KS Friday

Design A Single Week

Posted on May 12, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

This image took my breath away when Kerri showed me. And so, we decided to share it.

A brief explanation: many weeks ago, standing amidst the stacks of music, paintings, cartoons, and designs that we’d created, work that populated proposals & submission after submission after submission but had yet to find an audience, we decided to create our own channel to share it. We called the channel “the melange,” a medley, a daily offer of a design, cartoon, painting or piece of music and the thoughts they inspired in us. We launched it 14 weeks ago.

And, because we are artists trying to make a living, we established a product line through society6.com for each day of the melange [if a painting is out of reach perhaps a cool tote bag or fine art print is more accessible]. This morning, as we prepared the multiple sites and completed our writing for the upcoming week’s melange, Kerri showed me a compilation image of all the products she’d designed just THIS WEEK!

Look at this image and multiply what you see by 14 weeks. Breathless. And so much fun.

ROOT IN LOVE product line [chicken marsala monday]

SHINE product line [two artists tuesday]

SO MUCH POSSIBILITY product line [flawed cartoon wednesday]

CLOSELY I WILL HOLD YOU product line [dr thursday]

FISTFUL OF DANDELIONS product line [ks friday]

www.kerrianddavid.com

Filed under: Chicken Marsala Monday, DR Thursday, Flawed Cartoon Wednesday, KS Friday, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: cartoons, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, designs, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, music, paintings, product designs, products, prolific, society6.com, society6.com/chickenmarsala, society6.com/davidrobinson, society6.com/flawedcartoon, society6.com/kerrisherwood, society6.com/twoartists, studio melange, the melange | Leave a comment »

Give Them Dandelions [on KS Thursday]

Posted on May 11, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

a mother’s day gift from studio melange on ks friday.

jacketffodjpeg copy

Some things need no interpretation and this song, going into Mother’s Day, is one of those. So, from studio melange, a gift-song from a mom, Kerri, to mothers everywhere.

FISTFUL OF DANDELIONS available on iTunes and CDBaby

FISTFUL OF DANDELION gifts and cool products

read kerri’s blog post about FISTFUL OF DANDELIONS

www.kerrianddavid.com

fistful of dandelions ©️ 1999 kerri sherwood

fistful of dandelion designs and products ©️ 2018 kerri sherwood & david robinson

Filed under: KS Friday, Love, Uncategorized | Tagged: david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, KS Friday, mother's day, mother's day songs, motherhood, parenthood, society6.com/kerrisherwood, studio melange, the melange | Leave a comment »

Roots & Wings [It’s KS Friday]

Posted on May 4, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

A composition of elements from studio melange on KS Friday

Kerri and I share this in common: behind each composition there is a story. My favorite moment each week as we prepare our melange blog posts is to ask Kerri about the story behind her ks friday music pick. There is always a top-layer story and then a deeper-layer story. And then a deeper story-layer still.

The best art is like that. It opens stories. It reaches deep down to the roots of being and then, through story, propels the human spirit to soar. Art is communal connective tissue.

This week in her blog Kerri shares the story behind Give Me Roots, Give Them Wings. My story, as I listen and give over to the music is this: the first time I stepped into this house I was overwhelmed with the feeling of “home.” It was something I’d never in my life experienced. It was a warm rush of surprise and I laughed. Give Me Roots, Give Them Wings reminds me of that moment, of stepping through a door for the first time and knowing that I was finally home.

GIVE ME ROOTS, GIVE THEM WINGS on the album RELEASED FROM THE HEART available on iTunes and CDBaby

ROOTS & WINGS gifts and products

read Kerri’s blog post on GIVE ME ROOTS, GIVE THEM WINGS

www.kerrianddavid.com

give me roots, give them wings – album released from the heart ©️ 1995 kerri sherwood

roots & wings designs and products ©️ 2018 kerri sherwood

Filed under: Family, KS Friday, Uncategorized | Tagged: art, coming home, connective tissue, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, give me roots give them wings, home, human spirit, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, KS Friday, released from the heart, society6.com/kerrisherwood, story, story layer, studio melange, the melange | Leave a comment »

That Morning Someday [On KS Friday]

Posted on April 27, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

A sunrise for your KS Friday from studio melange.

I swear I knew this piece of music years before I met Kerri. I think I knew this piece years before she composed it. It is the soundtrack of a sunrise – and not just any sunrise. The Sunrise. Many years ago, on a California beach, wrapped in a blanket, after a night of revelry and playing in the surf with friends, I walked by myself toward the sunrise. I was utterly filled with peace, completely quiet inside. Content. It was a rare and precious moment and so distinct that it was forever burned into my memory. That morning changed me. I revisit that moment often. I revisit that sunrise when I need a touch of peace.

When I first listened to this track on Kerri’s album, Blueprint For My Soul, my mouth dropped open. “I know this piece,” I said. “I know it.” She smiled, “It’s possible.”

Yes. Possible. That Morning Someday is like a sunrise. It is about the quiet entrance of vast possibilities. Take a moment on this KS Friday, and give yourself a rare and precious moment. Revisit your sunrise. And remember what peace feels like.

THAT MORNING SOMEDAY from the album BLUEPRINT FOR MY SOUL (TRACK 11 ) iTunes

THAT MORNING SOMEDAY also available on CDBaby

THAT MORNING SOMEDAY/RIGHT NOW products we designed are sold at society6.com

read Kerri’s blog post about THAT MORNING SOMEDAY

www.kerrianddavid.com

that morning someday/blueprint for my soul ©️ 1997 kerri sherwood

that morning someday/right now product designs ©️ 2018 kerri sherwood

Filed under: Awakening, KS Friday, Uncategorized | Tagged: blueprint for my soul, contentment, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, KS Friday, new age, peace, society6.com/kerrisherwood, solo piano, studio melange, sunrise, that morning someday, the melange | Leave a comment »

Riverstone [On KS Friday]

Posted on April 20, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

a musical lift from studio melange to get you to the weekend.

kerri’s framed ‘riverstone’ wall art design

Don’t tell Kerri but this composition, Riverstone, is one of my favorite pieces of her music. It lifts me. Every time. It brings me immediately to my personal mountaintop moments, those times when I felt most alive and shouted to let the universe know it. It perfectly evokes for me that moment on a hot summer day when I waded into a cold mountain stream, my feet stinging, and I laughed at the simple joy of it.

What could be a better gift to give your self on this Friday. Step into Riverstone and let it take you, even for a moment, to your mountaintop.

RIVERSTONE from the album AS IT IS (track 4) iTunes

RIVERSTONE is also available on CDBaby

RIVERSTONE wall art, mugs, totes, leggings, phone cases, beach towels and more. Gifts and reminders to go with the flow!

read kerri’s blog post about RIVERSTONE

RIVERSTONE from AS IT IS ©️ 2004 kerri sherwood

Filed under: KS Friday, Love, Uncategorized | Tagged: AS IT IS, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, fully alive, Kerri Sherwood, kerri sherwood as it is, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, KS Friday, life, mountaintop, peak moments, riverstone, riverstone on cdbaby, riverstone on itunes, society6.com/kerrisherwood, studio melange, the melange, yamaha artist | Leave a comment »

As Sure As The Sun [It’s KS Friday]

Posted on April 13, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

a great logo for the certainty of the sun. this is a metal wall art piece

When you visit our melange page the first thing you read is our intention: brewed from our studio, sometimes fresh and sometimes aged, we offer a daily blend of goodness, thought, laughter, and beauty. Our offer. We offer what we have to give and what we have to give is an abiding artistic impulse expressed through many forms: cartoons, music, paintings, design, and our thoughts. A true medley. We have no lack of content.

One of the first things I learned about Kerri is that her artistic epicenter is a deep-well belief in kindness. She believes her work is a popcorn trail that leads people back to that deep-well. We regularly discuss spirituality and religion and she will often shut down my yawn-inducing-rants with, “If it’s not about joy, it’s not about anything.” From most people that would come off as a platitude but for Kerri it is a conviction.

Joy. Kindness. It is what she has to give. It is her offer. As Sure As The Sun is a song sprung from that well. What could be better on a cold where-is-spring Friday than a song of sunny warmth and the certainty of love. Our offer on this KS Friday from studio melange.

AS SURE AS THE SUN from the album AS SURE AS THE SUN (track 1) iTunes

Also available on CDBaby

PURCHASE THE PHYSICAL CD

AS SURE AS THE SUN LOGO merchandise

LEGGINGS!

BAGS & TOTES

MUGS & TRAVEL MUGS

SHOWER CURTAINS & TOWELS

read Kerri’s blog post about AS SURE AS THE SUN

kerrianddavid.com

AS SURE AS THE SUN from AS SURE AS THE SUN ©️ 2002 kerri sherwood

Filed under: Art, Creativity, KS Friday, Uncategorized | Tagged: artistic epicenter, as sure as the sun, conviction, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, joy, Kerri Sherwood, kerri sherwood on cdbaby, kerri sherwood on itunes, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, kindness, KS Friday, offers, society6.com/kerrisherwood, studio melange, the melange | Leave a comment »

Posted on April 6, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” ~Pablo Picasso

Every artist knows that technique is necessary but artistry is not the application of technique. Artistry is transcending technique. Technique is tangible. It is possible to practice scales and study color theory. It is possible to grasp that different brushes do different things. There are bottom lines in technique, reductions and rules and complications.

Artistry is intangible. It is flow. It is expansive. It is simplicity and simplicity is so hard to achieve. It is one of those paradoxes I love to write about, the zones where truth bubbles precisely because it cannot be contained.

The first night we met Kerri played her piano for me. I will never forget it. This slight woman stepped up to her piano (she rarely sits when playing) and all reality shifted. She grew. She filled the room. I swear I saw her send an energy-root into the earth and she opened. What came through was…enormous. What came through was simple.

This lullaby, Kerri’s original piece, I Will Hold You (Forever & Ever) from her album AND GOODNIGHT, could certainly be played by a technician and you would appreciate it. Now, for your KS Friday from the melange, listen to what an artist can do. Sit back and give over to the simplicity.

I WILL HOLD YOU (FOREVER & EVER) from AND GOODNIGHT (track 25) iTunes

also available on CDBaby

And because she couldn’t resist designing with this title for babies or weddings or anyone you love, I WILL HOLD YOU (FOREVER & EVER) products.

‘forever and ever’ leggings

read kerri’s blog post about I WILL HOLD YOU (FOREVER & EVER)

kerrianddavid.com

i will hold you (forever & ever), and goodnight ©️ 2005 kerri sherwood

Filed under: Art, KS Friday, Uncategorized | Tagged: and goodnight, artistry, children, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, expansive, flow, forever and ever, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, love, lullaby, lullaby album, marriage, music, simplicity, society6.com/kerrisherwood, technique, the melange | Leave a comment »

KS Friday

Posted on March 30, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

Always With Us (track 14)

Kerri and I had a few days off. I’d never seen Door County so we jumped in the car and headed, as the folks around here like to say, “up north.” On our way back we stopped to say hello to Hans the music producer. Kerri and Hans have been for years dancing around producing an album together. Hans is also an amazing cellist. He gave us a tour through his recording studio and invited Kerri to give his studio piano a try. She sat and began to play. He sat at his cello and joined her. My mouth dropped open and I started to cry. Artistry, when it is pure, does that to me. I found myself standing in a sacred space created by two consummate musicians who were simply doing what they were born to do. They had no idea I was stunned to tears. They were playing around. They were having fun. They played together for about an hour, Hans dashing in and out to get different instruments to noodle around with, Kerri playing whatever came through the channel. I sat in the corner and tried to keep breathing.

Always With Us [solo piano version, track 2]

No recording exists of that day. I would listen to it every day if it did. It was spontaneous and as holy and temporary as a sand painting. On the drive home I tried to describe my experience to Kerri and asked her why she and Hans had never recorded together. “It costs a lot of money to record, ” she said, adding, “and, nowadays, with people streaming music instead of buying it, there’s almost no way to recoup the investment. It’s better to enjoy the process, to have fun playing with someone like Hans.”

I remembered that day with Hans when we chose Always With Us for this week’s melange. It turns out that our melange conversation this week has been all about artistic process: stepping blindly, having faith, landing in pot holes, making bold offers, capturing moments, and most importantly, treasuring the relationship with “something bigger” that comes through when the artist(s) step out of the way and something sacred happens.

ALWAYS WITH US from the album AS IT IS (track 14) iTunes

ALWAYS WITH US from the album AS IT IS (track 14) CDBaby

ALWAYS WITH US from the album ALWAYS WITH US (track 2) iTunes

ALWAYS WITH US from the album ALWAYS WITH US (track 2) CDBaby

PURCHASE THE PHYSICAL CD: ALWAYS WITH US v. 1

KS DESIGNS on society6.com

read Kerri’s thoughts on ALWAYS WITH US

kerrianddavid.com

Filed under: Art, Creativity, KS Friday, Uncategorized | Tagged: always with us from always with us v.1, always with us from as it is, artistic process, artistry, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, hymn album, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, music, musicianship, process, Sacred, sand painting, society6.com/kerrisherwood, spirituality, the melange | Leave a comment »

KS Friday

Posted on March 23, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

On this KS Friday from studio melange, a moment to breathe and listen.

A few hours ago we loaded several large canvases into our car. They were from Duke Kruse’s studio. They are canvas stretched and prepared by Duke. They are blank, the canvas he never got to use before he passed. He was a gifted painter, a brilliant artist. I never met Duke, but his son John [we call him 20] is most dear to me, a brother. 20 thought Duke would want me to have his canvas. I am moved to tears to be the recipient of this legacy.

When DeMarcus stopped painting, in the middle 90’s of his years, he gave me his brushes and his paint box. I drew all of Chicken Marsala, all of our Flawed Cartoons, all of Beaky’s books with nibs and handles that DeMarcus left for me. They are my treasures and make each image, each drawing that much more special.

Somehow I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of Tom’s story, the carrier of his legacy. Every day of my life I recognize in my bones that I carry a bit of Quinn’s vast wisdom in my marrow, his generous gift to me.

I am rich in Legacy. This sparkling river, this quietly moving piece from Kerri’s first album, always carries me directly to thoughts of my mentors and friends, to a sunset from the porch on the ranch, a room lined with books, yellow pads and red felt-tip pens, a studio with just a hint of turpentine and mineral spirits in the air.

LEGACY from the album RELEASED FROM THE HEART (track 12) iTunes

LEGACY from RELEASED FROM THE HEART (track 12) CDBaby

PURCHASE THE PHYSICAL CD: RELEASED FROM THE HEART

NEW! KS DESIGNS on society6.com

read Kerri’s thoughts on Legacy

kerrianddavid.com

Filed under: Gratitude, KS Friday, Uncategorized | Tagged: Beaky's Books, Chicken Marsala Monday, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, Duke Kruse, generosity, Gratitude, inheritance, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, legacy, legacy from released from the heart, released from the heart, society6.com/kerrisherwood, solo piano, the melange, treasures | Leave a comment »

KS Friday

Posted on March 16, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

a musical t.g.i.f. lift from studio melange!

I’m beginning to believe that high atop the list of human fears-that-lead-to-foibles is the fear of ambiguity (I seem to be writing a lot lately about ambiguity). We want our world to be clear cut, black and white. We want the line between right and wrong to be definitive across all circumstances. We want a ‘normal’ that is one-size-fits-all. We want our word and our book and our laws and our rules and our values and our virtues and our morals to be simple and straightforward and, most important, to be defined by how I define them, not how YOU define them. We want to know what to do. We want to know where we are going. We want to know why we are here. What. Where. Why. Quinn used to call these the BIG three.

We hardly ever know what to do. We choose a path based on what we know at the moment. Choices that are based on ideals, imaginings and sometimes a gut feeling. And, where are we going? Where are you going? Do you know with certainty where this day will take you? Can you possibly know why you are here? What if there is not merely one purpose or one reason? What if that “knowledge” is something you can only see clearly when looking back on your life?

Ambiguity makes space for grace to enter. ‘Not knowing’ is the path that leads to all growth and discovery. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people because no one is all good or all bad. Isn’t it often true that the things that seemed like obstacles in our lives one day down the road began to appear as great blessings?

It’s probably comfortable to think that this messy life is only black and white. But a comfortable thought is all it is. On this melange KS Friday, take a moment and step into the ambiguity known as music. Let Kerri’s gorgeous piece, It’s Not Black & White, buoy you on a river of grace to the space between rules and lists, the subtle-spirited place where life is lived & experienced and quite simply refuses to be boxed in the fear of artificial certainty.