Solitude

Solitary

In our world today solitude rolls off individual tonques as a horrible condition, yet as artist it is a word a state a time we should cherish.  It is in solitude that I find some of my most creative and inspiring thoughts and visions.  Why is solitude considered “bad” in our world today?  First and foremost because it is different, it is not the norm to sit in silence and contemplate.  Today we are constently bombard with the noise of multimedia and technology so much so that most can not comfortably sit or function without it.  Many if subjected to silence because of power failure become agitated and irritated.

Solitude is not just a few moments of silence though, it can be a state of being one which I find comforting.  When I can achieve a state of solitude I can walk through a chaotic world in peace, serenity and creativity.  A state of solitude allows me to see through calm, observing eyes and pull the beauty from the chaos.  Today engage in moments of solitude and see how it stimulates your creativity and your soul.

Scary Art

Over the past few days I have had the opportunity to view some fantastic art in a medium that I don’t normally think about using.  Scare crows.  Our botantical gardens (here in Huntsville, AL) annually sponser a scarecrow trail with entries from local businesses, schools, organizations and individuals.  I found some incredible pieces of art this year and wanted to share for your enjoyment.
Click on the thumbnail for larger view.

LOL

Observing International Photocopy your face day

No words or ramblings today, just a laugh for you hopefully.  Enjoy!!!

A rose is a rose is a rose or is it?

THE HEART OF A ROSE

I find it interesting how people react to titles of photos and have come to the conclusion that the title can cause an unwarranted bias on the picture.  The title I use for the above photo on my flickr site is “When you look into the heart of a rose” and one of the commentators humorously finished the sentence by saying I see nothing but the bugs.  They were kidding being funny however it really made me do some contemplating about the titles we put on our work.  Now titling is not always my strong suit simply because sometimes I am just too lazy to think through the best title, but lets explore for a moment what purpose the title serves.  In the past titling art work wasn’t that crucial because the observer saw the work before the title, but in today’s digital age it is more likely that the observer will see the title before the work because it has been pulled by a search engine so if the title isn’t interesting or if it is offensive then that observer may never make that click.

So what makes a good title?  In my humble opinion the best titles evoke the same stirring as the piece of art however finding that perfect match is really difficult sometimes.  This subject doesn’t just end with art though it spills into every moment of our everyday lives.  Names of businesses, products, communities, pets and most importantly children.  Ultimately your title (name) is all that you have, so when someone speaks or hears your name does it stir thoughts of hard work, loyality, honesty and respect or does it cause thoughts of disinterest, laziness, dishonesty and disrespect.  A rose by any other name?