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All my art is in some way about other art, even if the other art is cartoons

Bob Kessel

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I was delighted this morning when Bob Kessel friended me on Facebook.

I have been aware of his illustrations in The New York Times,

The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek,  and many other national publications.

I did not know his fine art work which is in numerous private and museum collections.

His artwork revisits the works of old and modern masters.

Kessel’s work is amusing, intelligent, beautiful, graphic, bold,  and more.

His collection of quotes called Artists on Art represents his illustrative style.

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Bob Kessel’s Fine Art

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Girl with Pearl Earing by Bob Kessel

After Vermeer

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Herring by Bob Kessel

After Van Gogh

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Limited edition prints and original art by Bob Kessel • Email:  b.kessel@snet.net • Phone: (860)334-9438

All images in this post © Copyright Robert Kessel

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Sleep Mower — Somnambulist Series

Steve Widoff

Copyright © 2009 Steve Widoff

The somnambulistic series is a fictitious look at sleepwalkers.

Sleepwalkers arise from the slow wave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness and

perform activities that are usually performed during the day.

These activities can be as benign as sitting up in bed, walking to the bathroom and cleaning,

or as hazardous as cooking, driving, extremely violent gestures, grabbing at hallucinated objects or even homicide.

Steve Widoff, Heartstormer

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Don’t Go Back to Sleep

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don’t go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.

Don’t go back to sleep.

People are going back and forth across the door sill

where the two worlds touch.

The door is round and open.

Don’t go back to sleep.

Rumi

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I am fascinated by what it takes to stay awake in difficult times. I marvel at what we all do in times of transition — how we resist, and how we surrender; how we stay stuck; and how we grow. Since my first major open experience — my divorce — I have been an observer and confidante of others as they engage with the forces of their own suffering. I have made note of how the fiasco and failure visit each one of us, as if they were written into the job descriptions of being human. I have seen people crumble in times of trouble, lose their spirit, and never fully recover. I have seen others protect themselves fiercely from any kind of change, until they are living a half life, safe yet stunted,

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But I have seen another way to deal with a fearful change or a painful loss. I call this other way the Phoenix Process — named for the mythological phoenix bird who remains awake through the fires of change, risen from the ashes of death, and is reborn into the his most vibrant and enlightened self. For now, we only need to understand it as an alternative to going back to sleep.

Elizabeth Lesser from Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow

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Many photographers (substitute illustrator, designer, art director, copywriter, and other creative services) are off their paths. Some were never on their paths at all. They saw what appeared to work and followed in the footsteps of their heroes hoping they would reach their goals. We must reset our own goals clearly based upon our heart’s desires. It is only then that we own them..

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Blame Leads to Victimization

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Others are easy to blame for current conditions in the industry. There are many factors contributing to the overall malaise: crowdsourcing, recession, technology, 70,000 out of work advertising people, threatening changes in copyright law, devaluation of photography, etc. Threads on professional forums are filled with complaints that villainize the people with whom we want to do business. Why would you want to do business with villains? When we have villains, we often become victims and we make everyone and everything wrong. These projections are shadowy behaviors.

We do not feel safe. The level of safety that many search for is an illusion. Creating demands change. Change entails risk. Risk requires a temporary suspension of security. Creators know they are on the wrong path when they resist change, growth and innovation.

Some wait for something to happen to them rather than making something happen.

It is no longer effective to do the same thing, or even the same thing differently. We must redirect our passions to bring something new into being.

We must take a long hard look at the road we are walking on right now.

The photography industry is grieving the road familiar. Some feel lost. Others are wandering in new woods on unbeaten paths.

The answers are inside. Yet we were taught to search for them outside of ourselves. Creators who do not approach their work wholeheartedly become heartbroken, suffer heart attacks, heartache or heart failure, face angst, despair, desolation, heartsickness, lose heart, and more.

What may be done to help manage change? Apply the same creative energy and spirit used to make images. Embrace change. For me, it has often been about redirection of my passions. Passions do not change all that much. However, it is possible to redirect them. Our industry has changed so rapidly, many have not had a chance to catch their breath. Rather than gather in places where people spend time supporting negativity, accentuate the positive.

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Redirect.

Fan the Embers.

Set Yourself on Fire!

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Notice I have used the word redirection rather than reinvention. Reinvention means that your career is wrong and that you may need to invent it all over again. Redirection is finding new places, actions and methods to place your passions.

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Calling and Talent

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Vision is a calling. A calling is an inner urge or a strong impulse, a passion, some believe a calling may be divinely inspired. How will the world be a different place as a result of your visit on the planet? What is your calling? What is it that you feel the urge and passion to bring into being no matter what?

Do you have a natural marked innate ability, for artistic accomplishment? That is a definition of talent. Talent and calling must be present to sustain a career as a professional artist.

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The Heartstorming Career Redirection Workshop

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Discover new ways to manifest and redirect your dreams.
Articulate your calling.
Explore alternative markets.
Learn how to set goals based upon your passions that
don’t end up in the back of a drawer.
Find ways to stay on your path.
Identify what you want and set priorities.
Create an action plan to do what you want
and overcome the obstacles.

I am planning a series of career redirection workshops beginning in the Fall. I know money is tight. However I believe many would benefit from redirecting their careers. So, I have come up with a plan.

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What if?

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What if we present a two day workshop? What if we charged a fee of $500 a person? What if we offered it at half price, if you were to bring one of your business friends who may wish to redirect their passions too? What if we offered the workshop for free, if you bring two others?

This will allow you to become a linchpin by linking yourself to a wide range of people from other disciplines and to make a difference in their careers and your own.

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Feedback Requested

I am searching for sponsors for these events. I would like to let them know what you think about this idea. Please respond by commenting on this post or email me at iansummers@heartstorming.com or call me at 610-393-6816. I will be happy to answer your questions and to discuss the possibillities. I am creating this workshop to meet your needs and desires.

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