Poetic Painting

Every thought is a seed

2011-12-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don’t count on harvesting Golden Delicious.

Bill Meyer

Madonna's Classic Video - "Don't Tell Me"

2011-12-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

Don't Tell Me - Madonna

Elegant Simplicity

2011-12-10T10:41:00.000-08:00

Thank you

2011-03-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

Many months without a post on this blog... I'm sorry. I've had some visual problems. These problems (retina detachment) started one year ago. In a few days I will have surgery for the third time.

I hope all will be well in a few months. It would be my joy to paint again and to share my art with you. That will be so if that is the will of God. Thank you to all of you who read this blog.

Juan Bielsa

Poem in English

2010-01-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

A glance of paradise
Original painting by Juan Bielsa - Sold

Infinite moment

In realms of lofts
live cats outside of time
and soldiers of fantasy,
and songs of birds
and music of another worlds
_coloured planets_, lights
and little stars in universes
always dreaming.
In lofts in heaven
live old dolls; the sun caresses
in endless evenings
little eyes, littles faces
in the silence.
There live
forgotten books;
the wind _old hands_ flicks through
its yellow pages,
randomly, like playing.
There live
another souls,
maybe some poet, travelling
its mind in timeless ways,
watching maps
of countries that don't exist
and never existed;
watchtowers of calmness,
the heart in stillness,
infinite moment.

Juan Bielsa

Poetry and prayer

2009-12-10T02:08:00.000-08:00

Our interests in life, as we get older, become more specific and clear.

In my life, for example, I've arrived at this conclusion: what is better for me is prayer. I'm sure many people think this way as well. But surely for each person prayer adopt different forms.

I like a solitary prayer. I'm alone in this world. You and Jesus, you and Buddha, you and the silence, you and Love.

I see external things more and more like a dream, they've lost consistence over the years. I see them only as a way toward another world, a more spiritual world. And prayer is to me the way that lead to that real world.

But both Buddha and Jesus recognized the obstacle of suffering. Suffering is very real, although most of the things of this world are like a dream.

Prayer is my way. But I consider myself a poet, so i still play with the beauty of this world, a sensuous beauty leading always to a more spiritual, compassive Land.

Juan Bielsa

My last painting

2009-09-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

The cave of the dragon
Oil painting by Juan Bielsa
65 x 54 cm
You can make an offer
from 350 euros/dollars

This is my last painting, "The cave of the dragon". This is a painting to dream, I think, to meditate on those distant realms living within us. And they are distant because the infinite noises of the world are separating our lives from the most precious of all ways: that of real happiness.

I have this work close to me at this moment, while I'm writing these lines. The photograph that I've taken of it some moments ago don't reflect very well its characteristics; that's the truth. Surely I'll take some other photographs trying to grasp at least a bit of its mystery. One cannot appreciate fully the subtle colors and transitions dancing on the canvas.

"The cave of the dragon" have rested for some days in my studio-meditation-room, and I must say it as become for me a fountain of inspiration, a sort of friend. Sometimes can happen this, some paintings seem to gain life and character, they are like people and can become true friends (they are spiritual entities as well), coloring our existence with its inner beauty.

Juan Bielsa

Love and passion

2009-07-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

I think the best for all of us (in the long run) is to follow our passion, what we love. Then working lots of hours has a meaning, and real success is possible. We can get this way self-respect and even money (why not?).

Succesful people (again, in the long run) are those who are passionate about their jobs. If you create something valuable and absolutely original (a product, service or some blogs) you'll find a way to make a living.

Juan Bielsa

Divine landscapes

2009-06-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

A beautiful landscape: a beautiful house
Photograph: Juan Bielsa

It is a very good thing to have true friends, but it is wonderful as well to have another "friend": "our" landscape, a landscape that we love.

A beautiful landscape on this Earth is more valuable and interesting than Mars and Venus combined. But (alas!) politicians don't know that...

Juan Bielsa

Poetic faces

2009-06-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

Sweet Fairy - Painting by Juan Bielsa
Oil on canvas, 54 x 65 cm
© Juan Bielsa
1,900 €

Walt Whitman said that he could see God in the faces of people. What a wonderful poetic thought! And how true!

One of the most beautiful faces I remember is the face of my grandmother. Yes, she was old and its forehead was full of wrinkles. for example. But her face was full of beauty as well, full of spirit.

On the other hand, there are women who have an extraordinary beauty full of freshness, an expression of youth. But this beauty can be (and is) an ephemeral mirror. A wonderful, transient mirror.

For me (an artist), beautiful faces and bodies are above all an artistic matter. Why? Because these "things" are terribly fragile in this material world. Only art and poetry and Love are eternal.

The other day, I heard a woman saying on the radio than women's faces are poetical. I agree. Maybe women can find men's faces poetic, I don't know. Basically, I find poetry in women's faces, an expression of an Eternal Beauty.

Juan Bielsa

Silent blog

2009-04-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

Dancing - Drawing by Juan Bielsa
© Juan Bielsa

Lately I don't write very often in this blog. Certainly it may be called "a silent blog".

Some professional translations (from Spanish to Catalan) and other works have kept me away from it, and the same can be said of my blogs in other languages.

A silent blog... Well, that's not so bad. I love silence and contemplation, so... Among millions and millions of interferences and noises of all kind in this world, silence is positive many times. At least I need silence.

There are here in Spain wonderful landscapes everywhere. People mostly like "spectacular" landscapes, like the famous Pyrenees. But there are also humble, modest, unknown spots where one can find many wonders as well, a house for the soul. They are silent, very few look at them carefully, with the heart. But you can find a profound beauty there. We need that kind of paradises as well, I think.

And the same can be said of art... There are many famous paintings and painters; everybody knows them. They have a name... But there are also unknown paintings very beautiful, full of truth and beauty, like an honest beautiful woman, like silent valleys full of calm and God, full of flowers like diamonds and love, ideals as support for meditation, to investigate our true self. And maybe this kind of art, silent and full of Spirit, is the only true art that merit that name these days, the last true art that survives in this world of ours.

Juan Bielsa

Focus

2009-03-16T05:08:00.000-07:00

Magellan's Land
Oil on board, 70.5 x 49 cm
© Juan Bielsa

One of the most powerful tools we have in this world to achieve our dreams and objectives is FOCUS.

If we consistently focus on one aspect of our life that we want to manifest and reinforce, in due time our life will be different according to that attitude and concentration: we will have more and more ot that on which we have focused our attention.

For example, if we honestly focus on wealth, probably we won't be wealthy in one, three, nine months... But we have now a very solid foundation, and in due course some sort of phenomena according to our focused thought will be revealed.

I think art is very powerful in this respect. A painting is basically made for contemplation and thus concentration. The magical force of a great painting, a masterpiece, is inexhaustible. It is now a proved scientific fact that different colors affect us in different and powerful ways. So... what could be said of a powerful work of art!

We establish an emotional dialogue with a painting that we love, just the same as we establish relationships with people. Our friends, acquaintances... have a tremendous influence on us. In the same way, a painting can be a real friend of us, it is a spiritual "being", or a very special "object" if you want. The colors, forms, rhythms... of a work of art are constantly communicating to us maybe beauty, maybe calm, maybe joy... an infinite array of messages and emotions. And as we grew older and we have more experiences in life, a loved painting grew older as well, and it becomes "wiser" in a sense, just because we are able now to listen more carefully to its message and subtleties.

Ultimately, a great painting is a wonderful tool to our meditations and evolution, it can be a powerful magical tool at our disposal. A good painting is like a good friend, a treasure that continually is enriching our existence, illuminating our paths.

Juan Bielsa

Red Fairy, painting by Juan Bielsa

2009-02-26T03:35:00.000-08:00

Red fairy
Oil on board, 60.5 x 76 cm
© Juan Bielsa

In my art femininity is very important. I don't think women are better than men, in general. But I do believe that values associated traditionally with women and femininity are the important ones in this era. Over the years I think my vision of things has become "more feminine". Or at least I live and think this way: I love nature, I love animals, I try to listen and be humble (although I fail many times). Family is very important for me, and I like to take care of little, valuable things, and I dislike violence even in games, and certainly I'm not a possessive person...

It is hard to explain, but I think my contemplative view of things has a feminine side. And my artistic creations reflect that point of view. I understand a certain feminine world and I don't understand a world of men. Maybe my "feminine world" is not real, that may be true as well. I don't care. That is the world I love. Each person has its origins, its influences. In my life the influence of Provence and troubadours is an essential one. In Ancient times, in Provence women were the center of the universe, women and the idea of femininity. And socially and politically their role were very, very important.

In my art there are some clues, among them contemplation and femininity. In my works, these two aspects are the same. For me contemplation is the supreme happiness, but it needs femininity, it needs the freshness of life and love, it needs a supreme beauty, an inner beauty and the beauty of dreams.

I paint fairies, I paint sphinxes, I paint an idealized beauty that can convey this idea: meditation and freedom, absolute happiness, a paradise. Paradise, for me, is contemplation and love, and women have a lot to say about these two things. My passion for colors and forms is fully feminine. My passion for love and romanticism is fully feminine. Even my vision of religion is entirely feminine. My art... is in some way very feminine. "Unrealistically" feminine I would say.

I think this world of ours, in this time of absolute disaster, needs the full potential of women, needs the vision of women, needs the solutions of women, needs women who are not afraid of being fully themselves. Because we need, I think, femininity. We need love and compassion, we need the inner forces of the universe to work for a better future. The future, clearly, is feminine.

I don't usually say this, but I must say that I love this painting of mine, I love this "being", this red fairy. So if someone loves her like I do, I would be happy. The price of the painting is symbolic. If you love it, it can be yours, don't pay too much attention to the money. I you love it, if you love this "red fairy" she can be your woman of the infinite. Only in this case I could "sell" her. I love her like a symbol of freedom, like a love of my youth.

Juan Bielsa

Painting by Juan Bielsa: The way of the stars.

2009-02-13T05:37:00.000-08:00

The way of the stars
Oil on board, 60.7 x 48.5 cm
© Juan Bielsa

I remember when I painted "The way of the stars". Some paintings are the result of a sort of magic. I painted this work like dancing. There was no conscious effort, no struggle. Just the forms appeared naturally. I did not make any correction. In one day the painting was done, like emerging from the land of rhythm.

For me the most important part of making art is mental preparation, meditation, playing mentally with colors, silence. If we have the necessary skills and techniques, when inspiration comes, we are ready to undertake the process of "materialising" Spirit into forms. I do believe in hard work, but the same I do believe in inspiration. The best of my poems have been done in this way. In ancient China the best painters had a similar approach into art. They produced in this way immortal paintings; there is Spirit on them. And it is the same in Zen.

Juan Bielsa

Twitter, powerful. Use it carefully.

2009-02-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

I wrote another post about Twitter and on it I already said that Twitter seemed to me potentially addictive. Well, some days "twittering" have confirmed that intuition.

Twitter can be extremely addictive. Enough said.

I run multiple blogs and they demand a lot or work, sometimes. But I've always felt FREE. I never thought of them when I was doing something else. At least for me blogging has never been addictive.

Even if someone has a lot of time, I think it would be sound advice to say this: be absolutely cautious in the manner you use Twitter. It can be a good (and powerful) tool, but has also considerable risks.

I know that many people are doing great and positive things on Twitter, and it can be a powerful resource of information, good links, advice... but nevertheless it continues to be potentially addictive. Even you can organize most of your life according to the tasks you do on Twitter.

I absolutely don't like to be, for example, in the fields, or travelling, and at the same time thinking on what I'm missing on Twitter (new followers, new messages, expectatives of other people, trying to keep up with them...) I must repeat that writing my blogs I always felt, generally, fresh and relaxed. In few cases has been a stressful activity. If having just started on Twitter and having few followers I can foresee potential addiction, what could be said of people who have, for example, 900, 4,000 or more followers?

I know, some people are more prone to be involved in addictions than others, and so this kind of people must be very, very careful.

Being Twitter a powerful tool, and in some cases an extraordinary tool (if you look for specific information and advice) you can take advantage of it, but we must be on our guard.

As an example of the power of Twitter, you can read some short poems that I've written subjecting myself to the well known restriction of characters on Twitter. So they can be called "literatwitter". In the same fashion, Twitter can mold many areas of your life. If we control, that's ok, we have access to a powerful, useful tool, if not, it can make of our lives "twitterlives".

In conclusion, at least in my opinion services as Twitter or other social media, can be wonderful if we know how to use self-discipline in our lives; if not, we can miss in the end many wonders and peace because of an addiction.

Obviously I'm not a psychologist or specialist on addictions, so what I've said only represents a personal opinion.

I'll continue using Twitter (as long as I feel in control of the situation), basically to inform people about updates on my blogs, but I'm aware now that I'm dealing with dynamite.

Juan Bielsa

Literatwitter

2009-02-10T16:47:00.000-08:00

Landscape of Pyrenees
Photograph by my Aragonese friend
Migalánchel Martín Pardos

Humble people, humble people,
how beautiful you are,
always living in the gardens
of the heart,
children of heaven.

In the streets of this village,
in Aragon,
rains.
Now my village
is a Scottish village.
How beautiful the music of drops!
The Highlands.

And my cat, now,
in the distant house,
watching through the window...
But here I'm now,
twittering. Raining.
My poor, poor,
solitary cat.

Dying,
my dog raised his head
to see,
for the last time,
beloved deserts.

Night.
And then you smile.
Sunshine.

As the work of astrologers
is mapping all the stars,
poets also have a task:
they are always mapping
universes of the heart.

Writing in English
I never studied English
Surreal worlds

At school
Studying French
My childhood

The day my grandmother died
a thousand words died forever.
Every single day a language dies.
What a silence...

I love you.
So you can fly,
if you want,
into the Infinite.

Trembling stars.
And a million of worlds speaking,
millions of lights speaking,
millions of souls speaking,
in the language of Silence.

Some years ago,
I used to go to dance
on saturday night.
Now,
here I'm,
studying metaphysics.

Jewels around the Heart:
An elegant woman.

Juan Bielsa

Thanks a lot

2009-02-04T03:29:00.000-08:00

A gift from my friend
Kim Rodeffer

Kim Rodeffer has nominated me for the Scribbler Award. Thanks a lot, kim.

But for me the real award is receiving this nomination from a person whom I appreciate very much as an artist, person, and blogger. Really that's the award! It is the same in life, I think. We care for honest gifts, simple gifts given to us by friends or our loved ones. Yes, there are "official awards" out there that we can appreciate, but in the long run the most important awards come from honest, good people, giving their best wishes and love to us, without expecting nothing.

So, Kim, thank you for this award that you give to me; it is irrelevant if I don't get the "real" award. I care for "this" award, coming from your generosity and kindness.

There are so many wonderful blogs of artists and creative people... As an example, these fabulous blogs which I visit regularly; You'll find there great ideas, creativity, extraordinary people... Modestly, "my award" goes to them, from my heart:

• Ink Vanilla - June Parrish Cookson
• Embrace Living - Celestine Chua
• Look Far - Amanda Linehan
• Lesly Finn
• Philip's abstractions

Juan Bielsa

Twitter. Microblogging.

2009-01-31T02:54:00.000-08:00

This is only a micropost to say that I'm twittering!

It is curious, because I never thought those social media online could work for me. And I have much work to do, so maybe I won't have much time to write "tweets" (that's the way one defines on Twitter a short message).

Yes, I'm surprised because for the first time a social media online interests me. I can see clearly that it can be useful for me, and the most important part: there are very good people out there; you can help others and others can help you.

The idea behind Twitter is great: microblogging (in a few words we can say many useful things). The great idea is SIMPLICITY. Twitter understands it. A brilliant idea (which could be represented by Google, Blogger, Twitter...) mixed with simplicity almost always works, almost always wins and is successful. People who launched Twitter, no doubt, were clever people.

Yes, Twitter is very simple. And it is also very USABLE, takes care of USABILITY and users. Twitter is very simple and easy to use, yet it can be used in a great variety of ways and has tons of different possibilities for every person, and without never forgetting its original simplicity.

In Twitter you can ask a short question or answer other people's questions, you can join interesting groups, you can search what interests you, you can make friends. And you can inform of your activities as well. "What are you doing now?"

Surely each person uses Twitter differently. Strange, the past days I've used Twitter as a sort of "meditative journal". I know, I know, alas! I won't have much time to do that in the future, but I'm exploring the possibilities of Twitter by now. I know that even could be addictive. But I permit myself to wander a little...

I've said that I use Twitter as a sort of personal journal. So I'm not following people "as I should", and very few people are following me (obvious). But only in a few days I am fully aware that Twitter has tremendous possibilities for people who have the time to write "tweets", ask questions, help others...

I've only pointed here a few features of Twitter. Twitter is a great country and I've just arrived in this land.

Ah! I forgot: you can find me in Twitter here: www.twitter.com/juanbielsa

By now I only have 4 followers, but I'm proud of them :)

Juan Bielsa

My shop on zazzle.com

2009-01-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

Sweet Fairy
Oil on canvas, by Juan Bielsa
© Juan Bielsa

I've launched very recently my shop on www.zazzle.com/juanbielsa. You can find there very few products by now, but it is a start. I'll be adding new items in a regular basis.

In recent years my main artistic activity has been to paint oils. I'm an specialist in that. I'll continue, of course, painting in that way. I love oils. But it is time now to regain my passion for drawing and design. In fact, drawing in different techniques has been always a real passion for me, although I've neglected it for some years. But I won prizes with my drawings in my early career. And I've always had a lot of fun drawing and designing. So, let's work!

FOCUS

New items, as I've said, will be added very soon to my shop on www.zazzle.com/juanbielsa and to other blogs of mine in different languages which I want to turn into blogs/shops (like polideza.blogspot.com, in Aragonese language). Letting aside my poems, my main activity in the future on the Internet will focus on creating and selling. I can't avoid it, I'm a poet (mainly in my native Aragonese language), so I'll continue to write poetry, but aside from that, I want to focus on selling my creations. I'm convinced now that that is the best thing for me to do.

CREATING BEAUTY

And never again I must stop creating art. Never again. That's what I really am: an artist and a poet. Yes, I've another great love: metaphysics. But I understand now that the Internet is not a very good place to show that kind of subjects, at least I think now in this manner. Anyway, I already show my particular vision of metaphysics in my poems.

Maybe Internet, basically, is a place to buy and sell, at least I think now in that way. And we can create and sell so many beautiful, wonderful things, art and objects that many people can truly love!

ARTISTIC MAPS

For example, I LOVE artistic maps, to begin with. When I was a child I was already in love with maps, it was a wonderful way to dream... Yes, I can even create marvelous maps, and another wonders. And you can create even greater wonders. So, let's work!

Juan Bielsa

Sensuality and mysticism

2009-01-22T09:47:00.000-08:00

Landscape of Pyrenees
Photograph by my Aragonese friend
Migalánchel Martín Pardos

So many days reading and thinking...

Sometimes it is very late when I go to bed.

It is pretty clear for me now. My vision of things will always be, somehow, politically incorrect.

It is for me difficult to think and act without connecting all to a certain transcendence. But certainly my idea of transcendence is very particular.

My spiritual ideas don't exclude sensuality, but normally they refer this sensuality to a higher plane.

Sinners are creatures loved by God, because they have a spiritual spark that never dies, and God IS Compassion. This sensual world of us can be a wonderful tool, if we have good will. Money can be absolutely sacred, if used correctly. Money can free us from the tyrannical power of things, if used correctly.

I think arrogance is a terrible sin, though. It is the worst of all idols. Is your religion the only "true" religion? Do you think that many people are spiritually "wrong"?

You can read the great mystics of all time: they all teach the SAME religion. But then here comes arrogance, here come those who know they are "truly" religious people, and with them here comes horror, and lack of compassion and love for ALL creatures _human beings, animals..._, here comes lack of understanding, and division, and violence.

Better to love sensuality, but without adding to the world more horror and sufferings.

Better to paint and draw sensuality pointing to the Infinity.

Better to write sensual poems and to offer them to the Light.

Better to be a sinner who strives to improve every day.

Better to love Beauty and Love.

Better to create and live with humility, better to aspire to reunite our spiritual spark in the Spark.

Better to be an artist, a poet.

Better to be a simple being.

Better to be a sinner in its way into paradise.

Juan Bielsa

Dreams

2009-01-19T03:23:00.000-08:00

The dreams you carry and nourish in your heart are your most noble part.

Mark Fisher and Marc Allen
How to think like a millionaire

How to sell art online

2009-01-12T04:15:00.000-08:00

Animal Shirt Design
by Gino Orlandi
© Gino Orlandi - Color Overload

In my long experience on the Internet, I've seen the works of extraordinary artists who show their great art on their blogs and webs. What a marvelous possession for anybody would be to have one of their creations!

But in many cases these wonderful artists don't find the right way to sell their works, despite the astounding quality of them. Selling art online is not easy, it is even much more difficult than offline.

Something is missing.

We artists must have the necessary confidence in ourselves to create Art. Most of us fortunately have such a confidence, me included. We believe in our capacity to create wonderful creations. But what if we ask ourselves: Am I a good seller of my art? Can we market it properly? Do we have the necessary knowledge to build a successful brand online as a platform to sell our works? In this case many artists lack such a confidence in themselves. I must admit this: I consider myself a very good artist, but I've not been a very good seller so far.

GINO ORLANDI

As in any field, in art there are also experts who know a lot about how to market and sell. They have the necessary experience and knowledge that we lack. Certainly we can learn a lot from them.

Gino Orlandi is an expert on marketing and selling art. One of the very best. I you want to know more about him, you can check some of his blogs, covering subjects like Graphic Design, Clothing design, and others.

I have visited Gino Orlandi's webs and blogs and I can say he has broadened my vision and expectatives about what an artist can accomplish online. We artists have on the Internet many possibilities available; only we must learn how to profit from them. Gino Orlandi knows many useful ways to do so.

Who is Gino Orlandi? He is an artist, graphic designer and Internet entrepreneur. During many years he has had the experience online both of a designer and an entrepreneur. He has always focused his attention on the twofold aspect involved in any business: creation/production/quality and marketing/branding/selling. If one of these components fails, our venture will ultimately fail in the long run. I've mentioned a very important word: "branding". Building a brand for ourselves as artists is essential. Even the name of any artist can be considered a "brand"; in fact it is so. Gino Orlandi considers branding as extraordinarily important, a cornerstone to success for artists as well.

HOW TO SELL ART ONLINE

Gino Orlandi has released recently an ebook, FUEL FOR ART, a guide on HOW TO SELL ART ONLINE. On it he pays much attention to how to build a successful brand for artists. He says: "Artist, brand Thyself! Did you know that you are a brand? You must develop an effective and memorable brand identity in order to stand out as a successful Artist that can be taken seriously. FUEL FOR ART will show you how with lots of great tips culled from years of personal and business experience". This ebook, FUEL FOR ART, focus on all the important aspects in which we must concentrate to market and sell our works successfully: The best places to sell our works online, how to display our art in a variety of ways, how to make easy for the customer to buy, how to pick a good niche, because "in the end is up to you what you want to paint, but do consider the niche of your paintings if you are looking into selling paintings online"...

As I've said earlier Gino Orlandi's fresh ideas, creativity and talent about how to sell art online have opened to me new ways and opportunities as a professional artist, most of which I was somehow unaware. Only an example: thanks to him I've known the existence of an extraordinaire site called www.zazzle.com, and now I'm beginning to display my works there.

Yes, by following Orlandi's path, it is now clear that if we want to sell our work properly, we must pay great attention to marketing and branding. Even we must pay great attention to aspects like how to get great number of visits to our blogs and websites, all of which is explained on his ebook, FUEL FOR ART about HOW TO SELL ART ONLINE. Certainly, Gino Orlandi knows perfectly how to do this: his websites and blogs are widely known, and he is a very successful designer and marketer. He even has a club of fans following his artistic career and listening to his valuable advice. He talks and writes directly from experience. As a designer, he has also written an ebook on HOW TO START A CLOTHING LINE.

Yes, if we want to sell the "products" of our soul, we must take seriously some aspects which apparently seem more "materialistic", such as how to sell art online. In the long run, this only can make stronger our determination to succeed in in our career. We must effectively learn how to brand, market and sell our work. And I honestly think one of the best way to do this is following the example and advice of people like Gino Orlandi; he has gathered through many years valuable techniques and experiences on how to sell art on the Internet (and even offline), all of which can be found on his ebook and visiting his websites and blogs.

Juan Bielsa

Definition of success

2009-01-05T03:50:00.000-08:00

Landscape of Pyrenees, in Aragon (Spain)
Photograph by my Aragonese friend
Migalánchel Martín Pardos

To be a genius simply means to do what you enjoy doing. That is the true genius of life. Mediocrity is never daring to do what you love, for fear of what others will say or for fear of losing your security.

Mark Fisher
The instant millionaire

All beings

2008-12-29T19:21:00.000-08:00

God loves all beings
Photograph by Juan Bielsa

I love a God who loves
all beings.
I love a God
of compassion.
I love compassion.

I love a God who loves
all beings,
even the smallest of them,
even animals.
Perhaps this may offend you,
but that's my belief,
I can't say lies.

All the infinite pain
on this world
is an infinite, terrible mystery,
but still I love a Love
of redemption,
of infinite mercy.

I believe and I need to believe.
My life has no sense
without a vision _landscapes_
of Paradise.

Maybe is a good thing
to read, sometimes,
sacred books.
But God is always speaking
with the light of the Spirit
as well, answering
prayers, writing Words
in the sacred books of our hearts.

God is a universal love,
God loves all beings,
God has prepared for all of them,
for all of us,
the heavenly fields
of Paradise.

Juan Bielsa

Hazrat Inayat Khan - The value of repetition

2008-12-19T15:59:00.000-08:00

Landscape of Pyrenees, in Aragon (Spain)
Photograph by my Aragonese friend
Migalánchel Martín Pardos

There was just a few months ago a case where a young man was to be engaged to a princess. But it was all in his mind; nothing was outside. The State was against it, the Church was against it, the family was against it, and the man's own financial condition was against it. So there was no chance from anywhere.

This person in utter despair wanted to commit suicide. Then he came in contact with a spiritual teacher; the young man said to him: "There is no other way in the world except suicide". The teacher said: "There is a way. Repeat this word and it will all be well". In three months time all difficulties and troubles fell away. He got his heart's desire. There is nothing that cannot be accomplished if a person has faith. When he takes that direction, he will know the benefit that comes from the law of repetition.

Hazrat Inayat Khan, Sufi mystic

Kim Kardashian. Inspiration.

2008-12-17T16:04:00.000-08:00

Model Kim Kardashian
Yellow associations

Many times artists are looking for inspiration.

I think a great source for powerful ideas is in the metaphysical field. At least, that's my case. Anyway, each person is unique and so different things grasps his attention.

For example, I like reading about metaphysics, mysticism, poetry, geography... And you?

A great source of inspiration are beautiful landscapes. If you are in love with some beautiful landscape, then you are happy.

But even in what apparently seems more mundane, more full of vanity, like fashion, design, style... we can find true inspiration, true art. Many times we can find in them authentic works of art, and many times their creators are less conceited or egoistic than some artists.

And models are supposed to live superficial lives many times. Well, models are people like you and me, with profound convictions and aspirations in many cases, and spiritual beliefs. Thanks God, they are not fundamentalists, and they give to the world beauty, smiles, the colors of sunshine, compassion.

I must confess: I get a lot of inspiration from these fields of fashion, style... They are a very beautiful landscape as well.

Kim Kardashian is a model. I know little about her life. But one thing I know. Certainly, she has a great style. Like a great painter, she knows how to handle colors and how to mix them properly. She is truly elegant. That is not easy in the least. Kim Kardashian is an artist in some way. Well, to me she is an artist tout court, that's it.

Can you fall in love with a color? If that is the case, you can be happy. If that is the case you are a spiritual person. In the Orient there is the way of flowers, the way of calligraphy, the way of tea... Well, certainly there can be be as well the way of colors, the way of contemplation of colors. The famous painter Mark Rothko, one of my favorite painters, knew a lot about this.

Kim Kardashian can convey to us, through her yellow dress and her elegance, marvelous sensations of Caribbean lights, sparkling seas and skies, beaches of happiness, lemon trees, beautiful days, hope, joy. Because Kim Kardashian is an artist of colors and life.

Inspiration comes from the Spirit, and Spirit can flow from the most unsuspected places of our inner self. Spirit lives wherever it wants. It comes from the Heart.

Juan Bielsa

A great aim

2008-12-17T14:17:00.000-08:00

Orison Swett Marden
had a great goal for his life
Ancient Portuguese map

All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.

Orison Swett Marden

A feeling of richness

2008-12-12T04:37:00.000-08:00

Vogue Spain
Special Jewels

It is never a waste of time to saturate your mind, body and affairs in rich ideas, rich associations, rich atmospheres, and in any activity, inner or outer, which brings a feeling of richness to your inner being, especially during those periods when it seems that success is slow in manifesting.

Catherine Ponder

Helen Keller. The most important day in her life.

2008-12-07T02:53:00.000-08:00

Helen Keller at work in her study
Photograph by A. Marshall, 1902.

The most important day I remember in all my life is the one on which my teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, came to me. I am filled with wonder when I consider the immeasurable contrasts between the two lives which it connects. It was the third of March, 1887, three months before I was seven years old.

On the afternoon of that eventful day, I stood on the porch, dumb, expectant. I guessed vaguely from my mother's signs and from the hurrying to and fro in the house that something unusual was about to happen, so I went to the door and waited on the steps. The afternoon sun penetrated the mass of honeysuckle that covered the porch, and fell on my upturned face. My fingers lingered almost unconsciously on the familiar leaves and blossoms which had just come forth to greet the sweet southern spring. I did not know what the future held of marvel or surprise for me. Anger and bitterness had preyed upon me continually for weeks and a deep languor had succeeded this passionate struggle.

Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in, and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward the shore with plummet and sounding-line, and you waited with beating heart for something to happen? I was like that ship before my education began, only I was without compass or sounding-line, and had no way of knowing how near the harbour was. "Light! give me light!" was the wordless cry of my soul, and the light of love shone on me in that very hour.

I felt approaching footsteps. I stretched out my hand as I supposed to my mother. Some one took it, and I was caught up and held close in the arms of her who had come to reveal all things to me, and, more than all things else, to love me.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller
and her teacher Anne Mansfield Sullivan.

Affectionately yours. Helen Keller
Photograph by A. Marshall, 1899.

Helen Keller and her dog Phiz
Photograph by Emily Stokes, 1902.

The above words written by Helen Keller are a testimony about the extraordinary importance of finding and having the right teacher at the right moment. This literally can change our life. Helen Keller's life changed for the better after she met her great teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan.

I think "a teacher" can take many forms: a writer, a philosopher, a speaker, a preacher... even a friend, a relative or an acquaintance. And can take also the form of a book or other texts (sacred or otherwise), an audiobook... even the situations of life can act as teachers. Even animals can teach us many useful things.

If a TEACHER appears in our life, that means we have a great opportunity to improve it. Helen Keller recognized her teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, and knew how to take advantage of this great opportunity. And so thanks to this fact and her extraordinary qualities her life was wonderful, extraordinary, a blessing for manking and an example for all of us.

Certainly Helen Keller can be for us a wonderful teacher.

Juan Bielsa

Take Care of Little Things

2008-11-30T15:16:00.000-08:00

Little drops of water
make the mighty ocean.

Little grains of sand
make this beautiful land.

Little moments
make the mighty ages.

Little pies and farthings
make millions and crores.

Little mistakes,
little unkind acts
will make you a devil.

Little words of love,
little acts of kindness,
little good thoughts
will make you a saint.

Swami Sivananda

Thank you

2008-11-27T12:58:00.000-08:00

Dardos Award
Given to me by Kim - Creating Space.

Kim, all I can say is THANK YOU for your generosity.

If you visit kim's blog, you'll find her splendid art, conversations about aesthetics, painting, culture, philosophy... And certainly you'll find much more: the spirit of cordiality.

Juan Bielsa

Concentration - by Orison Swett Marden

2008-11-27T12:22:00.000-08:00

Orison Swett Marden
New England, 1848.
American author.

Many a man has been ruined by not confining himself within sufficiently narrow limits to give concentration and direction to his energies.

Said Andrew Carnegie: "One great cause of failure of young men in business is lack of concentration. They are prone to seek outside investments, side-lines. The cause of many a surprising failure lies in so doing.

Every dollar of capital and credit, every business thought, should be concentrated upon the one business upon which a man has embarked. He should never scatter his shot. It is a poor business which will not yield better returns for increased capital than any outside investment.

No man or set of men or corporation can manage a business man's capital as well as he can manage it himself. The rule, `Do not put all your eggs in one basket,' does not apply to a man's life-work."

Don't be afraid of being known as a man of one idea. The men who have moved the world have been men of this kind. It is the man who has his purpose burned into every fiber of his being, who has the faculty of focusing his scattered energies on one point as a burning glass focuses the scattered rays of the sun, that succeeds.

"When I have a subject in hand I study it profoundly," said Alexander Hamilton. "Day and night it is before me. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the success I make, the people are pleased to call genius. It is the fruit of thought and labor."

Concentration without genius will accomplish more than genius without concentration.

Orison Swett Marden

An iron will
by Orison Swett marden

Homage to my dog

2008-11-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

I would like to write some words to pay homage to my dog, Boi.

He died three days ago. He has been my companion for fifteen years. I've lived with him the most happy years of my life. Thank you, dear Boi.

Poets know that all beings have a soul, that exists a paradise for all of them.

Boi, I know that you live now in the most beautiful landscapes. Yes, we lived together for years in our wonderful paradise as well, on this Earth, which you loved with all your heart. You were the soul of our beloved deserts.

Boi loved these landscapes
Photograph by Juan Bielsa

You adored freedom all your life. That's the word: freedom. You loved it.

My friend, Boi.... Allow me to say to you: I loved you and I love you. And I will always love you. My companion for eternity.

Boi, if you, sometimes, remember me, that's an honor. From your paradise of freedom and beauty, please remember me, sometimes, as I remember you now, from these lands that you loved.

Please remember me. I would like to know also, some day, your paradise. I would like to wander with you the ways of eternity, as we wandered on this Earth the ways of happiness.

Boi, thank you for your friendship, thank you for you love, for your generous soul.

Juan Bielsa

The lands where Boi lived
Photograph by Juan Bielsa

Take it easy - by Norman Vincent Peale

2008-11-24T05:50:00.000-08:00

Bushmen Rockpainting in Zimbabwe
Photo by Steve Evans
If interested in Steve Evans' photos,
please click here. Creative Commons.

A story is told of some Americans who were making their way through Africa. They had employed a group of natives at the seaport and had told them they were in a great hurry, as Americans usually are.

The first day they went with rapid progress through the jungle. They continued the relentless pace the second day. The third morning, when they were hurriedly preparing for another day of rapid travel, they found the savages squatting under the trees and refusing to move. When their bewildered and helpless employers asked them why they were not ready to start, they said simply, "We shall rest today to let our souls catch up with our bodies."

Norman Vincent Peale

Don't let busyness get you - by Norman Vincent Peale

2008-11-19T16:11:00.000-08:00

Norman Vincent Peale
Bowersville (Ohio), 1898.
American author.

We are a generation busy with things. Stevenson wrote, "The world is so full of a number of things; I am sure we should all be as happy as kings." The world has many more things than in Stevenson's day but there is grave doubt if their possession has really solved the problem of happiness.

I can push buttons all over my house and have light, music, and heat. My grandfather had no buttons to push, but just the same he knew the art of living. He was a happy man. The increase of things, instead of providing leisure to be enjoyed, in all too many cases has but multiplied our confusion.(...)

This has done something even more serious to modern people. I refer to its deep psychological and cultural effects. It has had a tendency to make us superficial and thus incapable of appreciating the deeper and more subtle values.

This hectic, hasty, hurrying age of ours has left the average man bewildered and out of breath. It has made him think that the chief virtue is to keep up with the flying clock.

We seem to have the idea that everyone must be constantly doing something. One must be driving a car or dancing or playing bridge or golf or going to the theater or doing something. The American people —and that means you and me— greatly need to learn to reduce life's tempo unless we are to allow this hurly-burly space age to rob us of life's deepest meaning and happiness.

Norman Vincent Peale

The Power of Positive Thinking
by Norman Vincent Peale

Avoid debt - by Phineas Taylor Barnum

2008-11-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

Phineas Taylor Barnum
Bethel (Connecticut), 1810.
The greatest showman that America
has ever seen.

Young men starting in life should avoid running into debt.

There is scarcely anything that drags a person down like debt. It is a slavish position to get in, yet we find many a young man hardly out of his "teens" running in debt. He meets a chum and says, "Look at this; I have got trusted for a new suit of clothes." He seems to look upon the clothes as so much given to him. Well, it frequently is so, but, if he succeeds in paying and then gets trusted again, he is adopting a habit which will keep him in poverty through life. Debt robs a man of his self-respect, and makes him almost despise himself.(...)

Money is in some respects life fire —it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master.(...)

Don't let money work against you; if you do, there is no chance for success in life so far as money is corcerned. John Randolph, the eccentric Virginian, once exclaimed in Congress, "Mr. Speaker, I have discovered the philosopher's stone: pay as you go." This is indeed nearer to the philosopher's stone than any alchemist has ever yet arrived.

The Art of Money Getting
by Phineas Taylor Barnum

Phineas Taylor Barnum

Danger: Debt

2008-11-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

Debt is like any other trap, easy enough to get into it, but hard enough to get out.

Shaw

Motivational blogs - Links

2008-11-16T15:15:00.000-08:00

• Excellent motivational blogs :

- Self Growth :
www.selfgrowth.com/articles

- Zen Habits :
www.zenhabits.net

- Think Simple Now :
www.thinksimplenow.com

- Steve Pavlina :
www.stevepavlina.com

- Positivity Blog :
www.positivityblog.com

- Embrace Living :
www.embraceliving.net

- Our Best Version :
www.ourbestversion.com

- Abundance Blog :
abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com

- Look Far :
www.amandalinehan.com

- On Simplicity :
www.onsimplicity.net

- Happy Lotus :
www.happylotus.com

- New Age Self Help :
www.newageselfhelp.com

- Robert Vance :
www.robertbvance.com/blog/

- Write To Done :
www.writetodone.com

- Scott H. Young :
www.scotthyoung.com

- Motivational Memo :
www.motivationalmemo.com

- Self Help Daily :
www.selfhelpdaily.com

- Life Optimizer :
www.lifeoptimizer.org

- Today Is That Day :
www.todayisthatday.com/blog/

- Seth Godin :
sethgodin.typepad.com

- Tips for success :
www.cathlawson.com

- Make It Great :
makeitgreat.typepad.com

- Success Begins Today :
www.successbeginstoday.org

- LifeDev :
www.lifedev.net

- Monica Ricci :
monicaricci.typepad.com

- I Need Motivation :
www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/

- Pick The Brain :
www.pickthebrain.com/blog/

- Yes To Me :
www.yes-to-me.com

- Matthew Cornell :
www.matthewcornell.org/blog/

- Writer Dad :
www.writerdad.com

- Motivate Thyself :
www.motivatethyself.com

- The Simple Dollar :
www.thesimpledollar.com

- Penelope Trunk :
blog.penelopetrunk.com

- I Will Teach You To Be Rich :
www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/

- Get Rich Slowly :
www.getrichslowly.org/blog/

- Dr. Robbell :
www.drrobbell.com

- Mr. Fire (Joe Vitale) :
blog.mrfire.com

- Personal Development :
www.personal-development.com

- Persistence Unlimited :
www.persistenceunlimited.com

- Face to the Sun :
www.facetothesun.com

- Michael Martine :
www.michaelmartine.com

- Micro Persuasion :
www.micropersuasion.com

- Motivation Point :
www.getmotivation.com

Blue mountains

2008-11-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

Wings of the heart
Original painting by Juan Bielsa
Oil on board - 54 x 65 cm
Painting for sale

Today I've failed.

No Silence.
No prayer.

Today, my life
full of noise.

Today I've failed.

Today, all spaces
full of words
in confusion.

No Silence.
No prayer.

My love, today
I've not seen
the blue mountains of your heart,
your land.

Today
no prayer, no prayer,
no rain, no sun in my life,
in the ways into Beauty.

Today, I've completely
failed.

Today
ashes in the hands,
sadness in the eyes.

Juan Bielsa

My first poem in my bad English

We have a mission

2008-11-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

In the confusion of the world, we have a mission.

A voice within us speaks very clearly: "You have a mission".

But all the confusion in the world speaks very loudly; a thousand televisions speaks, and a thousand cell phones, and thousands of opinions... Our solitary soul remains in the distance, silent in the dark.

But, at night, sometimes, when there is a great silence... we hear the voice, the voice of the heart: "You have a mission... You need to love. You have a dream".

We'll try a thousand tasks in the world, maybe will be successful in the eyes of the world... But then silence speaks, like the memory of our first love, with virgin lips and a kiss full of innocence and truth: "You have a great dream". Silence will always speak, and our soul will always will be calling to us, with feminine freshness, a caress: "I'm with you. You have a mission".

We'll always have our dream at hand, in our hearts, waiting, like an eternal love. Time passes, time passes... But it will never be too late to start to accomplish our task of eternity.

Am I failing in my life? If I'm not answering positively my inner call, yes, I'm failing. Absolutely.

I have no choice. All my efforts in this world will be useless and condemned to nothingness if they don't meet my dream.

I would like to be prepared to fail in this world if necessary (and I know that is tremendously hard). But I don't want to fail in my heart, I don't want to see all my years wasted without accomplishing worthy dreams, a prayer.

Juan Bielsa

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

Christian Larson: "The development of the will"

2008-11-05T16:12:00.000-08:00

New Matsushima
Painting by Juan Bielsa
Oil on canvas - 55 x 46 cm
WORK FOR SALE

Say to yourself a hundred times every day and mean it with all your heart :

I will become more than I am.

I will achieve more and more every day because I know that I can.

I will recognise only that which is good in myself; only that which is good in others; only that in all things and places that I know should live and grow.

When adversity threatens I will be more determined than ever in my life to prove that I can turn all things to good account.

And when those whom I have trusted seem to fail me, I will have a thousand times more faith in the honour and nobleness of man.

I will think only of that which has virtue and worth.

I will wish only for that which can give freedom and truth.

I will expect only that which can add to the welfare of the world.

I will live to live more.

I will speak to give encouragement, inspiration and joy.

I will work to be of service to an ever-increasing number.

And in every thought, word and action my ruling desire shall be to enrich, ennoble and beautify existence for all who come my way.

Christian Larson

Your forces and how to use them (1912)

A prayer for animals

2008-10-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hear our humble prayer,
o God, for our friends
the animals,
especially for animals who are suffering :
for any that are hunted or lost,
or deserted
or frightened
or hungry,
for all that must be put to death.
We entreat for them
all thy mercy and pity.
And for those who deal with them
we ask a heart of compassion,
and gentle hands
and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves,
to be true friends to animals
and so to share
the blessings of the Merciful.

Albert Schweitzer

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

James Allen: "Our mind is like a garden"

2008-10-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

James Allen
Author of "As a man thinketh".
James Allen was born in Leicester, England,
on November 28, 1864.

A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.

Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts.

By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances and destiny.

James Allen ("As a man thinketh")

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

Happiness and will power

2008-10-13T07:13:00.000-07:00

Books can be dangerous also
Some books can have a negative impact in our lives.
I liked this book in my adolescence,
but it turned to be harmful.

In my childhood, I was very, very happy.

It would be hard to imagine a more satisfactory childhood.

But, afterwards... in my adolescence I was unhappy. Why? Being hypersensitive by nature, maybe I did not integrate properly reason. Besides, I was developing at that time a negative approach to many things.

I've always been an avid reader. I read in my adolescence books and more books, many of them were not positive for me.

Time passed. It was hard to find new beliefs, new hopes, a new faith, new friends, new books... and it took some years to become a positive person. It took a lot of effort and reflection.

Incredibly, I became a very happy person again. The last twenty years have been a blessing for me. I've even accomplished in that time the most beautiful dreams of my life.

And now, what? Will I be happy in the future? And you? We don't know. Nobody knows future. But one thing I can say. I'll strive to develop will power. All my efforts will be directed to accomplish this purpose. I would like to strive every hour, day, week, month, every year of my life, to acquire a gigantic will power.

I think I have great qualities, as everyone, but my weak point has always been will power. I have an extraordinary intuition, I know perfectly what is best for me, I'm very cultivated. But... I've been all my life hypersensitive (and always will be), and so I'm easily influenced by circumstances. I NEED to develop will power.

My senses, my energy... will have beautiful fields and gardens, but... there will be also fences all around, there will be absolutely clear limits, sacred limitis, wonderful limits. Even limits in apparently unimportant things.

We battle daily with so many distractions, so many temptations... We must be on our guard, or else we can lose our way, we can cease playing our game and start playing unpleasant ones.

We all know; our economy is in crisis. We even talk of recession, another 1929... Even capitalism needs control, even capitalism needs a clearcut set of rules, sacred ones, which nobody would be allowed to break. If we want a strong economy, we need all that, fences around businesses; we need freedom but also fences and fair play. All game needs rules established in a spirit of justice. If a game has no rules, then this game has no sense, only cheaters will make money, and ultimately the game will finish badly.

Life without clearcut rules ends in disaster.

Happiness, happiness... With amorous controls, with will power, compassion and wisdom, happiness will always be possible and at hand, will always be in our heart, ready to blossom.

Juan Bielsa

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

Maat: order, balance, justice

2008-10-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

Maat
Egyptian Goddess
representing cosmic order, balance and justice

In ancient Egypt, goddess Maat symbolized cosmic order, equilibrium, justice.

The Egyptians knew by experience that our lives are always in a precarious equilibrium. Egypt’s blood has always been the Nile. And the Nile in the past was unpredictable. A subtle change in the regularity of the river could mean famine or inundation.

So, in the religion of ancient Egypt we find always an eternal fight between Order (Maat) and Chaos or disorder (Seth). All the efforts were made to keep chaos at bay.

In our lives we can see this eternal fight as well.

Please, when you are living a life in good health and you love your family, consider yourself very fortunate. Enjoy: you are lucky, my friend. Enjoy the little, wonderful things you have. Please, appreciate the seemingly unimportant joys of life: a simple smile from your loved ones, a sunset, reading a good book, watching a good movie, seeing your pet happy...

The equilibrium in our lives is very, very delicate, very fragile.

The smallest change in the existing status quo can cause havoc. Sure, that change can also bring prosperity, good things and opportunities, but can bring havoc as well. We must stay alert in a balanced way.

I think we must, as the Ancient Egyptians did, be watching carefully our lives to keep balance and order. Life is change, and change is inevitable, always has been that way and always will be. Nevertheless, I think we must try to keep chaos at bay, if possible. Yes, we must stay alert in a balanced, not obsessed way.

One day, our economy seems to do pretty well... But, if some apparently unimportant things are out of order and balance, if we are not in constant vigilance, some other day we can find ourselves indebted and without a solution. Recession...

In our lives apparently all is well, maybe we live a bit out of control... But, in an unexpected moment, there is a little, very little, and subtle, change (in our health, in our relations, in the economy...) and then, suddenly, all is out of balance. What happened? Our life will never will be the same. We must strive to find another point of equilibrum.

We don’t pay too much attention to global warming and to our environment. But chaos is operating without a pause. Still we don’t pay too much attention to that. The sun arises every morning and the weather is wonderful, all seems to be okay. But some day we are aware that something important is changing, something remarkable in a negative way. We try to live as if nothing has happened, but something has happened. Our lives will never be the same. Still we try to live normally. Things will change, little by little. The future generations will have to pay the price.

Our civilisation is out of balance.

Ancient Egyptians were very concerned trying to keep chaos at bay and keep the Universe in balance. And they built the most enduring civilisation in antiquity...

I think it would be a good thing for all of us trying to be much more vigilant than we are, as Buddha or Jesus taught. The slightiest carelness can cause disaster. We can slightly neglect some important things, without paying too much attention, and there we go, in some unexpected moment our lives will never be the same if some negative (very little, apparently insignificant) change happens. We’ve lost in a moment balance, peace and happiness. Then, we will try to restore the previous status quo, we even can improve the past conditions, if we have another chance... But, never will be easy, to say the least. It will take a lot of effort and vigilance to try to find equal or better circumstances. Even some negative changes will be definitive; they will stay with us forever.

Yes, it is wonderful going for a walk in a sunny day, is wonderful a word of love, an old book, our favourite movie on TV, wonderful a good, healthy meal, wonderful to enjoy little things, appreciate what we have now, before is too late, before things will be utterly different.

Juan Bielsa

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

Will power, control and spontaneity

2008-09-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

Master Mind Alliance
Painting by Juan Bielsa
Oil on board, 69.2 x 50.1 cm
Work for sale

I used to be for the most part of my life a person who disliked control in many ways. I’ve always liked spontaneity, and control seemed to me an antagonist of it. Naturally I’ve been aware of the great fruits and possibilities that training our will power can give to us, but I always was conscious of that with sadness, as if this training was a sort of bitter punishment.

So in my life always existed some fight between spontaneity and control, as if they were not perfectly complementary. Now I think that they are. Spontaneity is good, and control is good. Spontaneity is wonderful, and so it is control. There is fun in spontaneity, and there is fun also in control, and joy, and triumph.

All of us have in our lives some sort of philosophy, maybe a silent philosophy, maybe not completely structured. In my case I think my philosophy has not been so bad, because for the most part of my life I have been happy and I’ve tried to make happy others. But I must admit that perhaps the role of disclipline and control could have played a most important part. I think that that could have been another positive factor in my life.

Control and discipline, and will power, if applied with wisdom, love and compassion can be extraordinary tools, the most useful tools at our disposal. Compassion, yes, because we are not simple machines, and love and wisdom, because in our lives can broke out riots as well, as in any society or country, if we don’t apply righteousness with amorous justice and very carefully, if we don't acknowledge and respect our real needs and nature.

Spontaneity and discipline, what a wonderful couple, if love and wisdom and compassion rule!

Training daily our will power can be a very exciting task. When we accomplish “our duty”, we feel triumfant, happy, radiant. With control, discipline and will power it is perfectly possible to accomplish our most desired objectives. Without them, our dreams will never be completely attainable.

And, most important, in that way we won’t lose spontaneity at all, surely we will be, through our training and control, more spontaneous and happy and confident than ever.

So I see now control and spontaneity as absolutely complementary, in the same manner that we have a creative side and a most analytic side in our brain working perfectly together, as a couple in search of a same objective: our dreams and happiness.

Juan Bielsa

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

A day in the life of Mark McCormack. Time management.

2008-09-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Another time I said that I never learned English at school (that’s the reason my English is so bad). Instead, I did study French.

Sometimes I feel I’m really dreaming when I look at this blog of mine (in pseudo English) because I never thought possible that I could learn English by myself. For me most of the Romance languages are very familiar: French, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Aragonese, Galician, Portuguese, Occitan-Provençal, Asturian... But English, though it contains a great percentage of Latin words, always has been difficult for me. Yet I must say that now I read a lot in this language and even listen to audiobooks or watch movies as often as I can. English is the “lingua franca” of these days, so... But “my house” are Romance languages, as I’ve said; there I feel at ease, at home...

I remember that years ago I went on an English Course, six hours a week during four months. That has been the only English course that I’ve ever attended. Truly my “School in English” has been the Internet, because most of the sources I’ve always read on the net are in English.

I’ve next to me the “Student’s book” that I used for that course (“English File”, by Clive Oxenden and Paul Seligson, Oxford University Press). Time runs frantically, so most of the materials are outdated, letting aside grammar, vocabulary, and the like.

Some of the readings on that course catched the attention of the students (all adult people). In particular, this story, surely authentic, about Mark McCormack’s time management skills. We were all shocked in seeing how a person could control all his life in such a manner, apparently without a second out of control.

At that time, Mark McCormack’s approach on time management seemed to me unnatural and excessive. But the excerpt that I reproduce below of him has always interested me, in fact I’ve read it many times. Actually, I don’t think now his ideas are inadequate or even exaggerate ones. In today’s world full of temptations, distractions, possibilities... surely is not a bad thing to try to control our life, severely, rigorously and at the same time with love, wisdom and compassion (compassion for ourselves as well as for others).

I will return very soon to that very interesting (and even exciting) subject.

Juan Bielsa

A day in the life of Mark McCormack

1.- Mark McCormack is American. He’s sixty-three. He’s the manager of many famous people, including the Pope, Monica Seles and Alain Prost. He’s married with two sons and a daughter. He has forty-two offices in twenty countries, and homes in London, New York, Cleveland and Florida.

2.- I get up every morning at 4.30. If my notebook says “Do exercise”, I do some exercise. My secretary arrives at about 5.15, and she brings the newspaper. Then I have a shower and I get dressed. I usually have coffee and cereal for breakfast at the Carlton Tower Hotel (if I am with a client) or I just have a coffee at home.

3.- First I look at my yellow notebook. On the left are my meetings, on the right are my phonecalls. I’m a very good time-manager. I always plan my life exactly for the next six months. I write down everthing I do: how many hours I sleep, how many hours I see my children, and how many hours I spend in each city in the world. I have business meetings in my office from 9.00 a.m. until lunchtime. At 1.00 I usually have lunch at the Carlton, and I always sit at the same table. After lunch I call the USA, and after that I sleep until 6.00.

4.- At 7.00 I often have a drink with a friend or client in the bar. I usually have a Jack Daniels whisky. Then I have dinner at a restaurant. I never cook. In the evening, if my wife is with me, we sometimes go to the cinema. We have meetings to plan our life together. I go to bed at about 11.30. Sleeping is not a problem for me. It’s in my yellow notebook _so I go to bed and I sleep.

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

MISSION

2008-09-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

The Universal Mind
Painting by Juan Bielsa

When I look in history for women and men of great accomplishment, almost always I see a common trait: they have a MISSION. Some authors call it “a magnificent obsession”.

Obviously there are “missions” of many kinds; some are clearly positive ones and others not so worthy, or even negative ones. I think that the only MISSION that can give us strength and perseverance, and endurance in the hard times, is only a WORTHY MISSION, a sincere passion for something very valuable, call it an “innocent” and gigantic passion without a gigantic ego.

If we have a GREAT MISSION, we can surmount many obstacles, we can endure a lot of hardships which probably would seem impossible to overcome otherwise. A MISSION can certainly give to us the necessary force to go ahead without excessive procastination or doubts, regardless of circumstances. A MISSION IS LOVE for what we do, and nothing is more powerful than love in the long run.

When we have a MISSION, call it if you want “a magnificent obsession”, we do daily what we HAVE to do, we do our inner duty, what dictates our consciousness, and so it can be possible for us not to pay too much attention to the infinite distractions _and temptations_ which we encounter every hour, every day, in our way.

In the recesses of my mind I have a great MISSION to accomplish. And you have YOUR MISSION, a very great one, I’m sure of that. All of us have a magnificent dream waiting to be accomplished and fulfilled daily. It is the deepest of all things, I think. We even can have some embarrassment to make public this GREAT DREAM, just because its greatness. In every valuable dream there are so many utopian drops and extraordinary possibilities... It can give colors and sense to all things in our life. A worthy MISSION can be the cornerstone of our life and a fabulous adventure.

A MISSION... Following the pace _certainly, with modesty and humility_ of Alexander, Columbus, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Edison, Madame Curie, Tesla, Mother Teresa... All of us have in reality entire continents to be discovered, continents of love and compassion, continents of understanding, continents of beauty, continents of peace and wonder, continents full of future and hope...

Juan Bielsa

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

Fashion and art

2008-08-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

Fashion and art, happily married
Beauty can adopt many forms.
(Scan from ÚNICA, magazine in Spanish)

In a previous article I wrote about how in Zen there are many ways through art to attaining inner peace and wisdom. And in general in Japan, for example, there is not a clear differentiation between arts and crafts. Even the most humble manual labor can be a fabulous way into comprehension of Reality.

In the same way, I think that potentially many activities can be transformed in true art if we confront them with humility, reverence, meditation and the necessary (and continuing) apprenticeship. Even blogging can be a meditative experience and an art, why not...

There are no minor arts.
Poetry and meditation.

Oriental painters and artists always liked to mix different arts and activities. So, we can find many times a poem in a painting describing the feelings and experiences resulting from its contemplation.

I always liked that approach.

And in Zen, as I previously said, there are not major arts and minor arts.

So, for me as well there are no “minor” arts, if the artist approach them with poetry and contemplation. Poetry, in reality (and in the sense ancient Greeks understood It) is the connection between men and the Universal Mind. Contemplation and meditation are an exercise of receptivity, to be open into transcendence, humility, Silence. At least that is the way I see them.

A painter in Fashionland

So when I approach some apparently mundane activities like fashion, styles, trends... I see all of this with the eyes of a painter and a poet, with a sense of reverence in many cases, I can see wonderful combinations of colors, delicate nuances, I see creative rhythms and textures, I see an honest effort to express creativity clothing the human body.

And when models are on the catwalk in performance, if models and designers did their job with dedication and love, I can see sublime elegance, I can see real works of art, a living art, “body art”. I even see marvelous paintings being carried by models themselves, over their bodies.

Fashion and summer
The limit is elegance. When elegance is lost, all is lost.
(Scan from ÚNICA, magazine in Spanish)

Fashion designers are not different from us, painters, in many ways. Perhaps some of us have a greater sense of transcedence and durability of our work, but in reality all that matters is contributing to the world with inner beauty and elegance, as in spirituality all that matters, I think, is compassion.

No sunset is lost.
Every experience is a fountain of learning.

I must admit that lately I don’t paint as much as I should do, but I have now more clear ideas about art than before, I know much better what I like to do, what my vision of art is.

During seven or eight years I did not write a single poem (and I’m a poet in a minoritary, wonderful language, Aragonese...), but I remember that period, nevertheless, as the most poetic in all my life. I WAS a poet then, although I did not write any poem. I watched every day, in silence, like praying, the most magnificent sunsets in the deserts, I inhabited the purplish mountains in my dreams...

When I’ll begin to paint anew, my paintings will have the colors of my lands of poetry, the colors of my meditations, of all my failures from which I learned some humility, lessons from the Silence.

When I’ll begin to paint anew my paintings will have the colors of fashion, of beautiful movies, the colors of women and elegance, of sunsets' purples, of books that one reads with the heart, of little and great things, the colors of life, victories, defeats.

Juan Bielsa

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

Real metaphysics

2008-08-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Monroe
The way of art, love and elegance

I've said other times that I like very much metaphysics. I like to investigate in this field, and to do it freely and with an open mind. I use for that purpose different tools from different areas (psychology, physics, self development...)

This activity of mine can lead sometimes to some personal conclusions. But I don't think is necessary to explain such "conclusions" in blogs like this or otherwise.

Everybody has opinions about life, existence, the universe... and surely they can be much more profound (or practical...) than mine. But even in this case I don't think is the essential part trying to show all of this to apprehend the most important aspects of a human being or his personality and convictions.

I don't think that philosophy or metaphysics, or even religion are absolutely necessary to apprehend "Reality", "Beauty", God...

In Zen Buddhism is not particularly valued or appreciated any discussion or digression about metaphysical or religious questions. What has real value is an EVIDENCE of wisdom, knowledge or reality. This EVIDENCE can only be offered by an artist or person after many years of learning and practicing a "do", a way into BEAUTY. I'd say that even the experiences of our life, if we learn from them, can be a wonderful apprenticeship into it, a magnificent WAY.

If you can create a genuine work of art, a great PAINTING or DRAWING (even if only with a few strokes of the brush...) then you are a very RELIGIOUS person. At least in the sense that I understand this term.

If you can create a true POEM (even if this poem only consists of a few verses) then you have a sure knowledge and you are not cheating.

If you can offer to us a piece of BEAUTY or LOVE, then you are a true metaphysician. If you are a good person, a kind person, if you love and practice peace and compassion, then you are very, very religious, regardless of anything else. That is practice, good deeds, real metaphysics, true religion. That is all that matters. That is what we need in this world, I think.

We all know that some traditional activities can be a "do", a WAY: the way of flowers (Ikebana), the way of calligraphy (Shakyo), and others. But there are many other ways to access into the realm of BEAUTY: humility, meditation, silence, prayer, empathy, recitations, dancing, music...Or, as we have said earlier, life itself can be a "do", a fountain of learning. Happiness, distresses... every experience teaches something important.

And so I say, in conclusion, that people we think are not especially religious can be the most religious of all. They have given to us, or offered to us, pieces of Heaven, wonderful works of art, or splendid deeds and example. They have never pretended to be metaphysical thinkers, or even religious people in some cases. But they have grasped from heaven, through his life or his suffering or his humility, pieces of real BEAUTY, golden pieces of LOVE.

Yes, that's all that really matters.

Juan Bielsa

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

"The wizard of Oz" and Judy Garland

2008-08-06T05:55:00.000-07:00

Judy Garland
as Dorothy Gale in "The wizard of Oz"

Many years ago, I liked very much to paint and draw using only a few colors, two colors in most cases. The results were not less satisfactory than when I used a lot of colors.

I think that in painting and drawing there are many possibilities available, many ways of work, but in the end there are no "better" ways or methods than others. Some techniques may appear at first sight far less sophisticated than others, much more "simple", but the results can be exactly as rich and full of nuances as the most "complexes" ones.

It can be a very satisfying activity to work with many colors, but it is never a good thing to be "intoxicated" by so many chromatic possibilities at our disposal.

Piagordo, the country where I live
Three colors: simplicity, poetry and magic
Photograph by Juan Bielsa

Many years ago I was enchanted and like living in a world of magic when painting and drawing with only two or three colors. And that same feeling I've experienced again when I recently watched the old (and great) movie "The wizard of Oz ". I'm pretty sure you've seen it. I had already seen this movie long time ago, but I had forgotten in many ways how wonderful this picture is, how full of magic.

"The wizard of Oz", as a picture in this case, is a classic for children... but don't be fooled by that, in reality is a present for all of us who want to keep some of the innocence of life, some of its fantasy. I truly think this movie is amazing, a miracle of art. And Judy Garland... what can we say about her performarce here? We can say that she is the perfect angel that could give life and credibility to the role of "Dorothy Gale". Even Toto, her dog in the picture, performs without equal.

Judy Garland (as Dorothy Gale) and Toto
Singing "Over the rainbow"

In some parts of "The wizard of Oz", at first and in the end, you'll be struck by the wise use of color, which adds an aged and mythical flavor to the movie and makes all appear under a light of DREAM. And this relates with which I said earlier about the intelligent use of a few colors in the palette of the artist.

Many years have passed since the days "The wizard of Oz" was made, in 1939, but all of its magic remains the same and one could rightly say that this movie is far more beautiful and magical than most of the movies that are produced today. Quality and imagination will never have whatsoever to do with "special effects" and more "advanced" techniques.

Juan Bielsa

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

Marilyn Monroe, forever

2008-07-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Monroe
Eternal

During all my life I didn’t pay much attention to Marilyn as an actress or even a celebrity. Of course, I knew what everyone knows and I had seen her many times on television, books or magazines.

It is true that like most people I always found Marilyn, as an icon in this case, beautiful and potentially interesting, but never found sufficient motivation to investigade more closely her life or her career as an actress. For me were even more familiar the artistic interpretations that Andy Warhol made of her than her movies. I knew her, as I’ve already said, as a simple icon of a certain time, but I had always missed the most important part of her: her ART.

But all that was about to change. One day, some five years ago, I bought a newspaper and it offered the possibility of buying also a film of Marilyn at a good price, and even was announced that the entire collection of Marilyn’s movies will be available in the next weeks. Well, I bought the dvd containing the movie, without many expectations I must say. I remember, that movie was “The seven year itch”, a classic that I enjoyed very much and I’ve seen many times since.

I saw that movie... and... I fell in love with Marilyn. Forever. Not with Marilyn’s myth, not with a “scandalous” Marilyn, not with an “obscure” or distressed Marilyn. No. I fall in love with THE ACTRESS Marilyn. I remember well: with the newspaper came along a second dvd, as a bonus in this case. In this dvd one could see, if one liked it, all the events that surrounded Marilyn’s death, real facts in same cases as well as many guesses or suppositions. But you know what, I hardly saw some minutes of that dvd, and now I don’t know where it is, perhaps lost. I don’t care, because I found these stories about the causes of her death, real or imaginaries, disgusting. I don’t was interested at all on all that.

I bought, week by week, all Marilyn’s movies, and certainly some of them were better than others. There were among them extraordinary movies and ordinary ones. But, you know what, always there was a light on all of them, there was Marilyn’s light, an EXTRAORDINARY ACTRESS, regardless the myth, regardless of the tragedy of her life. And watching her in these movies one can even sense how marvelous being she was along with her tremendous value as an actress.

The real myth incarnated by Marilyn always will be present, forever, in her wonderful performances in so many unforgettable movies. There is no need to always recapitulate the tragic circumstances of her life or death to make her a myth. It is a myth by the virtue of the real worth of her ART. Many people have been shocked by the extraordinary quality of Marilyn as an actress when they’ve seen without prejudices her performances. It is not possible describe the emotions and feelings that Marilyn can awake through her actings. For me, she is a true magician than can uncover for us beauties of the world as well as beauties of the soul.

Oh, Marilyn, what a great soul you had, what a great soul you will always have, eternal. You are more than a myth, you are an angel whose true land was not this Earth of ours, but a realm of goodness and wonders and beauty. What a heritage of light! Marilyn, thank you forever for existing.

Juan Bielsa

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

My new blogs

2008-07-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

Jessica Simpson
I have created some new blogs about
beauty, fashion and celebrities.

Recently I have created some new blogs, mostly about beauty and travel.

I’ve had fun creating all these blogs. But the real challenge will be mantaining all of them alive and posting very often. It is curious, but I have much more fun creating sites or blogs than running them. No doubt, the latter is more difficult than the first. In reality, giving birth to a blog is the easy part.

I know that some of these new blogs will have continuity, and others... who knows. When I launch each one of them, I’ve a concret idea, but I don’t know exactly where this idea can lead and its potential. At the same time, all of us have at our disposal a limited amount of time and energy, and that’s an important factor to ponder.

I must say that I like experimenting. Or playing... Sometimes we discover something unexpected and wonderful surprises, as if we were for a walk in a solitary way in the fields... In my youth I liked wandering aimlessly on the moors of my country, or walking with a book under my arms in the little solitary valleys. Sometimes I was absolutely shocked when I discovered wonderful places. Some times I believed that I was in earthly paradises, so beautiful were these unknown spots.

So I’ve created these new blogs and each one of them is an adventure. They can lead to some land full of joy and beauty or perhaps they will have a short life. My illusion and determination is the same in relation with every one of these blogs, but we can’t control completely circumstances and reality.

So, I’ve created one blog about travel in Spanish, viajesia.blogspot.com, which is already listed in Blogged. It’s funny, but this is the most successful of my new blogs so far. I say it’s funny because I thought my new blogs about beauty, music or celebrities would have much more visits than this. I’ve said it's funny also because most people travel more than I. It is true that I have a great knowledge about geography and maps, though, and a real passion for all of this since my childhood.

As I’ve said I’ve created blogs about beauty, music, celebrities... In Spanish we have belnia.blogspot.com, and in English celebsia.blogspot.com, belsei.blogspot.com. Obviously, by now you’ll find on these blogs little content, as in microdirectory.blogspot.com, my latest blog. There is an important risk in running multiple blogs, and that is losing focus on your main sites. Concentration is always a good thing. But, what can I do, I like to play...

Besides, to all of these blogs mentioned I would have to add the existing ones, that is, my blog in my mother tongue, Aragonese, artebielsa.blogspot.com, my blog in Catalan, bielsart.blogspot.com, my blog in Spanish, juanbielsa.blogspot.com, my blog in Italian, bellezzarte.blogspot.com, and finally my blogs in English, mapsia.blogspot.com and this blog, poeticpainting.blogspot.com. Many blogs? You bet. And then there are my sites...

But all of this can give you a wrong idea about the whole thing. Many people work harder on a single blog than I do on all my blogs. They post almost daily on them. I do what I can, but because I own so many blogs and sites I must have a different approach.

I like (and praise) simplicity, and nevertheless I always end up in situations where certainly simplicity is absent in many ways. I see myself at this moment like a juggler playing with many balls. A lot of “fun” is expected...

Nevertheless, I hope I’ll post very often on this blog. Because it is special to me. And I hope you’ll follow this travel towards the lands of art and beauty.

Juan Bielsa

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

Contemplations

2008-07-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

Sweet fairy
Painting by Juan Bielsa.
Oil on canvas

Lately I have not been posting very often.

In our lives sometimes is good to have time for reflection. Our art and our attitude about things change after such a periods. Sometimes for the better, or maybe not, who knows. But we are in a constant change, that's for sure.

As we grew older, we know much better what are the better things to do, what is the best direction to follow... But, life is so hard... We know what to do in many cases, but it is not always so easy to follow our convictions. The person who will do that, who will have the necessary courage to do what he believes in, he will be a successful person.

In relation to my art, I must say that I mostly like a kind of symbolism that approaches to abstraction. People agree on that in the sense that enjoy very much my semi-abstractions. I also like playing with the forms of the human body or portraits. The American poet Walt Whitman once said that one can see God in many human faces. I agree.

There are things in this life that I absolutely like: to investigate in the metaphysical field and a kind of fresh aestheticism, a kind of playful representation of what we think Heavens could be... I see beautiful landscapes and there is God, I see lovely faces and I see God (Whitman), I see innocent animals and there I see a Paradise, I see or hear or touch perfect works of art (paintings, songs, sculptures...) and there there is a piece of Heavens, that's an evidence of Heavens.

I must say: I'm very platonic and what I love is a representation of Beauty rather than things in themselves. I know that events and phenomena are absolutely transient, what I like of them is all the beauty and goodness that are hidden in the inside, because that is the place of our dreams. Life is so short. We always dream of beautiful paradises. In any case, I don't want to lose that innocence.

My friend Lesly Finn says to me often that I must not complain of my English. That's right. My English is bad, but you are right Lesly, so here I stop my complaint. I remember when I was a child, those lovely lessons in French. Yes I liked very much French and I still have those old books where I learned to write and speak (but not perfectly...) that beautiful language. But now the International language is English, even in Europe (and even the German language has surpassed French...) Yes, things change...

Things change... and we can always discover new paradises. Thanks to my (bad) English I can travel now to the beautiful land of old movies in the original language. Right now I have seen an old movie, a precious jewel. I just love Gene Kelly's movies, do you? I see miracles without end in those wonderful performances and music and dances...

Contemplations... To move from a thought to another one, like a butterfly in a sunny colorful garden, without any concrete purpose. But many times poets write their most beautiful poems in that manner, without trying, as if God was within their hearts, writing through their hands...

Juan Bielsa

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

My paintings in juanbielsa.artelista.com

2008-06-01T17:24:00.000-07:00

Parable of the vine and branches
Painting by Juan Bielsa.
Oil on board

I have some of my paintings in a virtual exhibition and this is one of the paintings which people like the most.

This is the address: juanbielsa.artelista.com

Artelista is a site on art where painters can exhibit for free their art. It is one of the most important sites in Spanish exhibiting original art.

I honestly must say that this site, Artelista, works very well in many ways. Besides, it is very easy to use, both to the artist or visitors... My experience is very positive. It also provides statistics where artists can see how many visits receive every painting, visitors can vote and so we know what people think of our work, their favourite paintings... All of this provide a very useful information for artists.

Juan Bielsa

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

- My Amazon.com stores :
Success Books - DVD

Mary's heart

2008-05-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

Mary's heart
Original painting by Juan Bielsa
Oil on board, 61 x 48.6

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

- My Amazon.com stores :
Success Books - DVD

Picasso's Blue Period

2008-04-19T04:15:00.000-07:00

The tragedy
Painting by Picasso.
Paris, 1903

Picasso’s blue period represents the emergence of the painter as a genius. Until this time, he had been experimenting with different ways of expressing his sensibility, more or less realistic, but always unconfortable with a conventional view of painting and art. He was a nonconformist by nature and was looking for new paths.

Between 1901 and 1904 Picasso paints a series of works where color blue predominates, that’s the most obvious visual sign of a period called “Picasso’s blue period”. Expressionism and symbolism meets here to translate a state of mind and the moods of the artist at that time. He had moved from Barcelona to Paris to pursue his career, although returned many times to the Catalan city during this period. He was not famous yet and did not have sufficient money. He was just an artist struggling to earning his living from his art.

But perhaps the most determinant event that had an effect on his art at this period was the death (comitting suicide) of his friend Carles Casagemas (1881-1901), artist, who had moved to Paris as well. This death was devastating for Picasso and he immersed himself in profound melancholy and reflection.

Picasso painted “The tragedy” in 1903. This painting reflects very well the tragic effects of poverty upon a family; many things are symbolic, and certainly the color blue greatly contributes to increase the sense of misery of the whole scene.

I've always liked Picasso’s blue period. Even as a child I was impressed by these paintings full of a powerful force. I also like very much Picasso’s rose period, when Picasso’s sensibility seems to rejoice and we can see then in the world of the artist harlequins, saltimbanques... But that’s another story...

Juan Bielsa

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

Udumbara flower

2008-03-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

Udumbara flower
Oil on canvas by Juan Bielsa.
Sold.

I sold this painting some months ago and still I feel its absence. Sure, we paint to sell our works, but some paintings of ours have a special meaning to us, just like this one to me.

In painting this flower I tried to express its uniqueness, its profound power and the many spiritual opportunities that it offers, just like buddhist texts (like the Lotus Sutra) explain. Obviously I followed my own creativity and did not paint the flower with its white petals, just like establish tradition. But in all the essentials I tried to give to it a majestic presence. A spiritual majestic presence, to be precise.

According to tradition, Udumbara flower blooms once every three thousand years. It is a very extraordinary event, like the appearence on this plane of a Buddha, to show to the world the wonderful fruits of the eightfold path, the absolute comprehension of Reality, and overcoming pain in this way; to announce to all humanity a future of love and compassion.

Udumbara flower emerges from chaos to restore the Dharma, justice, the law of love. Many spiritual traditions, throughout the world, have a similar idea. In Ancient Egypt, this supreme principle of order and justice was called Maat, opposed to chaos; the Mound of Creation also emerged from chaos, from the chaotic waters of the Nun, and the God Ra created afterwards all things according to Maat. In a tradition more familiar to us, the Greek have a concept very similar to Dharma or Maat: Logos.

Always humanity strives toward justice, love, order... and that's not easily made, always there are powerful forces trying to thwart any effort in that direction.

Anyway, the old traditions of the world always can give us the magic symbols that we need to never lose hope in our way to a better future, mapping poetically real happiness and wonders. Like the splendid symbol embodied in the flower of Udumbara.

Juan Bielsa

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

Agyness Deyn, absolute elegance

2008-02-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

Agyness Deyn
Profound, unconventional elegance

The British model has consolidated her position as a reference point in the world of fashion.

Agyness Deyn does not need to be compared with other models to reinforce her influence, and obviously does not need anymore that cliché of being the “new Kate Moss”. Agyness has a very special personality, with unmistakable characteristics, making of her a potent light in the field of beauty and style; she has also a powerful way of communicating trends.

Agyness has a serene elegance, a supreme one, and very natural. She communicates magic to everything she contacts, always turns in elegance everything she touches. Nothing is conventional in her presence. Her feminity is profound, distinct, full of subtelities. Absolute feminity, and always a sense of freedom. If we truly contemplate Agyness, there is nothing androgynous in her. In this regard I don’t agree, naturally, with some people who claim precisely that.

Agyness Deyn emerges as a model for a woman who dislikes to adhere to some stereotypes that can thwart many wonderful potentialities. She is a sign of our times and for the future of an unconventional beauty. With mystery, a lot of mystery. Giorgio Armani’s firm has made the right choice in selecting her as the face for the company.

Agyness is Agyness, incredibly unique. Surely the present-day trend of emphasize the wonderful possibilities of a lovely short hair in women is largely due to her. With her platinum (or dark) short hair, Agyness is Agyness, an icon of a desinhibited elegance, a profound elegance for our times and beyond.

Juan Bielsa

- My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

- My website in English :
www.poeticpainting.com

- My Amazon.com stores :
Success Books - DVD

Painting and contemplation

2008-02-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

Meditation room
Oil on canvas by Juan Bielsa.
Painting for sale.

It is a truism. Each one of us has a UNIQUE personality, we are precious specimens. Each one of us is an original, and so we have different worlds to create, we em body different potentialities ready to be expressed on the canvas of life.

One of my best friends, for example, has a real passion for travels. When he is not working, he is continually asking himself: Well, where can I go now? He has traveled to France, to the Alps, to Germany, to Norway, to Lithuania, to Russia... He has plans to travel to the lake Baikal, in Siberia.

Instead... my pleasure is in contemplation. I travel a lot, too, but in spirit... My passion is contemplation. My passion is silence, a precious book, a lovely landscape, a good friend, an empty canvas. I lose myself in the pages of a book, I travel upon silent maps, upon the beautiful eyes of a cat, I meditate watching the poetry of sunsets, feeling the wind on my face.

It must be wonderful to travel to Norway (“the Mecca of beauty”, my friend said). It would be splendid to watch the fiords from a mountain... But, instead, I take a book by Knut Hamsun, for example, and I can really feel the fresh soul of Norway, and I can travel in this way, poetically, even to Laponia, to Iceland, to Greenland, to a paradise of fantasy and mystery.

The same is with my paintings. I paint them in meditation. When they are finished, I place them in my studio, or in my bedroom, and then I travel through them to universes that I like: Silence, Soul, Innocence.

I have a dream for my life, a gread dream: to build my house of eternity, a great room for meditation, a gigantic room for contemplation, where one can meditate upon the beauty of Love, where one can read the great book of Love.

Juan Bielsa

My e-mail addresses :
pintura@juanbielsa.com
jnbielsa@yahoo.es

Franz Marc, painter of purity

2008-01-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

Cat painted by Franz Marc
Franz Marc was a member
of the impressionist German group "Blauer Reiter" (Blue Rider).

Franz Marc (1880-1916), during all this life, was a seeker of purity and truth. He did not find them in the human being. So he tried to find these qualities in animals. You can admire his magnificent paintings in which the main subjects are blue horses, dogs, cats... You already know that Hitler comdemned the blue horses of Franz Marc, considering them as degenerate art...

Marc died relatively young. At the end of his career, his thoughts about art suffered important changes, always showing a constant evolution toward abstraction. At this point the forms of animals disappear almost entirely. He searched PURITY (only in a spiritual sense, obviously). But unfortunately he did not have sufficient time to give shape to his final artistic ideas.

Each one of us has his preferences about paintings, painters. In my case... I must say: I love Franz Marc.

Juan Bielsa

2008-01-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

Mount PIAGORDO

Another view of mount Piagordo, which I see every day.
I just love this mountain.

Andorra ( Aragon - Spain )

2007-12-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

Contemplative blog

Is this a blog? I don't know. I would be nice a tool to transform inner contemplations into posts. In this case, you'll have here a wonderful book, plenty of ideas to think about.

But this tool does not exist, and so you can see nothing here.

Some years ago I fell in love with sunsets, splendid sunsets in Aragon. I made mentally poems and poems, wonderful ones, about sunsets, about mountains in crimsons and purples. But this book of prayers, a masterpiece I can say, still lives in the White Mountains.

I could stare for days and days at the mound of creation, Piagordo. When the sun, Amon-Ra, kisses the soul of the mountain (a prayer), the world is created again.

I would like to be an expert in Egyptian art and religion (but I'm not). You know... the mound of creation.

I would like to be an expert in clouds and sunsets and silence, and paintings not painted.

Already two months without painting a thing... If I was not an optimist (am I?) I would say: "This is the End". But I read almost everyday some pages of positive psicology, you know...

If you love sunsets, then you are my friend. If you love Egyptian religion, if you speak some dead language, then you can understand me.

What a marvelous clouds today in Piagordo, what a silence... Another day of contemplation. If you love paintings only in imagination, the most fantastic in the world, then I'm your painter. Paintings without the sadness of the world, paintings painted in Paradise.

My beloved cat Cati used to watch sunsets every day, absolutely respectful. Like an Egyptian cat, a divinity.

Juan Bielsa

2007-12-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

A PAUSE

I've been working hard lately, so I have not posted. Nevertheless, as soon as I can, I'll be working regularly online to make this blog an attractive place.

The most important point: I'm really excited about new projects, my new paintings and goals. I would be happy if you visit this blog now and then. After all, this is your house too.

Juan Bielsa

2007-11-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

MAPPING SUCCESS

I think one of the most difficult things in life is to really know what we want. And to know it sufficiently well, after a profound reflection. It involves, no doubt, a lot of hard work and can take lots of hours and hours, weeks, months.

It is true that, in reality, all of us are in search of “success”, and for each person that word may signify different things. It is a real necessity then to start mapping what we want to attain, clarify our ideals, in order to make possible that “success”, which is the goal (or goals) in concrete form, an experiential stage in our way. When we know what we want and are willing to map our dreams, then all that’s necessary is energy, faith...

If, someday, that what we call reality fits perfectly with our map, that day we have attained... success. That means that we have had integrity and commitment, that we have practiced with our will, that we have been coherent with ourselves.

But to know what we want is so hard (at any age), to map our dreams is not easy, and the many hardships of life sometimes are making difficult to preserve our will and energy.

And, nevertheless, that’s the task of life, I think, to choose our most cherised way and to follow it, no matter what others may be saying or thinking.

There were people in history, for example, who knew perfectly very early in life what they wanted, and were very passionate about it, never hesitating about the way chosen. They had a clear vocation and attained success. They were the privileged ones. Now I think of Mozart.

Juan Bielsa

2007-11-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

ARMAND BASI'S PERFUME

Ads can be a work of art too

2007-11-23T16:45:00.000-08:00

ON THE WALL II

One of my paintings
on the walls of my house

Robinson Crusoe's Island - Oil on board

70 x 48.8 cm

2007-11-15T16:20:00.000-08:00

Supreme elegance. PROJECTS.

Sometimes we think about our projects, about the direction we intend to give to our actions. Perhaps we can be satisfied with what has been accomplished, but still always is a good thing to reconsider all areas of our work in order to see if we can improve it.

Well, in this case I’m thinking about my projects on the web. I intend to follow a different line of action in some aspects, in relation to what I’ve done so far.

So, in the future I intend to follow these directions :

The most part of my sites and blogs will be about style, fashion, celebrities, elegance and art. These are subjects in which I’m interested. But my approach to them, my “language”, will be plain, accessible and, in some way, poetic. Of course I’ll try to make my sites and blogs somehow different from others. One concept that I especially like is this: supreme elegance, poetic elegance. And that is absolutely compatible with a commercial approach. In fact, I won’t refuse at all ads and sponsors, if adequate to the nature of my project.

I have so many sites and blogs... One could think that I’m heading for complexity, but in reality there is only one project here and some different versions of it. I have sites or blogs in English, Spanish, Italian, Catalan, Aragonese, and finally I’ll have another in French. That’s all... So I’ll translate my own writings to all these languages.

There is here an important problem, though. My English is not as good as I would like it to be. But, what can I do? I can only do my best improving it, learning every day all I can.

So, this is the course of action which I’ll follow in the near future. All project online is a challenge, there is a lot of work involved. But if we just love what we are going, and we think we can offer something useful for others and for ourselves, our work can be also an enjoyable part of our life.

Juan Bielsa

2007-11-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

ON THE WALL

One of my paintings
on the walls of my house

Virgin Land - Oil on canvas

60 x 80 cm

2007-10-31T19:10:00.001-07:00

W O r K i N P R O G r E S S...

Original painting by Juan Bielsa

Oil on canvas

60 x 80 cm

2007-10-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

B r a n c h e s

Original painting by Juan Bielsa

Oil on card

2007-10-31T17:40:00.000-07:00

Mount PIAGORDO seen from my studio

Here is the (sacred) mountain which I see every day

Andorra ( Aragon - Spain )

2007-10-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

MY STUDIO IN THE COUNTRY

Stone bench ouside my studio

I have been very happy here for many years...

2007-10-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

FORMS IV

Original painting by Juan Bielsa

Oil on card

25 x 50 cm 120 €

2007-10-16T19:06:00.001-07:00

YOUR THOUGHT CREATES YOU

Create your own thought and you become what you want to become because your thought creates you.

We all know that man is as he thinks. Then we must think only such thoughts as tend to make us what we wish to be.

The secret of right thinking is found in always keeping the mind's eye stayed upon the greater and the better in all things.

Christian D. Larson

Your forces and how to use them (1912)

2007-10-02T17:50:00.002-07:00

Contemporary art : Freedom

It is obvious: In life everything changes, painters as well. My artistic expression is now much less concerned with phenomena than years ago.

I'm in love with music and dance, I love spiritual symbols and concepts, and I consider external reality simply as a tool in my art. In that reality, objects have light and shadows... but I don't care for all this in my practice of painting. I "use" reality, but my art is not a copy of phenomena. I love the art that is just music and rhythm, a spiritual dance. Very few contemporary artists have reached this realm.

I remember now an Italian artist, Modigliani. He is known for his nudes. He deliberately ignored shadows in his paintings, he completely subjected his expression to an inner necessity, although "using" external references. And I love Modigliani for that. I love this freedom. True art is freedom.

Juan Bielsa

2007-10-02T17:50:00.001-07:00

CRIMSON DOOR

Original painting by Juan Bielsa

Oil on card

25 x 50 cm 120 €

2007-10-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

HEAVENLAND

Original painting by Juan Bielsa

Oil on canvas

60 x 80 cm 800 €

2007-09-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

My Country

I don’t care too much about “reality” in my creations. Obviously, I live intensely in this “reality” as all of us do, but what I love the most is another world of Beauty.

Although I “use”, sometimes, natural forms, I’m more distant from naturalism than most abstract painters (many of them are looking for “materials”).

Therefore, sometimes I paint fairies, or caves immersed in a dream... and I make continous allusions to inner worlds of Compassion and real, eternal Beauty. These are realms in which I can live.

I can say that I have never truly understood this world of ours, its tremendous sufferings, its absurdity. I can only think of it as a bridge to another universe of Love.

I love silence, books, contemplation, honest people. And, in my soul, I’m not French or Spaniard, Russian or Norwegian.

I love Infinity, I study Infinity, my hope is in Infinity. My brothers are those who suffer. And I love animals as well, I have always loved them, they have always brought to me... happiness. I love mountains, and solitary valleys, and deserts, and distant seas, and a Light that only exists in the land of Infinity.

So, that’s why I paint many times subjects outside of this world. Art can be a way to Infinity, too, a way into our inner, real Self.

Juan Bielsa

2007-09-20T15:25:00.000-07:00

FAIRIES' CAVE

Original painting by Juan Bielsa

Oil on canvas

81 x 100 cm 990 €

2007-09-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

SWEET FAIRY

Original painting by Juan Bielsa

Oil on canvas

54 x 65 cm 990 €

2007-09-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

Conscious cooperation with the Great Whole

Every time you think you start a train of causation which will create a condition in strict accordance with the quality of the thought which originated it. Thought which is in harmony with the Universal Mind will result in corresponding conditions. Thought wich is destructive or discordant will produce corresponding results. You may use thought constructively or destructively, but the immutable law will not allow you to plant a thought of one kind and reap the fruit of another. You are free to use this marvelous creative power as you will, but you must take the consequences.

This is the danger from what is called Will Power. There are those who seem to think that by force of will they can coerce this law; that they can sow seed of one kind and by "Will Power" make it bear fruit of another, but the fundamental principle of creative power is in the Universal, and therefore the idea of forcing a compliance with our wishes by the power of the individual will is an inverted conception which may appear to succeed for a while but is eventually doomed to failure _because it antagonizes the very power which it is seeking to use.

It is the individual attempting to coerce the Universal, the finite in conflict with de Infinite. Our permanent well being will be best conserved by a conscious cooperation with the continuous forward movement of the Great Whole.

Charles Haanel

"The Master Key System"

2007-09-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

PRINCIPLES

We do not reflect. I mean that we do no reflect upon genuinely important things; upon the problem of our happiness, upon the main direction in which we are going, upon what life is giving to us, upon the share which reason has (or has not) in determining our actions, and upon the relation between our principles and our conduct.

And yet you are in search of happiness, are you not? Have you discovered it?

The chances are that you have not. The chances are that you have already come to believe that happiness is unattainable. But men have attained it. And they have attained it by realising that happiness does not spring from the procuring of physical or mental pleasure, but from the development of reason and the adjustment of conduct to principles.

Arnold Bennett

"How to Live on 24 Hours a Day" (1908)

2007-09-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

RED FAIRY

Original painting by Juan Bielsa

Oil on board

60.7 x 48.5 cm 990 €

2007-09-04T17:43:00.001-07:00

The secret of secrets

The secret of secrets is to let the best within us have full right of way; this, however, most of us have failed to do. In consequence, the majority are undeveloped weaklings of little use to themselves or to the world.

The lily permits that which is to have right of way. It does not interfere, but man does interfere. He usually refuses to accept the gifts which nature wishes to bestow upon him, and he hardly ever accepts assistance from a higher power. He sets out for himself and works himself into old age and death trying to gain what was actually given to him in the beginning. He leaves the real riches of life and enters the world of personal ambition expecting to find something better and create something superior through his own efforts, but he fails because man alone can do nothing.

The average person does not realize that to create something from nothing is impossible, nor has he learned that the necessary something can come only from the life that is within. He may try to accomplish much and become much through personal ambition and hard work, but no one can build without material, and the material that is needed in building greatness can be secured only by giving right of way to the life and the power of the inner world.

The man who expects to build greatness upon personal limitations will pass away in the effort, leaving his unfinished work to be taken up by some one else who will possibly build upon the same useless foundation. Thus one generation after another comes and goes, each expecting to succeed where predecessors failed; in the meantime very little is accomplished by man, and he fails to receive what infinite life is ever waiting to give.

Christian D. Larson

The ideal made real (1912)

2007-09-04T17:32:00.000-07:00

We must visualize the whole thing

A man to carry on a successful business must have imagination. He must see things in a vision, a dream of the whole thing.

Charles M. Schwab

2007-09-04T17:24:00.001-07:00

The way of the stars

Original painting by Juan Bielsa

Oil on board

60.7 x 48.5 cm

800 €

2007-09-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

Whas Edison a failure?

Was Thomas Edison a failure? Of course not. The thought is absurd. Yet dozens of failures preceded most of his brilliant creations. Edison learned from his failures and built his successes on them.

Discovery is born in error; there are no creations without unsuccessful experiments.

Maxwell Maltz