Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Walk in the Woods Photos Set + Linky


Raindrops on Leaves. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved. 

Hello all! Welcome to Impulsive Artistry those of you who may not have stopped by here before, and a big thank you to everyone who follows regularly. This is an exciting blog post as it contains my very first blog linkup! If you have a blog and would like to participate, after you read this article, head to the bottom and hit the big blue button to share your blog posts with us (please no giveaways)! 

May is already coming to an end, and to closeout this busy month, below is a small collection of photos from a recent hike into the woods at the William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was stormy morning, but the light was so diffused and evocative, great for photos, that it was worth getting wet!  

 Photography is a wonderful creative activity for all ages—I even include it on my list of “Seven Creative Activities that Anyone Can Do!” This is perhaps the easiest artistic hobby to get into, and with the advent of social media, you can share you photographs with the world in a matter of seconds (as I am sure that many of you already do).

If you haven’t tried it before, I greatly encourage you to engage in a five-day photography challenge, where you take one photo each day to share on social media with those you know (it’s what got me hooked)! There are other benefits to viewing the world with a photographic eye, contentment and a deeper appreciation for the beauty of nature for example, not to mention a convenient outlet to express yourself and be a little artistic. 

 The famous impressionist painter Edgar Degas once said, “art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” So I ask you, what do you see in the world around you? Capture that in a photograph and share that beauty with others!  

Now on to the Photo Set!

Walk in the Woods


Storms Coming. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.


Flowers by the Path. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.


Amanita jacksonii. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.


The Road Goes On. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.


Apheloria tigana Millipede. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.


Upstream - Reed Creek. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.


Downstream - Reedy Creek. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.


Instagram

If you enjoyed my photographic work, you can see even more of my photos on the Impulsive Artistry Instagram Page (click the photo below to see my Instagram)!



 The Link Up

Guidelines for Linking a Post (2 per blog):

—All linked posts must be family friendly and no giveaways.

—Please leave a comment below!

—Be sure to link to this post in yours OR grab the Impulsive 
    Artistry Badge and include it on your blog.

—Posts related to photography, painting or other creative activities are strongly encouraged, but are not required to link up.

—Check out other peoples posts linked as well!

Join the Impulsive Artistry Email List Today!

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner


Also Follow Via Social Media!

Share this Photo Set + Linky on social media! Simply click on any of the following icons to share this post:


Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Rediscovering Some Older Music Compositions!


A few years back, I created a SoundCloud account to promote my musical work as I was attempting (in a haphazard way) to become a freelance composer. For those of you who may not know, SoundCloud, similar to other social media sites, allows composers to upload their original musical works, follow, like and comment on each other’s tracks (and probably even more by now). It was a short lived endeavor for me, one that I may attempt again, but, like all things related to freelance, it takes a significant investment of time and energy to get paid work. Truth be told, I had forgotten about this account until I received a notification email a few days ago and began to update it.

I had not listened to these pieces in years, and I was presently surprised that they sounded pretty good. I intended these works to be used in Video Games or as the background music in TV or Radio commercials. With that in mind, I am excited to share with you a few of my favorite pieces from my SoundCloud account: 




If you would like to hear more original music like this, then you can check it out at my SoundCloud account, Charles Wolf — Composer below:


Thank you so much for stopping by today here at Impulsive Artistry – I hope that you enjoyed my music and will come again soon for more creative/inspirational ideas and content. What artistic project do you plan to work on this coming week? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear about it!

May you have a fantastic creative week!

—Charles

PS. For those who regularly follow my blog, would you like to hear more of my musical work in the future? Also let me know in the comments at the bottom of this post—to comment, just click on the word (small font) “comments” below or at the Impulsive Artistry Facebook Page!


Join the Impulsive Artistry Email List Today! 

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner
Also Follow Via Social Media!

Share this article on social media! Simply click on any of the following icons to share:



Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Finding Contentment — Photo Set

Photo Selections from a Recent Hike in the Woods 


Through the Trees. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved. 

This past week has been an eventful one for my family and me. My wife celebrated her Birthday and we have had family visiting us here in North Carolina all the way from California in addition to the usual activities that life requires: frankly, we are busy, just like everyone else it seems. 

We live in a fast paced world, filled with responsibilities, tasks and goals—objectives to be completed, lists to be crossed off. In this environment, questions and worries arise in your mind like “Are you doing enough each day? Are you completing all of your projects or reaching your career ambitions at a satisfactory rate?” 


Mossy Bark. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved. 

I know for myself as a guy in my twenties, I want to be successful, I want to be financially more stable, respected by others and feeling accomplished, and these are not bad goals, but there is a flaw in this sort of thinking. A defect that I believe many of us can relate too and may even struggle with in our lives. Do we take the time to appreciate our surroundings and live in the here and now, in the moment, or are we constantly trying to reach the next level, telling ourselves “when I reach X, then I will be happy with my life.” 

Truth be told, X may never happen, or it may not happen as quickly as we want, or when we reach X, what’s to stop us from then wanting Y, or Z? How do we measure something like successful, well-regarded, financial security? Focusing on the last of these, say you had a million dollars, why not 2 million, or 1 billion for that matter? 

The flaw with this thinking is that is shows a serious lack of a vital virtue that is easily overlooked: contentment. Being happy and enjoying the moment, where we are right now in life, with our allotment, without evaluating ourselves on the “impossible scale” of success. The person with the most toys doesn’t win if they are miserable in between their purchases – funny thing about new “stuff,” it generally is fun for about a week, and then it becomes old news, but I’m getting off track.   


Path by the Lake. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved. 

You see, I have found that when I evaluate my life with these abstract criteria, or compare myself with those around me, I become discontent and impatient with where I am at in life. Setting goals and having ambition is a very important, I have written several blog articles on this topic (links below); however, like most things, ambition is a double-edged sword. Balance in all things is a good mantra to live by, placing undo emphasis on one’s career, financial status, or social position will lead to a chronic case of discontentment. 

 A Passionate Life - Part 1 Link
A Passionate Life - Part 2 Link

What if you have made it to X, but you lose your job, or realize that your current job does not fulfill you as a person and so you decide to go back to school? Obviously you need a job or a new career, but are you still finding joy in the moments between the job hunt or until the semester starts, or have you moved on in your mind, “counted your chickens,” and envisioned your perfect new job or career? Life can be hard, very hard even, and anyone can be happy when things are going well, but it takes a person of true integrity and strength of character to be happy when things are not going as planned. 


The Old Oak. Photo by Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved. 

These are some of the thoughts that I have been meditating on these past few weeks, trying to apply them to my own situation. I hope that this essay and accompanying photos will encourage you to take time during the day to appreciate the things in life that are beautiful, positive and amazing—sadly they are often the very things that we take for granted: family, a place to live, and even the beauty of the natural world around us. 

Here is a great way to work on contentment: I have found that art helps to remind me of the important things in life. Taking walks and hikes with my wife, centers me in the moment, spending time together, but also being out in nature. As those you of regularly follow this blog know, I love photography, and capturing these moments of natural beauty are wonderful activity as the pictures can later remind me of the joy and peace I felt when they were taken. On my wife’s Birthday, we took one of these excursions and hiked for several miles at William B Umstead State Park here in Raleigh, NC. 

It was a rainy day and we progressively became wetter as we went along the path between the dripping branches and leaves brimming with droplets. The path ran ahead, up hills and down, over streams and by a foggy lake. You may think “how miserable,” and yes it may sound that way, but I think that it was in those moments, when sun wasn’t shining and the rain was falling, that I found tranquility and contentment in the beauty of the woods. Take care, and I sincerely hope that you may find it as well.    

—Charles   


Raindrops on Reed Creek Lake, NC. Photo by Charles Wolf.  
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.  


Join the Impulsive Artistry Email List Today! 
Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Also Follow Via Social Media!

Share this article on social media! Simply click on any of the following icons to share:
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Coral Reef II - Oil Abstract + Painting Video



 "Coral Reef II." Original Abstract Painting. 
Oil on Canvas, 18 x 24 in. Artist Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Hello all, this blog week is going to be focused on painting, and I am continuing today with a second oil abstract, attempting to capture the beauty of the ocean and the wonders of a coral reef. In case you missed it, at the beginning of the week I shared the first abstract in this Ocean Series of paintings titled, “Coral Reef,” and now here is “Coral Reef II.”


This second work is a bit smaller, only 12 x 24 inches—a panoramic canvas that I have oriented as a portrait. My primary motivation behind creating a similar work to the last piece was that I felt that there were several points which could be improved on from the last composition. First, the Prussian blue was a bit too dark, especially when viewed in diffused light setting, so my solution was to utilize more of the liquid white medium. Second, the red was not a vibrant as I had imagined it to be in my head when I began the last piece, to fix this, I determined to use Permanent Red in the place of Naphthol Red. I really like the way this piece came together and may create a third in the near future.       
Coral Reef II—Full-Length Instructional Painting Video


 "Coral Reef II." Original Abstract Painting Video. 
Artist Charles Wolf. Impulsive Artistry © 2016. 
All Rights Reserved. Impulsive Artistry Blog Productions. 

Color Palette (Oil Paint) for Coral Reef II

Phthalo Green
Prussian Blue
Phthalo Blue
Raw Sienna
Soft Mixing White
Permanent Red
Alizarin Crimson
Lemon Yellow

Materials Used to Create “Coral Reef”

Liquid White (Medium)
Linseed Oil (Medium)
Paper Towels
Water Cup
Drop Cloth
12 x 24 Inch Stretched Canvas
Easel or Flat Surface
1 Inch Brush
½ Inch Brush
2 Small Round Brushes
Palette Knife
Fan Brush

Buy My Art!


Another View: "Coral Reef II." Original Abstract Painting. 
Oil on Canvas, 18 x 24 in. Artist Charles Wolf. 
Impulsive Artistry © 2016. All Rights Reserved.

This painting, like all my artwork, can be purchased at my Etsy Shop: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ImpulsiveArtistry

I have included some more of my paintings below for you to see what I have created over the past few months, click on any painting below to directly link to my Etsy page and see a larger image:



Question of the Day!


What type or style of painting do you like the most: landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, abstracts, or a combination thereof? Let me know in the comments below or on the Impulsive Artistry Facebook Page. 

I do hope that you have an amazing artistic day!

—Charles

If you would like to subscribe to this blog you can do so here:

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner


Share this Blog Post on social media! Simply click on any of the following icons to share:
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)