The Next Golden Age

In my lifetime there will be a paradigm shift so powerful none will be able to deny the Truth. Systems of control will fall and the masses will wake to the lies we have been taught to embrace as a way of life. Self-sufficiency will be celebrated instead of shunned, ideas will bloom into innovations instead of being suppressed, and inspiration shall be our life blood instead of wealth.

Systems such as debt slavery will be destroyed and shown as the false god it is. No longer will Humanity slave for materialism, our true purpose will come to light. We will only take from the Earth what we need to thrive, gluttony and greed will not be tolerated.

Creativity will flow from every free soul who wills it. Those who create will be celebrated instead of only the select few we currently worship as celebrities. Self-discovery will be taught to our children instead of cold data that really has no meaning.

This Golden Age may only last for a few years but a single day of Freedom is worth a thousand as a slave. We will have Freedom to enjoy Art, Music, and Literature not as just entertainment but as a celebration of all that we are. The Golden Age will give way to the final test that Humanity has to face, but until then those who are willing to live in peace will do so uninhibited. I am ready for a time when Love for one another takes priority over self and life has meaning other than just survival.

Maximum Effort!

So many great feats of awesome were accomplished by Humanity simply because a few chose not to just drift by doing just what they had to in order to survive. We have within us the power to move mountains, slay dragons, or even create entire universes. To waste our potential is the ultimate tragedy.

Ideas are born from dreamers who dare go against the status quo, those ideas come to fruition because of individuals blind determination. Once our path is decided little can deter us from our true objectives if we put all of ourselves into our actions. There are many who will stand in our way but will only be pushed aside if they are not inspired to become part of something greater.

 What is cool will always inspire others to do more, dream, and create. Many innovations came to be just because someone thought it was cool. It only takes a spark of inspiration to fuel an idea but it takes all of our-self  to bring it into being.

The World has little to offer us, we have everything to offer the World. Humanity is the measure of all things good or bad. To live only for ourselves is a very lonely existence. We can do anything, and I mean anything all it takes is MAXIMUM EFFORT!









This is the finished cover for the graphic novel "Sanguine Ascent", the original font was designed by Shawn O'Toole http://yellowplasma.deviantart.com/ , it will be written by Alex Buffaloe.

More of my work can be seen at http://zellphrie.deviantart.com/ .

 

My love for digital medium

In my lifetime I have watched technology advance so much, computers, internet, cellphones etc. What these innovations have done for us in terms of creative power is immeasurable, I mean take a look at all that we basically take for granted on a daily basis.  We can communicate with anyone in the entire world in seconds and share anything we create. 

What normally took months to create now can be done in days or even hours depending on the complexity. This means even people who are working a full-time job like myself can excel at a creative endeavor. Digital innovations have improved music, art, movies, and literature as well as our own quality of life.

So much that I create in digital art could not be possible for me if I was alive half a century ago. There are infinite possibilities with all mediums but digital has made so much possible for me personally that it is my steadfast choice. The notion that easier is somehow cheating is a sophistry of the self-righteous, all who are willing should be able to create.

Digital is a living medium always improving with the latest advents of technology. I just recently saw a demo of a 3D paint program used in a VR environment and was blown away by this innovation due to the complexity of current 3D rendering software. I can't wait to see what lies beyond the horizon for digital art, it's so exciting.... excelsior!

Our True Purpose

To claim I know Humanity's true purpose is quite a hefty claim, I could be delusional, narcissistic, or even quite insane. Maybe, just maybe, but what I claim is that I have found something, something that many overlook and are distracted from. I'm talking about personal truth, what is it that rings true in your core being, when all burdens are lifted what will you become?

We are told that if we do not believe that Humanity is created from monkeys procreating then we are not intelligent, and that our only destiny is to return to the dirt. It really makes me laugh to think that anyone would buy this idea with a straight face. It is an abomination of everything humanity was meant to be to even think we have limits, and to say that our birth was just happenstance.

I threw out the monkey-men theory so I must be an Evangelical right? Wrong, Religion also puts Humanity in a box created by himself, so I really have no use for it. If we do nothing or the bare minimum our whole life regardless of what we believe, we will become nothing and that's a fact even the monkey worshiping scientists can agree on.

The claim that I know Humanity's true purpose comes not from speculation and theory but from actual experience, as I have spent most of my life searching for the truth. When we throw aside all that we are told and actually seek wholeheartedly the answers come to us from within. My personal conclusion is that Humanity's purpose is to realize our own potential, the choice is simple use your talents or return to the earth.  

A Decade of Love

Over the weekend my Wife and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and I thought I would post something in dedication today because of the uncertainty of everything currently. Well see here is the thing, it's election day and millions of people are currently casting a vote that will certainly decide the fate of our nation. No time in my entire life has the future ever been so unclear.

So what does this have to do with our anniversary? Well hear me out, my point is that I don't know what the future holds but I will always follow my heart and my heart tells me that no matter what happens my wife and I will be together always. We could be looking for rodents as sustenance in a post-apocalyptic world or living  in the lap of luxury in a life we build together, either way our love will endure.

Ten years ago my Wife declared that she believed in me and lifted me up high when I would have fallen alone. No other could have been so supportive and loving, my neurotic tendencies would have driven most mad. I believe in her as well, her passion for life has been a blessing to all who have experienced it.

We are together not for coincidence, but because we cannot exist otherwise. So if the bombs fall or not we will be united as one always. Never shall our fates be decided by others.

All that matters

When I think of what really matters in life many aspects come to mind. As I think further all the aspects merge into one and form all that matters. Sounds really abstract on the surface but when you clear your mind and think on it, it all becomes very simple.

Many will tell you that all that matters is getting ahead becoming wealthy and powerful. Remember wealth and power are all fleeting and nobody can take away what really matters. This fallacy is easily disproved as both wealth and power are easily squandered and used as distractions to keep us from our true purpose.

There is a very real battle between light and shadow in this world, we choose a side in every action we take. The distractions are simply to give us to the shadows to become nothing, those who try to control our thoughts with propaganda only go by the numbers never knowing what really matters. Knowledge is limited,filtered, and skewed by those who wish to share it, playing by their rules means becoming a puppet.

So what do all the aspects I mentioned earlier merge into, simply put the answer is love. Love can not be taken away, quantified, or destroyed. Let go of all the worlds problems and become free of the distractions. Love truly is all that matters and remember creation is the ultimate act of love.

Light and Shadow

Everything we experience as well as our own thoughts and feelings can be expressed in varying degrees of light and shadow. Negative emotions are expressed through shadows and positive through light. Light and shadow can become us, it's really up to us if we wish to live in one or the other.

Shadow is a consuming force that hides what we can perceive but can also create a contrast to illustrate the depth and complexity of light. Look at the night sky, our first impressions are always the beauty of the stars and moon even though the sky is a canvas of darkness with a very small amount of light in comparison. There is no beauty to be found in the abyss of nothing.

Light is a creative force that illuminates all that we perceive, without it there is nothing. With light there are endless possibilities of creation, feelings, colors, inspirations, and love. Freedom is found within light, anything that tries to extinguish is will be burnt to ash within it's power. Anything created from love will always be pure despite those in the shadows who will try to pervert it.

Every action we take is of light or shadow, to create or consume. To consume is to become nothing and through inaction insignificant. If we become a creative force in the world we can do anything good or bad, but are always significant. It's up to us, do we hide in the shadows or become a shining light that can never be snuffed out.

Vision

Those with gumption to do more always possess a clear vision or path that they must take to achieve their dreams. It's all well and good to have a dream but if you never take the steps necessary towards that dream it really is a waste. Those who do not take the necessary steps will see their dreams drift away, every decision is important, and every moment wasted is a disgrace.

Once we take the time to think through and develop a clear vision our next step is to take action. We must realize that there is only limitless potential for the future. Time is of the essence and we need to focus our energy toward achieving our goals.

When it comes to creative work having a vision of what you want to create is an integral part of the process. Our vision comes from our inspirations and should always reflect ourselves. A concept sparks the creative process, channels our thoughts and feelings, and our vision comes into being. 

Whatever our vision of the future may be it's important that we adhere to the process of working towards our goal. If we realize we are not making progress it certainly is time to change our process, there is no time for wasted talent. Dream big, never compromise, but don't get tunnel vision blind optimism can be detrimental as unseen obstacles can get in the way of your vision. 

This is a concept sketch of how I envisioned Cool Girl looking on the game cover of the upcoming RPG Maker game "Strange Galaxy Black Lotus"

  

http://zellphrie.deviantart.com/

  

A good day's work

When we have done the best we can and completed a good day's work I can say that there isn't much more satisfying. There is always ways to improve and ways to get more done. With love and effort even the most daunting tasks are completed.

Job satisfaction comes from doing what you love and loving what you do. First you have to find your talents, that can be a task that can take a lot of soul searching. Once you find your talents it's important to not waste them and apply them to everything you do. 

In the process of finding our talents we may be in a job we don't like but it's important to learn and grow even in the those mundane moments. We should put all of ourselves in anything we do. Remember a job is voluntary never feel like you have to be stuck in a job that is wasting your talents. 

Our work should be from us and should be fueled with passion. If we can't find the passion for what we are doing we should move on to something else. It takes courage, imagination, and  drive to take that step forward to do what you were meant for but once you do there is no turning back it's all or nothing. 

Out of the box

When we think outside the box we destroy all the artificial barriers that keep our mind, body, and spirit enslaved. Deviation from the predetermined course leads to an awaking that sparks imagination and sets creation into motion. The self-realization that comes with leaving the box is an empowering force that once it is focused can do wonders.

So much of what we do is influenced by outside sources that tell us what to think, what to feel, and what to do. Free your mind of the poison that is spoon fed to us, do not fall victim to the trappings that is the politics of man. Rely more on your intuition and only believe what rings true to you.

I do not mean to say that we should change our behavior just for the sake of being different, but to be your own person and act according to your own thoughts and feelings. Thinking outside the box when creating leads to an unhindered infinite amount of possibilities that are not confined to a set of rules. Let your thoughts and feelings become like a universe ever expanding.

Never let what others may think determine your actions, and always be true to yourself. Only when we act without the hidden influences can we truly be free. Find yourself and become that personality which yearns to be expressed.

Forever young

 Think about what it was like when you were small and the world was big. Do you remember the urge to create something? Do you still have that strong urge, or did you let it dwindle? When we are young all sorts things inspire us to dream, but as we grow older it seams that the norm is to compromise and forget those "childish" things. 

"Adults" tell us that the object in this game of life is essentially to make money, but rarely are we told about the true purpose of creation. The satisfaction that we get from creating something from ourselves is beyond monetary measure. Those who tell us to grow up are the most boring, and most likely never have created anything of themselves. 

The essence of the things we liked as a child can be used to fuel our creative works. For instance I liked Pokemon as a kid, looking back I ask myself what was it that was so inspiring about the series? It was the main character's drive and determination to be the very best that I enjoyed, and I use that same inspiration in my work to motivate myself.  

Yes something you liked as a kid can seem silly to you now as an adult, but don't overlook the essence of what you liked about it. Always be true to yourself in what you create, no matter how silly you think your inspirations are, the love you have for them will show though and create something wonderful. Never compromise what you love, after all it is a part of you that's waiting to be expressed.

Be someone

What does it mean to be someone? Does it truly mean that you have to be rich and famous, or does it mean that you somehow have found the magic formula to excel at life? I say no, the only thing you really have to do is find your talents and use them.

I often see that people seem to only recognize others talents when they are on TV or the Radio etc. They may know or be related to Writers, Musicians, or Artists but will never give them the time of day because they rather be told what is good. Local talent is often the most overlooked simply because the spotlight isn't on them, but I find inspiration and genius in most that I have met.

If we only measure our success by worldly standards we surely will be disappointed when the fame and fortune don't roll in.  To express, inspire, and create are in themselves success that can not be taken away and should not be judged by how much money they rake in. Sure it would be nice to make a living doing what I love. My goal is the freedom and time to do more creating, fame and fortune are meaningless to me.

So if fame and fortune are meaningless then why would I continue working so hard? The answer is simple. To be someone, and I mean just that, to be more than the sum of my parts, to not be a mindless zombie following the prerecorded program. While the same masses that overlook talented people around them are waiting for that winning lottery ticket, those of us who use our talents will become someone.

Patience

When I am limited in my creative time I often find it hard to have patience, especially when I have a clear vision of the end product. The time in between the daily grind that I find to create often feels uninspired if time isn't taken for planning and feeling things out.   Rushing things never helps and only leaves things in chaos to be sorted out later. 

We need time to relax for thoughts and feelings to flow, after all this isn't a number crunch its about expression. If we feel rushed it's a good time to pause and collect our thoughts. Often I find it more productive to use time watching or reading tutorials, as I often find much more streamlined ways of doing things. 

Planning is an important step that I often overlook in the spirit of getting things done, but I find that more time is wasted when there isn't a definite foundation. Sure we can feel out a scene as we go but there are certain things we need to consider first so that we don't waste time later fixing issues.  

Quality is important, having the patience to follow though is key. We should take our time in our creative work, but we shouldn't be lackadaisical. We should continue to work towards completing a project whether we are learning, planing, finding inspiration, or creating. Patience can be found in the love we have for our creation. 

Style

Once we become familiar with our creative craft, we may start to develop a certain style. We may emulate those who inspire us at first but after much experimentation our own personality will show through and we will inevitably do things our own way. Style essentially is our fingerprint that will be recognized by our audience. 

Style should be influenced by our inspirations, but not confined to them. For me I like American comics and Japanese Anime, so I try to incorporate aspects of each in my style. I pick and choose what I like best and try to build upon aspects that spark my creative energy. 

It is a daunting task to try to find your own style, but once you do the work truly feels like your expression and not like your are going by a set of rules. I'm still experimenting with styles as I go but only alter my core style if it feels true to myself. Like with any craft it takes an open mind and lots of hard work to master expression. 

Our style shouldn't be a restraint, always look for better and more productive ways to do things. In digital art I'm constantly finding new and faster ways of doing things that have better results. Mistakes should be a learning experience not a discouragement. Don't be afraid to diversify, experiment, and most of all express your true self. 

Nature

Our basic inspirations come directly from our environment, they can come in many forms from the sky above to the earth below us. When we think about the nature of things around us we begin to form a basis for our designs as we examine and emulate the same processes. Nature often is considered separate from humans but it certainly can effect aspects such as a person's personality.

Art inspired by nature can have different effects on a viewer depending on their own experiences in life. For instance a painting of a quaint farmhouse next to a verdant field may have no effect on someone who grew up in a city, but may be a nostalgic recollection for someone who lived on a farm. A more indirect example of nature's influence would be environmental factors that play in development of characters in a story, or even a style of music that has regional influence.

Nature plays an important role in developing dynamics that we naturally follow, beautiful women will always be an inspiration to me. I didn't wake up one day and decide this but that energy should not go to waste so I focus it into art. We like what we like, it's up to us to use that to create and inspire.

Whether we are painting "happy little trees" or describing a bustling city, nature plays a part in fleshing out scenes. A criminal in a story may be trying to fulfill his basic creature comforts, or a hero may be denying his own for the sake of others, in both sides of the spectrum nature plays a role. The part that is beyond nature is our free will to overcome our programming. We must rise above our own nature, if we let ourselves fall to the whim of nature we will be lost.

Abnormal

When I was a child I often felt out of place among my peers. I would invent solitary games and talk to myself, only in my solitude did I feel at peace. As I grew older my teenage years were still filled with the same love for solitude and a love for imagination, I still felt out of place but it was more of and angry rebellion against the status-quo. I was restless, video games were a distraction I clung to but even then I felt an emptiness that left me disconnected.

I started to realize I was living in a matrix like society full of systems of control that kept people busy and distracted chasing what isn't real. I was told I need to focus and pick a vocation that would pay well so that I could be happy and "live the dream". So I went to college and still had the same restless energy. I took up an interest in culinary arts, and switched schools. For the first time I actually felt that I was doing something that was part of me and not what I was supposed to do. Unfortunately the restless energy came back as the classes went from about the culinary arts to the production of food in terms of profit and business.

More recently after working towards the goal of becoming free of this world, I did a lot of soul searching and found who I call my true-self. I realized that the restless energy that was so eager to be somewhere else is the only part of me that matters. I found peace in creating, specifically visual Art and the only time the restless energy is quelled, is when I am drawing, painting, or designing.

I am speaking from my experience simply to inform others who are searching for something but they don't know what it is yet. Find yourself, don't let anyone tell you who you are, and don't let what you are determine the answer. Don't be afraid to be abnormal the norm is to live a meaningless life, create something, inspire others, dedicate your life to something, and above all care!







Here is a preview of some of the weapons I have been working on for the upcoming game "Strange Galaxy Black Lotus", original designs by Shawn O'Toole.  http://yellowplasma.deviantart.com/

Presentation

One thing I learned in culinary school is that presentation can make or break a creation. The extra effort, showmanship, and polish we put into what we do catches the eye, inspires, and excites our senses. Even a masterfully designed work of Art may fall unnoticed without the right presentation.

When our whole being is put into our creations it shows throughout. When we think we are finished it is important to take a step back and get another perspective, only when we can no longer see flaws can we truly love our creation. If our whole heart is not in what we do then the delivery will certainly reflect the lack luster energy. 

Emotions, life, and purpose should be present and well conveyed in a complete piece. In Literature characters should be alive, in Art scenes should not need explanation, and in Music feelings should resonate. Qualities in every medium should speak to the observer, what is said depends on the creator. 

Poison such as politics should never be present in Art, or the creation will be doomed to fail before any efforts at presentation are made. This world is fleeting, our work should be immortal if worth our efforts. Love your creations and present them with all your energy to everyone, you never know who you will inspire.










This is a preview of the line art for an upcoming graphic novel I'm working on. The original font was designed by Shawn O'Toole     http://yellowplasma.deviantart.com/ , and it will be written by Alex Buffaloe.

Finding the time

One of the most difficult tasks we can take on is finding the time for our passions, especially in our ever-growing rat-race of a world. Every second is precious, but knowing how many of each of our seconds to allocate to a task is not always an easy decision. We can try to micromanage our time, but like a house of cards it soon falls to the unexpected.

If your passion is true than you will find the time to pursue it, no matter how many obstacles stand in your way. You must stay strong and ignore the guilt trips from those who wish to use your precious time to their advantage, but you also must make the time for friends and family because they make life worth living. If the unexpected comes up don’t feel sorry for yourself and the lost time; this is wasted energy, only regroup and come back stronger than before.

Time management is something I struggle with every day; my business keeps me in a physical grind and tries to suck the inspiration straight from me. Speaking from my experience, we should be all of ourselves in everything we do; we should find time for mind, body, and spirit. The body is the foundation; we should take care of it with exercise and healthy food. If our body is neglected our time is inevitably cut short. The mind is the core; we should find time for reflection, relaxation and intellectual stimulation. You would be surprised by how much just quieting the mind a few minutes a day helps. The spirit is the pinnacle of our true self; we should create to feed our soul and become whole. Expressing ourselves and sharing our creations makes for a better world.

This is a balancing act that takes great amounts of energy to maintain, but the satisfaction of completing our goals makes us forget the hardship in the journey. Only with undeterred ambition, passion, and imagination can we brave the storm of life and find our destination. Not a moment should be wasted for we do not know which will be our last. 

Passion

Passion is the drive that consumes us and moves us to find our purpose. To be filled with passion is to become what you are striving for.  No matter your dream if you have passion in your heart you will be a force that will overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of that dream.

You should love what you do and do what you love. First you must discover who you truly are and what you are passionate about. The first step in self-discovery is to separate yourself from the world around you and look within. Once you stop and realize yourself you can find your talents.

Many will try to stand in your way of your dreams but your passion will be a force to be reckoned with. Your passion will grow as you become more familiar with your talents.  Don’t let negative thoughts like doubt and pity sabotage your efforts. Those with nonconstructive criticism are nonentities because they have truly said nothing and rarely have created anything of their own.

Once you have found what you are passionate about you have a choice to make, do you follow your passion to your purpose? Or do you ignore it and keep doing the mundane? We are all capable of so more than mere survival. Do not settle for less, live, love, thrive, and create!

Role models

Role models inspire us to be more than the sum of our parts. They are the few who shine brighter than the rest, they are there for us when we are lost and need guidance. The people we look up to should enlighten us to who we are, and should never lead us down the path of destruction.

Role models can be a friend, a family member, a teacher, a celebrity, or even a fictional character. They are the few that care, the few with the qualities that inspire us to strive to become better. They should have infectious passion for their work, an ability to overcome the largest of obstacles, and a clear set of values.

Growing up I had a few role models that would show me the path to who I am. The earliest memory I have of a particular personality that made me want to be different is of Bob Ross. Bob would come on and I was so very enthralled with his calm demeanor and soothing style, he made me never want to loose my cool or judge myself too harshly. Another role model that inspired me greatly was agent Fox Mulder from the show "The X-Files", he taught me that we should seek the truth at all costs despite the consequences. As I grow older a lot of my past role models have fallen short and the list became few.

Being a role model comes with great responsibility, and if taken lightly could potentially mean the destruction of another's path. Self-destruction is the most selfish thing we could ever do because we never know who we may be a role model to. Leading by example is of a great importance, it is the only way for those who care to truly "save the world".  

Imagination

Imagination drives us to play, create, and dream. If we let it run free we can accomplish great things, solve problems, and inspire others. Imagination is the expression of our true self completely unbridled.

When we are young we rely on imagination to fill in the gaps of what we do not know or understand. We imagine to escape from an otherwise boring world that we were born into and as we get older we are conditioned by this world to restrain this imagination. We are told to fall in line and climb comfortably into a box.

To experience true freedom is to escape from this physical world and let your imagination soar. We start by first learning who we truly are and what we like. If we like something we should imagine ways to create with it, for instance if I like cats I could write a story, a song or draw a comic about them. We like what we like and that should be used to fuel the imagination for creation.

We can change our world; all it takes is a little imagination. Every innovation in human history has been a direct result of imagination. We have a choice to make, do we wish to languish in this existence and never really be free, or do we wish to imagine a better world.

Dreams

Dreams move us to do great things, inspire others, and change the world. Dreams define who we are and what we can accomplish. If we choose to live without dreams we are left to a very mechanical mundane existence. 

Dreams can start small and blossom into something bigger with time. For instance someone can have a dream of learning to play the guitar, with practice they realize their talent and now they dream of starting a band. We have the choice to pursue our dreams and allow them to grow infinitely, or we can allow them to die and become a drone lost in the crowd. 

When we choose to follow a dream we can not let anything or anyone stop us. This world is very much designed to crush our dreams. Politics, religion, money and distractions from all fronts try to control our thoughts. It is up to us to separate ourselves from worldly distractions if we want to be free to follow our dreams. 

Follow your heart always, never dream for superficial reasons or you will burn out and fall short of your goals. Let your dreams consume you, if those around you don't encourage you then they are truly not your friends. To dream is to be human, to follow those dreams is to be truly alive.   

Inspiration

Inspiration comes in many forms, usually unexpected and always profound. We can choose to do great things with this inspiration, or we can let the moment pass and fizzle to nothing. As for me I am of an obsessive nature and could never let the spark go.

I find inspiration in many people, places, and things. For instance the blind determination of Luffy from the anime "One Piece" inspires me to be great, the righteous unwavering  spirit of Jim Gordon from the show "Gotham" inspires me to be just, and the rapper Eminem inspires me to be myself despite what I'm told to be. These are just a few examples of my many inspirations that shape who I am.

As we collect and hold on to these inspirations we now have a choice to make, do we seek to inspire others? or do we languish and become a nothing? Much of life was spent discovering who I was, and now that I have I will stop at nothing to express myself and hopefully become an inspiration to others.  

Art, Music, and Literature are mediums we can use to express our soul, but first we need to find our self and separate truth from the subjective. Once we are true to ourselves then we can create out of pure love. When we create out of love inspiration will flow forth and can not be stifled.