Art, Life & Inspiration- My TV interview is now on line

Pat Fiorello( left) and Sonja Vass( Right) at sbn show taping

Exciting news! I shared last week that I had been interviewed by Sonja Vass of sbn.tv for her  television show "The Art Corner". The 30 minute segment aired on tv last week and is now available to view on line at:


http://www.sbn.tv/archives/category/programming/the-art-corner

Just click the start arrow on the episode April 19, Pat Fiorello.

During the interview I share how I got into art, and we covered lots of topics including painting, life, learning, travel, inspiration and following your dreams. The message in the show is consistent with my intention for this blog which is that Art Elevates Life.  Art truly has enriched my life and I believe it can enrich everyone's life  whether you are an artist,  aspiring artist or anyone who is open to a deeper appreciation of the beauty around us.

If you have a chance to view the show, let me now what you think and please share it with others who might be inspired to include more art in their live and follow their passions.


The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
- Eleanor Roosevelt  

Are you opening or closing doors?

                                                      Beyond the Poppies
                                               Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello
                                                              Sold

In the book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Hirakowa,  the author shares a very powerful lesson. When he was a kid,  and wanted something, like a new bike, his biological dad (a.k.a. the Poor dad) would say  "We can't afford that". And that was the end of it.

 But he was lucky to have the guidance of his best friend's dad ( a.k.a. the Rich dad) , who instead of saying, "We can't afford that," would turn the table and ask "How can we afford that?"

Can you see the difference?  The first approach is a conclusion and closed a door.  It occurs like a fact- we cannot afford that.  There is no possibility or even opening to look at creating anything. But by asking instead of concluding, it opens the door to explore. If I really wanted that what are some ways to get there. Concluding closes the door and asking opens up creative solutions.

Where does this show up as it relates to your art (or other areas of life that are important to you)? Are there places where you tell yourself  " I can't ..., I'll never"?  What would happen if you changed it around to "How could I"?

Art & Inspiration on TV

Pat Fiorello and Sonja Vass at sbn TV show taping

                                        

 I was recently interviewed  by host Sonja Vass for "The Art Corner" , a television show which features artists sharing about art & inspiration.

 The half hour segment will air on sbn.tv this coming week. The show can be seen on channel 22  which serves 7 counties in Georgia: Henry, Butts, Lamar, Rockdale, Newton, Clayton & Spalding.The show will air a total of 27 times during the week, so check your local listings for times.

If you are not in an area where this station is available, the show will  be posted in it's entirely on the Internet at http://www.sbn.tv/ later on this month. I'll send a link to the website once it goes live.

If you are able to catch it, hope it provides some inspiration for you!

P.S. Artists if you are interested in being  featured on a future show, please contact sonja@sbn.tv 

The State of Art

"Mums the Word"

Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello

12 x 12

“The object is not to make art, but to be in the wonderful state that makes art inevitable”   

  - Robert Henri

Lately, I've been painting a lot more still lives and I'm really enjoying them. Not only do you get to choose and arrange the elements you are painting, but it also forces you to slow down and really observe what's in front of you. I find myself slowing down even  more with still lives than when I do a landscape plein air when I'm moving quickly before the light or weather changes. 

When I have that much focus , I'm in the zone, not really aware of what's going on around me or how much time has passed. It's a wonderful state to be in.

Reflecting on the experience, reminded me of a favorite quote  from the artist Robert Henri noted above. Creating art can offer a state change- being fully present in the moment and absorbed in the flow. Maybe that's what it's all about.

Go For It!

The painting above is one  of my watercolors that was published in "Splash 11 -The Best of Watercolor"- a book  published by North Light Books, which comes out every couple of years featuring beautiful examples of watercolors from today's artists.  There are thousands of entries from artists all over the country and about 100 are chosen to be included.

The reason I share this is because this is one of those examples of a time when I said "go for it, just enter" and  I didn't listen to the little voice in my head ( you  probably know the voice that I'm talking  about - the one that second guesses our decisions or has a constant opinion). The voice that usually says- "why bother entering,  you'll never get in".

 An artist friend of mine said to me once that she wasn't going to enter a juried show( she had that same little voice in her head) , then thought, "hey this show has a judge- let the judge do his job, it's not my job to pre-judge this." She entered and even won a prize. So sometimes in life, we just need to go for it and get out of our own way. Where have you been stopping yourself  from trying something new or stretching out in a new way? Give up the doubts and give it a try. You just might get  a nice surprise.

This quote from Wayne Gretzky, probably one of the all time hockey greats, says it all...

“You miss 100% of the shots you never take”- Wayne Gretzky

Getting Started

Yesterday I taught my "Art for Non- Artists" Workshop. It's a one day workshop I developed and have been teaching for over 12 years. It's designed to help people who are interested in art, but feel they are not artistic, to get started exploring art. In just one day they learn basic techniques and then how to apply those techniques to a painting start to finish. Over the years I have had hundreds of people get their start in art this way and continue on to include more art in their lives.

Picasso said " Every child is an artist, the secret is to remain one when you're an adult". 

And it's true, Studies have been done showing that when school children have been asked "who is an artist", the kindergarteners and first graders almost all raised their hands. As they got to 2nd, 3rd, 4th grade, fewer and fewer kids raised their hand to that question. And then by the time they got to high school, typically only one or 2  students raised their hand. Betty Edwards, author of the well respected book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain", concurs. When children are young, they draw and paint naturally. They are free and in the moment playing with art. But as they develop, judgement sets in. At some point they conclude they are not naturally artistic ( or they don't make art it as well as their sister, brother, classmate, it's not how it should look vs some standard ......) and they go on to other interests, so they don't continue their development.

Judgment can keep us from learning and growing.

I was one of those kids who gave up on art in the 3rd grade after a bad experience in class. I got reintroduced to art at age 35 ( although  my skills were still where I left off in grade school- they did not magically improve without further education and practice) . I have since learned everything that I know about art as an adult.

That reconnection with art has totally altered my life. It had now become my career, life and passion and I am grateful that I got back to art. It has also altered the way I view and appreciate the world. Through art you see life with new eyes. It has added tremendous richness and pleasure, enhancing the quality of my life.

If you would like to have more art in your life, but believe you are not "artistic", suspend the judgment and take a class- just for fun. By giving up the notion that you can't, you might just be opening the door to Yes I can!

I even had one student who came to learn how to paint at age 93! The good new is it's never too late.

Henry Ford once said "If you think you can or you think you can't , you're right". That applies to many areas of life including your own opinions about your ability to create.

So stretch out of your comfort zone and open yourself up to the opportunities that art can add to your life!

Bella Italia

One of my favorite places to paint is Italy. I have been teaching workshops there for several years in both Tuscany and the Northern Lake Region. On my first trip there I was curious about why so many people were drawn to paint Tuscany. Of course it's a beautiful place, and great fun with wonderful art & history to explore, but looking at it from an artists perspective, there's something there that's naturally paintable.

 One of the things I noticed right away is the dominance of diagonals.There are so many diagonals in the landscape of the hills rolling, vineyards, mountains, and even rooftops that it makes for an inherently dynamic landscape. Also there's natural color harmony. Most of the buildings are very old with lots of character.  They are made from local materials from the earth, so the colors of the buildings and land are  naturally harmonious. There's a variety of textures from the stone buildings and lush foliage. Those great dark cypress trees and strong sunlight and shadows provide opportunities for dramatic value contrast on most days. And then there's the intangible, but palpable spirit of La Dolce Vita. A sense of peacefulness and contentment with life that pervades the area and it's people- Or maybe that's the Chianti???

Here are a couple of my recent paintings of Tuscany:

 If you've ever dreamed of going to Tuscany or painting in Italy, there are still several spots available in my May 28 workshop. It's open to artists of all mediums and all levels. Even total beginners have come on the trip before and enjoyed every moment of it ( and left with some nice paintings of memories of their trip). If interested, please get in touch with me at patfiorello@aol.com.  I would appreciate you sharing this with others you know who might be interested.  It might be the dream trip of a lifetime for an artist.

Follow Your Bliss

 Most likely you've heard the Joseph Campbell quote about following your bliss. Sometimes it can sound like a cliche or even a pipe dream, but you can choose and take actions to create the life of your dreams.  I also appreciate perspective of the quote "Never get so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life".  At the age of 43, I decided to take the plunge and shift careers from business to art. That was about 9 years ago and I don't regret the choice for a moment. I have a life I love, aligned with my purpose and have an opportunity to share that with others.

I was recently interviewed for an article in  the April 2011 issue of Best Self magazine which shares the stories of several people who made big life changes to follow their hearts. You can read the entire article called "A New Definition of Success" on:

http://www.bestselfatlanta.com/best-self-articles/life-enrichment/a-new-definition-of-success.html


Beyond the dream of living my life as an artist, one of my specific dreams was to paint in Monet's Gardens in Giverny, France. Not only did I do that, but I taught a  painting workshop there in 2008. Here I am with some of my students - Sue Wierzba and Pauline Buchanan - in front of Monet's Japanese bridge.

If you have a dream- go for it- life is short!
 Like Wayne Gretzky ( the champion hockey player) says  ...
                                          "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"

Living a Passionate Life

                                                                      Cloudscapes
                                                                        12 x 16
                                                                      Watercolor


"Don't ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive"
           - Howard Thurman

 I don't know who Howard Thurman is- but I love this quote.

There is nothing more enlivening than living your life aligned with your purpose and doing so in a way that contributes to others. About 10 years ago I was at a cross roads. I had had a successful career in business, by all conventional measures, for nearly 20 years, yet felt unfulfilled.  I made the decision to change directions and pursue my passion for painting full time. It wasn't an easy decision and was not one I made hastily, but has really proved to be the path towards living a life I truly love and am energized by.

 I share this because I know there are lots of people who are doing things they think they "should " be doing or that are familiar  because that's what they've always done, yet know in their hearts that there's something more that would provide a deeper sense of  fulfillment  and more satisfying life.

 If this is you, know you are not alone and know that you have the power to create the life you've dreamed of. It may not be easy or immediate, but make a plan, take actions each day in the direction  of your viison for your life and surround yourself with positive people( and try to avoid  engaging with the naysayers who squelch your dreams).

 I have another quote  that has been a good reminder of what's important "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life".  It's never too late to follow your dreams.

 In the right hand column I have a link to a pdf poster  that you can download for free with my favorite inspiring  quotes for  following your dreams.
 Hope you enjoy it and it gives you a little bit of extra motivation to live the life you've imagined!