Why I am Bullish about NFTs ~ A Series on Web 3.0- Part 2

Tibesti Mountains as NFT on MakersPlace https://makersplace.com/lorieneck/tibesti-mountains-1-of-5-285599/

Dear Reader,

Firstly, thank you for making time to read this blog post and thank you for your readership in general, I started this blog site in August 2009. In this post, I am continuing my series exploring Web 3.0 and the topic today is the value of art NFTs. I will first dip into the topic of the value of art, art for it’s own sake, as a symbol ngular sensational creative expression.

So, let’s dive in. In my experience, the value of art in general and a work of art in specific, is not a one-size-fits-all definition. My understanding about the value of art in general and in specific is at the baseline, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I believe that we assign value to an artwork based on the meaning that a specific piece of art resonates or symbolizes to you. Art can invoke possibility, power, love, hope, beauty and any virtue or value you attach to it. In essence, what is the value of art as an inquiry is rhetorical and a question as old as time.

According to Michael Findlay in his book, The Value of Art, art can be looked at through the metaphor of the Three Graces from Greek mythology: Thalia, the commercial value of art; Euphrosyne, the social value of art; and Aglaea the essential (or instrinsic) value of art. In his book, he explores the question and brings over 50 years of experience as an art collector, an auction-house specialist and art dealer. As an artist who is navigating the three components above in my own journey towards self-realization and success as an artist. I received this book as a gift and am enjoying it so far. I implore you to pick it up if these ideas are inspiring curiosity.

Now, let’s take a look at artwork presented as an NFT, a unique digital creation that can be collected, appreciated (and can appreciate) and even re-sold for a profit.

To review what an NFT is: NFTs are stored on the blockchain, they have clearly defined owners, and they point to metadata files, which link to the creations themselves. These 3 components will therefore allow you to buy and sell NFTs. Essentially, you have the ability to purchase ownership and transfer it to other owners without the influence of centralized platforms or third parties. As a result, this form of true ownership is what enables NFTs to accrue value.

Also to be considered, is the underlying value of NFTs is enriched by a number of important variables, from ownership, authenticity/identity, rarity/scarcity, aesthetics, community, technology, and utility. Each value is important in its own right and serves to increase the desire and value of a certain NFT.

An an artist and NFT creator, what I see as the value in my currently listed NFTs, are the qualities of digital ownership, identity, scarcity, aesthetics, technology, and utility. What makes an authentic artwork scarce, other than being an authentic physical original, is it’s presence as a digital version, an NFT- and available as a limited editions or as a one off. All of my current artwork NFTs are offered as limited editions, up to five maximums total per NFT.

Perhaps one of the most important contributors to the growth of value for NFTs is utility. Utility is exciting to imagine and play with as an NFT owner (of course the NFT smart contract terms clarifies about HOW the NFT can be used, for example commercial or non-commercial use). Let’s look at how an owner of one of my art NFTs would be like.

This is a watermarked small version of the mixed media painting, Orion Nebula II. One can purchase this as an NFT, available as one of five available in a limited edition, offered on the curated platform MakersPlace. That means that only five people out of 7.9 billion people can own a high resolution digital art (jpeg) of this painting.

This NFT is a signed (by me) and limited edition digital creation including the full non-commercial rights to this creation. The owner may download the unique digital creation and can display it on any digital device or even print out, for personal use. All the while, knowing that one has the authentic piece, verifiable on the blockchain.

https://makersplace.com/lorieneck/orion-nebula-ii-1-of-5-302895/

As a wrap up, I invite you to explore more of my NFTs being offered online, take a look, explore

Lórien Eck Art & Design on:

MakersPlace- a curated NFT platform.

Prism NFTs- a new platform for artists by artists

OpenSea- the largest NFT platform

In the next blog post on the big topic of Web 3.0, I will be exploring the environmental impact of crypto, NFTs and various Co2 offset options/possibilities.

Feel free to comment below and connect with me via social media or better yet, share and subscribe to this blog and my art newsletter to stay in touch and to know about my art announcements, NFT drops and in real life events.

http://www.lorieneck.com

In love, gratitude and beauty…

Sources:

Findlay, Michael, The Value of Art – Money, Power, Beauty, Prestel Verlag, 2012

NFTs and their value – https://www.nft-insight.com/p/nfts-and-their-value?s=r

Research the history of art and blockchain in general, check out this journal article Art and Blockchain: A Primer, History, and Taxonomy of Blockchain Use Cases in the Arts

Disclaimer:

The views expressed here do not represent those of any past, present, or future employer of mine, or represent the views of the other people and companies I may discuss. They may not even represent my own views, I am exploring these ideas in the spirit of curiosity and sharing this with you here because I can and choose to. None of this is financial advice, legal advice, or art career advice.

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3 Facts about NFTs ~ A Series on Web 3.0- Part 1

Hello dear reader!

I am so glad that you are making some time to read this! Did the title of this blog post inspire you to be a little curious? If so, I warmly welcome you to read on as curiosity is a fabulous thing for us peeps to follow. I like to think of the path of curiosity like a path of bread crumbs in the universal shape of a spiral.

I will start with this: What is Web 3.0? Web 3.0 will bring us a fairer internet by enabling the individual to be a sovereign. True sovereignty implies owning and being able to control who profits from one’s time and information. Web 3.0’s decentralized blockchain protocol will enable individuals to connect to an internet where they can own and be properly compensated for their time and data, eclipsing an exploitative and unjust web, where giant, centralized repositories are the only ones that own and profit from it.

Source: https://elastos.info/what-is-web-3-0/

So, the big question, what are NFTs? First to answer this, we must explore the world of cryptocurrency. Essentially, a cryptocurrency, crypto-currency, or crypto is a digital currency designed to work as a medium of exchange through a computer network that is not reliant on any central authority, such as a government or bank, to uphold or maintain it. A cryptocurrency is a tradable digital asset or digital form of money, built on blockchain technology that only exists online. Cryptocurrencies use encryption to authenticate and protect transactions, hence their name. There are currently over a thousand different cryptocurrencies in the world.

Okay, so now that we have touched on Web 3.0 and crypto, what are the three interesting facts about NFTs?

Fact #1: NFTs are tokens that we can use to represent ownership of unique items. They let us tokenise things like art, collectibles, even real estate. They can only have one official owner at a time and they’re secured by the Ethereum blockchain – no one can modify the record of ownership or copy/paste a new NFT into existence.

Fact #2: NFT stands for non-fungible token. Non-fungible is an economic term that you could use to describe things like your furniture, an original physical painting, or your computer. These things are not interchangeable for other items because they have unique properties.

Fungible items, on the other hand, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties. For example, ETH or dollars are fungible because 1 ETH / $1 USD is exchangeable for another 1 ETH / $1 USD.

Fact #3: NFTs ensure authenticity and provenance of a unique digital creation. NFTs solve a public, trackable, verifiable, history of ownership. Provenance helps create a sense of history and authenticity to the artwork and as an artist this is extremely important.

Why, is this so important to the NFT creator? This is important to creators/artists who choose to earn a living (or at least earn an partial income) through their work. Sharing art images on the internet exposes the art and IP (even small files and social media sharing) for anyone to use without giving credit and/or compensation to the artist/creator. Art is in reality, intellectual property (IP) and holds tremendous value. And this fact is very valuable and important to me as an artist who creates original mixed media paintings, unique physical and digital creations.

I am thrilled about new ways for us artists sharing our artwork with the public, the NFT spaces and Web 3.0 are a natural segue for my art on my path as a contemporary artist. And, what’s so exciting is that I have launched my original mixed paintings as rare NFTs on three different NFT platforms.

Take a look and explore!

Lórien Eck Art & Design on:

MakersPlace- a curated NFT platform.

Prism NFTs- a new platform for artists by artists

OpenSea- the largest NFT platform

In the next blog posts, I will be exploring the questions around why would an art appreciator want to invest in NFT art? And, what about the environmental impact of NFTs and Co2 offset?

Feel free to comment below and connect with me via social media or better yet, share and subscribe to this blog and my art newsletter to stay in touch and be the first to know about my art announcements, NFT drops and in real life events.

http://www.lorieneck.com

In love, gratitude and beauty…

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/01/06/what-is-web-3-0/?sh=6888855258df

What Is Web 3.0? The Fundamental Guide To The New Era Of Digital Data Ownership

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrency

https://ethereum.org/en/nft/

Research the history of art and blockchain in general, check out this journal article Art and Blockchain: A Primer, History, and Taxonomy of Blockchain Use Cases in the Arts

Disclaimer:

The views expressed here do not represent those of any past, present, or future employer of mine, or represent the views of the other people and companies I may discuss. They may not even represent my own views, I am exploring these ideas in the spirit of curiosity and sharing this with you here because I can and choose to. None of this is financial advice, legal advice, or art career advice.

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Art with Lórien Chats with Leonie Dawson!

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Hello All

I had so much FUN chatting with Leonie Dawson!

In our conversation, we explore art, money and the “starving artist myth”! Time to debunk that one and guess what? It’s not real! So, that’s easy!
Anyway, catch our video chat over on my Art with Lórien Youtube channel to experience for yourself how this chat went down!

Art with Lórien ~ In the Studio Series

Featuring: An Interview with Leonie Dawson!

My “In the Studio” series invites you into my art studio and gives you a unique entrée into the heart of a contemporary working artist from the comfort of your own home/studio!

The insights gained from this perspective are immeasurable and invaluable to your own studio practice as I will be giving insider tips, exploring the nuances and hidden worlds of the magic and mystique of an artist’s inner sanctum and sacred space that is her art studio.

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Leonie Dawson is a teacher, mentor and inspirer, helping highly sensitive oddballs (just like her!) discover their big glorious dreams, feel less alone and change the world! She is world-renowned for her internationally best-selling ‘Goal Getter Workbooks’ which have been helping women create the vision and map out the plan for their dream lives for over 10 years now.

Leonie generated over 7 million in revenue, all while working part time hours, being a hippie weirdo and spending lots of time enjoying life with her two daughters and husband in the most beautiful parts of Australia.

http://www.leoniedawson.com

Instagram: @leonie_dawson

Facebook: @leoniedawsonauthor

Thank you for joining us! xoox

#seeyouinthestudio

Stay tuned, submit ideas and feel free to comment, especially about your art-making experience!

I would love to know about your creative process!

Be in connection, join my community by Subscribing to my channel and learning more about Art with Lórien Art classes for Kids, for Adults!

http://www.lorieneck.com

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and would love to hear from you on my Facebook page, or Insta!

May your days be filled with a sense of wonder, love, creativity, adventure and play!

In love, gratitude and beauty…

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“Shoutout LA” Interview ~ September 2020

I had the good fortune of connecting with Shoutout LA and I’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lórien, what’s your definition for success?

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I define success as feeling satisfied in the present moment. When I am creating one of my works of art, success for me is completing a painting or hand-dyed textile (or whatever the object is). The creative process in and of itself is also very satisfying—as a practice of being fully present to what inspiration is coming through and manifesting that feeling in the physical. That is success to me. Completing a single artwork, a series, seeing an idea through to manifestation, teaching a live art class: there is a lot of power in the act of completion, this is another form of success. Another layer of success is in the impact that my artwork has on others in creating what I understand as a “transition in consciousness.” That is where the magic and healing happens; my artwork carries that intention and when it is delivered to a client, and the feedback is shared with me about the positive and transformational impact my artwork has made, this too is success. Overall, my definition of “success” has evolved over the course of my life and will continue to evolve.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am an artist and art teacher who is passionate about helping people of all ages to find the space to nourish their Divine inner artist, so folks can feel confident creating beautiful art while cultivating deep self-love, healing, empowerment and an “I can do this” attitude in life! I do this through creating and sharing my original mixed-media art and through teaching art to the next generation and to adults. In my studio, I produce a rich and evolving collection of mixed-media paintings on a variety of surfaces. For example, French cotton paper or gallery-wrap canvas. I incorporate pigments, inks, crystals, minerals and a selection of magical elements. My magical elements include Reiki blessings, crystal and solar/lunar energy-infused water and my pure intention to beautify and uplift our world. I take great pleasure in creativity of all kinds! I am an enthusiastic, fun-loving, creative innovator, who has a passion for beauty, nature, humor, curiosity, and an insatiable love for art and self-expression!

What inspires me is the natural world on Earth, the cosmos, love, natural beauty, color, family, good friends, the ocean, kindness, puppies, and all that is good in our world. Truly there are infinite possibilities of inspiration ~ my motivation to stay inspired moves me to seek, find and express the spirit of beauty and truth. What inspires me and excites me is learning and creating. I believe that staying curious, being open to learn and for me, teaching art is an integral part of that. My creative process in creating and delivering an art class, usually includes me “being the student” first, learning by doing, then sharing through teaching and learning again. It’s fantastic! The process is very circular, rewarding and very nourishing for all, it is therapeutic and transformational. My original mixed-media art is what I would define as Transformative Art. It is art that reaches into the soul and acts as a mirror revealing the deep and rich inner beauty of the Self, as well as the shadow self. It has the power to shift consciousness and not only raise the vibration of an individual, but shift the collective consciousness.

In my experience, art serves as a visual and visceral response to the questions that one asks or that the collective is asking. For example, questions about the nature of reality, what it means to be a Spiritual being having a human experience, or about what is possible in the human experience. If an individual feels the call to create and share their art with the world, the significance of doing Transformative art now is ad infinitum. Art is a bridge between the mundane and the Sacred and has the capacity to bridge the gap of disparity between suffering and pure bliss. Artistic expression gives meaning and healing to the human condition. Art is the glue of the Universe and provides a safe space for the Soul to rest and take refuge. More than ever, art and artists serve as the foundation for the evolution of human consciousness. I invite you to experience your own “transition in consciousness” through connecting with my artwork and art education offerings.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I invite you to embark on an adventure that focuses on wild nature and healthy and yummy cuisine. What I enjoy about the Palos Verdes Peninsula is the immense amount of preserved and conserved land to wander around in and through. And, the special bonus is the climate, which I would define as a microclimate. It is usually cooler and fresher along the coast and that is true here. I always like to take my friends to the sacred places that I hike in and around, with their relative quiet and ocean view. I enjoy many of the trails that are a part of the Rancho Palos Verdes Preserve as well as the Portuguese Bend Preserve. Walking the trails around Abalone Cove and the Pointe Vicente Lighthouse are also very special as we often spot wild dolphin pods, sea lions, pelican and whales during their annual migration.

For our dining pleasure, one of my favorite restaurants in the area is Baramee Thai Restaurant located in San Pedro. The other key dining establishment is what we call, “the best restaurant in town” and that is our own creative kitchen. For as long as I can remember, home cooking from scratch using fresh, local and organic ingredients is second to none. My parents taught me this through their example and it stuck. I have been preparing homemade gourmet, vegetarian meals for years. Other than the fact that I enjoy creative cooking and meal prep, I also have a stronger connection to the source and vibrations of the food. Many meals are cooked gluten-free and plant-based using the finest ingredients and I love sharing my “creative kitchen” creations—which is similar to creating art for me. So, our meals would be carefully planned, created and enjoyed together. Lately, I have been diving more into Japanese veggie sushi and miso soups and seaweeds.

Another place I enjoy going for a glass of wine at sunset is the Terranea Resort. The fire pit area is especially nice to sit around, under the stars and by the sea sipping a delish glass of wine. There are also some nice public walking trails around the resort and all are bordered by the vast Pacific ocean coastline, providing the added benefit of cleansing negative ions and positive mood enhancers. Overall, keeping it all close to home and focus on the incredible outdoor hiking, vistas, perhaps a picnic or two in one of my favorite nature spots or even the taking a dip in the ocean in Redondo Beach are among my favorite spots.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Any level of success and achievement in my art career (which includes teaching art to the next generation) that I have experienced must be dedicated to many, many folks. First, paying tribute to my parents who have always given my full permission to be myself. They made choices that were very pioneering and radical for the times—in terms of a healthy, natural lifestyle focused on vegetarianism and a whole-food diet. This was before Whole Foods and vegetarianism were trending; we were simply being close to Mother Earth. It was challenging for me throughout my K-12 public schooling experience, when I did not “fit in” during the daily routines of lunchtime at school and all of the extra-curricular activities where food was involved (and there are many, like birthday parties). This early childhood foundation, grounded in an unconventional vegetarian lifestyle, contains values in it that have informed my entire life.

There are many intangible elements that have helped to shape my character, my choices, my resolve, resiliency and my well-being that can be traced back to how I was raised. Second, I must give a shout out to the educators and mentors who showed me the way on my unique journey, and there are many both the in the formal education setting and those “fairy godmothers and godfathers” who have guided me. I have had immense support (like all of us do) throughout my art and art education career. To name a few: Dr. Shuman, Relani Prud’homme, Sobonfu Somé, Sandra Ingerman, Joy Parker, Frank Cummings, Sandra Hildreth, Layne Redmond, and Martha Beck.

A big thank you and really, there is no amount of words to sufficiently appreciate my partner and my soul family/friends (you know who you are). My life has certainly been rich so far and overflowing with support, love and encouragement. Thank you for reading, and many bright blessings of health, prosperity, peace and joy.

To read this article on the Shoutout LA website, click here.

I invite you to explore my website, especially take a look at Art with Lórien, my online learning platform and community!

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and would love to hear from you on my Facebook page, check out my Art with Lórien art classes on YouTube, get to my website, or email me at artwork@lorieneck.com.

May your days be filled with a sense of wonder, love, creativity, adventure and play!

In love, gratitude and beauty…

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Happy Lunar New Year + New Collection

Find us online:  Lorien Eck Art & Design My Original Art Collection Now on VIDA! VIDA – Art-Inspired • Zero Waste • Global Impact Dear Friends, Happy Lunar New Year, Gong Hei Fat Choy! I am so excited about my new Vida Collection — a creative collaboration in design with makers around the world to create inspiring apparel and accessories! Truly a dream come true for me and I am having so much fun with this process! This is work that that I’m proud to say brings something truly positive to the world; taking care of the planet, and empowering the makers and their children through education! Thank you for reading and supporting women in business, like me! Blessings of health, prosperity and much love to you, My New Collection on VIDA   Click here to learn more about the Luggage tag, accent pillows, iPhone case and cashmere scarf above- all featured in my New VIDA collection online now! I invite you to browse and explore this new collection, at introductory prices, a super-fun variety of goods featuring my mixed-media paintings! By purchasing a unique Vida piece, you empower the makers of your product to build a better future for themselves and for generations to come. Press from Fashion Times — The VIDA shopper is someone who is well-traveled, she’s inquisitive, she’s thoughtful, [and] every product she brings into her life, she’s mindful of how it was made. MY ORIGINAL COLLECTION on ETSY Handmade •  Wearable Art • +Repurposed Decor Love yourself. Then forget it.  Then, love the world. — Mary Oliver  Copyright © 2019 Lorien Eck Art & Design, All rights reserved.

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My Story~ In My Own Words ~An Interview in VoyageLA Magazine

I am thrilled and honored to share a fun interview for Los Angeles online magazine VoyageLA.

Here’s the link to the article or click on the image above. Enjoy!

 

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and connect to me via my Facebook page, explore my Art with Lórien art classes on YouTube, and if you would like to make sure you are notified about more content like this, join my newsletter here to be the first to know when I offer my new programs, including early bird specials and exclusives!

May your days be filled with a sense of wonder, love and the spirit of Aloha,

In love, gratitude and beauty…

 

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Films/Series’ By/About Women + Amplifying BIPOC’s Voices ~ My Ongoing Pledge

Art with Lórien Studio Video Production Set

Hello My People!

I am delighted to share this passion of mine is supporting women in the media and my enthusiasm for films that are directed by women, are written by a woman and/or feature stories about women.  One of my guiding litmus tests for the content of a film, is applying the Bechdel test.  What is  the Bechdel test?  It asks whether a work of fiction features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man. The requirement that the two women must be named is sometimes added.

So, to solidify my commitment to my quest, in Jan. 2016 I pledged to watch one film per week as part of the #52FilmsByWomen campaign sponsored by Women in Film.  What I am really excited about is discovering the #52weeks List of Gayle Nachlis, Women in Film Senior Director of Education, so many superb films on her list!

I also learned about Film Fatales, a network of women filmmakers who meet regularly to mentor each other, share resources, collaborate on projects and build a supportive community in which to make their films. Here’s Film Fatales list of films directed by women streaming on Netflix USA, 245 and counting!

And, so as we approach the end of 2016, and my 52-week pledge, I am sharing what I have enjoyed so far… And, I do pledge to continue into 2019 and beyond. I also including films I have seen/appreciate that amplify black voices and people of color in this evolving list.

With our evolving landscape, values, priorities and the balancing act that is occurring, there will be much to catch on the screen, big and small!  Enjoy and join the fun!

My Ever Evolving LIST from 2016 through the present day Focused on Female-Driven and People of Color’s Voices/Stories: (in no specific order)

The 100 greatest films directed by women (according to BBC)

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20191125-the-100-greatest-films-directed-by-women-poll

UPDATE: Hulu ReFrame Stamped Be sure to check out the 100 and counting productions Made by Her.

Abbott Elementary

The Black Emperor of Broadway

Halftime

ROAR

Radium Girls

Lucy and Desi

Lady Boss The Jackie Collins Story

Patsy & Loretta

Mary J. Blige My Life

Dumplin

Girl Most Likely

Insecure: the End

Misbehaviour

Respect

Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It

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Passing

The Underground Railroad

Dolly Parton: Here I Am

55 Steps

Radioactivity

The Banker

On the Rocks

Woman Walks Ahead

Ava

Emma (2020)

This Changes Everything

Audrey

Little Accidents

Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold

Promising Young Woman

Nomadland

Pieces of a Woman

Ammonite

The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Miss Juneteenth

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

The Glorias

Enola Holmes

Jane

Miss Representation

Pariah

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

42

Black Panther

Get On Up

Marshall

12 Years a Slave

Anita: Speaking Truth to Power

Becoming

Harriet

13th

Queen&Slim

Bessie

What Happened Miss Simone?

Birth of a Nation

True Cost

Middle of Nowhere

Selma

Little

The Women’s List

Doin’ the L.A. Thing

Jenny’s Wedding

Joy

Philomena

Iron Lady

Mustang

Woman in Gold

Diana

Tig

Tangerine

Trainwreck

Hello, My Name is Doris

All About Eve

The Story of Ruth

East Side Sushi

Séraphine

The Lady in the Van

Coco Before Chanel

Suffragette

Brooklyn

Carol

Joan of Arc: Virgin Warrior

He Named Me Malala

Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel

Hanna

Miss Potter

The Passion of Joan of Arc

Maggie’s Plan

Frida

India’s Daughter

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

Zootopia

Me Before You

Dukhtar

Girlhood

Ride

The Letters

Big Stone Gap

Under the Same Moon

Testament of Youth

Still Alice

A Ballerina’s Tale

Conviction

The Intern

Me Without You

Under a Tuscan Sun

Ai Wei Wei Never Sorry

Citizen Four

Wonder Woman

Planeat

The Future of Food

The 33

The Whole Truth

Our Kind of Traitor

Mia Madre

Certain Women

Lovely and Amazing

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

The Post

Ladybird

Maudie

I, Tonya

Paris Can Wait

Moana

Jackie

Florence Foster Jenkins

Eat Pray Love

Girl Rising

Eighth Grade

RGB

Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present

The Female Brain

The Favourite

Yentl

On the Basis of Sex

The Kindergarten Teacher

Captain Marvel

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Bad Reputation

Kusama: Infinity

Pariah

Heal

Mary Queen of Scots

Becoming Astrid

Westwood Punk • Icon • Activist

Unicorn Store

Captain Marvel

Longshot

Late Night

Call to Courage

Booksmart

Abominable

Little Women

The Farewell

Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Miss Americana

Kareem: Minority of One

Just Mercy

Loving

A Beautiful Day…

Hamilton- Musical to Film

Professor Marston & Wonder Women

TV Shows or Limited Series:

Mrs. America

Genius: Aretha

The Great

The L Word

Insecure

The Queen’s Gambit

The Morning Show

and counting…

Please take a look at a blog post here that features a documentary called Seeing Is Believing: Women Direct by friend Cady McClain,  She wrote, directed, and produced this documentary along with Kate Super.  Also, one of my favorite organizations is the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, an organization that engages, educates, and influences the need to dramatically improve gender balance, reduce stereotyping and create diverse female characters in entertainment targeting children 11 and under.

I invite you to explore my website, my art collection and my Art with Lórien online classes for kids.

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and would love to hear from you on my Facebook page, check out  Art with Lórien on YouTube, visit my website/sign up for my newsletter, or email me at artwork@lorieneck.com.

May your days be filled with a sense of wonder, love, creativity, adventure and play!

In love, gratitude and beauty…

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What Inspires You? // Guest Blogger: Sara Krish – Founder, Mentor, Cancer Warrior ~ The Fly Buddha

I met Sara when we were seeking a great place and teacher to spin with this winter!  When I took that first spinning class with Sara, I knew that I had found what I was looking for; an inspired, passionate and motivating force of nature!  Sara was instantly our favorite guide leading us spinners (cycling and otherwise!) for our one-hour ride of what she calls “sweat therapy”!  And it was, as I felt not only sweaty from the intense cardio workout groovin’ to fun, uplifting playlists, but I had also received as a bonus, the feeling of release that is the often by product of a cathartic therapy session! I knew that I had to get to know Sara, and when I learned about The Fly Buddha, I understood more about what made her special brand of inspirational magic so tangible! Sara is a fired up more than survivor, but what I would call a thriver in life!  I am so happy that Sara said YES to sharing her inspirations with us here through my What Inspires You? Blog Series!  Thank you Sara!

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Raw, Emotional Humans

Raw, emotional humans. My favorite. So real. So strong. So present to the now. So willing to rise above. Acknowledging all their feels in every dark corner and in each ray of light. They hide nothing. Expression and truth is the game. Connection and growth is their goal. 

Once a month I lead a room full of THIS…pure, beautiful, unapologetic vulnerability. Men and women showing up, ready to give and needing to take. We talk cancer. We talk pain. We talk what is and what could be. On the table it goes for one to release and someone to pick up. It’s awesome. It’s powerful. It’s as uplifting as it comes. 

I leave those nights changed. My heart with more empathy and my mind greater depths of compassion. For the unfiltered truth is all that matters in the end. Humans being human – real, raw, expressive feelers – ebbing and flowing, leaning and bracing as we journey together on this ride of life.

Raw, emotional humans. This is what inspires me. xoxo 

 

Bio:

Just months after my 30th birthday, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. It hit me with the weight of a ton of bricks. My life suddenly filled with uncertainty, the future no longer a guarantee, and the days of motherhood stripped away from me before I had the chance to create miracles of my own. I spent the weeks that followed with a heavy heart focused on survival and acceptance of this altered life.

Then I got an introduction to the Southern California Reproductive Center where a beautiful new focus, one centered around hope and the possibility of “mini-mes” one day, gave me something to look forward to – something to carry me through. Under the care of Dr. Surrey and his staff I was able to freeze 18 eggs before beginning my cancer treatment.

Now, three years later and cancer free, I’m happy I gave myself this gift! I have so much excitement in my soul thinking about the next chapter of my life when I get to play the most important role I could ever imagine – that of a loving, grateful mama.

After my experience, I felt pulled to bring more awareness to egg freezing as an option to women diagnosed with gynecological cancer as well as provide financial assistance and resources during the process. Saving my eggs brought hope into my life at an extremely hopeless, fear-filled time. It is my mission to give this same powerful sense of hope and beautiful gift of motherhood to every woman who faces a similar journey through my foundation, The Fly Buddha. 

“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” 
― Pema Chödrön, The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times

Contact Info:

Sara Krish // Founder, Mentor, Cancer Warrior

sara@theflybuddha.com  

Read more at www.theflybuddha.com/blog

Follow on IG/FB @theflybuddha

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Living an Inspired Life, with Guest Blogger: Kathleen Nelson Troyer

Today I get to share the awe-inspired words of my close friend Kat!  We share a deep love for the ocean and for so much of what the islands offer us as pure and simple inspiration!  I look forward to being a Guest blogger on her Gently Moving Forward‘s “BE LOVE” blog series during the month of February!  Stay tuned for that in the coming weeks here!  And, now Kat’s offering…It’s so gorgeous and profound! xoox

What inspires me?  

The Ocean is my biggest inspiration.

One of the things that Lórien and I have in common is our deep love of the ocean. Being near the ocean, walking at the beach and hiking along the cliffs is medicine for my body, mind and soul.  Swimming in the water with the wild dolphins in Hawaii is top on my list of inspirational activities! I will never forget swimming with the wild humpback whales in Tonga. Just thinking about being in the water with a mama humpback and her calf gets me inspired!  When I am in need of inspiration, one of the first things I will do is head to the beach. Even just 10 minutes at the shore can shift my energy level, provide clarity, and give me a fresh new outlook.

That special place.

We all have special places that make us feel good. I am grateful to feel that way about my backyard. It is a private, “secret garden” filled with flowers, trees, birds, and a warm hot tub/spa.  A little time in my backyard every day helps me to stay grounded and inspired.  I love to drink a cup of tea and listen to the birds sing. The beautiful trees help me feel grounded and strong. Sitting or floating in the hot tub is very relaxing and can sometimes change my state of mind completely.  Do you have a special place where you go to recharge and get inspired?

 

Inspirational fuel

Seeing someone take a project from the initial idea stage to completion lights me up. Allowing that to fuel my own creativity helps to give me the courage and clarity to pursue my own dreams. That is the spiral path that I want to be on, moving upward along with others. Our dreams are possible and within our reach if we are willing to do the work. Willing to bravely nourish our dreams. Willing to put the time and energy into making them come alive. Willing to ask for help. There is much we don’t have control over, but consistently moving toward the directions of our inspired dreams is something we really can do.  Every step we take brings us closer. We may need gentle reminders sometimes.  Cultivating relationships with others who are choosing to live inspired lives can serve us tremendously. One of the things that I have learned is that it is not only OK to ask for support, it is essential!

Choose Love over Fear.

Every day we have a choice.  We can choose to move us in the direction of our inspirations or we can get stuck in fear.  Everywhere we look we can see either love or fear. One of the easiest ways to make decisions based in love is to take a few breaths and become as present as possible in the moment. Think about the choice at hand and notice how you feel when making your decision.  When we choose a love-filled choice, it will feel light. If it feels heavy, there may be some fear in your decision.  Play with this and practice it for a bit. You may find that you have your own unique experiences that will help you to make more compassionate choices. The more I practice this simple process, the easier it is for me to make choices aligned with love.  Choosing love over fear is one of the greatest contributions we can make in our lives, both personally and collectively.

Practice Ho’oponopono

Forgiveness, Love and Gratitude are my Trinity.  Through all of my years of study, the most powerful tools I have learned are Forgiveness, Love and Gratitude. When I am stuck, one of these three will help me to shift my energy to get back on the inspiration highway. The ancient Hawaiians had a practice of atonement called Ho’oponopono. This practice involved using forgiveness, love and gratitude to transform issues, relationship challenges and other things can block our creativity and access to inspiration.  The next time an issue comes up, hold it in your mind’s eye and repeat the following:  I’m sorry. Please forgive me.  I love you. Thank you.  Try not to judge yourself or others as you practice. Start with yourself and then move on to other people or situations from there.

Take time to Retreat and Realign

Busy lives with many demands make it essential to unplug every now and then. I take myself on a personal retreat quarterly. Taking time to retreat helps me to review and reconnect with my goals, dreams and desires. These retreats ensure that I make time to bring more of my inspiration forward in my life. I look at what is working in my life as well as examining what isn’t working. There is something magical about choosing to align with what is working in our lives. By focusing on what is working well, we can tap into the flow of grace and ease in our lives.  Being in flow helps us to bring more of what we want into our lives.  Knowing what is working is key to help us to shift and release what isn’t working.  In these retreats, I allow time for rest, deep contemplation, integration, fun and inspiration!

Filling Up the Well.

In our modern-day world, there are so many choices and options available to us. While it is good to have many choices, sometimes it can be challenging to make inspired and aligned decisions. Learning to say “no” helps us to say “YES!” to the important things in our lives. Inspiration, like growth, is not a straight path. It is more like a spiral, evolving and moving forward. As we seek inspiration, it is important to be patient with ourselves and to practice self-care strategies that fill us up and support our body, mind and spirit. Self-care for me may be different for you. The key is finding what works for you!

What do you do to keep inspiration alive in your life?

Gently Moving Forward,

 

 

 

 

Kathleen Nelson Troyer is the founder of  Gently Moving Forward. She works with organizations and individuals as a retreat leader, consultant, coach, trainer and mentor.

She leads intensive individual and group retreats to Hawaii and other sacred spots on our planet. She also facilitates family and systemic constellations and believes in the power of forgiveness, love and gratitude to transform our lives.

Kat lives in a seaside cottage with a magical garden 25 miles south of San Francisco with her fabulous husband John, three cats and one dog.

She loves to travel, cook and hike. She is passionate about living a peaceful, joyful and inspired life.

Kat is the author of The Gently Moving Forward Guide to Inner Wisdom that is currently available as a gift to her newsletter subscribers. You can find Kat and get a copy of her book at www.kathleennelsontroyer.com

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What Inspires You? Guest Blogger: Cady McClain, Filmmaker

My featured Guest Blogger is Cady McClain.  I met Cady through a mutual friend from my childhood and boy am I glad that she reached out!  We connected through our shared interest and passion for women’s voices and representation in the field of arts, both visual and performing.  My video post on balancing the genders in the arts connected us online and I am so inspired and excited about the powerfully awesome documentary film that Cady is directing, writing, and producing along with Kate Super.  I promise, you will feel inspired and like me, looking forward to the release of her film.  Thank you Cady for being you and sharing your inspiration here and with the world!

Cady’s Blog Post:

For the past five months, I’ve had the honor and privilege of getting to interview women who direct film, television, and theater for a documentary I am working on called Seeing Is Believing: Women Direct. I’d like to share with you a little bit about a couple of women I’ve spoken to in order to give you a bit of the inspiration I’m enjoying!

Leah Meyerhoff is the founder of a group called “Film Fatales,” and graduated from NYU Film School with an amazing film called I Believe in Unicorns, a coming of age story filmed so sensitively, so creatively, I practically felt like she was whispering to my inner teenager. Film Fatales consists of female filmmakers who create “peer-to-peer mentorship” by meeting once a month at each others’ houses and participating in conversations that help each host with a topic related to the project on which she is currently working. This organization is also making a mark on the Independent film scene with its outreach programs and support of filmmakers on the circuit. I admire Leah so much I was practically shaking when I met her, but by the end of our conversation I felt quite at ease. She’s that kind of person. Incredibly well-spoken and clear, thoughtful and kind, super organized (which I loved), and without the slightest tinge of bitterness for the gender bias that is so rampant in our industry. She says that she “took the script and flipped it,” and I love that expression. Instead of identifying herself as being at the hand of gender discrimination, she proudly took on the label of “woman director” and created a whole movement of creative women who are now all owning their gender status and creating flourishing careers. I am proud to say I am now a “fellow fatale”!

 

 (This is Leah Meyerhoff with a traveling coffee mug that looks like a camera lens. A gift from me to her as a “thank you” for her wise words and journey!)

I also got to interview Deborah Kampmeier  whose first film, Virgin, had a huge run on the festival circuit, and whose second film, Hounddog, caused an international scandal due to its subject matter: the rape of a child. Honestly, I was very concerned myself about watching the film, but I’m so glad I did. It’s a beautiful film and nothing like what it was made out to be. Sensitively done, considerate and respectful to the issue of sexuality in a developing girl, and surprisingly insightful into female sexuality. Deborah works with a passionate authenticity and a deep respect of her and others “womanhood.” She understands things about being a woman that I never heard anyone say, or even suggest. Listening to her talk I was brought to tears by her commitment to her artistry, and her passion for her unique vision. Her work is daring, original, and important, and reminded me that I must take risks in my own work, despite everything.

(This is a shot of my interview with Deborah, taken while playing back on my big screen TV!)

I think that is what really inspires me the most: women committing to their unique vision, despite all. No matter what anyone says, no matter what the statistics are, they persevere, the drive forward. Sure, everybody gets afraid sometimes. But these women (and many more) don’t submit to the fear. They continue to stay above water and true to themselves. There’s no being shut down by “the business” and all that talk about how you “have to compromise.” No mam. They talk about being clear about who they are, what they love, and how to work in spite of the obstacles.

And that’s inspiring stuff!

Here’s a link to a promo about the film: https://vimeo.com/145945236

And to the films’ FB page: https://www.facebook.com/WomenDirectors

Film’s FB page Videos: https://www.facebook.com/WomenDirectors/videos

(And this is me with Mr. Peanut, my loyal and loving super buddy.)

With gratitude,

Cady

Cady McClain
www.cadymcclain.com
Devil in the Machine Productions
IMDB
Twitter

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