Art

18 Mar Self-belief

Posted at 14:37h in Art

Never be ashamed! There's some who will hold it against you, but they are not worth bothering with." -- J. K. Rowling I’d estimate that 95% of my art has never been seen… and never will be. For most of my life I struggled with sharing my art with others for fear of rejection. I mean, what if someone hated the work I spent so much time on? As an artist, could there be a worse feeling? So, instead, I packed away most of my drawings - including all of the art from my childhood through my work in art school at UW...

14 Feb Compassion Cures

Posted at 00:28h in Art

Compassion is the fabric that connects us all. But when compassion for our fellow man ceases to exist, where are we heading as people? Not long ago, my wife was driving home and called me. "I'll be home soon, and I'm bringing Frank with me," she said. "Who?! Who is Frank?" I confusingly replied. The rain was coming down hard that day and, as she drove across I-90, traffic began to back up. Maybe there was a car accident? As she crept closer to cause of the backup, she saw a man staggering down the highway. People honked their horns in dismay as they...

07 Dec Mind Over Matter

Posted at 22:45h in Art

Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail and, eventually, you find yourself at the top. I often set goals that others would deem ridiculous and outlandish. But the thought of failing never enters my mind. It just doesn’t. Once I set a goal, I wholeheartedly believe the goal will be achieved - no matter how large. And, along the way, if things don’t go as planned then I hold myself accountable: I’m 100% responsible for my own failures. Making excusing and/or placing blame on others won’t get you where you want to be. Eliminate that mindset immediately. On the path to...

09 Nov What is “good” art?

Posted at 22:20h in Art

What is "good" art? To me, good art It pulls you in, and dares you to looks away. And while you’re viewing, it makes you feel: happy, sad, hopeful, angry or a plethora of other emotions - sometimes simultaneously - but it makes you feel *something*. Good art can illustrate a thought or feeling in a way that words simply cannot. It asks questions and, perhaps, even provides answers. In way, good art acts a mirror and teaches the viewer something about themselves that they didn’t know they knew. But most of all good art connect with you. Sometimes we cannot articulate that emotional...

22 Sep Sneak Peek: Magazine Cover Shoot

Posted at 17:54h in Art

Here's a sneak peek at my magazine cover shoot. You'll encounter many people who tell you that you'll never achieve your dreams. I love those people because they motivate me even more. But I don't work hard for them, and neither should you. Have your own reasons for wanting to achieve, and never compromise your vision. It might not happen overnight, but eventually someone will notice your hard work and resulting talent. Until then, stay focused and keep working to become the best you can be - for you....

30 Aug The Will to Succeed

Posted at 01:52h in Art

The true character of a person is often revealed in the face of adversity. When the odds are against you, how do you respond? Do you make excuses to justify the seemingly inevitable outcome? Or do you fight against all odds? My wife, Ioana, just finished her 1st quarter of grad school. She was working full-time AND pursing her doctorate degree. Bad idea: she failed the 1st midterm. She had to average 80% on the final two tests or she’d be forced to drop out. So, she quit her job to study more. Her 2nd midterm was better, 75%, but now she’s really in trouble. Her professor and...

05 May Magic is Something You Make

Posted at 21:38h in Art

"Magic is something you make.” A statement that has had a profound effect on me. In fact, I believe in this statement so much that I had it tattooed on my chest (it’s written in Leonardo da Vinci’s handwriting, who was also left-handed and would often write backwards so you’d need mirror to read the text). This tattoo acts as a daily reminder that, well, magic… is… something… you...

12 Apr Be Terrible

Posted at 16:09h in Art

When I first started drawing, I was terrible. I practiced every day, and drew terrible drawing after terrible drawing. I mean, these drawings were embarrassingly terrible. However, each day my drawings got a little less terrible. So many people dream of being great at something, but they’re afraid of being terrible. So, they quickly give up. EVERY person who is the best at what they do was once terrible. Michael Jordan: there was once a time that he couldn’t even dribble a basketball. Leonardo Da Vinci: there was once a time he could only draw stick figures. Albert Einstein: there was once a time he didn’t...

14 Mar We Can All Win

Posted at 21:57h in Art

Don’t let the desire to be accepted by other people drive your happiness. Not everyone will be happy for your success. Many feel as though we’re all in a constant competition with each other and, if you’re doing well then that means they’re losing. That’s the biggest fallacy. We can ALL win, and I cheer for everyone who is putting in real WORK to get where they want to be. But if you’re constantly searching for external validation then you’ll never truly be happy. Focus on your goals, aim for daily improvement, and do what makes you happy. Ignore the negativity, and don’t let...

09 Mar Refuse to Give Up

Posted at 03:39h in Art

This is my wife, Ioana. She’s pretty amazing. You’ll soon know one of the many reasons why. But first: It’s so easy to make excuses why we don't achieve our goals. We often justify our failures by placing the blame on other people and/or the circumstances. This “victim” mentality will forever hold you back from reaching your potential. However, once you break this mindset, you realize that all things become possible. Ioana was born in a small village in Romania, and came to America by herself when she was 20 years old. She didn’t know anyone, and English was her second language...

Art