Your Thoughts On This Article

I certainly do believe that our attitude or "spirit" shows through our work. Just look at the work of a negative person, no matter how good the work or perfect the subject matter, there lies a darkness beneath it. For instance, each time that my son was deployed to go fight, my work took a drastic dive into what I can only describe as paint slapped on canvas. They sold few and far between. All is well currently with my own life and my children, my work is selling in abundance. So I do think that there is SOME truth in the article.

Wonderful article so very true, the hard part is staying in the light.

I agree with Susan about staying in the light, but it's harder for really creative people because battles between good and evil must be fought. Have you ever heard the saying that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions?" I wish I could read that article.

Roy, I'm so glad you posted this link. I've always, at my core, believed this, too. How nice to read such a lovely reminder!!! Also, I wanted to emphasize, a big huge YES on the connection, artist to viewer. SO important and SO exciting!!!!! I think it's one of the reasons I enjoy FAA so much ... sometimes I feel such a connection with our fellow members!!!

Good article Roy.

I do believe in the power of intention.
It can't ( or shouldn't ) be done in a superficial way - because you still wouldn't end up with what you want.
But when your thoughts & actions are sincere - they can only lead you into the right direction. I see our talents as gifts , and maybe more like an obligation - that we are to share in our community.

Positive & negative vibes in a painting.... now that is interesting...

" I love youuuu Mr. Painting.... " ( " & I want you to live in Beverly Hills. In a mansion , on a cliff overlooking the Pacific " )

Very interesting article! Thanks for sharing. I think to some extant, it's our perception based on our expectation. If we expect to fail, and make a sale that then subsequently gets returned...we have the proof that we need to show our failure. If we assume success, and the same think happens, we see that someone liked the work...but it didn't work out this time...but maybe it will next time....success! Neither puts food on the table but in the first case it feels like a step back and in the second, it feels like a small step forward. But I think it takes a lot of time and practice to train the mind to look at it the second way!

Again, thanks sharing Roy!
Matt

*whispers to self repeatedly "I expect to sell, I expect to sell" *

seriously though, it is an interesting idea.

That was a wonderful article. Thank you for reconnecting me to a forgotten truth

Hope this doesn't cause a tangent from discussing the article...but...after reading the article I thought I'd post this;

Much of the wisdom found in many of today's self-help books are recycled from past writings. This literary work (as well as older ones) is one of the writings that many modern "new age/self-help" authors used as inspiration.

anyway...
This is the audio version...I thought maybe someone here would enjoy it.


"As a Man Thinketh" is a literary essay by James Allen, published in 1902"

Bump - I think this is worth taking a look at.

I view this as part of the "New Thought" spirituality movement and based on the Law of Attraction thinking. Although I don't think this Wiki article specifically addresses "intent" you can read more about what I am saying here:

New Thought - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Thought

Law of Attraction - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_attraction_(New_Thought)

Quote from the original article:
Without fail, when we met the non-selling artists, they were angry at the world and felt the world owed them a living. Then we met the artist who’s work sold, we would encounter a joyful, spirit-filled human who loved what he was doing, loved people, and was filled with gratitude. He also had a sense of service to something larger than himself.

There is also another explanation. As you experience success in creation or selling your artwork, your body generates endorphins that improve your mood and well-being. Endorphins are opiate-like neurotransmitters that are secreted by special cells located within the brain. So there is a circle of having positive attitude, which leads to achieving success which is a self-perpetuating spiral for feeling better yet and producing more saleable work.

There's definitely something to be said for the power of positive thinking, that people can cheer themselves up by deliberately thinking happy thoughts. However, the idea starts to come apart at the seams if taken to extremes, as in those wikipedia articles. It would be nice to think that I could pick up a letter and make it contain a big fat cheque just because I expected it to, but would it really happen that way? Somehow, I don't think so.

Jane, I agree with you re's the power of positive thinking... but there are people in the world who both believe in and practice the laws of attractions... like attracts like and money attracts money, etc . . .

Take Suze Orman and what she teaches as one example. She has stated in books and TV that if one dreams enough and believes in their dreams, stay positive and do the mantras, etc ... they will get from the universe what they asked for. It's based on a spiritual philosophy. She teaches millions of people through her books how to be positive and how to embrace where they are in life - if they're poor they need to learn to accept and embrace being poor . . . What you put out into the universe will come back to you from the universe, has been her motto for years. Years ago I heard her on the Oprah show telling people that if they do the work, dream of receiving a check, blah blah, it will come. She stated that people should write checks to themselves and put them in their wallets if they want to receive money...

All that said, I haven't bought any of her books and I don't follow her so I can't say if it works or not; just that people believer in it and work it.

Nicole, that is called an affirmation..only it is written poorly....it should say" I am selling."

If you say " I expect to ______...." The universe will comply and leave you 'expecting"
Same goes for using the word "want". The universe will leave you "wanting."

Sorry Roy,guru type mysticism does not do it for me even in art. Reality is not some thing I view is particular to the individual, but reality rather is universal.

Donna - anybody who comes up with a theory about how to improve the quality of life can write a book about it and wishful thinking will make it popular - especially if they can manage to get it publicised through a TV show. It's good marketing policy to try to capitalise on the aspect of human nature that makes people want to be happier/richer/healthier or whatever.

The idea of 'sympathetic magic' isn't new - I first read about it in The Golden Bough over fifty years ago, and it wasn't new then either.