Sometimes it all comes together. This painting reminds me of that truth. Sometimes it all falls apart too, but I'm not going to talk about that right now. I paint almost every day now, this painting gave me a great kick in the ass when I really needed it. Impetus?
I was particularly open to the positive in all types of living experience on a car ride coming home from a road trip to see the Flaming Lips play in Baltimore. I was feeling inspired to keep this feeling alive, to somehow pass some of their electric passion for dropping peace bombs with an impactful and super loud expression of creativity for all the motherfuckers! To stand up where I live and be willing to tell everyone willing to listen that I love them, and that it's great to be alive.., and that somehow art can be more than just cool entertainment, but radical inspiration.
At that moment I didn't even consider that I'm a quiet guy who lived in a small house that wasn't visited too often, or that I didn't usually feel that strongly about anything. In fact, I was doubtful about just about everything. I had been, and still am kind of a half assed buddhist.
On that car ride I saw a cloud formation that looked like a buddha that was wearing boxing gloves. He was layed out horizontally. I went home knowing what I wanted to paint on the canvas I had waiting at home. I didn't think it through, I really didn't question my motives, I just started putting paint on canvas, and within a week, it was done, and I loved it. More amazing to me, other people loved it. A friend of mine who couldn't afford it told me it was his. He believed it was meant to be his. He even looked a little like this particular Buddha (minus the gloves). Pete was getting ready to start Chemotherapy. He felt like having this painting would help him fight.
Needless to say, he owns it now, and the last I heard he was doing much better than the doctors had expected. Now, I don't wish to take any credit for anything other than just being willing and open to inspiration in myself and others. It's just so fucking cool when doing what I like to do is useful to others.
Ham - love the art. love the story behind it. Creating something just so it will exist is a driving force...I like how in manifested. Half-assed buddha...I like that. Jen and I went to see a buddhist monk speak in NYC and his message was that losing one's ego or "self" is not a problem. In fact he has a book entitled "No self, No Problem". As unenlightened westerners, it made us grin. Jen remarked that it sounded like a fulfilling path to explore, but that she liked her "self" and couldn't see giving it up! We have an odd way of approaching our world for sure....stay half-assed - it's better than no-assed.
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