have heard from others. Your opinion is not you, but a rehash of what came before—which could be a good thought, too. Not thinking, in the Zen understanding, is not only mystical, it is practical. When you access not thinking, you leave opinions behind for a grander purpose and awareness. I have a covenant with my art: not thinking while creating. This keeps my opinions out, and my art original. Yes, but how do I access not thinking, you may ask. If you want to find out you will. See the reason in the advice. Meanwhile, for the important things, find out for yourself. First-hand knowledge has great liberating power. art 2012-04-21T20:17:27+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/bodhisattva_i_presume/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/bodhisattva_i_presume/#When:20:01:39Z The Bodhisattva Journey In Buddhism: A bodhisattva is, generally speaking, an enlightened being who returns to this world out of compassion to serve his fellow beings. If you had elevated yourself from this carnal-based existence, would you return in an act of altruism? Don’t answer too quickly. Whether you are a Buddhist or not is the not issue. The concept of the bodhisattva is an object lesson in awareness, which is the umbrella understanding that reaches and affects all concepts, such as the quality of life. The beauty of the bodhisattva is that you can be that being now through right action, which also fuels the magic of art from the soul via intuition. You need no one’s permission to be of good character. awareness 2012-04-13T20:01:39+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/the_birthday_of_buddha/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/the_birthday_of_buddha/#When:20:20:40Z Buddha Presence On this day, also Easter, practitioners of the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism, especially those in Japan, celebrate the birth of the Buddha. Among the Buddha’s great teachings, he instructed others to find the truth for themselves. He knew that his dharma, his mission, was not to create an endless stream of students and disciples who forever remained in those roles. His mission was to set his fellows free from dogma and the cult of personality. Listening to the Buddha is a clear and beautiful path, not the truth itself, which must be experienced first-hand. In this regard, are you a leader, or a follower? After your response, what did you expect? The true artist leads, which comes at a price she must be willing to pony up with whatever is required and without hesitation. awareness 2012-04-08T20:20:40+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/walkabout_redux/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/walkabout_redux/#When:20:48:23Z The Portal Sure, you can spend a lifetime in a ‘village’ and live an honorable life. But, if you feel the wanderlust, the impulse to travel beyond, then the die has been cast. The enigma of a walkabout is that the destination remains a mystery until you get there—which also describes how my art comes into existence. Have you felt the calling? What did you do about it? If the feeling was pure, untainted my laziness or the other deadly sins, then it will lead you to your dharma, you purpose in life. And what a reward you will reap. Note: The Portal was featured on the popular Coast to Coast AM syndicated radio show. They also published it on their facebook page. You can see a larger image of the painting there, too. Coast to Coast AM kul cha 2012-04-05T20:48:23+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/intuition_express/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/intuition_express/#When:20:49:13Z Serenity The quest for intuition and its sublime power is as timeless as the question: ‘Is it or is it not my intuition?’ This is the fundamental question involving action or restraint; if ego drives either, then results are self-conscious and open to distress; if awareness is the arbiter and driving force, then the intuitive results are grounded in reality. Intuition follows universal laws of enlightenment, which includes do no harm. Intuition has no connection to petty desires, revenge, or stupidity. Once you know the score and own it, the sense of intuition develops a clear path to your awareness. The rest is up to you. Since my art flows from intuition, it has no ulterior motive, other than the need to be born. awareness 2012-03-29T20:49:13+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/art_appreciation/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/art_appreciation/#When:20:49:49Z Iron Will It’s come up repeatedly, most especially from the public. How do I look at art? Art can be intimidating for those who have always relied on someone else’s opinion to make sense of the artwork. How do you know it’s art? The answer is that you must have an unwavering dedication and passion to find out. When you do, fine art appreciation is the reward. Meanwhile, some suggestions for viewing art: 1) Don’t think and don’t have opinions immediately. Feel the work without words. You are after a transcendental experience, not a lecture about details. 2) Don’t start looking for things and naming them, as if this was a contest like Where’s Waldo. This is the analytical brain at work, which interferes with the aesthetic, art experience. 3) If you see it, it’s there. For example, in modern abstract art, it’s what you see is what you get. Nothing more or less. If you don’t see it, it’s not there. Your view is as valid as anyone else’s. 4) No one knows more about the art that you are viewing than you—not the museum director, curator, gallery owner, or even the artist. This is an awareness that you must own. At least, you now know where the art truth is coming from so you won’t be distracted by nonsense. Put these observations to work the next time you are called—and prove them to your own self. awareness 2012-03-14T20:49:49+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/deep_art_of_course/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/deep_art_of_course/#When:23:30:35Z The Shaman’s Reverie How do you get there, to that deepest part of your art? I often explain that when I’m painting, I’m not thinking. I know this might be a difficult concept to comprehend quickly. Not thinking is a pillar of understanding in Zen Buddhism where intuition and spontaneity lead to truths that supersede the dogma of thinking. Another way to look at what I’m saying is this: When I paint I must control myself through self-discipline not to have opinions about the art that is revealing itself. A star tennis pro’s body reacts immediately and instinctively to the action. There is no time to think about the move because doing so losses matches. Try not thinking and confront your own self, which is a great gift to you and others around you. awareness 2012-02-28T23:30:35+00:00 http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/aspiring_artists_defined/ http://www.edensart.com/index.php/site/aspiring_artists_defined/#When:01:15:56Z Miss Neptune’s Reverie As rewarding as it might seem to have praise and recognition from others, an artist must first know the value of her art. Everything else then is gravy. The phrase ‘aspiring artist’ often pops up like a weed chocking off all the nearby plants. But what does this mean? There is no such thing as an aspiring artist because he is or is not an artist. You know what I’m saying if you feel it in your soul, in your bones. Why is this clarification necessary? Aspiring means to one day become, which most often refers to public recognition and marketing. I don’t rely on the entrenched and incestuous art establishment to validate me; if they do, great. If not, I have already validated myself. Get my book, An Artist Empowered, and expand your awareness. You have to prove your dedication over time, but this is not aspiring to be. This is your contract with the Great Creator—the source of your gift. Are you still aspiring, or not? awareness 2012-02-23T01:15:56+00:00