Abandoning The Old, Embracing The New...   (...cont'd from previous page) Now.. for those of you that made it this far, let me give you a little background on the how and why I arrived at my process in creating art and why I am on a continuous quest to seek out what I don’t know. At one time, I created art using traditional tools: oils, acrylics, watercolors, brush, sponge, etc. However, as I experienced a series of synchronistic events (which I’ll go into below), I became increasingly frustrated with the limitations of these tools. These 'traditional' tools did not open the full spectrum of creative range I needed to compose the visual imagery that was unfolding endlessly in my mind and in my environment. More importantly, these tools hindered me in the creation of my art in the manner they were meant to be created. A few years ago, I had a heart attack. I flat lined twice. In the 12 hours following my heart attack, as I was in surgery, I experienced a veritable visual and aural feast in my mind that would take many lifetimes to express and interpret. As soon as I was able, I started painting the images I had seen (however, I was lacking the ability to integrate and incorporate the music I ‘heard’ that accompanied these dreamlike visions. The music was invariably linked to these images I received my subconscious. As I recovered and went about my daily activities, however, seemingly strange things started taking place. I would notice a shadow cast on a wall, or on a street that was precisely a ‘component’ of the images I had ‘seen’ in my mind’s eye during and after my heart attack. I experienced a continuous stream of ‘déjà vu’ occurrences where elements of the images I had seen in my minds eye would cross my path in the material world. It was as though a whimsical, magical gremlin was playing a cosmic joke on me and offering me clues and ‘gifts’ to create my art. This relentlessly continued and still continues to this day. Just this morning, I saw an impact mark on a concrete column where a blue vehicle had scraped it – leaving a rich textural abstract pattern with imbedded blue pigment. I had already seen this ‘picture’ before – in my mind’s eye – as part of a much larger visual imagery. Either I was delusional or there was magic going on. I chose to accept the magic! I had to do something about this. I was being ‘given’ the material with which to express myself. So, I borrowed my brother’s digital camera – kept it always with me and I started capturing these images when ever and wherever I came across them. So I ‘collect’ bits and pieces of the visual imagery that I already have in my mind on a continuous basis. These are my ‘actors’ with which I compose my work. They are similar to ‘found’ objects. However, in this case – they are ‘images’ that have found me! I then take these components and create a ‘digital’ photographic representation. Then using a computer and software, I ‘compose’ these images in the manner I want to represent them together. With my digital palette, I ‘paint’ the colors that are needed. With the processing capability of algorithms and silicon chips, I transform and fuse the images – iteratively – until I reach the point where my unified image is ready for the next step – the addition of my most unpredictable ‘actor’ - music. (cont'd on next page...) Page  2 of 3