Ralph White, Fusionartist

The Art of Possibility

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Patzlaff) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:26:00 +0000

"The moment of enlightenment is when a person's dreams of possibilities become images of probabilities." -Vic Braden

We live in a world of infinite possibilities. Art is one medium that reveals the concept of possibility. The purpose of my paintings is to provoke thought in the viewer. By conveying creative energy onto canvas, the essence of my creative thoughts manifests and transfers to the imagination of the viewer. My paintings are like a net that captures the fish of creativity, then they are released on a canvas to be viewed by the world's eye.

Explore your possibilities...

Reflection on 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Patzlaff) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:56:00 +0000

Creativity has certainly been present in my life and my art during the past year. As the year comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences and opportunities I was able to have. While observing my work I see a lot of feelings and emotions integrated in the colors weaving through the canvas. The hue of my life has been exposed in the temperature and contrast of these paintings.

In reflecting on this year's accomplishments a great thrill was seeing my work exhibited at two notable venues in New York City. This had been a dream-come-true for me and seeing that dream become a reality was truly inspiring. My artistic soul was strengthened - my passion for creation renewed. Several of my works were and continue to be displayed in many beautiful local Southern California art galleries, corporate offices and restaurants.

I share my work with you for the purpose of reflecting on the past and launching ahead into the future...

My artistic intentions for the coming year are:

To continue to convey life's transformations in my art.

That my art will inspire others to express their experience.

That our relationship encourages you to explore your own creativity.

That your creative spirit is abundant and present.

That the coming year brings you fulfillment and joy.

I invite you to create your own intentions for the New Year and share them with me as I have shared mine. May the New Year bring you abundance, confidence, power, peace, balance and serenity. May 2012 bring joy to all areas of your life!

One With the Art

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:21:00 +0000

We live in a world of busy people. We have so much "to do" and yet we never get it all done. Art gives us the opportunity to step into another world and make a connection with another reality. When I paint, I listen to music and let go of all of the cares and worries of the day. I step into my creative reality. In that reality there is no right or wrong. There is no blueprint for what there is to be done. I don't even have a plan. I am at play. Just in the space between the brush, paint, and the canvas. There is a whole Universe in that space, one of freedom, play, and fun. You are dancing with the moment, one with the source of creativity. I sometimes feel like I'm not really even present. What if the brush and the paint are in fact dancing with the canvas to the music and I am merely the observer? I do not know what the painting is going to look like until it has dried. I am perhaps only the facilitator, the medium through which the creative process has chosen to express itself. When I talk to people who are looking at my work and they tell me all the different things they see in the painting, I am always fascinated by the creative ideas that are invoked by my work. For some reason I still claim it as "My Work" even though I am not really sure that the person I know myself to be is really there.

The Art of the Subconscious

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:58:00 +0000

I always think it is so interesting how the subconscious mind will reveal itself through ones creativity. I find what tends to flow out from me will sometimes emulate those artists whose work I have always admired. Although this is not a deliberate attempt to copy, I find that some of my work will in ways resemble or at least have the same feeling as some of the masters that I have been able to see in museums around the world. It might be a color scheme or even just vibe that is coming from the painting that will spark a memory of something else I have seen.

If you are an artist, take a look at your work and see where your subconscious created an evocation of other paintings you love. Perhaps we are somehow all connected in the spirit of creativity that inhabits every artist and art lover.

Feel the Vibe!

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:33:00 +0000

Vibe is a celebration of positive thoughts and actions stemming from personal breakthroughs. As we strive to become enlightened, we fulfill our inner quest for happiness. Vibe speaks to the power of our purposeful actions and joy. Each of us vibrate at a resonance frequency. When we see art that we like, it is because the art also vibrates at our frequency. My intention is to create work that reaches many people at many levels. I strive to speak to the creative force in each of us that allows one to see into our imagination and release thoughts that express our dreams and desires. When others see images and objects in my work I have accomplished my intention. I paint to create not to replicate.

Creativity is the Access to the Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:52:00 +0000

Creativity is the access to the center of the soul. When I paint, I connect with my feelings and let the canvas and the paint interact with them to develop into the creation of expression. I have no idea what is going to be exposed in this process. To get into the space, I set up my canvas and paint. Then I turn on the music and go into meditation.

As I proceed in this process, I see no right or wrong. I have no judgment in what I am doing. It has taken me years of training and releasing to achieve this state of being where I can work with no plan and create with no judgment. I am so grateful for this ability and so blessed to have accessed this gift.

It is as if I am just part of the creative process. I am an instrument that serves this process to unfold its expression. I take no credit. I am as the canvas or the brush - merely part of what is necessary to get the job done. It could not happen without me, but it could not happen without the paint either. Therefore, I am but one of the equal elements used to create the painting.

Art is created to provoke creativity in others. My paintings are designed to provoke the creativity in the viewer. When someone looks at one of my paintings and sees an image, such as a tree, or an angel, or a fire, then I have gotten my job done. I have sparked the light of creativity in another. That flame has jumped from my soul to the canvas through the eye of the viewer to the mind of the viewer and out into the world through their expression. Now there is more creativity expressed in the world. That is what we were put here on earth to do. To create, to recreate, to procreate and expand the human race into a loving caring family.

Art is the access to love and human connection. We have been charged with the duty of transforming the world through our various media. We have the responsibility to express our joy and love thorough our art. Through that expression we grow closer together and we attract the world to our doors. Through that attraction to our doors we bring peace and harmony to the world. That is the duty and responsibility of the artist.

The Art of the Series

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:15:00 +0000

Up until recently, I painted whatever I wanted to paint, whenever I wanted to paint it. Inspiration for me has never been an issue. All I have to do is look outside my window at all the glory of nature and I am off and running.

I love the process of putting paint to canvas, and I feel a strong connection to each and every one of my paintings. I always sense that I have left a piece of my soul in every work, and that this is the essence of art’s ability to connect with viewers. These paintings are, in some sense, alive. They carry my emotions to you and to your experience with the work.

As I stood in my studio not long ago, I noticed that several of my paintings seemed to interact with each other. They shared a common color theme or subject. I began re-organizing the studio in order to group certain works. They just seemed to belong together. It was almost as if they were old friends, anxious to link arms and share some subtle secret, some shared history.

I had never thought about painting series of works, but now I am exploring the energy of the relationships between my paintings. It’s an extra level of aliveness, the connection between me and the canvas, between the canvas and the viewer, and between the paintings themselves. Certain works must have sprung from a common thought, a central feeling, and sometimes I did not know until later that there were undeniable bonds between some of the paintings.

This discovery has led me to a new space of experimentation; of relating to my work and allowing myself to more fully explore certain inspirations over a series of paintings. I have so much to put into my art, it made sense not to limit certain ideas to one canvas.

Please look at some of the series on my website and let me know what you think. Let me know where you see partnerships of color, texture and light. Just as humans desire connectedness with other humans, I think art creates its own relationships of spirit and energy, eager to be part of a great inspiration.

Opposites Attract

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:52:00 +0000

Fusionart is the merging of opposites. We take our internal extremes and coax them into a single artistic purpose.

As an artist, one is charged with the responsibility of creating. The process is one of letting the power flow through you and not blocking the creativity. As we paint, the brush, the canvas and the spirit lead the way.

When your mind is in charge, you try to make something happen. Therein lies the difficulty; you are trying to force an outcome. When you are truly in the creative “zone”, the “you” disappears. It is almost as if you are nothing more than the facilitator of the process. You have no idea what is going to happen. You are in motion, allowing the paint to mark the canvas. You could even be painting with your eyes shut. Listen to music, work the brush, and let the canvas tell you when it is done.

Working with Rassouli has taught Fusionartists to let go of our requirements. To let go of expectations. We work with the spirit and the spirit knows what needs to be done. How do you create a great painting? You allow it to happen. The more you allow it to happen the better it is. The more you try to control it, the worse it is.

All too often we focus on our technical skills, and remain unsatisfied with the quality or appearance of our work. As Fusionartists, we learn to create from the center of our creative space. Each and every one of us has artistry that needs merely to be expressed. Our process of letting it flow and letting it go gives us access to unexpected creativity and beauty. Explore the Fusionart website to experience what happens when opposing forces emerge as extraordinary art.

The Universe is a Fusionartist

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:06:00 +0000

The Universe is a Fusionartist. From the beginning of time, the Universe imbued the Earth with color. Every tree, every flower, every animal and rock has hue and shade to distinguish it. Can you imagine if the world had been created without color? It is as though the Universe realized that mankind would respond creatively to all the colors in nature.

When I look at a tree and see the movement of the leaves, I am always impressed with how many different colors of green appear. I envy Nature in her ability to blend color and create with intense magnificence such beautiful contrasts and subtle tones. I wonder how I can mimic that variety of shades on my palette. When I see what is possible with color, I experience joy! The colors in a painting are as vital to the viewer's experience as the painting's subject matter. The happiness color can bring to the eyes and heart of the viewer it touches my soul.

When one looks at a painting, the colors guide the eye through the work. The artist has laid the path and set the stage. For centuries artists have experimented and played with color in a never-ending partnership with Nature. Nature teaches us, and as artists, we endeavor to capture her power, purity and innocence on canvas. Everything that we as Fusionartists strive to accomplish is modeled for us by the Universe.

Nature orchestrates the temperature, contrast, brightness and hue to produce effortless displays of color that inspire and enlighten us. Nowhere can one see a more magnificent display than in the fall colors that are around us. I invite you to observe and spend time outside and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to witness the quintessential Fusionartist, the Universe at play.

Artists at Play

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0000

At the August Fusionart retreat, I had the most fun painting that I can ever remember. My old friend Mehrdad and I spent the day just playing. Free from structure and restrictions, we painted without trying to make anything happen. We were creating the process of creating. The work just flowed, and the fun and laughter abounded. Mehrdad and I talked so much that I was afraid Rassouli, our teacher, was going to through us out of the class.

When Rassouli paints, he gets into such a connection with the canvas it is as if nothing else exists but him and the paint, rag, and canvas. Rassouli, Mehrdad and I all have totally different styles, and yet we share a connection to the process. It is not in our minds, it is more our souls connecting with the canvas and the creative process. We are allowing the painting to express itself through us rather than be created by us. We don't do it the same way, but I sense the same essence in what we are doing.

I believe that everyone has an inner connection with the creative process, whether we realize it or not. Like the wide variety of brushes one sees in the paint store, each one of us makes a different mark on the canvas of life. It is almost like we all possess the same power to create, and yet we all do it differently. Creative expression is part of what makes us unique individuals. The Universe created us all to be part of the painting of life on the canvas of the earth. It is our responsibility to make our mark in such a way that the world is a better place for us having been here. That is my wish and my dream and the purpose for my art.

The Power of Forgetting

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:34:00 +0000

My fellow artist, Bonnie Landau, teaches a class called "Anyone Can Paint." She invited me to attend a couple of weeks ago, and encouraged me to share my technique with her students.

Maybe Bonnie should call the class "Anyone Can Teach!" I wasn't sure how to prepare for the class, and this got me to thinking about how I approach painting and how I have developed my process over time. Here's what I figured out about myself:

Early in my career, I had a lot to learn. I studied with Rassouli and Fusionart and learned the things I needed to know. Now I am at the point in my art where the important thing is for me to forget those basics, and paint without constraints. Painting through forgetting gives me power and unlimited access to my talent.

Discipline, media, form and function; these comprise the ground rules of art. True talent is the ability to simultaneously know and break the rules. Painting from knowing the rules and breaking through them is power. Painting from not knowing the rules is merely accidental. There is a world of distinction between the two.

Think about some familiar paintings. It's obvious when the artist has learned the rules, and then found an expressive path that bypasses convention. Obvious examples include Picasso, Van Gogh and Modigliani. Each took something recognizable and transformed it into something that surpassed its reality. Each artist was a major rule-breaker!

Now when I paint, I ignore the rules. They are there, but at arms length. I have no expectation for my work to look like anything or be compared to anyone else's. I don't think; I DO. And when I'm done, I am amazed at what I've created.

Realizing this, I put away the worry of how to prepare for Bonnie's class. Other than knowing I had canvas and paint, I had no expectation of how to teach people to create. I invented the class as I went along, and we were all very much in the moment. We used our hands, brushes, sticks, anything we liked to put the paint on the canvas. We didn't worry about going over someone else's work or about "getting it right". We played, secure in our basic knowledge of creativity. The result was astounding; a rich, textural painting that is alive with all our energy. Thanks to Bonnie Landau, Claudine Manning, Christina Maria, Orma Hammond, Hope Goss, Sonia Madixx and Shain Requicha. We were able to forget the rules and create without limits!

The World as a Canvas

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:16:00 +0000

This painting is the collaboration of two old friends who were surprised to discover that they shared a passion for art. I have known Mehrdad Dabbagh for 18 years, but in a completely different context - the world of business. I really did not know Mehrdad’s spirit until I met him in one of Rassouli's classes three years ago. No one can describe the expression on his face when he first saw me in the art class. It was like seeing someone from another world that you never imagined you would see in the world of art.

I have lived my life as a non artist. I am an engineer. An analytical business consultant who helps people design their businesses for profit. I help people design the systems and structures that make a business run and make money. I have been doing this for the past 18 years. I have been an entrepreneur for over 50 years. No one in my life, including myself, and certainly not Mehrdad, ever expected me to make the transformation into being a painter and artist.

Through the teaching of the Master Rassouli, I have bridged the gap and made that transition. In the process I have found a new friend in my old acquaintance Mehrdad. I found him to be a talented artist who paints with passion and emotion. This painting began with the two of us playing in class one day. We just started sharing the canvas. We each worked on one side, and then we turned the canvas and we worked on top of each other's work. There was no plan. There was no drawing. There was no blueprint. (Mehrdad also happens to be an architect.) We just kept playing and having fun. As the music changed the beating of our brushes on the canvas got faster and faster. The energy was jumping as we raced to place more paint on the canvas.

I consider this to be an example of the meeting of two worlds. Two people from different countries with different backgrounds. Even though for years they thought they knew each other, they did not. Their souls met through a mutual experience on canvas with brush and paint. I have placed the value of this painting at $10,000 - the highest price in my collection. It is the painting that took the longest time and most distance traveled to create. This is an example of the meaning of our Fusionart Movement. When we all surrender to the creative process; that is when the journey begins. This painting is a celebration of that transformation and the connection we can all share through art.

Create & Destroy

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:08:00 +0000

My fellow Fusionartist Diane Bulgatz painted this thought-provoking and serenely engaging work. It is called "The Quest". I was looking at Diane's painting this week and was struck by the fact that it captures my own recent journeys of the soul. My quest has been one of letting go.

This week my life has been a case study in letting go of the past. I had a garage sale and sold off numerous old, unwanted items. Why I had felt the need to keep them, I don't know. The sale made me feel complete with parts of the past. I cleaned my studio and shredded papers. Fixed my computer and deleted old files that were cluttering my hard drive. I cleaned my closet and even washed my car.

Creation starts with letting go. You have to surrender a little bit to the realization that in order to create art, something has to be released from your spirit. My mentor, Rassouli, says that art is about creating and destroying. Paint something and then destroy it by painting over it. Keep making it new; be in the space of getting rid of old habits, ideas, and obstacles. This keeps you prepared for the new and the next.

It doesn't always have to result in a painting. We are changing the Fusionart International website, creating and destroying, to better showcase the awe inspiring talent of our artists. Change is the only thing constant in life, and art is the perfect medium to reflect change. As artists we are trusted with the responsibility of capturing the moment and creating the future on the same canvas. We channel creativity through our soul and into our work as a demonstration of the Universe's infinite possibilities. This opportunity is both a gift and a heavy responsibility. As we go about our creative process, we must stay true to the authentic inspiration and not let too much "thinking" take over the project.

This week I invite you to let go and create your most spectacular example of you. Have fun and joy in the process. Remember, if you are not having fun, you are thinking about it too much. Let go, create, destroy, and transform your art into a true expression of your soul.

When Inspiration Eludes Me

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:58:00 +0000

There are times when I just don't feel like painting. I don't know what to paint, and I lack the energy to commit creation to canvas. These times can last from a day to two months.
My mind starts to wonder if I have lost the desire or the talent to paint. My mentor, Rassouli, says that I am building up bewilderment. It feels like a teakettle. You don't sense much happening as it simmers along on the stove. Then all of a sudden things burst forth with a trumpet blare and a release of imaginative action.

In the beginning, I worried about how long my creative juices would lie dormant and when the teakettle would sing. Now I just go with the flow. I have seen these down times as periods of major growth in my technique. While I continue to create and develop myself, I know I will never arrive at what some may call perfection. I choose to define mastery as the art of seeking perfection knowing that you will never get there. The soul must be willing to pursue the destination as well as the result.

This has been the first time in my life that I have given myself permission to let the work come at its own pace. In my business, I drive and direct and take constant action to make things happen. In my painting, art is in the driver’s seat. It’s as though I live in two different worlds that each run parallel in my existence. They must have been there my entire life and I just didn’t know. I think often of Frost’s “The Road Less Traveled”, and I feel that both those roads exist within my spirit. Sometimes I choose the one less traveled, and that fuels my creative side.

I am so grateful to have found access to the other side of myself, to my inner road less traveled. It gives me the freedom to express myself without having to meet a standard or reach a goal or be good enough. I really don't even have to have done my best.

This week, look for your own road less traveled, and take a few baby steps toward your artistic destiny. Relish the rest and rejuvenation that comes with not knowing what to paint. Allow yourself to be led by your spirit, and let the journey inspire and delight you.

Art in Art's Time

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:52:00 +0000

The process of creating is not exact. Art occurs in its own time. When you create something, you begin to fall in love with it before it ever exists. The creative process; the thinking, the experimentation, the starting over – all these are part of the joy of artistic endeavor. Sometimes inspiration comes fast and sometimes it comes slow. The trick is to not impose your own expectations on the result.

As an artist, you are merely the vehicle for the creative process. What I love about my art is that I never know what it is going to be. Even after it is done, I resist the temptation to categorize or judge it. I paint until the painting tells me we are done. Then I stand back and discover what it is I have created. Sometimes when I paint, I even take my glasses off so I cannot see the canvas very clearly. I have done entire works with my eyes closed. These techniques liberate me. When I free myself from my thinking mind and let go of the expectations, I see that I have created my best works.

The Universe is the ultimate creator, and we are all expressions of that creation. We are each and every one of us a unique creation with the ability to use the creative process to express our own individual voices. This way of thinking allows me to let the work flow and not live in the expectation that I am in charge of making something happen.

Without expectation, and with no blueprint, I have access to truly amazing results. Give your soul a chance to express itself. Paint without judgment, without concept of time. Be open to what occurs, and let your spirit be the artist.

Don't Shoot the Messenger!

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:14:00 +0000

When I started learning to paint, I spent a lot of time and energy analyzing what I was doing wrong. I continually focused on what was missing, how the painting wasn’t good enough. Fortunately I had mentors who encouraged me to break free of these negative thoughts and judgments. My work flourished and so did my enjoyment of the process.

Over time I have noticed that when I paint, I am completely free. As an artist, I do not ask myself: Why? When? What? Where? How?The reason I don't ask these questions is because I know the answer is always "It is perfect the way it is." That is what I love about art. No matter what it is, or where it is in the process, it is always perfect. Art is about the process every bit as much as it is about the product.

This photo is a perfect example. I could not figure out what to paint so I painted the canvas black. Before I finished I stopped, and it was perfect the way it was. With art, you never make a mistake because it is always perfect. You can do no wrong. You scratch the work and the scratch is supposed to be there. Art is always growing and changing. It has no right or wrong. No good or bad. No up or down. I love that. It gives me such freedom. I paint something, and if I don't like it, (which is not wrong because everything is perfect) I just paint over it. To live in a world where you can make no mistakes is nirvana.

I once did a painting, and while it was still wet I took it to the car to take it home. I stood it up by the car and while I was not looking, the Universe caused the paint to slide down the canvas. Upon my return my first reaction was upset (this was in my early days before wisdom set in.) Then I realized that it was perfect the way it was. That painting has become one of my most admired paintings. You never know how the masterpiece is going to emerge. You are the vehicle for the canvas to expose the painting that already exists. You are merely the messenger that facilitates the process.

So go out today and liberate your art from all right and wrong. Allow the Universe to create through you. Think of yourself as the messenger for your creative expression. And don’t shoot the messenger!

The Everywhereness of Art

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:39:00 +0000

Yesterday I was in the kitchen making a berry smoothie. As usual, I was on the phone, multitasking through my workday. You guessed it – I left the lid off the blender in my haste to do three things at once. Purple goo flew everywhere, including all over me. My first reaction was irritation at my own mistake. Quickly, the artist within me began to transform my interpretation of the situation, and I started admiring the colors and patterns that now adorned every surface in my kitchen.

Art is everywhere and art is anything. A canvas can appear when you least expect it. The artist must then decide to paint or not to paint.

Before I embraced the power of art, I would see a tree and think “Green Tree.” Now I look closely and marvel at the hundreds of greens that shift and change in the breeze. I see the shapes of leaves and the movement of branches. Everything is more alive now that I can appreciate the world through the context of art. A “Blue Sky” is now imbued with shades of gray, white, rose, and copper. A flower garden? Unlimited possibilities and passion. I see so many colors and I yearn to understand them. How would I re-create that red? What is that exact shade of yellow? The universe around us is the original artist, and she holds the ultimate paint box with the most diverse palette.

As I mopped up blueberry smoothie, I became uplifted instead of annoyed. The colors were inspiring, and I figured the blender was simply trying to express itself!

Allow yourself to be inspired by the everywhereness of art. In a dropped pile of papers see a collage. Celebrate the sculpture in that broken lamp. Savor the colors of your garden. You may not want to willingly remove the lid from your blender, but even when calamity happens, let your relationship with art transform each moment into personal inspiration.

Has serendipity had an impact on your art? I’d love to hear your story.

Ralph White

From the Easel of Ralph White

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:33:00 +0000

We all know that life has its complexities. We constantly sort through the world’s demands and possibilities, making choices as to where to focus our attention and ability. At times, the abundance of options can overwhelm us, causing us to retreat from life’s playing field.

In Maelstrom, I strive to deconstruct these challenges, to gain perspective on them as individual threads in life’s vast fabric. It is in these moments of choice that we discover possibilities. If we identify the obstacle, we can understand its purpose as part of our personal journey. For it is when we embrace the maelstrom, the perceived darker moments, that we can emerge strengthened and enlightened. Use this painting as your encouragement for jumping in, for shouldering the burden and through your soul’s perseverance finding meaning in each experience. Therein lies the victory and ultimately our reason to celebrate. Take a look at your circumstances. Now re-envision them as possibilities – let their light illuminate your path.

Want more?

Current & Upcoming Events

One-day Painting Retreat
July 12, 2008
10 am to 10 pm
Instructor: Rassouli
Mayfair Hotel, Los Angeles

Painting retreats offer the unique opportunity to gather for a extended time and not only learn about Fusionart, but share the energy of creating as a group. Join us for our inaugural one-day painting retreat at the Mayfair Hotel in Los Angeles. This unique event will combine instructor-led discussions about the creative process, Fusionart and how to open up to your inner creator. The class will include specific exercises to assist you in opening up to the creative flow. The day-long retreat includes lunch and dinner and a space to paint. Students should bring their own painting supplies.

For more info about me, my collection of work, where you can see it displayed at a gallery near you, or how you can get an original painting or limited edition print, please visit:
http://www.ralphwhite.com/
http://www.soulpossibilities.com/

To reach me:
Ralph@ralphwhite.com

To learn morn about Fusionart International, please visit:
http://www.fusionartinternational.com/

Symbolic: The Union of Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:27:00 +0000

Each of us has an identity, a collection of unique qualities that embodies who we are. As we go through life, we strive not only to define our own identity, but to connect with others who share our perspective. We search for moments that feel authentic and real, that speak to who we are and what we believe. We gravitate toward images and symbols that resonate with our spirit.

A symbol is a common expression of a heartfelt belief. Symbols have been passed through the ages as a way for us to impart emotions and ideas. Symbols of bravery, love, belonging, danger and passion exist all around us. They remind us of feelings, we identify with them, they center us.

In Symbolic, I speak to our recognition of ourselves as part of a greater whole. Symbolic is a reminder that our identity exists not only as uniquely ours, but as part of a shared celebration of creativity. Collective imagery is both powerful and comforting. Use this painting as a catalyst for the expression of your ideals and beliefs, and be open to the world’s affirmation of your soul.

Tears of the Sun: Our Emotional Universe

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Tue, 27 May 2008 03:37:00 +0000

Indian political strategist and writer Chanakya once wrote, “The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon truth.” What is your truth? Do you embrace it or run from it?

Just as the sun is the source of all energy and life, our soul is the center of our emotional universe. The health of the soul dictates how we react to our surroundings. In Tears of the Sun, I strive to conceptualize that energy, and how it emanates from the soul. Notice how the tears vary in size and color – from bright and bold to subdued and subtle. Here, the sun’s expression is a release of all that manifests in tears. From time to time the soul must expend some energy, either through tears, laughter, prayer, sorrow, or any of the myriad of human emotions we express. Memorial Day is our reminder to reflect. Let the image of the sun’s tear further prompt you to release.

Ascension: The Raising of the Human Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:58:00 +0000

Mother Teresa once said, “We are all pencils in the hands of God." Out of our broken lines and rough edges, despite our smudges and stains, our spirits resonate like the most beautiful hues and textures imaginable. We are glorious works in progress.

Ascension is one of my Flow paintings from 2007. I have always been interested in painting multiple moments in time. Ascension explores the raising of the human spirit, the elevation that comes from transformation. This moment is not finite, but develops through continuous effort. Through work on our spirit and our actions, we can experience a personal ascension as we move to higher levels of being. Notice how each line is committed to rising? A little personal inventory goes a long way. In your quiet time, check in with your spirit and then make a promise to yourself to go higher.

Flock: The Eternal Rite of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:19:00 +0000

Take a look around you. What do you see? Spring has sprung. Everything is in full bloom (those with allergies are acutely aware). All around, the themes are new life and rebirth.

Flock is my tribute to this eternal rite of Spring. The dawn of life, the birth of color and the renewal of the spirit all come to life in this energetic work. Notice the universal image of the triumvirate father, mother and child seen through these figures of birds. The male appears in the center, flaunting his vivid plumage. The mother is off to the left, supervising as mothers do, and is the largest of the three signifying the weight of maternal influence. The child appears to the right of the father, diminutive yet bold. As the child looks back to its parents for guidance and support, we see our identity which is often the very thing from which we also struggle to free ourselves. Let this work encourage you to reconsider your family connections. Dare to partner with Spring and allow rebirth to happen within your soul. There is a time for everything – perhaps this is your time to mend, shed old hurts and move in new directions.

Aurora: The Divine Relationship Between Earth and Sky

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:11:00 +0000

Nature is a frequent inspiration for my paintings. Whenever I find myself wondering what to paint, I never have to look far to find something intriguing in the world outside my window. I am forever fascinated with the beauty and power of the original creation, and the challenge of expressing my human reaction to this amazing design is both humbling and enlightening.

In Aurora, I celebrate the eternal bond between earth and sky, and seek to blur the boundaries between them. Earth is our home, the sky our playground. This divine relationship is older than history and shapes the fabric of who we are and what we believe. Aurora depicts a loving connection of natural elements, and encourages us to create these connections in our souls.

From the Easel of Ralph White

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:18:00 +0000

An earthquake rattles the Midwest. Experts predict the “big one” will hit sometime within the next 30 years. Floods, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis can strike with little or no warning and change our lives forever. A natural disaster is no respecter of persons. No country or community is immune to devastation. We don’t always have the luxury of time to discover what may or may not be visible. Sometimes, we have but a fleeting moment to look now before it’s too late.

In Volcanic Rain, the heat of the rain obliterates what is behind it. All life and action are under attack. The challenge is to reach immediate conclusions, save what you can and leave the rest. We must then abruptly define ourselves, chose a course and get moving. Like this painting before it melts into oblivion, can you see enough in your life before it melts away? Look quickly between the drops. Make haste. Maximize each moment. Grab what you can and get going. Take time to authenticate your own soul and spirit before you encounter the next dimension.

Want more?

Current & Upcoming Events
Gallery C
1225 Hermosa Avenue
Hermosa Beach, California 90254May 1st – 31st , 2008
**Opening Reception: May 3rd, 5P to 9P

For more info about me, my collection of work, where you can see it displayed at a gallery near you, or how you can get an original painting or limited edition print, please visit:
http://www.ralphwhite.com
http://www.soulpossibilities.com

To reach me:
Ralph@ralphwhite.com

To learn morn about Fusionart International, please visit:

http://www.fusionartinternational.com

From the Easel of Ralph White

noreply@blogger.com (Ralph White) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:43:00 +0000

Magazines, commercials and internet articles bombard us with mixed signals. Individualism is both rewarded and shunned. While current fashion dictates that we rebel, separate from anything that remotely resembles the status quo, it also dictates lists of what we should have, wear, drive, eat, listen to and download to be up on the latest trends…like everyone else.

In Indian Dancer, the dancer teaches of the nobility of being confident in our own skin. There is individuality and dignity within every spirit. As we take our place in the infinity of the earth and yet remain unique contributors vital to our own destiny, it is up to us to distinguish and define our legacy. Like this dancer, we are called to celebrate what we bring to the journey and offer ourselves up to a greater good. Along the way, we must move and flow with life’s circumstances, finding balance between the duality of self and community. Take time to find this balance and when you do, you will be dancing to the beat of your own drum.

Want more?

Current & Upcoming Events
Gallery C
1225 Hermosa Avenue
Hermosa Beach, California 90254
May 1st – 31st , 2008
**Opening Reception: May 3rd, 5pm to 9pm

For more info about me, my collection of work, where you can see it displayed at a gallery near you, or how you can get an original painting or limited edition print, please visit:
http://www.ralphwhite.com
http://www.soulpossibilities.com

To reach me:
Ralph@ralphwhite.com

To learn morn about Fusionart International, please visit:
http://www.fusionartinternational.com