Art and Design in Wilmington Delaware

New art exhibit opening at Nzinga's Cultural Connection in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. The turn-out was super. Met a ton of new art patrons. Thank you for your support. Also debuted my best-selling poster "Our House". Prints available online at the Afromine Store.

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The Pet Corner

Anyone who has had a pet living in his or her household for any period of time will agree that they are loving members of the family.

Pets have their own "personalities" and sometimes act like children and other times act as if they are the number-one breadwinners. You gotta love'em.

When I was a child, my dad brought home an adorable little lad - a two-month-old pure-bread German Sheppard. I was elated! I couldn't wait to take him for a walk outside and show him off. My dad explained to me the responsibilities that go along with having such a young pet and after I had agreed to living up to my responsibilities, my new best friend, Goliath, and I dashed out the door.

Goliath was a beautiful dog. He had very clean markings across his broad chest; long, straight ears; a long tail and the biggest paws I had ever seen. Goliath, indeed, was appropriately named.

My dog and I grew-up together. He lived to the ripe old age of thirteen (ninety-one in people years). He was a very important member of our family and I miss him dearly to this day. Goliath passed away on my twenty-fourth birthday. His memorial still stands in my back yard.

I shall always cherish Goliath's memory, but I still find it too painful to do a portrait of him myself - and I have yet to find anyone else whom I feel would accurately capture that beautiful "personality" of his that I knew and loved so much.

For this reason, I am committed to helping my fellow pet lovers by offering you affordable rates for portraits of your pet(s), rendered with the love and respect that they and you so richly deserve.

Prices start as low as $300 (depending on the number of pets in the composition).

• Oils on canvas
• Pastels on paper
• Charcoal on paper
• Contact Michael at Afromine

Artists and Perception

Un-Common Design


by Delaware Michael J. Riley - Afromine.com

Artists, by nature, are adventurous and sensitive individuals. Many folks may wonder why artists are that way. One possible reason for many artists’ adventurism and hypersensitivity could be that they are designed to rely heavily upon their sense of perception.

By design, artists are charged with the task of transforming raw emotions and ideas from an abstract realm into something the world can see, hear, smell, taste or feel. In other words, one might say that artists possess a sixth sense that is used to appeal to the other five senses.

Let us examine this theory for a moment. In grade school, we are taught that, as human beings, we possess only five senses; sight, hearing, smell, taste and feel. This is an established position and a presumed fact. However, it may not apply to artists, designers, musicians, etc.

How can an artist’s or designer's perception be construed as a sixth sense?

An individual utilizing his senses in a normal fashion operates from a literal standpoint, while an artist operates from a more figurative one.

Examples:

The gift of music – A rainy day

To an individual utilizing only common sense, hearing drops of rain landing on his rooftop tells him that it is raining outside and his mind then focuses on taking a simple course of action. He thinks, “Don’t go outside,” or “Take an umbrella with you.”

The same instance of falling rain, when heard by a person possessing the gift of music, might inspire him to write a symphony based on the rhythm produced by various intervals of the drops of rain.

The gift of Vision (not sight) – Colors on a wall

To an individual utilizing common perception, seeing colors on a wall tells him that the walls in a room are painted yellow. He might like the colors and go out and by a sofa to compliment the brilliant colors on the wall.

An artist or designer selects and uses colors to inspire or solicit an emotion or to create a particular mood. To a visual artist or graphic designer, the walls of the room are not simply painted yellow. They are upbeat, they are visitor-friendly and they are warm. That is how an artist communicates his interpretation of a sunny day without spelling it out.

Summary

The next time an artist or other creative individual is called “flighty” or is told that he lacks common sense; he can take it as a compliment. The fact is that he does not lack common sense. By design, he possesses un-common sense. He is not “flighty.” He is using his artistic gift to reach into the atmosphere and transform raw emotions and ideas from an abstract realm into reality.

Current Art Events in Delaware

The exhibit at the North Wilmington Library featuring artist Michael J. Riley and introducing 14 year old sensation, Dameir Davis has been extended from June through the month of July (possibly August). I am encouraging local residents, visitors and supporters of the arts to please stop by the library located at 3400 Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware and see how art has no age limits. In fact, how art has no limits at all.

Here is a video clip, recapping the art exhibit opening held on June 6, 2008. Please tune in to Comcast Channel 28 on July 6 at 7:00 PM and catch the live broadcast of "In the Upper Room." Riley and his protoge' Dameir will be featured guests, joined by jazz great Harry Spencer. Hopefully Harry will bring his sax and give us a little taste of what he put down at the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival last month in Rodney Square in downtown Wilmington.

Drawn to Drawing

During a recent television appearance, I was asked about my favorite medium. The answer was quite simple enough. When it comes to available art supplies, my preferences range from oils to crayon. So, naturally, I replied that I love them all!

The interviewer posed another question. “With which medium did you begin to draw?” As do so many budding young artists, my drawing experience began with crayons. From the beginning, I fell in love with them. I loved the way they felt, the way they smelled and yes, I even loved the way they tasted (I would not advise that our youngsters out there try that one at home, although my guess is that many of them already have).

I believe that all of us are born with a creative spirit. We just might tend to express it in different ways. Some are drawn to music, while others might gravitate towards theater or working with their hands.

My joy in art comes from the feeling of freedom it provides through the many forms of expression and inspiration. Discovering one’s talent at an early age is a blessing. However, as many will attest to, talent alone probably will not suffice if one is sincerely interested in building a fulltime career in the many available avenues of commercial and fine art.

There will be times that will try your faith in yourself and, perhaps, try your faith in God and your fellow man. One may encounter many closed doors along his journey. However, with dedication, perseverance, discipline and patience, I believe one’s opportunities for a career in art are as broad as his creative imagination will allow.

The main ingredient is passion for what you desire. As a child, I cried for art supplies the way other children cried for toys. As a matter of fact, for me, drawing was playtime. You can say that I was drawn to drawing. Thankfully, my family and teachers saw that I really loved art and supported me one hundred percent.

If you recognize an early interest in art in your child, family member or a young neighbor, I encourage extending a hardy support. For in the eyes of the innocents, lay the seeds of hope and greatness that will shape our world of tomorrow. We need to cultivate a fresh crop of talented and passionate people to color the world a little brighter.

Welcome to the Good Life!

Life comes at us in many different directions. One minute it is looking pretty good and at times... not so good. But, I have come to realize that no matter what comes up... Life is good. I used to work at a particularly difficult job. It got to the point where it was a struggle just to give a darn about anything there. See, my eyes finally were opened and I no longer liked what I was seeing. But, I hesitated in making a move out the door. Well, turns out that I didn't have to make that move. It was made for me. No, I did not get fired and no my former employer did not give me a phony speech about, "thinking it is best if we parted ways..." The way it went down was that they said they were eliminating my position. My response was, Whew!" Thank you! As much as I had been praying for God to help me to deal with that situation at the bank... His final answer was, "You're out of there!" The Holy Spirit told me before they even called me into the office what they were about to say. I think the two people who told me the news did not realize that they were giving me an invitation to a party to which they were not invited. So, as I read the letter they gave to me, it didn't read as intended... I did not see bad news. In fact, when I read it, I saw Good news, "Welcome to the good life!" Now, I am free and responsible for my own future. I am no longer bound to negativity and a whole lot of other crap. Today, I am finally free to pursue my art and choose where to apply my energy and attention.