Tucker John from NC

I have received emails like the one below many times, yet today, I thought I post one of them, the most recent one. Funny how these people don't even bother to use a spell-checker....

Hi Tucker John from NC.
I'm so sorry she doesn't have her own laptop.
Glad that she enjoys art.
It's not a bad thing. You don't have to confess. And, I'm not a priest. But, thanks.
Which artwork piece are you interested in?
Hello? Do you hear me?
Do you have any question?
What are we even talking about?
Would you like to hear back from me?
Hello?
Do you have a phone number?
Who are you?
Tucker, are you an algorithm? Hello?





It's true! Someone could find my paintings on my website. It's possible that they would like to add them to their collection. And it would be wonderful if they wanted to surprise a loved one. 


Usually, I'm writing a courteous response and direct people to my website where they can choose their favorite piece. 


Here in this case, I chose to not respond at all.


What are the indicators that it's a scam?


1) The name could be the first indication. While it's not John Smith, Tucker John or John Tucker is not the most ingenious creation. (I don't mean to hurt anybody's feelings! If any of you have one of these names, please don't take it personal!)

2) The signature leaves a lot to be desired. No phone number, no contact info, no business name. Just 'Tucker'.

3) The many mistakes.

4) Funny how they always see their wife spot the artwork on their laptop. And then, these women without their own laptop always leave traces .... It's a bit too cheesy, like pulling teeth.... 

5) And they always have a wedding anniversary coming up. It's so classical. So boring!

6) Let me ask you: Are you convinced by the story? Why do they even have to tell a story? They can simply  go to my website (where they found my email address), pick a painting and contact me for pricing. Or ask questions about shipping.

7) There is not one question in this email. 


How this will usually unfold is that the artist writes back, politely, and asks what painting they are interested in. Usually then, these scammers engage you further, never really talking about the art. The emailing goes back and forth, until they agree to purchase a piece, by CHECK. They will overpay, meaning sending too much money with the check and ask for reimbursement of the overpaid amount, with cash.


Of course, the check will bounce. And, if the artist paid a cash amount to the scammer that money will be lost. 


An indicator is, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.


In my case here, nothing sounds too good, it is poorly written, maybe translated by an algorithm into English.


So, Tucker will not hear back from me. 


What can you do when you receive a scam email?


Before replying to any of theses emails, before exchanging art or money, or sending money to someone who you don't even know, use your common sense, ask questions. 


Don't deviate from your usual method of payment; explain politely that you’re not willing to take payment through cashier’s checks or postal money orders, which are more open to this sort of art scam. Often the nature of the art scam will center on the method of payment suggested by the scammer – if you stick to your normal method, something you know to be safe, they may be forced to give up.


NEVER accept over-payments. You’re selling, they’re buying – no money should be leaving your account. Make it your policy not to work this way.

Google the email address, or name, or even a passage of the text. As these scammers send so many art scam emails, their address gets to be known as one associated with the art scam they’re running.


Don’t ship your artwork unless you’re sure the payment has cleared. Any serious art buyer would be happy to wait until the payment has cleared.

If You Were the Choosing One, Would a 'No' Mean Anything?

How many 'No's' have I received, as an artist and also as a being simply being on the planet? 

Many.

Today, I just received another one of those 'No'-replies.

And usually, I don't even mention them. On social media, I talk about the 'good stuff', the positive news.

Today, I just received another one of those 'No'-replies. And I deleted it right away, moving on and not making it relevant. Then, I was wondering, maybe I can be a contribution to someone out there who has given up or is at the fringe of giving up? Maybe my journey is not just for me?

So I chose to write about it.

How many of you artists and most wonderful creatives have received tons of 'No's'? 

Applying for art exhibitions, funding, grants, events? You are so courageous! It takes courage to show your work, it takes guts! Why? Because it always exposes us to some random judgment. Random? Yes, random. It's a point of view of a moment. 

Is it based on 'sound opinion' of an expert? I don't even have an idea what that means. Of course not!

There is no expert of your art but you!

You are the expert.

Are you ready to claim that and to be your own best fantastic credentials?

Are museums more 'wise' as far as art goes? Do they 'know' what art is? No. They don't. 

What is art? I looked on Wikipedia, and it says "Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts, expressing the author's imaginative, conceptual ideas, or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power."

Merriam Webster says "a) skill acquired by experience, study, or observation , b) an occupation requiring knowledge or skill , c) the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects". That's a wide field of application!

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy elaborates "The definition of art is controversial in contemporary philosophy. Whether art can be defined has also been a matter of controversy. The philosophical usefulness of a definition of art has also been debated."

The ground is even further open to confusion.

I thought, hm, well, let's look up 'contemporary art'? I found a definition that says "In its most basic sense, the term contemporary art refers to art—namely, painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video art—produced today..." Read this interesting article in full length: https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-contemporary-art-definition/  

So, it's basically everything. Pop Art, Aboriginal Art, Minimalist Art, Conceptual Art (I love that definition!), Performance Art, Installation Art, Street Art, Digital Art, Abstract Art, Intuitive Art, Visionary Art, Realism (that's a good one too!), and the list goes on. What's to get out of all of this? Art is what we are creating. Who's to say what's good or bad?

Years ago, I went to an exhibit in Berlin, a modern art exhibit (I forgot to mention that definition in my list above... sorry!), and as I walked into an exhibit room, I found myself staring at a human buttocks sticking out of a wall. That's art? Some museum curators judged it as art. Maybe because their was hair added to the buttocks.

So, it's all part of this incredibly hilarious reality! It's not to be taken seriously!

According to all the definitions, the moment we are creating something from different elements and we make something new from them by extrapolation, it's art.

It includes you, the reader.

Judges and panels of jurors are hired to eliminate. 

They don't know your journey.

They go through, at times, huge amounts of applications and quickly screen and eliminate. That's all. That's their job. That's what they're paid for.

Here is the response I received today, after they had invited me to apply for the event:

I doesn't mean anything.

Funny, I titled the picture of this screenshot 'BlaBla', and that's all it is.

It's BlaBla.

Have you made all the BlaBla so vital and important?

Don't stop yourself, ever!

You are the only one who can stop you, no one else can.

Count your blessings and move on! You're here, and you're rocking it! 

As artists, we have to be resilient and filled with humor. 

Here's the most important thing:

• Do you love what you're doing? 
• Does it give you joy? 
• Does it create more consciousness on the planet? 
• Does it inspire others? 
• Do you create a greater future on the earth with what you're artfully making? 

If you get a yes on any of them, keep creating! You are changing the world. This is what art is about. We inspire the viewer to a different possibility that they can not yet perceive. Art is transformative. And right now, the world needs that inspiration! 

So, be resilient. Be strong. You're a potent creator. You are much stronger and resilient than you ever acknowledged, otherwise you would not be artist!

So, what's next?

I will keep moving, applying to shows, showing up for possibilities, create and inspire me with joyful choices.

Will I apply for that exhibit again? I don't have an answer right now. Who knows? If it's joyful and I get the energy of 'Apply to this one!', in a year, then I will. And if I don't get that festive energy from it, then I won't. It's a dance.

You are in charge.

Are you willing to have your own back?

Are you willing to be the choosing one? 

Or do you prefer being the chosen one?

I'm the choosing one.

And I keep dancing with the earth and stars!

And, together, we are creating new and different symphonies and rhythms.

Cheers to creation!

Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity? Or Scam?

"Phoenix Creation Rising"

Here's a story from behind the scenes.... 

I opened my emails this morning to this (what seemed at first) exciting invitation. 

Thinking joyfully 'Oh, what a great start into the New Year!', I was ready to pay my application fee (as artists we have to pay jury fees, application fees, just to be even considered for shows, events, etc) when I wondered 'Where did they get my email from?' They said I was pre-selected, and then I have to pay? Hmmm... flags started waving at me.... How do you discern between offers and proposals that are legit and those that are simply scamming for money? 

Of course, I went ahead and researched them online (so grateful for reviews! ✨🍀💚). They have a good looking website, and then, this all can be faked and 'half-truths' (which means 'lies'). 

I checked their reviews, and most of them are.... not positive. 

I went further and read all the rules for their program, but couldn't find any phone number... (another flag). And then, it says you're not supposed to contact artists who had been at the residency????? (now, that's a smelly cat!, not just a flag) 

Funny thing is, I had started looking into residencies.... 

Here's the email that I got from them (an indicator could be, if it sounds too good to be true, it IS too good to be true and pure lies!):

"Dear Bettina,

Here's wishing you a happy new year!

We have some great news! Due to requests received, we have extended the deadline to enter the ... Residency opportunity! This means, that those of you who haven't been able to send in your application yet, now have until 4 January to do so!

Remember, only a few select artists have been chosen to submit their work for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so this round's winner could be you!

Please ensure all artwork you would like to submit is sent in full by 4 January 2020 using the following link:....

If you wish to do so, you are able to enter more than once! For any additional information, please see FAQ.....

We will inform you of the results on 14 January 2020, after the judging panel has made their final selection.

Good luck for your entry and let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,

BlaBlaBla "

__________

Now what? What can I receive from this? 

1. Immense gratitude for my awareness (our awareness is the greatest tool we have)
2. Not getting hung up in the 'wrongness' of it. Nice try! Now where are the legitimate residencies? What other amazing proposals and invitations can I receive?
3. When something looks too good to be true, it usually is.
4. When someone says 'this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' push your 'super-awareness-buttons', use humor and ask questions (you don't want opportunities but possibilities) Ask youself: Is this an opportunity or a possibility? If it's an opportunity, walk away.
5. Ask questions such as: "What is possible now?" 🍀✨💚🌳

Some people might say, oh the internet is bad! You get scammed when they find your contact info.

What if the internet is not bad? Via the internet, anyone can find our businesses, our art, creations such as books, songs, anything we're creating.

We simply need to be more aware! If you have a 'twisting sensation' in your stomach, ask questions! 

For me, how this all works is, when I'm about to pay for something, I might have a moment of hesitation. My money sort of doesn't want to go there. How cool is that? When I get that, I look deeper, ask for more information, such as: 

• "Where do I find the information that I require?"
• "What is this? What do I do with this? Do I have to do anything with this?    Or do I walk away?"
• "What am I aware of?"
• And in the case of my money, I'm grateful for my money to give me the awareness. "Thank you, my money! I'm so grateful for you! What's it going to take for you to duplicate with ease, so we can even create more awareness in the world?"

What if our money has our back? My money has my back. I asked it for it, and it's more than happy to be that space for me.

Can you see how this 'incident' is now creating FOR me? 

What if nothing is right or wrong, but we can create with all the energies?

I choose to create with the energy that these scammers are using. It's just energy. Energy is energy.  

I play with it. And create with it.

So can you. That's a choice that you have to make, though!

Happy New Year!

"Depth" Ink on paper

I've been quieter... .much quieter, these past days, weeks.... A squelching thirst for something .... greater color, more joy, expansion, and I know I have to move beyond the gunk and junk that I have placed there, eons ago, that, being so 'repelling' in it's awkwardness, has kept me lifetimes after lifetimes from facing it, from flowing around it. 

'Not yet!', was the excuse. Not any more. The moment is now. If not now, when? I know what is possible, I know it! Not for me alone, for mankind, for the earth, for the future! That knowing is my lighthouse, showing me my true North, never failing, always there.

Keep moving, facing this darkness that is so thick, right before the dawn. 

It's that time of the year, the timeless, senseless, mindless space of dreams. Releasing the nightmares, lies and virtual realities, dancing with the wildness of the forest, singing with the stars and earth. And inviting possibilities, vague and undefined and so full of lightness!

Deep tones that sound like rock-on-rock, excruciating exuberance of flooded mountain creeks once so peaceful now roaring with dancing boulders. 

That quiet that is not quiet, that knows, that desires to move ahead of patience. What are we gathering? What strengths are we enchanting into being here with us? These bits and pieces that are coming to us, across galaxies and universes, from hidden crevices in long-forgotten planets, pleading, demanding, asking us to wake up, wake up, wake up. It's not pleasant. And, it doesn't have to be torture. 

Not when we relax into that, embrace it, make it ours. Abandon resistance, once and for all. 

No symphony thrives on high pitched violin only. The oboe, bassoon and bass, deepest whispering earth sound....the river underneath the river. 

Listening into the void that is not empty. 

And trusting my beating heart, heightened senses and intense 'edgi-ness'. 

Something is up. It's here. Not my first time.

Not your first time.

Dreamer, the moment has come.

The glory of it, we will only know once we look back from the other end of the tunnel.

In a way, I can't wait ....

Gathering strength and courage. Knowing that our seeds are now growing.

.... you're not alone.

Be strong. Be quiet. Be strong.

The Grand Plan

There is something about creation that we totally mis-understand and mis-identify.

And that is so crucial that it stands right in the way of what we have the talent, gift AND Possibility to create.

You might wonder, what is that? What do you think it is? The mainstream approach is like this: We need the right strategy. That implies having all the ingredients together, like for a good soup. You have to first get the spices and vegetables, the meat or poultry, you have to have water, salt, pepper and all the other spices. And then, you need time and mix it all together, let it cook and, voila!, your meal is created. That's great. But is this really how it works?

If you desire to re-create the same soup, make this perfect dish, yes, than that's wonderful. But does creation always work that way? Do you actually cook like that? Do you follow the exact recipe?

I don't.... I will deviate, not have all the 'perfect' ingredients, instead have others, I will experiment, change, shift and mix, wonder and sing, and CREATE a meal. This meal or soup might not have a name, it might not be in a cook book, but it WILL be delicious. I trust my taste buds and my joy of creation. I cooked a perfect Borscht .... this amazing polish soup, with beets and so much more. I made it .... once! It was a lot of 'work', and everyone enjoyed it. I even made it significant, back then. I made everyone look very serious and impressed as I gave away my secret and told them the name of this wonder. I could tell from the look in their faces that they had no clue what I was talking about, but they nodded with severity, as if to give me that 'great cook' acknowledgement.

So, this creation thing.... We have to have the 'right' ingredients (says who?), it has to be the 'right time' (according to who?), we have to do it this very specific way (who came up with that?), and then, it will work. When we do it the right way, we will be successful. And, it works the other way around too: If we are not successful, we didn't do it right. We have to go back and analyze what we did wrong, correct that and start over, with all the rightness in place. Have you ever tried that? Has it worked? And then, what?

How many of you have given up?

How many of you have stopped?

When we judge, we stop.

Have you judged you?

What if you haven't done anything wrong?

What if the entire concept is a myth? And a lie? To make sure you will NOT succeed? So you will NOT thrive and give up?

Business models, strategic plans, programs and schemes.... What if they simply don't work for you?

What if you are so different that you need to acknowledge a different way, your way, to create?

Creation is not logical. It is not a concept with xyz number of steps. It is not congruent. You will NOT know what the outcome will be, by the time you start.

The very desire to know the outcome of your project or creation is the stopping point, road block, wall, that kills it, that takes it's breath away and allows it to only float as high as the lowest common denominator.

Brilliance, on the other hand, is where you don't look for the outcome, you don't look for an answer, you trust your knowing and you make a step that has a joyful energy TO YOU. Not to your friends and family, they don't really know what's joyful to you. Only you can know what's light to you. They might tell you that you're crazy, that it's too risky, irresponsible, unkind, not logical, and so forth. (don't get me wrong, you might be one of the very few lucky people who have truly caring friends and family who will encourage your wild and crazy dreams.... I just talk about the majority of people.)

Here's a secret: You will NOT know where exactly you're going, as you're going. YOU WILL ONLY KNOW IN HINDSIGHT. You will, in the future, find out where your Big-Choice-points were. You will see only in the future were you followed your brilliance and created the major platform for your future. You don't know in the moment of choice.

What you WILL have in the moment of choice, is the lightness of your knowing. You make a choice, just because it 'feels' so light. It is joyful. It has this sense of possibility. It makes you giggle. And you choose.

You might find out that this choice doesn't create what you thought it would.

Brilliance is also trusting that you can always choose again. No choice is really wrong. It gave you awareness. You learned something. You found out more about you. One day, you might acknowledge how courageous you are! And that's wonderful.

So, all you potent creators: You have to follow your gut instinct. And if it takes you on a road that you didn't really desire, well then, change, turn, move. When you judge your choice, you actually stop on that very road that turned out to not be so desirable, you sit down and lament. It doesn't change it. Lamenting is a total waste of energy. You lock yourself, your brilliant self, up on that road, you sit there, you build walls around you, so no one sees you and your wrongness, but YOU stay there with your own judgment. For eons. When are you going to stop that, stand up, brush the dust off of your dragon skin and keep walking?

Be the courageous, brilliant you who knows, who chooses, changes, turns, walks around obstacles. What is it that you came here to create? What is beyond judgment? What is beyond wrongness? The greatest inventions and new ideas came from that space of choice, choice, choice. What if nothing can stop you?

What can you choose?

What's next?

When you keep walking, you will, one day, look back on your trail and be amazed of what you have created. You had no idea when you started, way back then, you couldn't know what was around the corner. You mastered it. What is that, mastery?

Mastery is to not stop, to create with the moment, to turn each moment into a thread of your living breathing tapestry. It is kindness with you, smiling in the face of adversity and knowing that there wasn't adversity and adversaries if you weren't brilliant.

Your business, your life, our future, as well as Rome weren't built in a day. It all is a choice-by-choice adventure.

One day, then, you'll look at the Grand Mastery you, unexpectedly, have been the painter of, and the uncontrolled, uncontrollable, chaotic, unfathomable craziness of the planless grandness will make you smile.

A New Dress for the Exotic Diva!

Did you know I expanded my creations into Wearable Art? I even created a Store, online, for my label with the name "Magical Bodies"... Oh, what a journey! Find our "Exotic Diva Dress" here! Once you order, we make it for you! No waste of material, no unsustainable hauling inventory around! Find all our creations at www.MagicalBodies.com. It IS wearable art....

Untamed

"John Muir's Vision" by Bettina Madini

It was a birthday wish from my beloved..... 'Will you please create a drawing for me, of John Muir?" Who could say no to that? I couldn't. ....

So, having lived for more than 10 years next to John Muir Park, there was the request and also this energy, last December, that made me take out my pencils and draw....

And while I studied Muir's face, I tapped into his spirit.... What a visionary.... a storm of running horses... I tapped into the challenge that a visionary faces.... his eyes gazing far into the future that he knew was possible... his face and hair blending into the rocks and trees that he climbed.... I sensed the glory of his nature perception, oneness with wind and rain, with each flower.... and as I continued my drawing, the mountains in the distance became the feet of long-gone giant trees, petrified stumps of today's Sierra....

The Waters of the lakes started whispering, these waters that run deep in the Earth, giant currents of consciousness.

And, all that created a tumbling current in my world, a current that connects present, past and future, a breeze of knowing that we came here to be greatness and create magical spaces with our magnificent Earth. Nuestro Planeta.

If this speaks to you, if it tingles your senses and inspires your heart, YOU are one of these visionaries. You might face challenges, currently. You might have moments where you just want to fall asleep again and go away. I know.

Just please know that you know. You came here because you have acquired EVERYTHING you need to have in your toolbox. You are beautiful, You are powerful. You can change anything and create anything. Go around the rocks that you have made your problems. Go around them. Keep walking. Move. Move. Move.

There is such beauty around you. There are whispers around you. Beings of such Light and Beauty. You are light and beauty.

Tap, for a moment, into the giant tree being in my drawing, and allow it to gift to you. They are here. We are here.

Cheers, my friends.

We launched 2 editions of "John Muir's Vision".

We are donating a percentage of the sales to the Wisconsin John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club.

More info about the two limited edition giclee prints HERE

Size 8.25" x 11.5"

(image size 6.25" x 8.8", plus border for framing)

price: $65 (plus sales tax, shipping);

We will send you a separate invoice for sales tax (if applicable) and shipping.

Size 11.5" x 16" (original size)

(image size approx. 9" x 12.7")

price: $99 (plus sales tax, shipping)

 

We will send you a separate invoice for sales tax (if applicable) and shipping.