Carlsbad’s Lake Calavera – A Place To Inspire Artists & Photographers

View from atop Calavera Lake Dam

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I’m always ready to find a new place to hike or find inspiration for my art. And wow, did I hit a little jackpot yesterday after exploring the trails along Carlsbad‘s largest nature preserve. With more than six miles of trails of mostly flat terrain, Lake Calavera offers easy access from the road (you can download the city’s park & rec pages for a detailed map of entry points) and several scenic (aka paintable/shootable) spots along the way. (more…)

10 Things Artists Should Be Thankful For

A friend sent me a link to the Sylvia White Gallery website where I found amazing gallery images and a few interesting articles.  Given the season, here’s one I thought would be worth sharing:

10 Things Artists Should Be Thankful For

By the time most artists come to see me, they are usually beaten down and depressed by the struggles of the art world.  They have been abused by their galleries, taken for granted by their collectors, misunderstood by their families and exhausted from juggling real life with creative need. It is so easy to forget how special you are, when there is no one around to remind you, but you. (more…)

Diwali – Indian Festival of Lights

I’ve never been to India but recently enjoyed a glimpse of its culture when my friend Kathy and I decided to venture to Balboa Park to take part in the 3rd Annual Festival of Lights.

Co-sponsored by SDMA, the Mingei Museum and the Indian American Society, the event offered us all the high points of any major festival.

Crowds of people meandered through the Prada promenade and took turns peering at the display tables showing unique arts and crafts.  Young girls danced in regional garb, musicians moved through the crowd tinkling their cymbals and food vendors filled the air with fragrant scents of every Indian delicacy imaginable.

At dusk, we joined the crush of colorfully dressed people who pressed their way into Spreckels Bowl to watch the evening’s entertainment – a variety of musical troops lip-syncing to music while performing ancient ritual dances.

The evening turned out to be a potpourri of unexpected sights, smells and sounds and it reminds me of how lucky I am to live here, not just because of San Diego’s gorgeous beaches and abundant sunshine but also for its rich cultural treasures.

And a good time was had by all…

At least on August 4, 2011 at the San Diego Botanic Garden where Don Myers and his band of merry mosaic-makers helped 81 locals learn the basics.

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Modern Art in Medieval Sicily

Of course, Italy is known for its art. But I was more than a little surprised to find modern sculptures exhibited in the Medieval village of Finale di Pollina, where my newly-acquire in-laws reside. Finale, located halfway between Palermo and Messina, is the eastern-most (final) town of the region of Palermo on Sicily’s north shore.

These contemporary sculptures, scattered around the perimeter of a beautifully landscaped seaside promenade, contrasted sharply with the ancient gun tower that has probably stood guard at the edge of the Tyrrhenian Sea for more than 600 years.

“A journey of one thousand miles begins with a single step” (Lao-tzu)

I’ll assume that Lao-tzu was a smart, energetic man who was probably just trying to encourage his lazy son to get off his mat and GO DO something.  But I wonder, wouldn’t the kid have needed some inner motivation of his own?

For me, my motivation comes from a curiosity about what North County San Diego has to offer after moving here not long ago.  As an aspiring visual artist, I am interested in learning about my new backyard – in particular, its most picturesque scenery for painting and photographing.  I’ve also begun to explore its out-of-the-way venues for viewing local art and attending some truly fun! events that can only be found here.  Also, I am curious about the artists who live and create here…what are their favorite places to paint, shoot or show?  What’s it like to live and work in here in North County as a creative person?  Do they consider themselves successful?  How do today’s artists measure success?

As I said, I’m curious.

So this journey of mine begins with this single web log.  I promise to get off my mat and explore – then report back.