Positive Thoughts : Achieve Your Dreams

Positive Thoughts:  Some to Inspire You, We all need them from time to time...

I'm always amazed by people who have great ideas, but rely on someone else telling them they can't do something. Sooner or later they chalk up their great idea based on someone's opinion.

But why?

YOU can do what YOU want and if you do it WELL you will SUCCEED.

I'm here to tell you that you CAN do anything you set your mind to. If you are willing to WORK at it YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS.

If you don't believe me, why not ask these folks what hard work and determination has done for them?

Lance Armstong

Obama

Amputee Runners who run Marathons!

From Forbes magazine I quote, "Almost two-thirds of the world's 946 billionaires made their fortunes from scratch, relying on grit and determination, and not good genes." Read that article HERE.

No excuses people. You must believe in yourself. The Internet is loaded with rags to riches success stories. Some best selling movies in Hollywood were made based on real people's lives. Not everyone is "born into success" but everyone, yes EVERYONE has the opportunity to achieve it.

The only difference that makes you famous or infamous is your will and desire.

I truly believe that if you are determined to succeed and do something you love and believe in, the good fortune will follow.

Case in point, my own husband said my art looks like a third grader made it. He thought I was crazy for putting blocks together and says I should have focused on something that "really pays the bills." I didn't listen to him. My friend (name I won't mention) liked the fact I created things, but he's a fru-fru fantasy painter and to him, my art was...uh....sort of crappy. My own family was like "forced smile sure it's great" but would much rather look at a DaVinci copy associating art with famous people, than some would-be-famous-someday-dream-of-an-assemblage sculpture. You may even think "That is just awful. Her family should have been more supportive..." Truth is this is the common reaction of many of us.

Now, you didn't see any of this stopping me NOR should it stop you! I remember working for my husband (as he's somewhat famous) and sneaking off to create art in the wee hours of the night. My office proved a worthy retreat for studio space.

Making art isn't always about money or getting rich and famous. It is a way to do something you love, alleviate stresses of daily life and somewhere though your art, your voice is heard.

My husband, friends, and family now appreciate the work I do but I never expect them to fully understand a day in the life of the artist. We are a special bunch aren't we?

Now, as for the professional field, I know galleries who would cringe at my artwork, and others who just adore it. You too will encounter this problem (unless you are super lucky) but should not let it get you down. To each his own opinions! Read my other article on HOW TO GET YOUR ARTWORK DISPLAYED PROFESSIONALLY for steps on how to get in the door. I will just say this, if an abstract painter keeps hounding the realism gallery for display of his art, but keeps getting turned down, he only has himself to blame.

The key is finding your niche, and where does your art fit in? It does fit in somewhere. You just have to do a little sleuthing to find it.

Your best support system is going to be other artists that work in your medium who can encourage you and inspire you. (I'm not saying other artists who don't won't be great a great support system as well.) There are situations were the abstract painter and the realism painter do get along quite well, (but while sipping coffee the realism painter is afraid to ask the abstract painter just what those blobs on canvas really mean?)

So if someone tells you:

You're nuts. Dream on. Get a life. Get a grip. Give up the fantasy.

It's your choice NOT to listen and work harder at achieving your goal. If you don't, you have just let that person hold you back from a big wide world of artist opportunities.

:)

xoxoxox

Ira Mency

Rusdi Badri : From Singapore with Love

Another Story of Inspiration:  From Singapore with Love, Meet Recycle Artist Rusdi Badri, at 22 making his impact.

I originally wrote and published this article on my Associated Content feed, check it out HERE.

Recycling, Upcycling, Reclaiming & Saving the Earth One Art Project at a Time...

I found Rusdi Badri on a recycling art website. In truth, I found his recycled aluminum Coke can roses which led me to his blog, and I knew I just had to learn more about the crafter behind the recycled art. I'm always on the rant to repurpose and reuse, and trying to make the world a greener place. Imagine how happy I was to stumble upon Rusdi and his thoughts for a cleaner upcycled world!

Only 22 years old, Rusdi is thinking of creative ways to upcycle and recycle what may be considered trash. Rudi lives in Singapore. He's interested in music and the arts, and currently studying Sonic Arts.
Rusdi Badri, 22, Recycler of Trash

Just six years ago, his hobby was collecting drink cans in his room. A few years later, he donated most of them to charity, but admits he kept a few of his favorites. The cans intrigued him, and one day, the art began.

He explains, "I decided to do something with the cans. I did some experiments. Since I love roses, I decided to design a rose. My first trash-to-treasure project was a rose Coke can." What a keen idea. Imagine a rose that never required water or sunlight. A present for one you love that would never die. Soon his friends wanted one, and people were bringing him cans just so he would make them a rose.

Rusdi continued to create art from recycled products and was sure to share his wonderful creations and progress in eco-art crafts with the rest of the world on his "Funky Trash Recycled Arts" blog site. He's made a laptop cover out of old clothing, a small shoe out of discarded items, and a very detailed warrior sculpture out of Coke among his many projects. Another item is the multi-purpose container that you can make from cans. You can use it for anything from loose change to holding paper clips, rubber bands, jewelry, or small craft items.

Rusdi says, "Recycling is important. The waste that people throw away in my country is just too much. People buy products that involve non biodegradable material from shops and throw it away (without even considering recycling.)" Sadly that problem is NOT just in Singapore, but something we've been struggling with worldwide. The eco-go-green movement is calling us.

Rusdi now joins a long list of Eco-Artists including myself, who are becoming more environmentally conscious on products they are using to make their art. Rusdi says, "People need to realize that we are consistently damaging the Earth. We can do our part reducing the harm to the world by recycling."

Suffice to say Junk Art, Trash Art, or art from recycled goods is being taken seriously. Everyone knows about the late and famous Joseph Cornell whose art boxes set the precedent for assemblage from found objects. One of my favorite living artists is Mike Esposito, whose work is often featured in the Gallery 364 of Brooklyn, New York. His work includes a giant 8 Ball made of recycled trash, and a United States flag from pen caps and gutter garbage plastic parts to name only a few.

I'm astounded at the works of Leo Sewell from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who has been scouring dumps for 50 years to make his fun 3-D assemblage sculptures from trash. From animals to humans, to a life size Statue of Liberty handmade entirely out of junk toys, parts, and things discarded.

There's also Harriete Estel Berman whose use of all things tin (old cans, dollhouses) is truly amazing. Her creations include everything from jewelry, assemblage sculptures, and magnificently detailed teapots. All of these artists have credentials that are amazing—and pieces housed in museums around the globe, and a resume any artist can only hope to achieve someday.

Meanwhile somewhere in Singapore, Rusdi isn't waiting for things to change--he's making it happen. He hopes to see a push to improve recycling in his country and around the globe. He says, "There are ways to make recycling fun for kids and get them involved. It's time to do something." Rusdi has plenty of suggestions. "For one, people could be more creative and learn how make their trash into art!"

As an eco-artist myself, I couldn't agree more!

Kudos to you Rusdi for doing your part in making our world a greener place! Find out more about Rusdi and see a tutorial on how to turn your cans into art at his FunkyTrash blog.

RUSDI's BLOG IS HERE : http://funkytrash.blogspot.com/

Old Man Walters: Art Therapy

Read the Story of Old Man Walters, a 88 year old Dementia Patient that says, "Art is Healing" and is still making art.

Read my article originally posted on Associated Content here, and see what you think. about Art and Healing.

88 Year Old Baltimore Man with Dementia Recreating Art from Forty Years Ago: Son Says Art is Healing Therapy for Alzheimer's.

Behold the Cardboard Church!

Call it what you will but this story is nothing short of miraculous.

Dementia and Alzheimer's related illnesses are growing rapidly. Worldwide estimates vary between 18 million and 30 million people in the world suffering from some form of these illnesses, depending on which website you consult. The numbers may be askew, as they are always increasing, and some cases go unreported. The fact is people are silently suffering all around us. Someone you know or someone you love may be afflicted with one or more of these conditions.

This story is no exception.

It has been nearly ten years when my friend Donald Louis Booker quit his full time art career. Having been in the Baltimore art circuit as "DoLoBo" for nearly thirty years, he once made a living on providing everything from custom paintings to jewelry to private clients. He stated that he was going to be giving full time care to his elderly parents and left his clients mystified. There was however, a little more to the story.

Recently DoLoBo has come forth and explained that his stepfather had been diagnosed and suffering for the past decade from on-again, off-again spells of dementia and mild Alzheimer's. Most of the family was unaware, and it wasn't something that made dinner conversation. Old Man Walters, (also known as Joseph P. Walters, Sr, of Parkville, Maryland) is now 88 years old. He is a Veteran of World War II and spent his life working for (and retiring from) the United States Postal Service.

Back in the 70's, a much younger Joseph Walters filled his days by delivering mail. He rushed home from his route to craft wooden or tin hand painted birdhouses which he sold on weekends at art shows. Soon he moved to more detailed things. He began crafting small paper houses and buildings out of junk or trash cardboard.

DoLoBo describes, "These tiny houses would be ordered by the people who put on local train garden holiday displays. Word got around and soon he was creating these houses every night in order to fill orders for the holidays. He did everything from schools to churches. The windows would be made of plastic from old food packages and look just like glass. hese tiny sculptures would range in size from N to HO scale, and they were really something. Made mostly of cardboard or used food packages, things we would otherwise have thrown out back then. To see them turn into very detailed houses and churches was amazing." (It appears Old Man Walters was an Eco-Artist before the green movement was even recognized.)

The only evidence that survives at the Walters' residence of his previous artwork are nearly four decades of falling down birdhouses around the yard and one custom mailbox (keenly resembling a mail truck.) Although a reminder of more creative and happier days, they are filled with birds who appreciate of the rent free housing and far less critical of their condition.

The Old Man Walters of today normally stays to himself in a bedroom, watching television and being well cared for. He has the support and love of his family. Sometimes though, he doesn't know who they are, or what day it is. DoLoBo reports, "You just have to take things day by day. It's trying at times when you are dealing with this sort of thing, but we all do our best to make him comfortable."

One day Old Man Walters requested art supplies and the family was puzzled. Years had passed without any mention of the art. More requests came with every medicine call, or meal delivery. DoLoBo was soon bringing everything from paper, scissors, paints, and glue to him. Next call was for cookie boxes, cereal boxes, paper,or other soon-to-be-trash cellophane items. Old Man Walters was working like mad, and had converted his bed into a full fledged art studio. "I didn't know what to think. It was really a shock to the whole family.see this thing materialze," Dolobo explained.

Several weeks of hard working, piece by piece, then behold the Cardboard Church!

An astonishing two foot long and nearly as tall painted and hand assembled House of Worship made from recycled cardboard and trash paper. Every angle shows incredible detail, with front and back entrances. Old Man Walters carefully cut, glued, taped and painted every piece together. Although much larger (nearly a foot wide) than his tiny houses of earlier years, it appears his actual technique of making such sculptures was never lost. In his mind, a memory embedded in him, somewhere in his brain cells, forever. Never forgotten, just misplaced.

DoLoBo says, "I'm just so glad he's being creative. The actual making of the art seems to calm him and make him happy. I've read studies where they say that art heals and is alternative therapy in some patients. I never could believe it but it's true in this case. It's almost like he remembers a church he made forty years ago, so he's making one larger than life now as if to say, 'I'm healing, I'm living.' I really believe that art is keeping him alive and giving him a reason to look forward to each new day. Art has somehow found and reactivated the parts of his mind that remember decades ago, when in all actuality he can't remember what he had for dinner last week. I don't know if this is a miracle but I look at this church and I think that is proof positive. I'm not a doctor. I just know that art is making him act like Dad again. This is a healing therapy. I had to share this in hopes others can learn and benefit from this. "

As an artist myself I can't think of a better way to pass the day. They say the mind works in mysterious ways. I look upon the cardboard church and wonder aloud, to Old Man Walters, is this a memory from yesteryear, or some vision of tomorrow?

END NOTE:

DoLoBo reports that Old Man Walters is still creating and sending him on supply runs. He has made several houses to date, but the family favorite remains the Cardboard Church.