I’m back from a long road trip with the family this weekend. My oldest turned thirteen and all he wanted to do was spend time with the family. I know, I’m counting the days until this bliss ends. With nothing but time on my hand and road at my feet, I finally got through most of Eckhart Tolle’s, A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, I blogged about the book when I started it months ago, which just confirms the my earlier point; I’m not an avid reader of actual books, but I do get through them.
Artist - Henry Hall
I’ve often been told that I “take things too personally.” I always responded immediately with a “no I don’t” retort. I believe Tolle’s point is that we take our thought and identify it with who we are, when we should recognize our thought as just that, thoughts. If we separate ourselves from the thoughts we are having than its easier to separate our emotions and egos from them and be more present in the now.
All that is real is now. That past is gone, we can’t change it and the future is not here yet, so we might as well enjoy what is now. That kind of mental freedom is what artists must feel in the midst of creativity. That’s how they can see and create things of true beauty.
Henry Hall, is one of these artist. He lives in Finland but we’re planning on having coffee when he visits this summer. He is a painter, designer, photographer and film maker. His paintings are spectacular, a bit reminiscent of Rothko but I believe ‘borrowing’ is the way of modern art as does my fellow blogger, Eric. Hall’s portraits, however, are something completely on their own. They reach into my soul. The portrait with the blond, freckled woman I have titled “I Am Not Myself” as it reminds me of what I learned from Tolle’s book over the weekend.
The thing I love about Hall is that he pours himself into painting, design and film. I like to see artist express themselves in multiple mediums. It’s courageous, to say the least, and not easy to do well. I’ve always thought jeans were a good way to break into the design industry if one were to do it, so I’m looking forward to speaking with him about his experience.
