Michele Bedigian

Teachers, friends and books … three simple words, but they mean so much. This past Monday Dominick and I were having a conversation about art and asking what does it take for an artist to truly reach their potential?

So I shared with him something my Kabbalah teacher Sarah told me last week, (it was a real ah-ha moment and one worth a million treasures). She said that in order for a person to reach their fullest potential in life it’s critical they look at their environment and only surround themselves with what will nurture their path. (What doesn’t MUST GO!) She said there’s 3 elements in life key to fulfillment. Those 3 were … teachers, friends and books.

And so I took a look … I and my friends at the studio have been fortunate to have had the greatest of teachers, for whom without we’d never have set our heights as high as they are and yes, still learning from him.

Friends are what we are to each other, (for that I am forever grateful), and books? Well, if you know one of us, (or all) you know; our books are our lifeline. We can’t ‘be’ without them.

Take a look today at your environment today and settle for nothing less. It’s worth it, Michele

A study for a painting currently on the board. The letters are from the Aramaic alphabet and the sequence is called unconditional love.

The image of the pelicans this past week covered from head to toe in oil left such an indelibly painful impression on my heart. It’s so sad to see the how much devastation is happening to the ecosystem in the gulf. In response I thought I’d share one of my favorite poems, (which ironically seemed quite appropriate for the emotion).              Something to think about …   Let’s hope this tide moves swiftly - Michele

To see a World in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wildflower.                                Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.

Auguries of Innocence, I-William Blake

In response to the earthquake in Haiti, the illustrators of Studio 1482 have each donated art to raise money on behalf of the victims in an effort to support the appeal for funds by CARE, a leading humanitarian relief organization. From January 19th until Feb. 8th please visit onedrawingaday.com to see how you can participate by donating $50 to CARE.

Below is the art I created for the fundraiser: ”Help is a verb”

In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (the first day of spring). For most countries the official day of celebration is marked just 2 days away from today, on January 1st.

It’s a symbol of renewal and an opportunity to plant new seeds of thought, a new way of seeing the light in things … So in keeping with tradition I’m taking some time this week  to reflect on 2009, in all it’s way, to review what it brought and what I’ve learned from it. And as I till the soil with 2010 just hours away .. and water the thought … and nurse the vision for another day ……   I realize the answer’s been in the seed all along.

Happy am I, healthy am I, holy am I.

Here’s to endless possibilities! – Michele