Happy Dreamers

Follow your Bliss

By Lisa Rasmussen

I think I have always been a happy dreamer. I believe in my dreams, I believe in your dreams, and I believe that in this life time we should all try to reach our greatest potential. Whatever that may be, it is your Dream! For me this is how we change the world.

As Joseph Campbell said it is the Hero’s Journey, we are all called to action. What question will you answer?

"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls." 
Joseph Campbell

I also feel that following ones dreams is the Art of Life. From inspiration, vision, and courage you manifest your passion and you find your authentic truth and destiny.
Here is what I found on my journey in following my own dreams. I have so much more to learn, but this is what I know right now.

• Carpe Diem-Seize the Day. Dream and dare- just to do it.  Also, tap into inspiration and positive energy where ever you can get it! Yoga, art making, walking in nature act...

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”  
Henry David Thoreau

• Courage-It takes a lot of courage and a lot work to realize your dreams. You must embrace the practical and the visionary all in one breath. Have a business plan, identify your mission, begin to connect with people, and stay true to your mission.

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursuethem.” 
Walt Disney

• Persistence and Resiliency is key! You will fall, fail, and be rejected, just remember this is all part of the process.

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” 
Michael Jordan

• Cultivate Gratitude-never forget to take a moment in your day to be thankful for what have and what you have achieved. Embrace it! You are amazing!!

“So many of our dreams at first seems impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”
 Christopher Reeve

• Friend Fear-become friends with your inner critic and inner saboteur. People will question you and you will doubt yourself—all you can do is friend your fears and create some good boundaries around the negativity that will enable IT not to squash your dream.
• Ask for support –Find a supportive group of allies who will support you in making your dreams a reality. Collaboration is key!!
• Action-Again Just Do it!! Leap O Faith

"Leap, and the net will appear."
John Burroughs

• Fulfillment-Congratulations you made it  through the journey!!  Celebrate!! Reflect and then reassess and go back to square one.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."  Lao Tzu

Art Tip Networking for Artists and Social Phobs

To be an agent of change, to follow your dreams and your creative endeavors, (I personally always need to remind myself of this one) you must become a pragmatic visionary.  What does that mean? Well, as an artist and creative how do you find the support you need--the collector, the art dealer, the gallery, the funder etc?  One essential ingredient to your success is to develop a practical business strategy that is symbiotic with your vision (i.e. become a pragmatic visionary). An important aspect of your art business is the networking and self promotion plan. This is a weakness of mine since I am social phob and an artist. 

Connecting with the right people to support our art career is essential. 

I feel so uncomfortable talking about my work to strangers, I wish it would magically just speak for itself and I could be swept up by an art dealer like Picasso’s -- Ambroise Vollard. There is a good chance that this just ain’t gonna happen.
You must learn to talk with confidence about your work as well as your goals to the world. One simple and effective way is the creation of your own elevator speech.  I know this is difficult since you have to put yourself out there and “work the room” as they say.  It takes a lot of courage, persistence and resistance; but as an artist you cannot be an island, you must start connecting with the world to find the support you need to aid you in the manifestation of your dream.

What is an elevator speech?
It is 30-60 second speech that talks about your work and why it is important.
How do you craft an elevator speech? 

• Reflect on "What are your goals with your art and art career?" 
  My answer: Get Museums, sell your work, change the world or all the above.
• Think about, "How is your art different, new, and unique? Why is your art important?"
• Create a short 30 second speech that is a description of yourself, your art or your project. Include your goals and a short vignette, the positive benefits others have gained from your work.
• Practice with friends
• Communicate with pride and enthusiasm

Good Luck All!! Also never forget your business cards and always be prepared to meet your own version of Ambroise Vollard.  You really never know who will be in the next elevator with you!!

Super excited to have my webpage up and running at Terra Firma Gallery in San Rafael. I am looking for some awesome Art Collectors to acquire my work. Please contact Daniel at Terra Firma Gallery  for more information and if you are interested in adding to your collection.
Namaste, Lisa

Lisa Rasmussen

Lisa Rasmussen is a painter, art advocate, environmental artist, and educator. She was born in Wisconsin and has her roots in Scandinavia and Ireland.  Lisa comes from a working class family, who has always supported her to follow her dreams to become an Artist.  Her late Mother, Mickey was Lisa’s Muse, she fostered  in her the practice of Art as being a form of expression and personal healing. Early on Lisa developed a thirst for travel and distant cultures. A key conceptual element of her artistic process is the study and travel to ancient cultures and sacred sites around the world. Some of her travel adventures include Nepal, Peru, Ireland, and Brazil. She has also lived and taught English in the mountains of South, China, as well as she had studied antiquities, the Art of the Renaissance, and Ceramics in Florence, Italy. For her painting is a very visceral, physical, and metaphysical process. Rasmussen’s paintings have been called abstract expressionism, with a spiritual twist. Her paintings reflect her holistic worldview and her deep connection with the natural world. For Rasmussen, art making is a transcendental experience.  When she paints, Rasmussen taps into a force greater than herself; a force that creates through her. Each painting is a product of her dance with divinity. Through her process she hopes to invoke in herself and the viewer a deeper connection to the world within and around us through reflection and inspiration. Rasmussen was named “Graduate Student of the Year” during her MFA commencement exercises in recognition of the strength of her paintings and her use of her artistic gifts to transform the lives of victims of abuse. Rasmussen is the Co-founder and Co-director of the ArtCart and of Art Break Day 2011, the mission of both these projects is to empower individuals and communities through ART and its process. Rasmussen’s work has been featured in numerous media outlets. Currently she lives in Santa Monica with her three cats

Featured Collection (Total Items: 9)                                Price: Low to HighPrice: High to LowNameNewestAvg ReviewReview CountFree ShippingOn Sale                                                       Lucidity  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,300.00 Prana  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,500.00 Wu Wei  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,300.00 Phoenix Rising  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,500.00 Illumination  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,900.00 Pneuma  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,900.00 Raramuri  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $1,900.00 Caol Ait  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $4,000.00 Maya  0 Review(s) Online Gallery Price:  $2,000.00

Metamorphosis of Painting-B

My painting took another shower yesterday. Is it done?? 

Absolutely!!

Transform your Collection Today!!

Metamorphosis is for sale

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 36" x 40" Depth 2 3/4

Price $4000

"Just start," Rasmussen said gently. "Art can be anything."

Diverse group embraces open offer to create art

Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos. 
 Stephen Sondheim

Inspirer William Blake and the Getty

If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. 

 William Blake

The Getty Center is amazing. On Saturday while visiting the center, this image arrested me and then I found it was the brilliant mad man~ William Blake. Need to analyse this image as I have been a watching a lot of Joseph Campbell recently.