Art Appreciation - Rajacenna

Angelina Jolie by ~Rajacenna on deviantART

One of my Favorite images by one of my Favorite Artist.  The amazing Rajacenna.  If you haven't seen her work, Become a fan. Check her site http://rajacenna.com/  & follow her on Twitter @Rajacenna give her shout and say @360BEYOND told me about you.

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Peace & Happy Friday!!!

Pharaoh

Heavy Inspiration: Dedication To Heavy D.

”I want to be as free as the spirits of those who left.” – Common / Be (Intro)

Dwight Arrington Myers aka Heavy D. Hip Hop artist, producer actor has passed away but he has left a legacy of creativity, talent and positivity. In an artistic culture, in a society where the negative or rather the abrasiveness of life is replayed, remixed, reviewed & regurgitated daily, there are not many artists who’s resume, who’s life reflects such abundance of positivity. All one has to do, is read the tweets or comments, listen to the words of those that Heavy D., the artist and man inspired. Kind and gracious words pour from the mouths of those that new him, as a person beyond just the confines of a recording artist. Of course, the man himself thanks to social media was able to tell the world in his own words. Describing himself, his Twitter bio spoke volumes: I have relentless optimism. Here are some of his thoughts/quotes from his Twitter account at http://twitter.com/#!/heavyd :

“Never stop believing. Magic is just science we don't understand. Every original idea was considered insanity at first.”

“Back in the USA.. I love my life.. Only because I always have!!! BLESS UP!”

"Tribulation produces perseverance, perseverance builds character, character builds hope"

“I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.”

“No problem can stand the assault of sustained thinking.”

"When I win is not when I need a pat on the back. It's when I lose and I can hardly stand that I need you to praise me."

“Never give up!!!”

"Living one day at a time,enjoying one moment at a time and accepting hardships as the pathway to peace"

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations"

“REACH...”

"Everyone is capable of Greatness....most people choose not to accept that fact..."

And there are many more at http://twitter.com/#!/heavyd.

Unafraid of his talent, through hard work, respect and by tapping into his creative potential, he paved a way for his dreams and many others.  Incredible are his contributions to Hip Hop, to entertainment, to the world; from the boys on the block that grew up singing We Got Our Own Thang to the girls that he had Nuttin’ But Love for. He made great art and gave us, including me great memories.

What happens when you take control of your life, your thoughts, your actions, tap into your potential and breathe positivity into every aspect of your life?

Yes, you find your success but you also leave indelible impressions. 

You inspire others.

That’s a legacy. 

Sometimes life gets stressful and rough but its in those times when things get too heavy, we need hope to get us through the day.  Find what motivates you, what brings you ease and what uplifts you and then manifest your destiny. What your legacy will be is entirely up to you. Your life is power. Your life is magic. Give it meaning.

“BE INSPIRED” – Heavy D. / November 8^th 2011

R.I.P.  Dwight Arrington Myers (May 24, 1967 – November 8, 2011)

Spirituality In Creativity

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth…” The Bible/King James Version.

The previous statement is one of many examples of the creation story that exists in many cultures throughout the world. What some of these stories have in common is the creation of something or someone.  Creation. The first true power can be defined as creativity.

Spirituality is a personal journey to experience connectivity or oneness with the world, nature, the unseen systems of life and people.  By being open to new possibilities, even those that are strange to us, we can find a greater understanding and appreciation for most things or events in our life.  Spirituality guides one to seek knowledge about the importance of what we encounter everyday, and hopefully makes us wiser to the fact that we have an important role to play, not only in our lives but others.  We are not living apart but a part of a greater whole.

As an artist, and I can only speak for myself, my creativity is spiritual and spirituality is creativity.  In my last post, Silence In Creativity, in regards I stated, “Self-centered in silence to find your unique voice and thoughts, to subdue immediate external noises and influences; to hear the gentle persuasion of new ideas and images to stimulate the imagination.”   

When I go there, go inward to that ‘zone’, I focus or meditate and I can feel myself open up, even as I detach myself in some respects, from the outside world. The thoughts that elude me, appear.  Concepts and ideas begin to form a much clearer picture than before. 

I can go on and on, but the point is I must create, express and share with others what I’ve done and what I know.  I find that whatever’s going on, going wrong or falling apart; creating brings me a certain level of peace and helps me recharge to deal with conflicts or just plain stress. Failing to create, failing to connect with that inner power of bringing order out of chaos, only makes me more despondent or stressed out. As one of many remedies I have for dealing with stress; the act of creating in some way, ranks up there with plain R&R (rest & relaxation). 

My creativity also brings me closer to those around me; whether its sharing what I’ve done, or assisting another in their creative endeavors, it connects me to those of a common spirit. Going to church is great for some, but put me at the African Festival Of The Arts, or brainstorming with a fellowship of artists or communing with a group as we do the knowledge about life in general and that feeling of connectivity that oneness increases tenfold. 

Art connects strangers from a thousands miles away, it uplifts the lonely and gives hope to the crestfallen; that creativity is a power far greater than the creator, it expands to reach beyond the artists’ imagination. Chicago artist, Kat ‘O Conner of Terra Mysterium wrote in her post “What Is Spiritual Art?” ….that All art can be considered spiritual, as it is a reflection of the artist, her nature, and the Divinity of her nature. That Divinity is a path that we all, in some way walk.  Sure, we may have different methods and beliefs but we all share an invisible thread of humanity.  As an artist, I hope that my art reflects who I am and who I hope to become. One that is closer to God, united with the Universe bonded in unison with those around me. Creativity strengthens me; create the world in 6 or 7 days? Not me but hopefully my creative energy and powers will strengthen, enlighten and entertain those who come in contact with each image or concept I create.   

Amen.

Hotep.

Peace.

Stay Creative.

- Pharaoh

Silence In Creativity

Silence.

Where does silence belong in the phenomena of creativity?  I believe creativity finds and forces the Creator or Artist to be at a level of introspection that can’t be attained through conversation or public interaction.  One must be at rest, not sleep, though inspiration can come from slumber but ultimately, you have to be….still.

Self-centered in silence to find your unique voice and thoughts, to subdue immediate external noises and influences; to hear the gentle persuasion of new ideas and images to stimulate the imagination.

The writer, Leo Babauta, wrote the post No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People on the blog, ZenHabits states, “Creativity flourishes in solitude. With quiet, you can hear your thoughts, you can reach deep within yourself, you can focus.” He goes on further in the post to say, “The best art is created in solitude, for good reason: it’s only when we are alone that we can reach into ourselves and find truth, beauty, soul. “

Also, on the post Babauta explores the insights of other artists/writers, on their habits and similar view of silence or solitude and the impact that it has in their lives and endeavors. It’s a great read be sure to check it out.

I definitely concur with the need of silence or time alone. Today, with so many interruptions; parental responsibilities, work, technology and the list goes on; the window of opportunity for private time for oneself can be very limited. To balance out the daily requirements for all things important in our lives, as an artist, you must decide when to sacrifice and tolerate the angry stares of loved ones, the missed chances catching a movie or sports event to devote to your craft. Its your talent and your dream and your life, so you must understand no one, and I mean NO ONE will truly appreciate your moments alone more than you do.

Uninterrupted time alone, your imagination and a medium on which to work and manifest your ideas, is an equation that is a prerequisite can only add up to a creative masterpiece.

So find a corner,

get silent and

Stay Creative.

-Pharaoh

Creative Thoughts

ALL I WANT TO DO IS CREATE.