Vivid P.E.A.C.E.

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art, art for sale, art prints, balanced, bands, block, blocks, bulls-eye, buy art, canvas, center, circles, cool, energy, green, groovy, orange, painting, peace, peaceful, perfect, pink, red, retro, ring, rings, serenity, sharon cummings, soft art, softness, square, squares, vibration, vibrational, vibrations, wall art

We often think of “peace” as a calm environment and gentle thoughts, but I believe it can also be a strong vibrant energy.  I feel the most peaceful at the beach with the churning waves, rushing currents, seagulls calling and children playing.  I am completely calm and relaxed there, but the scene is so very vivid and kinetic.

I have a friend that finds total peace by taking long drives at night.  His stressful thoughts evaporate into the distant lights and the darkness comforts him. The gentle hum of his engine and the passing cars are relaxing.

Where do you find your Peace?

Introducing my latest piece from my Transforming Energy series.  “Vivid Peace”, like all of the work in this set, has been transformed from a previous painting into an entirely new piece of art. Enjoy!

Can You Do This?

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abstract, art, art for sale, art prints, balanced, bands, buy art, canvas, center, circles, contemporary, cool, energy, lavender, lotus, meditate, meditation, modern, neuropathy, painting, perfect, pink, purple, purple abstract, purple abstract art, purple and yellow, purple painting, purple print, rebuilder, ring, rings, sharon cummings, the rebuilder, transcendental meditation, vibration, vibrational, vibrations, wall art, yoga

I am talking about MEDITATION.  Can you meditate?  For years I tried to bring this practice into my life.  After all, I am a type A personality.  And I am not talking an A- either.  I excel at motivation and drive.  I do not stop until I get the job done kinda gal.  I always knew it would be good for me to learn how to mentally “check out” and just “be.  I just did not know how to accomplish it.  I read books, watched videos and listened to tapes.  But I just could not relax and I certainly could not just observe my thoughts and let them pass through like leaves in the wind without attaching myself to them.  It was frustrating which did not help me feel better.  In fact, it did the opposite.  Every time I’d try and fail I would feel like something was wrong with me.  Until…..

About 7 years ago I developed some peripheral neuropathy as a result of a stomach virus.  They call that side effect Guillain-Barré Syndrome and I was lucky that mine was mild.  Some people end up on life support for awhile and others die. I just had pins and needles in my hands and feet.  I got off easy.  Anyway, in a quest to get relief from this annoying buzzing in my extremities, I happened upon a device called a “Rebuilder” which was being used to treat diabetic neuropathy with great success.  It was FDA approved and insurance would cover it if there was a medical need.  Sign me up!

I ordered and received my equipment which consisted of a small rectangular box with 2 dials and electrodes that you attach to the bottom of your feet and palms of your hands.  I am not too keen on electricity passing through my body, but I gave it a go.  It felt kind of strange…like tickling but I tolerated it well.  Once I got used to my 30 minutes a day I started to realize something.  When I used it, I could mentally “check out” and not focus on my thoughts.  I did not fall asleep.  In fact, I’ve tried it for insomnia and it never works.  Instead it puts me into a deep relaxation where my brain can take a breather.  When I snap out of it.  And that is what I do…after about 15 minutes of relaxation I snap up and feel so refreshed it is amazing.

It did heal my neuropathy over time, but it gave me so much more.  The ability to relax and finally…..meditate!

Ever Been Hypnotized?

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A few people have said that my new series “Transforming Energy” is hypnotizing.  I’ve never been hypnotized and am uncertain if it would even be possible.  I am pretty strong willed.  Also I am not very open to suggestion nor does the placebo effect work on me.  I do not believe everything I hear/see and I do not trust doctors very much.  Not that hypnotists are doctors, but to my mind they are close enough in principle.  Additionally as a survivor or childhood abuse I know I would not be comfortable with this practice even if it could work on me.  How could you trust anyone with your psyche like that?  I’d have to have my husband or sister with me and wouldn’t they get hypnotized too?  At any rate, I do find it fascinating.

The term “hypnosis” comes from the Greek word hypnos which means sleep. The words “hypnosis” and “hypnotism” both derive from the term “neuro-hypnotism” (nervous sleep) coined by the Scottish surgeon James Braid around 1841. Braid based his practice on that developed by Franz Mesmer and his followers (“Mesmerism” or “animal magnetism“), but differed in his theory as to how the procedure worked.

There is a belief that hypnosis is a form of unconsciousness resembling sleep, but contemporary research suggests that hypnotic subjects are fully awake and are focusing attention, with a corresponding decrease in their peripheral awareness.^[7] Subjects also show an increased response to suggestions.^[8] In the first book on the subject, Neurypnology (1843), Braid described “hypnotism” as a state of physical relaxation accompanied and induced by mental concentration (“abstraction”).^{[9] Source Wikipedia}

I like the last description “state of physical relaxation” and “mental concentration”.  Maybe I will have to try “self” hypnosis. 😉

U.G.L.Y. Things…

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abstract photography, art for sale, big boy toys, big hooks, black, building, bulldozer, bulldozers, buy art, claw, claws, construction, construction site, contemporary, contrast, cool, crane, cranes, dig, digging, dirt, dirty, Fine Art, gray, ground, hook, hooked, hooks, industrial, industrial art, industrial photography, interesting, land movers, loft, machine, machinery, metal, metal hooks, modern, photo, photograph, photography, sharon cummings, teeth, textural, texture, unique, urban, urban loft, urban photography, william patrick

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/claw-industrial-photography-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

One of the things I am learning as a photographer is that there are no “ugly” things.  Through the lens of my camera the entire world is becoming one beautiful thing after another.  Even dirt has shape, shadow and form that create interesting imagery.  The above piece is just the front end of a bulldozer but upon closer inspection it has a wonderfully curved shape and interestingly detailed teeth. The light and soil create contrast and shadow forming an abstract image that is very pleasing to the eye.

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/hooked-photography-by-william-patrick-and-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

Two massive hooks used on a crane create a dance of beauty in a spectacular blue sky.  They seem to hang there weightlessly.  Just waiting for their work to begin….

 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/crane-photography-by-william-patrick-and-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

Here in Florida we pass by huge cranes doing their work almost daily. Construction is an ever present condition of our roads and buildings.  Usually these machine wouldn’t be considered works of art, but when you take notice of all of their lines and detail, suddenly there is an explosion of intrigue.  Bright red lights up the frame with provocative cables leading to…..

No……there are no “ugly” things and that is a “good” thing!

Be Dazzled

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abstract, abstract art, aqua, art, art for sale, artis, artwork, blue, bright, buy art, buy art online, colorful, contemporary, cool, digital, digital art, digital paintings, energetic, energy, happy, joy, joyous, modern, modern art, orange, painting, pink, primary colors, prints, red, sharon cummings, striking, vivid, yellow

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-sharon-cummings.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=260538

I really had no idea that digital art could be so much fun.  I have always been a traditional paint slinger.  My paintings have always sold really well and I have earned most of my living off of commissioned and original art for the past 10 years. But times they are a changin’…..I see more and more AMAZING digital art online and I am starting to really love it.  It is just a different medium.  Throughout History artists have used any and all medium available to create artwork.  It is a sign of true creativity when you are willing to embrace new technologies…acrylic paint was controversial when it first appeared to the Fine Art scene.  Traditional oil painters scoffed.  I imagine the charcoal drawers didn’t care much for oil paint.  And so it is with digital.  Some artists shun it as if it were the devil.  I did myself for awhile, but now that I have fully embraced it, I cannot see why any artist wouldn’t.  And as a bonus, it sells well. 🙂 Enjoy!

Labor Day

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1950's, 50's, architectural, art, b&w, big, black, black & white, black and white, block, blocks, canvas, century, clean, clean lines, contemporary, cool, design, designer, eclectic, frank lloyd wright, funky, geometric, geometrical, huge, large, line, lines, mid, mid-century, mid-century modern, minimal, minimalism, minimalist, modern, oversized, paintings, prints, rectangles, rectangular, red, retro, sharon cummings, simple, simple lines, square, squares, style, ultra, ultra modern, vintage, white

 

On Labor Day….I labor.  It is a day off for many and a time to sleep in and maybe BBQ. To me there is no better way to celebrate my labors than to create even more!  In the United States, Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.

I am doing my part by contributing.  Right now I am working on a new series called the “Moda Series”.  These are modern pieces with clean lines and simple colors.  I enjoy the simplicity of them and the challenge to create balance with so few elements to work with.

Enjoy them here:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-sharon-cummings.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=334916

Guitar Sunset…

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acoustic, acoustic guitar, acoustic guitars, art, Artist, band, bands, classic, classical, club, clubs, collection, collector, cool, country, dance, def, guitar, guitar pick, guitar player, guitar strings, guitarist, guitars, jazz, lyrical, lyrics, Music, Musical, Musician, night club, paintings, photo, photograph, photographs, photography, photos, pick, play, player, prints, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock n roll, sharon cummings, string, strings, strumming, tune, tunes, unique

 

Everyone who follows me online and in real life knows that I love the beach.  I also adore anything to do with music, especially guitars.  I decided to combine the two to create one beautiful piece.  I do not have a lot to say about this work as I believe it speaks for itself…..