"Oldies"

Came across a few photos/files from a couple years back. I'll probably post a series on the VSO site soon. I'll post an announcement here when I do that. So, consider this a preview.

Too True

Funny bit and well done by the artists in this clip. Sad thing is, this is very true and I couldn't help but post on the topic. It is so IMPORTANT to remember that success is RELATIVE as Visual Syntax tries to point out each chance it gets. It's all about your perspective. It can very easily have nothing to do with being POPular. Since when did making the people in the room smile or inspiring a single person with your creativity NOT equal success?

It is an obvious mental challenge of course in this day and age to imagine creating in a world where there are no recording devices. Still, I believe this is one of the KEYS to producing sincere imaginative output. The next time you sit down to create something, TRY TRY TRY to forget that there is an industry called "art." Designers, forget that there is a "design industry." Musicians, forget that there is a "music industry." Of course, you don't have to forget any art put out by other humans that you've seen. Humans were sharing their art with one another LONG BEFORE these industries which now seem to dictate ALL creative output were around! Using this approach, will have and would have a dramatic effect on the quality and effectiveness of today's creative output if only we freed ourselves more often from those limiting labels and from the dominating shadows of the almighty industries.

On the flip side, achieving fame in this shallow culture and making money is a simple matter of finding the right formula to meet an extremely LOW standard of supposed "creative" output (e.g. the four chord formula). It's been said a billion times. But, still needs to be said–especially to young creatives: Money and fame do not define success.

Since it HAS indeed been said a billion times, we now live in a culture of two extremes. On the one hand you have the shallow types just looking to "make it big" with their creative talents. And since, EVERYONE knows this does not produce sincere creative expression, we have a new extreme and pitfall. At the other end of the spectrum are the "conforming non-conformists." Their chant is "We hate commercial art!" And so, instead of truly exploring with diligent and disciplined work to find their "own marks," these "we're different" types have settled happily into another stagnant pool of insincere and "look at me and make me popular cuz I'm not commercial" output. It's an immature extreme, just like the "make art for fame and money" choice is. Just as money and fame do not define success, so also new and different do not define success.

If you want to get to truly sincere and creative output, you have to make THAT your measure of success. And remember that there is ALWAYS room for practice, discipline, and growth where skills are concerned. If your goal is to be sincere and true in your output, and you strive with perseverance toward that goal, as with love and all matters of the heart, you will succeed. Money, fame and any other temporal or material benefit that may or may not come as you seek to meet THIS goal will not hinder or taint your output if you keep focused. It is only at this point of mental clarity and focus that I believe a creative can truly make the most effective use of those exciting and fun "recording devices" and other modern tools and technology.

One last thought…

It is important to keep in mind as you both create and evaluate the creative output of others that TRUTH transcends time, location and culture. Thus it follows that truth expressed in creative output is not limited to nor is it excluded from any one arena of creatives. Sincerity in the creation is the key. And so, often you can find truths expressed in mainstream art as well as in underground art. Therefore it is unwise to disregard either as unable to produce valid or substantive messages. If you're looking sincerely for truth. You can find it wherever it is.

Afterall, this artmaking thing IS in the end about a dialogue of notions between us, the Creator, our environment, and each other. If there were no messages to send, there would be no art. If there was no art, how would the messages be sent?

Toss the LIMITING LABELS!

"PROFESSIONAL" - This word needs to be erased from our mainframe! This word makes people use less of their brain. This word is an excuse for creative people to sit on the sidelines and watch other, more ambitious people find success. This word is a money word, not a substance word. It means nothing! But sadly, it means everything to so many!

I have known people who simply REFUSE to apply themselves to a given task, a given medium, a given venture, simply because they are "not a professional." Not that they would say this mind you. But, this phenomenon is a byproduct of our LABEL-OBSESSED culture. We are enslaved to the labels we give and labels others give us. CHAINS! These words are chains! We need to ZOOM OUT and realize that the labels don't exist unless we CHOOSE to recognize them and let them limit us!

Of course I understand and recognize the need for and purpose of labels. But, we are simply too beholden to labels. Let them serve their purpose while still being able to sustain a strong drive for creative exploration in any field and with our skills and abilities. School and a degree are not the only things that make someone useful. These are more about marketability in a competitive work environment. You all know you've seen those straight-A students who are as brain dead and limited as a cash register with a restricted button set. The ability to memorize and regurgitate information in a classroom for a grade is a nice skill, but hardly accounts for intuitive application of one's mind to a task at hand, and certainly doesn't replace raw ambition and creative and proactive thinking.

Bottom line - If someone hands you a camera, a tool, a book, an instrument, don't squirm about and assume the dunce position mentally just because you've never taken a class on it or because you're in a different "profession!" Apply your God-given intuition, creativity, and desire to grow and DO SOMETHING WITH IT!!!!

You might surprise yourself.

P.S. And when you learn something by taking this approach, for the love of Pete, PLEASE pass this notion on to your kids or to ANY young person you have the blessing of having an influence on!

Lady Bug Sunset

I was just in the right place, at the right time:)

Bobo Ghost

A friend and fellow artist "Bobo." Dig this piece!