Why Words Deceive

In This Bloutcher (Where Art, Life and Leadership Collide)

• Why Words Deceive
• Announcement From Marcel Proust

Why Words Deceive

Let me cut right to it. Words may breathe life into poems, songs, stories and novels which lift the soul and weave wisdom into our lives. But when it comes to conveying experiences words are noble failures. Frustrated warriors. Beguiling deceivers.

Think about it. We have an experience. An experience is multi-sensory by nature and specific to a moment. An experience is non duplicative. In other words, we experience the experience. Then we try to describe it, convey it through words. Yet, words can never fully capture the nature of the experience the way the experience was fully experienced. Try as they may words fall short of the fully variegated, multi-sensory richness and nuance of the experience. This is frustrating and why words and experience are not happy together. They frustrate each other even though they are fated companions as long as we humans have the need to communicate our experiences to each other.

And, as with words, so with art. Both deceive.

That is why Cezanne declared "Art is harmony that runs parallel with Nature." He threw up his arms. No mas. Art cannot be the same as nature, as art cannot be the same as experience.

What are we to do?

Words are words.

Art is art.

Experience is experience.

Each is nothing more, nothing less.

The tension between them is where creativity lives.

The truth is that words and art are lies which create a new truth.

Announcement from Marcel Proust:

"Remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were."

Memory especially deceives.

Why I Fear Creativity

In This Bloutcher --Where Art, Life Change and Leadership Intersect (And Sometimes Collide)

• Why I Fear Creativity


• In Process
  


• Announcements
  

Why I Fear Creativity

Most people assume I love creativity. I paint. I sculpt. I teach/coach creativity. I've written about it in Becoming a Life Change Artist. People have called me a creative catalyst. I have created a unique online resource, along with partners Kathy Jordan and Donna Krone, called The Coach's Studio; Where Outrageously Creative Coaching Happens. So ipso facto I must love creativity.

The truth is painfully different.

I believe we often tip toe around creativity. We try to be creative about ideas, about things. We play with them and come up with inventive solutions and we feel quite uplifted by the nimbleness we have exercised.

But we rarely apply the creative imperative to ourselves, our lives. In order to do so we need to take inventory, to self assess, to dig underneath and face ourselves stripped naked of artifice, self illusion--see ourselves in the raw, vulnerable buff.

I wrestle with this all the time in my painting. In certain moments when I am painting I have the illusion that I am painting something, anything other than myself. I am painting a bowl or a flower or a portrait of someone else. I relieve myself of self examination. I take refuge within my painting.

But it only lasts for a moment.

Ultimately I must come to terms with the fact that whatever I am painting I must stand in relationship to it. I must reintroduce myself to it. I cannot take cover. It is like a cross examination. Once something is introduced into evidence it is subject to all manner of questions. If I am painting the smallest of things I must assume a point of view toward this smallest of things. I introduce evidence of myself. And then the self/cross examination begins. And goes deeper and deeper. Ultimately, if I am going to paint this smallest of things, I must reveal myself in Full Monty. There is a terror in this. There are things I do not like. Things that cause pain. Myths I've sold to myself about myself. It's like going to the dentist for a cleaning. Everyday.

According to an old, old friend (Hi Hank!) who now lives in Bali, the Balinese celebrate their Nyepi (New Year) in a very unique way. "On this day," according to my friend, "the island goes dark in order to fool the evil spirits who fly over head into thinking there is no island below." When we do not respond to the requirements of creativity, it is like going dark to ourselves and others. But we are only trying to fool ourselves because creativity means standing in full light all the days of the year.

Of course, I could engage in transactional creativity. That is, determine what sells and paint that. There are lots of very competent transactional artists in this manner. They make a living. They stay on the surface. Like their paintings.

I wonder about this in our lives. How many of our relationships are transactional. How much of our lives are transactional. Good enough to get by. Good enough to make a living. Where we allow ourselves to go dark at some level.

What if we faced our fear and stood in deep relationship to ourselves and others. What would that look like? How might that change ourselves and others?

So this is a paradox. I fear creativity and yet cannot imagine my life without. Even if I cannot resist going dark more often than I would like.

In Process

Here are two charcoal drafts and two early stage oils of a multi-panel project I am working on. The two men are my grandfathers. The two women are my grandmothers. The challenge: Images alone fail to convey their full story.




























Announcements:

Sneak Peek Opportunity




Since words often fall short of the actual experience we have decided to provide you with a sneak peek of The Coach's Studio; Where Outrageously Creative Coaching Happens between April 3rd and April 11th at any time that is convenient to you. Simply click on the link below, key in the user name and password below and voila! You're into several section for your learning pleasure.

http://www.blogger.com/www.lifechangeartists.com
User name: trial
Password: creative

If the sneak peek whets your appetite, you can sign up by clicking here.
If you'd like more info, just let me know and we can chat.
The Spring session begins on April 18!

Spheres of Energy

In This Bloutcher
Where Art, Life Change and Leadership Intersect

• Spheres of Energy
• One question assessment
  
• Announcements

Spheres of Energy

It is not unusual for me to hear people say such things as "Trust in the universe" or "If you simply ask, the universe will send an answer."

I am sure the intentions of those who say such things are sincere and intended to be helpful. I just can't get there myself.

Such anthropocentric attitudes may be comforting but I cannot help but believe they are based on the faulty assumption that the universe has ears. Sorry if this sounds harsh. But I do believe the universe is agnostic when it comes to helping us mortals.

Does that mean I am a nihilist or an apostate? Hardly. But here's where I bridge into something I do believe in. I call them Spheres of Energy.

Spheres of Energy are the invisible but palpable power to generate influence, to activate change, to create opportunities. Spheres of Energy originate in human thought and intention converted to human action. It is based on the assumption that if you want something you are the only one who can initiate the actions that will help you realize what you want. Even if you do not know what you want creating Spheres of Energy related to that question can often lead to discovery and clarity.

This does not mean you act alone. In fact, Spheres of Energy reach their full potency only when you engage others in the process. Call that collaboration. While Spheres of Energy begin in the individual they realize their fullness only with the help of others. Not because you asked the universe to mobilize such help and did nothing else but because you took the actions necessary to have others in a position to help you. As the saying goes: God helps those who help themselves.

How does one generate Spheres of Energy?

Ask yourself what do I really care about? Starting a business? Developing an idea? Exploring a new direction or possibility?

Engage in conversations about what you care about. In other words, go on record that you really care by giving voice to it. You do not need to know the answers. In some cases you may simply want to begin a journey of exploration and discovery. You can also create Spheres of Energy that support the journey.

Engage in these conversations with people who can help. Let them catch the magic. The energy. I have rarely found someone who is able to help unwilling to do so. Don't make assumptions about people's intentions before you give them the opportunity to say yes to your energy.

Seek potential collaborators. Through these conversations you might meet others who share your interests and passions or be referred to others who do. Collaborators come in many forms. They can become fellow travelers. They can become colleagues. They can also become great friends.

Every once in a while step back and reflect. Ask yourself what is happening here. Is this what I want to be happening? What am I learning? Do I need to make any adjustments or changes? At their core, Spheres of Energy are a form of learning, self insight and awareness.

By taking these steps you will find ideas begin to blossom, doors begin to open, stars begin to align and the universe is filled with what others call magic.

One question assessment:

Am I doing what I really want to be doing?

Joseph Campbell: "When you follow your bliss...doors will open where you would not have thought there were doors...and the world will step in and help."

Announcements:

The Coach's Studio; Where Outrageously Creative Coaching Happens

If you are a coach or a mentor or engage in coaching as part of your work you will love this program. If you would like to chat about the program feel free to contact me. If you would like to register go directly to http://lcacoach.com. We begin our next program on April 18.

Clicking by Karen Mandell

Be sure to order your copy of this marvelously endearing collection of stories filled with memorable, slightly quirky characters seeking love. To order, click here (pun intended.)

Sources

In This Bloutcher
Where Art, Life Change and Leadership Intersect

• Sources
• Announcements

1. Karen's new book
2. Matt White's Film release
3. The Coach's Studio Round 2

Sources

It's not unusual for someone to ask me: Where do you find the sources for your ideas and inspiration?

While this is an interesting question I think the more interesting question is: How do you have the sources of ideas and inspiration find you?

Ideas and inspiration are all around. The challenge is not one of availability but accessibility. We have an opportunity to learn how to access what is already there. Not to place false barriers between our creative core and the sources that stimulate it. We each have the ability to create the conditions where ideas and inspiration find us because we are open to them finding us.

I've certainly been stuck technically. I've had my share of self doubting angst. Still do. I've sagged motivationally. But none of this had to do with lack of ideas to pursue or inspiration to tap into. None of these have stopped me from plowing ahead, perhaps insensitive to the dissenting voices in my head or the inner doubting Thomas scratching at my impulse to step into what I do not know.

So here are some ways I open myself to having sources of ideas and inspiration access me.

Honor the quotidian. A beam of light falling on a bread crumb. The postman's shoes. Sardines. The pattern of water as you wash the dishes. Venerate the mundane in your life. Very rich!

Cultivate mindfulness. Sit quietly. Do nothing. Tune into your breathing. Really tune in. Breathe deeply. Several times. Let your belly out as you breathe in. Listen. Feel. The rhythm. And ask your breath what it is grateful for.

Play with metaphors. They are windows to our world. They are a good salsa to the senses. Everything is a metaphor. A pen. A computer. A garden in winter. Old photos. They are all around us. They are what they are. And they are metaphors of _____? Pick three and play. Any three.

Take a sketchbook/journal wherever you go. Since I carry it I feel an obligation to fill lit.

And if these do not work I do a rapid fire series of self portrait sketches. Really rapid. One after the other. With a pen so I won't be tempted to erase. Some with my eyes closed. Loose. Without thinking. Not trying to get it right but to get it down. Then I look at them and ask "Who is this person? Who am I?" That certainly opens things up. You don't even have to ever have taken a drawing class. In fact, that's even better. Go ahead try it.

And then take a step. In the direction of your dreams.

Announcements:

Karen's New Book

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Clicking by Karen Mandell (yes, my wife of 42 years!)

Love's an iffy prospect, defying proverbs, wishes and expectations. The most wonderful people don't always find the love they deserve. In this collection of stories, the characters defy such fate by meeting the people with whom they just "click."

You will love the quirky characters and the vivid style of the story telling! These are really pre-love stories.

To order the book click here.

To order the Kindle version click here

The Coach's Studio, Round 2

I am happy to let you know that round 1 of The Coach's Studio filled up quickly and we had to close registration at 24. In response to this strong interest we have decided to launch round 2 on April 18th. If you would like to learn more or enroll in the program please click here.

If you have questions please let me know directly.

Matt White's New Documentary Film

Fort Drum: The First 100 Years is the fourth film released by award winning document film maker Matt White (yes, my son-in-law.) I had the opportunity to view the release showing last week and it really was quite stirring, filled with all kinds of human interest stories and surprising historical information. The film tells the story of how a dusty cavalry camp inthe early 1900s evolved into a modern marvel of military training. Over the course of the century soldiers and statesmen associated with the base--from Ulysses S. Grant's son, to Teddy Roosevelt, to Dwight D. Eisenhower--have shaped the history of America and the world.

To learn more about the film and/or order a DVD, click here.

Paradoxes

In this bloutcher (where Art, Life Change and Leadership intersect)

• Paradoxes
• The Coach's Studio; Where OutRaGEouSLY Creative Coaching Happens

Paradoxes

The dictionary defines paradox as a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true.

I have spoken before about being both lost and found at the same time. A paradox? When I am doing my art I am lost because I have a sense that I do not know what I am doing or where I am going. I push myself beyond where I have been and so I have no compass. Yet I am found because I know that this is the journey I am meant to be on.

But there are many more paradoxes in my life.

I seek coherence and practice disruption. That is the nature of creating art. In so far as art is language, it is also story, narrative. Perhaps in a very different language than we are familiar with, but language nonetheless. So we must always seek new forms of language that disrupt and reinterpret old language. Living in this paradox is also in the nature of growing as a human being. We grow more whole by disrupting our comfortable but incomplete selves.

In the process of creating art I both believe and am permeated by self doubt. I believe in what I am doing but am invaded by self doubt in my ability to pull it off. I don't think this is confined to art.

And so I succeed and fail at the same time. I try, fall short (fail), try again, and again, and again until I realize a small redemptive success. At least in my eyes. I believe success and failure are the ying and yang of creativity.

Sometimes I create by doing nothing. I daydream. I sit and wonder and stare, hands folded on my lap. I am very still. I am doing nothing. And ideas seep in. A pathway opens up. Imagination begins to play. It is all a wonder and magic. There I am doing nothing and creating at the same time.

I honor my antecedents by breaking with them. I study the work of the great masters. I am captivated, mesmerized, seduced by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Velasquez, Goya, Soutine, Kollwitz, de Kooning. I want to be able to do what they do. Of course, it is hopeless. I know I can't. I am humbled by their work. I breathe it in. And yet...something different comes out of me.

• So how about you? Where does paradox show up in your life? What form does it take? Think of at least one paradox in your life.

• Then let me know. Shoot me an email with your thoughts.

• Then we can think about why paradox is important in our lives and what role it plays and possibly how paradox sparks creativity, growth and wonder.

The Coach's Studio; Where Outrageously Creative Coaching Happens

We're live!

We launch February 29th

Check it out here!

And receive a special introductory offer.

We are working on a first come, first serve basis.

Or, if you have questions, shoot me a note by replying to this email.

Tagline 2012

My Bloutcher
Where Art, Life Change and Leadership Intersect

• Tagline
• 2012
• An Overt Promotion

Tagline

As you can see I have added a tagline to my bloutcher. Now granted this tagline still leaves a pretty broad canvas. It is, however, more descriptive than let's say "All About Chocolate" or "The Economy and American Humor" or "Your Mamma's Guide to Politics."

I've added this tagline because it hopefully weaves a string of cohesion through my various entries. Over this past holiday I eyeballed past bloutchers, asking myself, what holds the bloutchers together? Why do folks continue to read it and send me many amazing thoughts and responses? And "Where Art, Life Change and Leadership Intersect" just bubbled to the surface. So there you have it. This is where I spend most of my time--at this intersection. It gives me license to travel the open road. From your responses I sense that I am not on this trip alone. I hope we will continue to share the journey.

Let me know what your 2012 tagline is!

So What's Up in 2012?

I am going to be focusing on two things:

Coaching for Life Change Artists. I am very excited about this program. I have joined forces with my co-author Kathy Jordan and coach extraordinaire Donna Krone to create a totally engaging online training program for coaches based upon our book Becoming a Life Change Artist. This program has been a response to the many inquiries we have received asking for training on the tools, concepts and techniques in the book. So voila! Personally, I think this program will change the way you look at EVERYTHING. To see an overtly promotional description of the program check the PROMO section below. Let me know if you are interested or know of others who might be. We are aiming to launch on February 29th.

My Painting. This one has me frightened because it raises the question: What if my vision outstrips my talent? Well, to begin--my "talent" is still being developed. I am a student. Is this too large an aspiration for this stage in my development? My vision is to

create a three dimensional visual experience--using both sides of the canvas laced with words, images, annotations--that chronicles family history using the traditionally two dimensional form of painting on canvas. There is a principle floating around that says you should begin with the end in mind. Well, broadly speaking, I just stated the vision, the end I have in mind. However, I have no idea how to get there or what it will ultimately look like. Do I proceed anyway? Or, do I develop my talent further before undertaking such a project? So I look to another principle. I am a believer in the principle that you develop your talent by doing the thing you want to develop your talent in. You may do it badly at first, but you will never get to do it well unless you first do it badly. So I'm off and running, uneasiness in the pit of my stomach, but off and running nonetheless. Here are photos of sections of a couple of canvases I have begun to work on. Unfinished, for sure.

Overt Promo:

Are you a coach?

Do you consider coaching an art form? A creative process? An empowering relationship? An act of co-creation?

Then I am excited to extend an invitation to you to sign up for The Coach's Studio. This highly engaging, interactive, content rich program is design to help you help your clients see their lives and possibilities in entirely new ways. You will notice changes in your own creative growth as well. We will show you how to take many of the creative secrets of the Great Masters of Art and apply them to your coaching relationships and practice.

Along with co-author Kathy Jordan and coach Donna Krone, CPC, we have created this program specifically for coaches in response to the many requests we have received to develop a training program that shows how to apply the tools, techniques and concepts from our award winning book Becoming a Life Change Artist to their practice.

Don't take it from me. Nationally recognized author and executive coach Richard Leider has said of Becoming a Life Change Artist that it is "one of those rare books that change the way you think about, well, everything." We have now brought the same perspective to our online training program.

Here is what you receive:

• 9 topic online, self paced, interactive, content rich training program, designed to be completed over a 10 week time frame
• Access to the Life Change Artist Community Forum
• 4 scheduled teleconference calls with Fred, Kathy and Donna
• "Skills at a Glance," showing which creati ve skills and exercises to use in various coaching situations
• License, upon completion, to use all material with clients. Use of Life Change Artist Logo affiliated with your website
• Affiliate status so you can earn additional revenues by referring other coaches to the program
• A special rate to bring clients through the program
• A right to use The Coach's Studio pre-formatted workshops

Sound interesting? Well, here are the many benefits of the program:

Client Benefits:

• You can take your clients through parts or all of the program
• Clients will view change and challenge as a creative opportunity
• Clients will have a framework for developing their creative skills
• Clients will have access to fun, interactive exercises which move them toward deep personal insight
• Clients develop new imaginative capabilities and gain fresh perspective
• Clients are emboldened to take appropriate risks
• Clients deepen their appreciation of the pow er of collaborative relationships
• Clients connect with a deeper self

Economic/Practice Benefits:

• Coaches realize the savings and convenien ce of participating from your own office
• Coaches gain access to the collective wisdom of experts and the group
• Coaches can realize potential expanded revenue sources from existing clients, acquiring new clients, conducting group programs, affiliate fees
• Coaches can leverage marketing position as a Life Change Artist licensee
• Coaches have access to new and unique portfolio of tools, concepts and resources

Professional Benefits:

• Meet like minded professionals and fellow travelers
• Learn best practices
• Enjoy fun and highly interactive exercises
• Control the where and when through flexibility and ease of use
• Find collaborative opportunities
• Expand your professional network

Personal Benefits:

• Stimulates new levels of personal and prof essional creativity
• Enhances your personal confidence
• Connects your creativity to your spirituality
• Energizes you personal relationships

And what exactly is the offer?

We are making the full program available for a limited time period to a limited number of coaches initially at $398.50. This is half the full price of $797 when we go to a full launch. The program kicks off on February 29th. This special offer will end when we launch the program.

If you are interested or have questions please send me an email at famandell@verizon.net

My Life in 69 Seconds

My Life in 69 Seconds

So here's how it happens. Someone sends me a link to a video which shows different famous artists morphing into each other. I think it's pretty cool but don't do anything about it.

Then that in-between-time rolls around--between Thanksgiving and New Years--and I find myself reflecting about the year just ending, the upcoming new year, life, getting older, what really matters. You know it. You probably experience similar stirrings. And then the video comes back into my thoughts and I wonder what my life would look like in a flash. Not quite a flash, but if a video were to show my life, one second for each year I have been alive. The question I am asking myself is: Who am I looking at in each of these images? So here it is: My Life in 69 Seconds. Click here.

Here's my question for you. Assuming you have one second for each year you have been alive, what are the ways you might represent your life? Then assume you have unlimited time. How might you best represent your life? I'd love to hear what you come up with!

Thanks to Matt White for his masterful job of putting together My Life in 69 Seconds. Here's his link:

Happy, healthy, creating holidays and 2012!!