Dance In The Rain…

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abundance, gratitude, healing, healing art, healing arts, healing energy, inspiration, inspirational, inspirational art, inspirational quotes, self help, self improvement, uplifting

We could all use a little more dance and play right now…

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Heaven On Earth…

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abstract art, abundance, abundant life, authentic life, dance, heart, heaven, inspiration, inspirational, inspirational art, inspirational quotes, sharon cummings, sing

Live every day as if this is heaven on earth and you will want to dance and sing!

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My Saving G.R.A.C.E…

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abstract, abundance, air, alternative medicine, aqua, arts, aura, blue, brown, canvas, celestial, cerulean blue, coral, divine, divinity, eco, energy, fractal, grace, green, heal, healing, healing arts, health, holistic, indian, kaleidoscope, meditation, mirror, mirror image, modern, Music, mystic, mystical, native american, new age, om, organic, painting, pattern, patterns, positive, prints, sacred, saving grace, shakti, sharon cummings, spirit, spiritual, symbol, symbolic, symbolism, symmetrical, symmetry, tribal, unique, vibration, vibrational, wall art, wicca, yoga, zen

 

It may come as a surprise to some of my readers and followers, but I have a rebellious streak in me that made me a less than ideal student, a problem daughter and ex-wife to 3 men.  I’ve never liked being told what I should do or how I should act.  I am a rule breaker and an outspoken independent woman. My mother would often scold calling me a little brat.  Her favorite line was, “That mouth of yours is going to get you into real trouble someday.” I suppose she was right in that I have found myself in many uncomfortable situations over the years by words I’ve said.  After my first meeting with my now Mother-In-Law she told my husband, “Wow, she will say anything.” But that openness is also my “saving grace”.  It enabled me to stand up to an abuser declaring enough was enough.  I exposed everything without leaving off details and was able to heal.  It is also what has allowed me to be a “real” mom to my own child.  She was never confused about where babies came from or whether or not Santa was real.  This same freedom of thought and voice is also what gives me the ability to create artwork without following set guidelines. Because I do not limit myself in any way, I am able to paint with acrylics, take photographs or use my computer to produce artwork.

What is your “saving grace”?  It just might be something that you were told was “bad” about you, but in reality turns out to be something so very “good”.

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Achieving Zen…

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abundance, abundant, abundant life, art, asian, bug, bugs, buy, chinese, cream, dragon, dragon flies, dragon fly, dragonflies, dragonfly, earthy, flies, flight, fly, for sale, happiness, happy, insect, insects, japanese, joy, joyful, life, online, oriental, paintings, prints, rejoice, sharon cummings, soulful, southeast asian, spirit, spiritual, spring, spring cleaning, summer, textured, yoga, zen

Spring is in full swing here in Florida and I have been one busy bee!  I have been painting lots of commission work and my print sales are at an all time high.  I just spent a few days with my daughter in Sarasota for her Spring break which was fun and relaxing.  But today it is back to work for me. We’ve been cleaning and doing some upgrades in our home.  I do not comprehend the concept of “light” cleaning. It’s always “deep” cleaning because once I see funk or dirt, I MUST clean it!  I cannot turn a blind eye.

How does this tie into “zen”?  The urban dictionary says:

One way to think of zen is this: a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts. “Sun is warm, grass is green.”

I have been experiencing the “zen” of cleaning.  My focus is intense and both my mind and body are fully together in my tasks.  There are no illusions here. Dirt and dog hair have infiltrated every pore of my home. “The house was dirty, the house is cleanish.” 🙂

Happy Spring Cleaning!

When Things Fall Apart…

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abundance, affirmations, amber, art, art licensing, art to license, beautiful, bright, brilliant, circle, circles, clear purpose, cobalt, color, contemporary, energy, gem, hypnotic, jewel, licensing art, mesmerizing, modern, painting, positive energy, primary colors, prints, prosperity, royal, sales person, sapphire, sharon cummings, sphere, spheres, spiral, spirals, striking, success, successful, surreal, surrealism, vivid

When I first started to write this post it was going to be about the pros and cons of art licensing.  However, a quick Google search will turn up a gazillion articles on exactly that.  So I will keep this writing to two points.

There are two important factors in any healthy relationship including those between a potential licencor and licencee:  communication and listening with intent.

When all of the elements are there for success such as an enthusiastic and hard working sales person on their end and a seasoned professional artist with great content on the other.  What can go wrong?

Whether it is a marriage, home purchase, licensing agreement, etc. there is always a deal breaker.  And to avoid that, you must learn a few skills such as listening with intention.

This is an important point.  Listening with intention simply means that you pay attention to what the other party is saying with the intent to “understand” and not just “respond”.  Once you set your own feelings and thoughts aside and gain an understanding of the other person, you can then know exactly how to proceed. When someone is clear and direct with you, it is always in your best interest to fully comprehend.  And when they are not, ask questions if you are uncertain.  Never assume anything.

Communication is defined as any act by which one person gives to or receives from another person information about that person’s needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge, or affective states.  In other words if you have a great idea, share it with the other person.  If there is something you want to do that involves them or their content, call them or email them with your intentions.  Sucker punches never feel good.  Keep them in the loop.

If you have aspirations to be a great sales person no matter what you are selling it would be in your best interest to hone in on the above skills.  There are many books, self help workbooks, CD’s and seminars to help you along the way.  These tools are investments in your future.  I encourage you to pursue them.

When things fall apart like a big contract or art sale, stop and do an autopsy on the entire process from the first phone call to the last email.  Ask yourself some key questions such as:  Did I communicate clearly with the other party?  Did I give them as much information as I could to facilitate trust?  Did I read their emails carefully and ask questions where there was uncertainty?  Did I respond to their questions adequately?  Did I validate them?

Today’s offering is “Clear Purpose”….fitting I think. 🙂

My Cup Runneth Over…

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abstract, abstract art, abstract painting, abundance, art, bible, bible verse, bright, color, colorful, colorful abstract, Colorful Art, colors, contemporary, cup, gratitude, green, interior design, modern, my cup runneth over, painting, primary, primary colors, psalm, psalms, sharon cummings, vibrant, wall art, wall decor

“My Cup Runneth Over” is a quotation from the Hebrew Bible^[1] (Psalm 23:5) and means “I have more than enough for my needs”.  As I spent a good part of this week painting a bathroom instead of canvas, this sentiment could not have been more true.  My husband and I worked the remodel project ourselves and it gave us a lot of time to talk.  William spent a few year living in Southeast Asia on a small island in Indonesia.  Modern plumbing was scarce and the average American potty would seem like opulent luxury to those poor people.  I am thankful for all that I have including indoor plumbing.  We have two rest rooms…..more than enough for our needs…..indeed.  My cup runneth over…..

Spreading My Wings….

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abundance, abundant, abundant life, art, asian, bug, bugs, buy, chinese, cream, dragon, dragon flies, dragon fly, dragonflies, dragonfly, earthy, flies, flight, fly, for sale, happiness, happy, insect, insects, japanese, joy, joyful, life, online, oriental, paintings, prints, rejoice, sharon cummings, soulful, southeast asian, spirit, spiritual, spring, summer, textured, yoga, zen

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/blue-dragonfly-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

I have really been branching out lately into new techniques and media.  I do not know if it is peri-menopause, the rotation of the sun or just a new mindset, but I am feeling so much happier about myself and my work.  I am finding myself a lot less critical and more open to the process of creativity.  “Making a sale” is taking a back seat to “making a moment”.  Yes….I am spreading my wings and it feels so good!

Are You Honest?

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http://fineartamerica.com/featured/honesty-visionary-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

Ask most people if they are honest and they will say “yes” with absolute conviction.  We as a people like to think that we have integrity and morals.  In the larger picture, that may be true. After all the majority of the population obey the rules and stay out of jail.  We work hard and raise our children to be upstanding citizens.  We pay our taxes.  We live an honorable life.

But the truth is (pun intended) that we tell “little” lies all of the time.  We convince our little ones that there is this person called Santa Claus.  We tell our friends we have other plans when we just do not feel like going out to dinner with them.  We call in sick to work when what we really want is a day off.  And we tell our mate we had a salad for lunch when we really had a cheeseburger in order to avoid conflict.  And one of the biggest lies we all tell is that we are “fine” when someone asks how we are doing when we really feel horrible.  In fact, we are a lying culture because it is much more acceptable to be polite than sincere.  

Where am I going with all of this?  I honestly do not know, except to explore just how complex our ethics really are.  We are taught that lying is wrong, but we are also taught that you shouldn’t hurt people.  The truth hurts sometimes….so we avoid it.  Because the lesser of two evils is to spare someone’s feelings.  Or is it to spare our own?  Conflict avoidance seems to be one of the biggest triggers for dishonesty.

In my own life, I try to avoid doing things that I would need to lie about to the people I love.  My child was also never subjected to the “stork” and Santa Claus was “The Christmas Spirit”.  But am I 100% honest?

My newest piece above titled “Honesty” is. 🙂

 

Take a L.O.O.K.!!

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abstract, abundance, art, aura, bright yellow, chakra, contemporary, deep yellow, fractal, gift, gold, golden, gray, gray and yellow, indian yellow, kaleidoscope, mirror, mirror image, modern, muted yellow, ochre, om, orange, pattern, patterns, red, root chakra, sharon cummings, soft yellow, solar plexus, soul, souls, star, stars, symbolic, symmetrical, symmetry, unique, yellow, yellow ochre, yoga

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/soul-star-abstract-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

 

I am back to The Looking Glass today….gazing in to see what I can see.  This piece titled “Soul Star” has a simple soothing feel to me.  I see a soul opening up…..a new star…..What do you see?

I am working hard this week getting ready for some much needed time off from work. 🙂 Thank you to all of my followers and fans for your continued support!

Happy Sunday

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abundance, affirmations, american indian, chakra, chief, conscious, energy, enigma, enigmas, fractal, healing, healing arts, indian, kaleidoscope, mind, mind's eye, mirror, mirror image, native american, organic, pattern, patterns, sharon cummings, subconscious, symmetrical, symmetry, third eye, tribal, tribes, unique, vibration, vibrational

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/enigma-conscious-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

I am off for the rest of the day….enjoy my NEWEST….”Enigma”!