A Path, A Way
Author: communicatingcreatively
My main interests are:
Sketching; Watercolour; Line & Wash
Poetry/Writing; Oil Painting
Photography;Judging Photography
Public Speaking/Toastmasters
Member of Toastmasters International, Gledswood Toastmasters Club -
Distinguished Toastmaster
Other:Cacti & Succulents, Reading, Walking.
Member of:
Red Point Artists Association;
Cacti & Succulent Society of Australia
Macarthur Art Group;
Urban Sketchers Sydney
Co-owner of Finance4Growth-Mortgage Broker
Member of BNI Energy (Business Network International)
Emotional Furnace
Sitting on the porch
Strumming that guitar
Writing about their history
They’ve come so far
From early beginnings
Throughout their youth
Within their songs
They reach for the truth
Hardship, working life
Make up the verses
All the while
In an emotional furnace
Journey’s been hard
Will to win stubborn
Going through their lives
Always been governed
Seeking redemption
Wanting to be free
Listen to their story
To the future, they foresee…
Written by David Johnson
© CommunicatingCreatively/David Johnson 2015
“I am not interested in shooting new things – I am interested to see things new.” Ernst Haas
The title of this post is from one of my favourite Photographers.
There are quite literally millions of things to photograph and no photographer could rightly claim to have photographed everything there is, however we do not need to.
I often hear the comment, ‘there is nothing to photograph…” An amazing statement really… As I sit in my office I look out the window (in suburbia currently), I see many subjects and many ideas come to mind of what/how I could photograph them.
The problem isn’t the lack of subject matter. The problem is that we wander around blissfully unaware of our surroundings and we also get caught up in the world, rushing here rushing there.
STOP! Just for one moment wherever you are reading this! Look around.
Do you see a tree? Yes. Look at it as if it is not a tree, but an idea generator, branches as conduit bringing forth ideas (leaves) and photograph it accordingly…
Do you see a fence? Yes. Look at it as if it is not a fence, but a palette. A palette that has light dancing over it creating form and texture, lines and shapes.
Are you a glamour/nude photographer? View the body, not as a body but as a sculpture; view it as part of the landscape and photograph it accordingly…
Are you a flower photographer? View the flower, not as a flower but as a person with a personality…
It is not lack of subject matter, it’s a lack of ideas.
The continued challenge as a photographer is that we need to reinvent and apply new ideas to the subject matter or as Ernst Haas eloquently puts it…
“I am not interested in shooting new things – I am interested to see things new.” Ernst Haas
Today, what will you see? How will you communicate it?
Written by David Johnson
3 August 2015
Dreams In The Air
Your Creative Journey
As an Artist, (whether you are a painter, photographer, musician, speaker, sculptor or any kind of visual artist) you must continue to feed your mind, ask questions of the world and ponder. Your Art is your attempt to answer those questions and in doing so you can add your flavour to society.
So how do you feed your mind?
* Reading books and other literature
* Attending Exhibitions (not just the Art you like either)
* Watching movies, documentaries and other media
* Attending lectures and presentations
* Getting together with your peers or Artists outside your realm
* Go outside your comfort zone
* Attending workshops
* Spending time contemplating about your style, about your world
Experiencing that which is outside your realm of interest is important as well. This has the effect of stretching your world-view and opens your mind to other possibilities. Your feelings about this may reveal to you a new way of seeing ‘the old’ which then will translate into your Art.
Why do all this?
You are a product of your environment. You have been subjected to different influences (chosen or otherwise). You have beliefs and your own thoughts.
Like any endeavour, you will want to grow and evolve, communicate through expressions of your Art.
The world wants to see what and how you feel about things. The world wants to see your flavour, a flavour that can help grow the world into news ways of appreciation and seeing.
The world is waiting…just waiting for you to inspire us!
Written by David Johnson
31 July 2015
The Book-Lover!
Sitting under a tree
Engrossed in a book
The world passes by
No need to look
Within your world
You are at peace
Happy as can be
It’s your release
Alone with a book
Is such sweet pleasure
As you uncover all
Its Earthly treasure
Sometimes fiction
Sometimes reference
You need to choose
It’s your very own preference
With each page
Your mind is fed
Your life enhanced
And your Heart is led
Turning each page
Leads you to uncover
The very thing
That makes you a book-lover!
Written by David Johnson
© CommunicatingCreatively/David Johnson 2015
Long, Sought After Feeling
That long sought after feeling
Drifts right on to
My infinite consciousness
And hangs onto
My mind is inviting
That feeling to stay
Otherwise that feeling
Would simply, drift away
Experiencing this feeling
Sets my mind alive
Gives me new hope
Taking life in my stride
As I set forth into the future
Carrying that feeling with glee
The future is bright
For I can be me!
Written by David Johnson
© CommunicatingCreatively/David Johnson 2015
Like Thin, Fine Curtains…
Like thin, fine curtains
Blowing in the wind
The rain, it sweeps
Then begins to rescind
Refreshing water
Gives life to below
New beginnings
Life starts to flow
A ripple in a pond
Frequency bestowed
Below the surface
Activity explodes
Earth enriched
A beauty so unique
Tranquility there
For all to seek
Written by David Johnson
26 July 2015
© CommunicatingCtreatively/David Johnson 2015
An Unexpected Experience
Last night, my wife, Susan & I attended the ‘Youth Solutions Winter Wonderland Charity Ball.’ Youth Solutions is a is a youth drug & alcohol prevention and health promotion charity, working with young people in Macarthur and Wingecarribee areas SW of Sydney, Australia.
As with any such event as this, there was entertainment, a Soloist and a ‘groovy’ Rock ’n’ Roll band and they took it in turns to serenade and have the ‘joint jumping.’
As the Entree was being served, youth & young adult dancers from a local dance studio, ‘De Hall Dance’ took to the floor and over the following 20 minutes or so championed the activity of Ballroom dancing and also danced to some more modern moves. (20 years ago I had attended two Beginner dancing programs at the studio and the dancers brought back some great memories).
As I sat and watched the dancers seemingly glide around the floor, thoughts came to my mind about Dad (who passed away in January this year, aged 85). Dad loved to dance and could dance well, particularly in his younger days. Mum loved to dance as well.
Indeed, Mum and Dad met at a dance hall in their early 20’s c1950. They (particularly Dad) had expressed to us all what fun the dance halls were back then. Stories of great times with friends, laughter and of course, lots of dancing.
I began to see a young Mum & Dad dancing on the floor last night, and as I imagined this, tears formed in my eyes (like is happening again now…).
We cannot feel what they felt as they danced together with love blooming all those years ago but it was enough to carry them through 63 years of Marriage, 5 children and 2 grand-children.
“And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon.”
— Edward Lear
Yes indeed.
Written by David Johnson
26 July 2015
Imagination, It Flows…
Communicating Creatively 