at 11:05 PM Q Who is the first painter who made an impact on you? 

Monet Q If you could have any artist paint your portrait who would it be? 

John Singer Sargent 

Q What painting would you most like to live with? A Rothko 

Q Besides being a can artist, what job would you most like to have? A Writer 

Q Name three painters you love. Cy Twombly, Joan Mithell. Gherard Richter

at 10:58 PM "Not all who wander are lost..." - Tolkien Allow yourself to fail, to screw up. When he was 74, Robert Rauschenberg said, “Screwing things up is a virtue. Being correct is never the point. Being right can stop all the momentum of a very interesting idea.” It is this attitude that will allow you to see beyond what others and even you yourself have decided should be the limits of art or other forms of creativity. It will help you see outside the box, beyond the possible. In 1965, Sol Lewitt wrote the following encouragement to a then young Eva Hesse, counseling her to stop over-thinking her art and to allow herself to fail, saying, “Learn to say ‘fuck you’ to the world once in a while. You have every right to. Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, confusing, itching, scratching, mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling, numbling, rambling, gambling, tumbling, scumbling, scrambling, hitching, hatching, bitching, moaning, groaning, honing, boning, horse-shitting, hair-splitting, nit-picking, nose-sticking, ass- gouging, eyeball-poking, finger-pointing, alleyway-sneaking, long waiting, small stepping, evil eyeing, back-scratching, searching, perching, besmirching, grinding, grinding, grinding, grinding away at yourself. Stop it and just DO!”

at 8:32 PM

Mastery

I wish I had written this. But I will give credit where it is due in order that you might learn more.

I think I got this from this site, but not sure. go see. Mastery

"In a word: MASTERY. They’ve MASTERED something. Something inte­res­ting and valua­ble. They are MASTERS of their craft. It may be an old-fashioned word that makes peo­ple uncom­for­ta­ble, but that’s only because it’s something that elu­des most people.

Though, having watched these mas­ters care­fully first-hand, I can honestly say MASTERY is more satisf­ying than money (and I’ve seen both, trust me). If you’re up for it, yes, MASTERY MATTERS MORE THAN MONEY, MASTERY MATTERS MORE THAN SUCCESS.

And it’s por­ta­ble. It tra­vels with you, whe­re­ver you go. No land­lord, no boss, no reces­sion, no Wall Street analyst, no news­pa­per cri­tic can take it away. It’s something that truly belongs to you, for always.

So when a young per­son asks me for career advice these days, I tell her, “Don’t worry about so much about money, fame, suc­cess, wha­te­ver. Worry about Mas­tery– that is something pre­cious you can actually con­trol. And yes, if you’ve achie­ved mas­tery, you’re more likely to be suc­cess­ful and pros­pe­rous, any­way.” Again, MASTERY MATTERS MORE THAN SUCCESS. So go for it. Thank you."  

Go see my art: 

cheryljohnson.co

at 6:27 PM

Zebras Unite

Perhaps as an artist I really do want to change the world. In my early days i did a silkscreen pair of zebras for my business and called it " partners in crime," perhaps one of more favorite entrepenurial adventures. Sorry, babbling. Some of us are Outside Zebras that avoid the Herd, we, by design, live on the edge, we make purple cows that become Blue Swans who can only share smart conversations with their own clan. Who can know. I think we are all artists, creating all the time. Sometimes it seems like we're all looking else where for ideas rather than looking inward. We all go thru stages of copying and regurgitating each others ideas, but I think that's only natural since 1) ideas that work, well, simply work so why change them. 2) We all tend to naturally gravitate toward those who think like us.  Example:  I even am drawn to unusual beings who probably really are all aliens from Gastonia. Explanation for another day. We all seem to search for tribe members and often we become groupies of one anothers tribe or part of a "collector clan" idea. I think there are even books about clans and tribes. I.e. read "Tribes" by Seth Godin.  Sometimes we're all just coming to similar conclusions. Everything has been said. There really is nothing new under the sun and all is vanity. Years ago I read a post titled "Be the Outside Zebra."  I can't find the post and my computer crashed, but the person wrote; and I happened to save it in an old journal. How amazing is that, by the way. It said, "Write your dreams and goals down.

Then take time to look at those dreams. Achieving those dreams will require going OUTSIDE of your comfort zone."  The term "outside zebra" refered to the zebras who hang out on the edge of the herd.  They stay at the edges so that they have access to better, more plentiful food, but in doing so, they open themselves up to more risk of attack from predators.  The point was that achieving your dreams requires that you take risks and move to the "edge" of the herd....outside your comfort zone. So today I am comfortable, being on the outside edge of an island and hanging off the edge of Power House Road writing down stream of consciousness thoughts, sitting next to my lover. Being truly happy. If you pass by, look for me I will be the rainbow zebra wearing boxer shorts.

Go see my art: 

cheryljohnson.co

at 4:45 PM Biography: I have loved to create since I was little. I don't think there's anything that compares to a love affair like painting. My deepest desire is to use my God-given talent to bring others the beauty of the world God created. While I love painting a variety of subjects, my favorite is just to let it flow without ambitions of selling. Just simply painting or creating for the shear joy I feel in the process. I feel so blessed and simply want to be a vessel.

at 2:47 PM Engaging: Today I am exploring the sense of light color and atmosphere and simply enjoying the beauty all around me. love by my side and in my heart. Being easy and giving myself permission to let it all go and simply enjoy what ever comes today. I am in the dream space now imagining, planing so that each piece will have an individual light and theme that is all it's own. when I begin a plan for a painting I simply search for the dark and light. The first goal is to create a strong value composition. I enjoy the process of squinting and simply "Seeing only the lights and dark and the grey values." I want to think past the technique and process and explore the sensitivity of light and dark; my mind simply floats and I let my spirit fly into the softness of the shadows and I explore the transittions of umbra and penumbra. Today, I am blessed to be looking out across the Wainiha Valley watching Sunday morning coming down. I love to go to museums or browse art books or peruse art sites especially the impressionist and the new artists that are creating beyond the,selves like Richter. How can we stand on the shoulders of these giants and learn, emulate and explore and become more. My goal is to create an engaging composition first, second I start to think of the values and third then I take the time to really expand my abilities and master the technique. I am always mindful of the emotion or feeling I want to elicit. In the final viewing have I want to have assurance that I enjoyed, and known this day I have grown. Is the end piece, pleasing, beautiful and moving? We shall see.

at 10:18 PM What would be the title of your memoir? 10 more Minutes To Go. I think the most important thing to remember when we think of "roads less traveled" it really means you choose not to do something or go somewhere. Really all of life is a choice when you really think about it. So thinking hurts when we realize that our time is limited here: make the most of it! I spent a long time being afraid of one thing or another ...afraid of too much or too little. Then afraid of doing or afraid of not, and the moment I realized I could, in fact, die was mind-blowing.  A long conversation with myself changed my fear one day. I realized talking to myself about myself was the best thing I could do. So I can go through life afraid or simply move forward even when afraid. So now I just move. Moving forward has been the best awakening anyone could hope for. It’s scary to accept that one day you will be gone, but more important knowing how you want to leave your mark is very important. Live your life the way that makes you happy and damn everyone else or bless everyone else and still move forward with bliss. Hey self, I think that's a good idea; so let's just take 10 minutes and move- hopefully move forward. Still flying. Still trying. Thankful for faith that I am exactly where I am supposed to be today. Blessed and favored and a child of God.