Constantly Seeking Inspiration

Photo: Dead Wood

There is this amazing place right off of Kanan Rd through the Santa Monica Mountains  where this Artist carves beautiful pieces of dead wood into collectible and breath taking art.

A must visit.

Light is More Important Than The Lantern

Light is more important than the lantern,
The poem more important than the notebook,
And the kiss more important than the lips.
My letters to you
Are greater and more important than both of us.
The are the only documents
Where people will discover
Your beauty
And my madness

Poem: Qabbani
Painting:
Girl reading a Letter at an Open Window
by Johannes Vermeer

"The World As I See It"

When we survey our lives and endeavors we soon observe that almost the whole of our actions and desires are bound up with the existence of other human beings. We see that our whole nature resembles that of the social animals. We eat food that others have grown, wear clothes that others have made, live in houses that others have built.

The greater part of our knowledge and beliefs has been communicated to us by other people through the medium of a language which others have created.

Without language our mental capacities would be poor indeed, comparable to those of the higher animals; we have, therefore, to admit that we owe our principal advantage over the beasts to the fact of living in human society.

The individual, if left alone from birth would remain primitive and beast-like in his thoughts and feelings to a degree that we can hardly conceive. The individual is what he is and has the significance that he has not so much in virtue of his individuality, but rather as a member of a great human society, which directs his material and spiritual existence from the cradle to the grave.

The example of great and pure characters is the only thing that can produce fine ideas and noble deeds.

 A man's value to the community depends primarily on how far his feelings, thoughts, and actions are directed towards promoting the good of his fellows. We call him good or bad according to how he stands in this matter. It looks at first sight as if our estimate of a man depended entirely on his social qualities.
     
And yet such an attitude would be wrong. It is clear that all the valuable things, material, spiritual, and moral, which we receive from society can be traced back through countless generations to certain creative individuals. The use of fire, the cultivation of edible plants, the steam engine — each was discovered by one man.
     
Only the individual can think, and thereby create new values for society — nay, even set up new moral standards to which the life of the community conforms. Without creative, independently thinking and judging personalities the upward development of society is as unthinkable as the development of the individual personality without the nourishing soil of the community.
     
The health of society thus depends quite as much on the independence of the individuals composing it as on their close political cohesion.


The World As I See It

Albert Einstein

File Under: (see image)

File Under:
1.     color pencils, white paper, inner child
2.     coffee and journals
3.     outdoors
4.     You can Quote Me on This
5.     No rhyme or reason
6.     Just felt like coloring
7.     Was downloading songs and thought I would scan an image
8.     Crushing on my new Character
9.     Can't wait to come to an end
10.    Begin my first rewrite

graphic by ?

Sharpie on Paper

"Sharpie on Paper." What is my medium? I found myself doodling today. I have a cherished collection of inks, sharpies, graphic pens and pencils. I am a total novice, an amateur doodler, a die hard sharpie lover. When I experience a creative block in my writing; there are usually two things I do: 1. free write  and 2. draw. [the complete list much later; need content for the future. ;)]
I don't have any agenda or idea of what I am going to do. I let my subconscious guide me and let my emotions flow. Sometimes it's just plain mind dribble, other times a telling stream of consciousness. The same is with drawing. I feel so alive just letting my marker go crazy on bright white drawing paper. I love movement. I love harmony. Movement and Harmony, friends in writing too. Every scene needs to lead and work in harmony with the next scene. Such are drawings that move in harmony. Lines paired with curves. Sharp triangles dancing with organic fertile leaves.  I used to draw all the time. Nothing too fancy; no formal training here. My moleskin notebooks and numerous journals consist of nothing more than patterns, designs, and words. An occasional cartoon too can be found. I wonder if all that was a good thing? Was I experiencing more creative blocks then? Hmm, something to revisit and ponder at a later time. Be still my hippie heart-all the hearts one can chuck up.

xoxo
Farida

Sharpie on Paper

Scanned.
Click to enlarge.

Take a Listen & Get Inspired: "Utopia"

“Not in Utopia, -- subterranean fields, --
Or some secreted island, Heaven knows where!
But in the very world, which is the world
Of all of us, -- the place where in the end
We find our happiness, or not at all!”
William Wordsworth

Nothing feels better than being in the flow of things again. Thoughts moving, free-falling, connecting and taking broad strides. The beauty of the composition. The thrill of completion. Let's hope I can continue this wave. If you have been following this sea creature, then you have noticed I have been holding words back and pouring out tunes for you lovely people. This is how I transition. Not cut and dry, but rather mm by mm, at my own pace. So here is another piece to add to the "Get Inspired" music collection on this ambitious blog. ;)
With Love,
Farida

Artist: Goldfrapp
Song:  "Utopia" (New Ears Mix)

Take a listen HERE. (or visit <> )



Artist: Henri Rousseau
"Women Walking in An Exotic Forest", "Jungle"

Part of the Get Inspired Series:
Pulling emotions like silk scarves. Soul dipping, soul soaring, feet tapping, hum-humming. Creating imagery with sounds.
A new scene in  your mental movie screen is born.
Get Inspired.
This week I am sharing some of the tracks  I listen to when I am come to a  halt in my screen writing. Music  unfailingly delivers me to new places. In very little time my mind reunites me with my Muse. The Tracks are: World Music, Instrumentals, Soundtracks, Ambiance.
xoxo
Farida

Exercise:
The trick is to listen to the music with your eyes closed. Pay attention to only the images that are projected by your mental movie.

You can track all my music related blog entries HERE & "Get Inspired" HERE.

A Pretty "Peaceful" Picture Post for the Procrastinator

Say that 10x's.
As you know I took a Dive almost a month ago. Slowly starting to resurface and share with you all what I learned. Hopefully sometime this week, if the muses are with me.

With love,
Farida

BOOK: Photojournalist Reza Deghati's WAR + PEACE

Hope award recipient, Founder of Webistan, and world famous National Geographic Photojournalist Reza Deghati's book, "WAR + PEACE" is a worthy of the highest shelf in your book case. The book shares Deghati's 30 years of travels in rough terrains and heated political climates.

"In 1996 Reza won the Hope Prize for his efforts on behalf of Rwandan refugees. In 2001 he founded AÏNA, Afghan Media and Culture Centre to bring a free press to a nation silenced by the Taliban. He was again honoured in 2005 when Christian Poncelet, president of the French senate, presented him with the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite, the national award for distinguished public or private service. And in 2006, Spain's Crown Prince Felipe presented him with the Principe de Asturias Medal. That same year, he also received the Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia." (FRONTLINE)

For more information on the works and life of Reza Deghati:
BIO on National Geographics
FRONTLINE Event on March 2nd in the UK with Q &A
WEBISTAN
Reza Deghati
WAR+PEACE on AMAZON