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Happy New Year – 2010

Greetings !!!

Happy New Year – 2010!

We have left behind another calendar year. During that time, various things have occurred. We laughed, we created, we learned, we experienced, we faced challenges, we faced fears, and we moved ahead.

No matter what the challenges, we did what we could to make the experience better, we forged ahead despite difficulties (regarding learning or life in general) and here we are, ready to keep on moving.

I have been formulating a post in my mind and just when I think it is the time to post it, something else happens that makes me realize that perhaps it is not yet the appropriate time.

I have come across a few books with very interesting information that has impacted the way I further view art, experiences, life, etc., or perhaps remind me of how I may have seen it before.

Next few posts will be about them, in the mean time…

Carpe Diem

If you have not seen the movie, it is recommended.

Thank you for your readership.

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Local Color – Great Movie

Yesterday I had the opportunity to watch a great movie called “Local Color” – A very uplifting story of a younger person wanting to learn how to paint and an alcoholic painter who has giving up on art and life.

This movie was rented via Netflix, if you have the ability to watch it, I highly recommend it… this movie will definitely be an addition to our collection in the future.

“Don’t you let anyone ever talk you out of what you want to do, what you want to be” – Quote from the movie.

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Earth Hour Experience

It was rather refreshing to turn off all the lights and appliances (except some essentials) and sit in the living room with a few candles and the dynamo LED lamp. I didn’t step outside to see if anybody else was participating around us, we simple set to enjoy the hour.

Our little chihuahua dog had what could have been a puzzled face as he saw us turn everything off and go dark pretty much, however he soon found comfort next to me (after I sat down) and a few minutes later he was snoring away.

Prior to the appointed hour I was reading the comments left in various websites about this event, some wondered if doing this would make any type of impact, if it was just a waste of time and some thought it would be too much of an inconvenience.

Personally I think that anything we do can impact our environment, our surroundings either on a positive or negative way, we all have a choices to make, as simple as disposing of  a candy wrapper on the street or a garbage receptacle or by reducing the usage of electricity for one hour.

In our personal experience it felt like being around the fire on a camping trip, a time to reflect about our current lives, that which we take for granted, and our dependence on modern technology… it was so quiet and peaceful!

It was too dark to use watercolors, instead I did this quick sketch of the table that was in front of me  (micron/moleskin).

Kitaro – Matsuri

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Creative Genius: A different thinking approach

Yesterday I had the opportunity to watch a TED talk given by Elizabeth Gilbert, where she talks about the potential of genius existing outside of ourselves.

…and the fear that creative individuals encounter during their creation process, a potential different way to deal with that fear process.

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San Francisco SketchCrawl #21

For me SketchCrawl events are more than the participation of the event itself, they are also opportunities to discover a little more of San Francisco and  any other location I may be visiting. I believe I am not the only one participating in this discovery. I often hear people say “this is the first time I have been here” or “I always wanted to come here but for some reason have not.”

This last SketchCrawl was once again a discovery, I live about one hour away from San Francisco and after all these years of driving thru the Golden Gate and the Waldo tunnel (the tunnel with a rainbow painted on it) I just cant help to continue to marvel at the beautiful views from various locations as well as other structures / buildings. Strangely enough I have not fully explored all the areas of the city as much as I would like, however I hope to be able to spend more time doing so in the future, so that I can concentrate more on the actual event of sketching.

This time I thought it would be great If I could drive to the Legion of Honor museum, and perhaps sketch outside and around the area. I also read that if you pay to enter the Legion of Honor museum, you can also enter the de Young museum with the same ticket on the same day.

I spent some time a day or two before the event analyzing the area via google maps, to figure out what path to take to get to the museum, so I was technically all set to get there, except I didn’t really get there (oh, I drove by it on the way to the meeting point but didn’t stop – I ran out of time).

Back to the story… after I crossed the Golden Gate into San Francisco and was driving on Lincoln Blvd (part of the 49 Mile Scenic Drive) heading towards the Legion of Honor museum. I noticed a small parking area to the right of the road with what appeared to be a path leading to the coast, so I thought hmm since I have never been here… lets stop for a bit and check this area out.  It was an opportunity to view the Golden Gate from the opposite side of Fort Point. The view is nice and there are a couple of trails, one leading down to the ocean.

I managed to do only two sketches, I spend a good portion of the day just enjoying the view, going down the trail with a sense of adventure and then working my way up a lot slower, meeting along the way equally challenged individuals resting, for once it was nice to be in the shade… no fog on that day.

Below is the view from the top of the trail, facing west towards the Pacific Ocean.

On the way down the trail there is a viewing area, where you are able to see most of the Golden Gate.

If you know of any other places to discover, please share!

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Technology that unites us and separate us

Almost a month ago a co-worker from a previous job passed away suddenly. His passing surprised many members of his family, close friends and co-workers from the various companies he had worked at. It surprised me as well.

AOL Instant Messenger is what kept many of us in contact with him throughout the years, the technology that kept us in contact with each other even though some of us lived in the same city. The same technology keep us apart from seeing each other in person… sometimes its a lot easier to engage someone via chat that to pick up the phone and call.

As we near the end of 2008, I would like to share the following poem with you (which has been in my mind for the last couple of weeks).

In life brother, in life

If you want to make someone happy,
someone who you love very much
say it today, be very good
In life brother, in life.

Don’t wait until they die
If you wish to give a flower?
send it today with love
In life brother, in life.

If you wish to say “I love you”
to the people in your house
to your friend, close or far away
In life brother, in life.

Don’t wait until the people die
for you to love them
to let your feelings be felt
In life brother, in life.

You will be very happy,
if you learn to make others happy
all of those that you know
In life brother, in life.

Don’t visit cemeteries,
and don’t place flowers on graves
fill the hearts of love
In life brother, in life.

-Ana María Rabatté

(Translated from its original language – Spanish).

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