Open Letter To My American Facebook Friends

 
First I want to make it clear, I like you all that is why you are my friends on Facebook. I enjoy seeing your updates, your pictures your art your jokes and your inspirational stuff… well less the last one since I think most of these are sappy, but you get the drift. I do read through what your write and look at what you post. But I have a problem: Your politics are nasty.

Lately it has become stressful to skim through the posts and try to avoid the political ones, and I figure as we get closer to November things are going to get worst. The tone is going to become more vicious and angrier and more …well poisonous. I am not going to lecture you on free speech or democracy. I don’t think that is my place. I just want you to know that you have a lot of friends on Facebook who are not American, and although we care about you, we really really don’t want to see you fighting in front of 900 Million people from around the world. It is painful to see and read and it is difficult to imagine how deep rooted your anger is. I pray for your country and for your nation to heal. But it is like watching a train wreck it is miserable. You are not. You are wonderful caring people, but your politics are truly miserable.

Amber Waves Oil on Canvas Panel 5"x7"

So I am proposing a small change; a modest shift: Politics Free Friday. Can we agree that as a start, we would refrain form posting political stuff on Fridays on the social networks? If that is too hard can we at least start with Facebook? Just Fridays for now. We can expand that to the weekend later and maybe/ hopefully we can call for a political free zone on the social networks? OK that may be asking too much. So how about just Fridays for now please? Just post something uplifting fun and full of art and joy and life on Fridays and hold back the political stuff to some other day. Please?

God bless your nation.

(Please repost if you agree and let’s make this modest change)

Most important advice about painting

NEVER STOP PLAYING!

Whenever I can, I get into my studio and paint. Sometimes I have something in mind - an idea, a painting is shaping up in my mind. Other times there is nothing. But that is OK too.

Just sitting there and playing with colours/ lines/ shapes is an important part of the creative process don’t under estimate it. Even if you come up with nothing at all. It is not always about the end product. It is mostly about the journey. You need the "letting loose" without a goal in mind to let your brush wonder, your mind float and your eyes see through the haze of nothingness.

Look at what the cat dragged in ↓. I had some fresh paint on my palette and didn’t want to lose it, so I put up this old failed landscape (Not ashamed to say I have a few of these) and started playing. Soon shapes started forming. I started seeing something happening and started working on it. I added some lines in Photoshop just so you can see it better. I really didn’t have much time, but I will go back to it soon to bring it out. It may fail or it may turn into something wonderful. It doesn’t matter. The experience is always thrilling.

Pin to Win! Let's have some fun!

I am taking on a project to create 100 new works in the shortest time possible (not saying 100 days… I just can’t). I am trying to build up areas in my technique both in oils and in watercolors and there is nothing like practice to do that. Some of these are going to be great, and others will be filed away. Here is where you come in. I need your help!

I am looking for photos THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN that would inspire me to paint something in them. You can win a free painting this way. Here is how:

If you have a photograph that you have taken yourself that you wish me to consider painting, please pin it on PINTEREST with the hashtag: #ArtistZanBarrage. If I find something inspiring it your photo, I will paint an 8”x10” picture of it and pin it on my PINTEREST “Art board”. If the painting inspired by your picture captures 30 or more repins, it is yours! I will contact you, get your mailing address and send it to you (unframed).

I won’t be painting every photo, and I will pass on photos that seem to be someone else’s, so please post only ones you have taken. I don’t want to walk over anyone’s copyright. Oh, speaking of copyright, I assume you agree to let me paint the picture if you post it with the #ArtistZanBarrage hashtag!

So what are you waiting for? Look through your photos and start pinning away! Remember to add the hashtag so I can find the photos and know you are allowing me to paint them. I will check daily and paint almost daily as well :) Let's have some fun!