Two Artists Tuesday

Be Small [on Two Artists Tuesday]

Posted on July 3, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

Arches copy

On a crisp fall day, watching the waves roll in at Pismo Beach, Jim told me that people come to the beach to touch their mortality. “The waves were here long before we were born. They’ll be here long after we are gone.”

It is only in the moments when we recognize how infinitesimally small we really are that we ‘re also capable of grasping how glorious, how profound, how immense are our fleeting few moments of life. It’s a paradox. It is a joining. Watching the waves, standing on the mountaintop, feeling the sunrise, holding your newborn. Boundaries blend with beauty so vast it makes you ache.

While in Colorado, we jumped the border into Utah for a day and visited Arches National Park. It is one of those places. I felt so incredibly small. I grabbed Kerri’s hand and the paradox door swung open. For a few moments, we were part of the monument, life burned so keenly, so intensely, we joined the timeless, and laughed at the utter impossibility of it all.

read Kerri’s blog post about Arches

www.kerrianddavid.com

arches national park ©️ 2018 david robinson & kerri sherwood

Filed under: Awakening, Perspective, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: arches national park, beauty, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, life, mortality, society6.com/twoartists, timeless, Two Artists Tuesday | Leave a comment »

See The World How? [on Two Artists Tuesday]

Posted on June 26, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

see the same thing on Kerri’s blog post

www.kerrianddavid.com

random seeing ©️ 2018 kerri sherwood & david robinson

Filed under: Seeing, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, perception, perspective, seeing, society6.com/twoartists, studio melange, the melange, Two Artists Tuesday | Leave a comment »

Find Love Everywhere [on Two Artists Tuesday]

Posted on June 19, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

In a former life I had an office and on the wall of the office was a poster with the English alphabet as found on butterfly wings. Sometimes I think our only real purpose on this earth is to appreciate the utter beauty of it all. We do a shoddy job of it mostly but everyone has their moments of recognition. A sunset. A mountain top. The color of a cardinal. I loved my poster and put it on the wall to remind me that nature is infinitely more beautiful, expansive and powerful than I can contain. My job is to open my eyes. To see. When I needed a reminder of natural order in the midst of my square-taupe-office-with-grey-metal-desk, I’d look at those glorious wings.

Kerri and I walk almost every day. We find peace in walking and have favorite trails, some for the morning walks and some for the end of the day. When we travel to new places, we always find and explore the trails. We have been known to walk late at night. We have ventured into the silence of a midnight snow. On our walks, Kerri is famous for finding treasures. My job is to tote them home. Most of the treasures are hearts. Heart rocks, heart leaves, heart shaped knots, or, like this treasure, the heart found in an acorn. Our house is filled with heart-treasure. Each, like the wings, is a reminder to open my eyes and see the wonder, the love of it all.

read Kerri’s blog post on FIND LOVE EVERYWHERE

www.kerrianddavid.com

find love everywhere ©️ 2018 kerri sherwood & david robinson

Filed under: Love, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, heart, inner peace, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, love, nature, peace, society6.com/twoartists, studio melange, symbol, the melange, the power of nature, Two Artists Tuesday | Leave a comment »

Be A Dandy [on Two Artists Tuesday]

Posted on June 12, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

I’ve noticed that my son, Craig, uses old fashioned words in his texts like, “indeed” and “certainly.” I delight in his collision of proper usage in a medium that regularly slays grammar and reduces communication to pre-written-language symbol (now known as an emoji).

Recently, Craig surprised me with a new pair of walking shoes. When they arrived on our doorstep I was painting so was wearing my paint-splattered-worn-to-death-grubby clothes when I tried on my cool new shoes. They immediately elevated my status and felt really good, too! I told Kerri that I was a dandy from the ankles down. “Don’t get carried away,” she said. She has grown accustomed to my usual unmade-bed style of dress.

I wrote Craig telling him that I loved my shoes. “Truly!” I added as a nod to his parlance.

“Ha!” he replied, “Happy random Monday.”

Ha, indeed! Now, it’s time for a proper walk!

read Kerri’s blog post about DANDY

www.kerrianddavid.com

dandy ©️ 2018 kerri sherwood & david robinson

Filed under: Language, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: dandelion, dandy, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, language, language usage, power of language, society6.com/twoartists, studio melange, the melange, Two Artists Tuesday, walking shoes | 1 Comment »

Choose Your Way [on Two Artists Tuesday]

Posted on May 22, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

One of the ideas behind the melange was to invite you into our studio, to offer a peek behind the curtain into the messy art piles and chaotic processes that spark and give fuel to our creative lives.

We make it a practice to walk through life noticing things, appreciating moments. It is a muscle we consciously exercise. It is the reason we write. It is the reason we take photographs of the food arranged on our plates or the evening sunlight topping the trees or the funny sign posts on the paths we walk. Kerri recently said – and I think it is true – we are inspiring ourselves and perhaps, through our art, words, and designs, helping others live appreciative lives.

In a past incarnation, when working with teachers or corporate types or artists, I said again and again, “See what is there, not what you think is there.” Try and see beyond what you think. A full spectrum of beauty bubbles brightly right in front of our noses but largely goes unnoticed through the mind chatter that dulls our perceptions. It renders us sense-blind.

On this Two Artists Tuesday, a not-so-subtle reminder to slow down, choose a piece of quiet, open your eyes and appreciate your moment. Take a stab at seeing what is bubbling out there just beyond your oh-so-important-thinking. It just might take your breath away. Or, more to the point, it might bring you a deep creative breath. It just might give fuel to your creative life.

WHICH WAY gifts and cool products

laptop sleeves

read Kerri’s blog post about WHICH WAY

www.kerrianddavid.com

which way designs and products ©️ 2018 david robinson & kerri sherwood

Filed under: Art, Awakening, Creativity, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: awareness, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, horizontal, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, monkey mind, see beyond thinking, seeing, society6.com/twoartists, studio melange, the melange, thinking, Two Artists Tuesday, vertical, which way | Leave a comment »

In Beauty I Walk [it’s Two Artists Tuesday]

Posted on May 15, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

flower experiment jpeg copy 3

“I am only so beautiful as the character of my relationships, only so rich as I enrich those around me, only so alive as I enliven those I greet.” ~ Derrick Jensen

I know many many artists who do what they do for love; their motivation is intrinsic. Their work is beautiful. I don’t mean their finished pieces (although they, too, are beautiful). I’m referencing their relationship to their work. It is lively, mysterious, expansive and generous. And, in order to stay healthy, they’ve long ago abandoned the notion that they might make a living through their artwork. Some do. Most do not.

I know many many artists who no longer do what they used to love to do. In the absence of an extrinsic reward (money), they began to see their love-work as worthless. They reduced themselves to a monetary equation and found themselves lacking. Considering their love without value, their well went dry. Their muse withered.

In our confused times it is the fortunate person who understands value as something greater than dollars and cents. Love, beauty, joy, family, generosity, learning, community, surprise, mystery…all words of relationship, all valuable beyond measure. All defy easy quantification.

From studio melange on Two Artists Tuesday, a gentle reminder to look to the space between, to value the process of living, the right-now-relationships where beauty is always to be found. Walk there.

IN BEAUTY I WALK gifts and cool stuff

read Kerri’s blog post about IN BEAUTY I WALK

www.kerrianddavid.com

‘in beauty i walk’ image & products ©️ 2018 kerri sherwood & david robinson

Filed under: Art, Creativity, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: art, artistic life, beauty, community, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, family, generosity, health, in beauty i walk, intrinsic value, joy, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, love, meaning making, mystery, process, relationship, society6.com/twoartists, Two Artists Tuesday, value, worth | Leave a comment »

Shine! [it’s Two Artists Tuesday]

Posted on May 8, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

a heart bump from studio melange on this Two Artists Tuesday.

Once, many years ago, I participated in my first street painting festival. I drew in chalk on the street a large 8′ x 12′ image. I loved it. The entire day flew by in what seemed like seconds. Roger later told me he loved watching me draw because it was what I was meant to do on this earth and, in doing what I was meant to do, I was shining.

Like Roger, I love watching people do the thing they were meant to do. When Kerri composes, she shines. I often recount the first time she played her piano for me. I was astounded. Something enormous came through. It was blinding.

Everyone shines. Everyone is capable of shining. And, here’s the thing I love the most about shining: it warms other people. Doing what you were meant to do, allowing yourself to shine, is life-giving and shine-inspiring. Shine. Or, if your day is troubled and cloudy, find someone who is shining. Their shine is guaranteed to dissipate your cloud.

SHINE designs, gifts, and cool stuff

read kerri’s blog post on SHINE

www.kerrianddavid.com

shine, shine designs and products ©️ 2016, 2018 kerri sherwood & david robinson

Filed under: Energy, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, gift, inspiration, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, life gift, life giving, purpose, shine, society6.com/twoartists, studio melange, the melange, Two Artists Tuesday | Leave a comment »

(Y)Our Earth [It’s Two Artists Tuesday]

Posted on April 17, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

Take a moment to take a look around you. A thought to ponder and share from the melange.

Tibetan monks have been in residence this week at a local technical college. They are creating a mandala sand painting. For the monks, creating the mandala is a spiritual practice, a meditation. As they construct the design they contemplate the meaning of the symbols within the design. In other words, they are in a constant state of prayer while they create. They invite the community to enter the prayerful space and contemplate with them; the “space” is, of course, the essential part of their creation. More to the point, the shared space of peace, an intentional communal tranquility, is the creation. And, to make sure we grasp the point, the final step in their creative process is to blow the design away. Nothing is permanent. Beauty is passing and so are you and me. It is, we are, energy in motion. The process, rather than the product, is the meditation.

When Kerri drew this design it immediately reminded me of the Earth’s currents, a perfect sentiment for the coming Earth Day celebrations. The essential convection currents that create our wind, our weather. The currents in the earth moving layers of magma, the transfer of energy in the heating and cooling of the ocean. Motion creates life, tosses up forms and pulls them down again. Motion is life, life is motion. And, in this mandala we call Earth, there is a deeper meditation found within the sand and the impermanence: it’s all connected. We are all connected. Blowing sands. The process, the quality of our participation in impermanence, is the art.

From studio melange, an earth day meditation: this is your/our earth.

THIS IS (Y)OUR EARTH reminders/merchandise

iphone cases

a beach towel!

(Y)Our Earth Leggings

read kerri’s blog post on (Y)Our Earth

kerrianddavid.com

Filed under: Art, Energy, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: #earthday, art, art and spirituality, beauty, communal peace, connected, connection, connectivity, convection current, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, earth day, earth's currents, impermanence, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, mandala, meditation, passing beauty, peace, prayer, process, sand painting, shared peace, society6.com/twoartists, spiritual practice, studio melange, the melange, tibetan monks, tranquility, Two Artists Tuesday | 2 Comments »

Embrace Your Obstacles [It’s Two Artists Tuesday]

Posted on April 10, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

A Tuesday thought-spark from studio melange.

obstacles are merely challenges by another name

“Simple” was the single guide-star we followed when we started our Two Artists designs. “They should be very, very simple,” we chanted. With the wall of our dining room a vast fluttering field of post-it note phrases, we jumped in, quickly creating images that might illuminate the phrases. I’m a spontaneous-gesture-drawing guy. Kerri’s designs are swift and potent with color. In simplicity we created an obstacle for ourselves. We created a challenge.

climb that mountain. take this travel mug

Obstacle/challenge creation is what people do! People create obstacles all the time and call them “hobbies.” We humans routinely fabricate wings and run at edges, we aim to solve unsolvable problems and create the unimaginable. Eliminate obstacles and there is no story. Eliminate obstacles and cloudy boredom descends. The absence of obstacles is what makes retirement so daunting for so many. The carefree life is only carefree with a select set of obstacles, a good garden or golf game.

From studio melange on Two Artists Tuesday, we wish for you a healthy selection of happy obstacles.

OBSTACLES MAKE LIFE INTERESTING reminders/merchandise

read Kerri’s blog post about OBSTACLES

kerrianddavid.com

Filed under: Perspective, Story, Two Artists Tuesday, Uncategorized | Tagged: challenge, creativity, david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, hobby, imagination, interesting life, invention, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, life, obstacle, obstacles, society6.com/twoartists, story, the melange, Two Artists Tuesday | Leave a comment »

Posted on April 3, 2018 by davidrobinsoncreative

your thought for Tuesday from studio melange

There are a few consistent thought-practices that cut across most spiritual traditions. ‘Just Shrug’ is our version of one of those universal practices. In some traditions Just Shrug it is called ‘detachment.’ Or, spun another way, it is known as ‘take nothing personally.’ Lilies of the field. Centering, grounding, presence, stepping back, quieting the mind,…, are variations on the theme. Practice not taking the bait of the crisis-of-the-moment. “There are 7 billion people on the planet,” Quinn used to quip, “and none of them are thinking about you.” Just shrug.

I laughed aloud when Kerri dashed off this Two Artists graphic because it looks like an operator’s manual illustration for detachment. The little arrows are diagram-perfect instruction for how to begin the practice. Just shrug.

JUST SHRUG reminder/merchandise [mugs and cards and pillows, oh my!]