(Art Digital de Francisco Bravo Cabrera/Derechos Reservados)
DEL OTRO LADO DEL MAR (Lamento sub-sahariano) (escrito mientras escuchaba a Art Pepper)
Ahora me enfrento a los tiempos, a los vientos, y mis sueños, estallan en mi alma como truenos. Me estremecen, y estas ganas de volar no me dejan tranquilo, y me roban la calma. Mi cuerpo entero me pide que vaya al norte, el norte y con su elegancia, y estoy soñando con el día cuando viviré en España.
En Francia, Andorra, Noruega, Italia o en Alemania, no importa, allá todo es muy bueno, son las tierras de abundancia…
Pienso yo que todo aquello es la tierra prometida donde fluye leche y miel. Que la besan otros mares, no el mismo que a estos lares. Aquí me abruman los polvos, las lluvias y me quema el sol. Aquí los sueños se mueren entre el hambre y el calor. Mi sueño es llegar muy lejos en mi barco sobre el mar, a costas donde mi alma agotad, al fin pueda descansar…
A Suecia, Holanda, Suiza, Bélgica o Portugal, No importa allá todo muy es bueno En un bendito lugar…
Un día, cuando sea valiente, me subiré a una patera, a jugarme así la suerte, quizá hasta la vida entera, porque tengo que saber si es verdad o una quimera, lo que creo que existe allá, en praderas y riberas, al otro lado del mar, en el continente aquel de donde vino la muerte, del imperialistas tan cruel.
Nos robaron hasta el aire que iba hinchando nuestras velas, las velas de nuestras barcas que al futuro ya no llegan. Hombres blancos, ellos Hombres negros, nos. Luchando ellos por lo santo, creyendo en su Dios y credo.
¿Y nos? Viviendo en el fango, en lo inmundo de este suelo. Yo no quiero estar aquí, ni probabilidad de muerte, ni miedo, me quita el fuerte deseo de fugarme, al otro lado del mar, a ser libre, a ser feliz, eso, eso, es lo que quiero….
Francisco Bravo Cabrera – 21de julo de 2024, Esmirna, Turquía
If it is true and you want to be an artist, I would suggest that you become educated in the techniques, art history and the colour theory. Art is not a pastime, although we do pass the time painting. To be a serious, professional artist requires formal education. Yes, I know that now many are saying that we are all artists, that there are no rules in art, that we don’t need to learn anything, but all I can say to that is bullocks!
Art is an academic subject. Art is a profession. Art has rules (definitely!). Art has a language and if you want to be an artist you must learn it. And one of the most important subjects that you cannot ignore at all is Art History.
So, since I am not your teacher, I will only give you a brief introduction at some of the things you should know if you want to paint. The theory of colour.
The PRIMARY COLOURS are: Red, green, and blue
The SECONDARY COLOURS are: Yellow, cian, and magenta
The TERCIARY COLOURS are: Orange, lime (yellow/green), violet, fucsia, and blue cian.
Hope it helps. Go to an academy if the uni is not your thing. Learn from videos, books, other artists. Read about Art History. Actually any book you see about art, buy it, borrow it, nick it, and read it! And after you have learned all there is to know about ART, you can then, ignore the rules and CREATE. 😊
If it is true and you want to be an artist, I would suggest that you become educated in the techniques, art history and the colour theory. Art is not a pastime, although we do pass the time painting. To be a serious, professional artist requires formal education. Yes, I know that now many are saying that we are all artists, that there are no rules in art, that we don’t need to learn anything, but all I can say to that is bullocks!
Art is an academic subject. Art is a profession. Art has rules (definitely!). Art has a language and if you want to be an artist you must learn it. And one of the most important subjects that you cannot ignore at all is Art History.
So, since I am not your teacher, I will only give you a brief introduction at some of the things you should know if you want to paint. The theory of colour.
The PRIMARY COLOURS are: Red, green, and blue
The SECONDARY COLOURS are: Yellow, cian, and magenta
The TERCIARY COLOURS are: Orange, lime (yellow/green), violet, fucsia, and blue cian.
Hope it helps. Go to an academy if the uni is not your thing. Learn from videos, books, other artists. Read about Art History. Actually any book you see about art, buy it, borrow it, nick it, and read it! And after you have learned all there is to know about ART, you can then, ignore the rules and CREATE. 😊
I don’t usually proffer advise. Mainly because I don’t like to receive it, but…
I will just suggest these few little things that I think will help you to become a happy person. If you are already happy, have a brief nap and ignore.
First, I think we can all do with a little more introspection and reflexion. Thinking about things, but in a creative and productive manner, not worrying about them. We should look at our bodies and our minds from the inside out. Now you might want to ask me, «how the hell am I supposed to do that?» But you can, it just takes practice and visualisation, as well as taking an analytical, and precise look back at what you have done, what you have thought about and what you are doing. That is introspection.
Reflexion, to reflect upon one’s life, activities and plans, is like meditation. We can all be a little happier if we reflected before acting. Knowing yourself, and what you do, better is a way to maintain balance in life and balance is good. You will see it leads to greater happiness.
Second: Engage in a sports activity. Keep the body and the mind active. It does not matter how old/young you are. You need it although you might think you can do without it.
Third: Don’t pamper or baby yourself. Allow yourself some dosis of discomfort. For example, take cold baths, or suffer the heat. Of course this is not meant for you to torture yourself. Do it in small increments. Your body will thank you in ways you have never imagined.
Fourth: Take micro dosis of pain. It’s ok, I don’t mean for you to pull your teeth out or to cut your skin, but supporting a little pain can go a long way in strengthening your mind/spirit and making you a much happier person.
Fifth: Learn to be water and flow. Flow through your activities, your work, your engagements, your life. Water always finds its position, you can too.
And no, I am not a guru, a yogi, an ascended master or a life coach. I’m just a guy who saw you down and out too many times and thought I could lend a hand. 😊
(«Children’s Moon»/Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)
So you have children, well this is for you…
I remember that my mother only had to say, «because I’m your mother, that’s why» and all my questions and demands would come to an end.
Also, if I misbehaved, or rather, behaved in an unacceptable manner, and kept pestering, she would look at me and simply say, «don’t, don’t make me, wait for it!» and that’s it, I would back off because I knew a good slap would be coming soon.
And when my mother was tired of hearing me defending myself and arguing nonsense ad nauseam with buts and more buts, she would reply, «no buts or buts, that’s it!» And that was the end of it.
But many of you let children do whatever they want. This excess, this permissiveness, is not good for them, I warn you. Children want you, their parents, to guide them, set limits, educate them, and steer them in the right direction. You shouldn’t let them be the one’s to decide what to do or what they want. They will mature and then they will, but not as children, especially the very young ones. Do parents have the responsibility for the behaviour of their children? Of course. That’s been the rule throughout history, and now you, the so-called modern parents, are not fulfilling it.
Furthermore, one of the reasons why you have to control your kids is so that they don’t bother or drive others crazy. Especially in public places, on terraces, in bars, in shops, and on city sidewalks. In restaurants, you shouldn’t let them run around the tables as if they were in a playground. I’m not saying you should tie them to the chair, but teach them that it’s not okay to do that in a restaurant. And if they get bored and act silly, it’s your fault. Stop the afternoon drinks and extra beers, pay the bill, and take them to a park to play and burn energy. Oh, you don’t feel like it? Well, you should not have had children. Now deal with them.
Another very important thing is that you are not teaching them to be good future members of society. To be good citizens, you have to teach them good manners, to acquire and appreciate good taste, to know how to greet and say goodbye, and to treat elders respectfully and properly. In short, they have to learn to behave like civilized beings and not like little puppies. And respect is of the utmost important. They have to learn to respect others, respect you, (because no one loves who one does not respect), nature, and animals. That’s the key to peace and justice and the rightful way for them to become honest, honorable men and women. That’s how we will all enjoy a better world.
Children cannot be allowed to behave badly and have whims. On the contrary, they have to learn the value of things and appreciate their parents’ sacrifices. They have to learn to recognise the efforts made on their behalf. And that way they will be supportive and not arrogant or haughty. And for God’s sake, don’t try to turn them into unbearable snobs like those who think they are better than everyone else, because you are dooming them to failure, and no one will tolerate or love them.
We want to love your children as we love our own, and that’s why we ask you to educate them. After all that is your responsibility. And if you have to give them a spanking or a good scolding, okay, that’s never killed anybody. But be careful, don’t abuse or mistreat them. But if you need to change their behaviour immediately, perhaps because of sudden danger, a good swift spanking will do it. But do it with love.
And no, I’m not a paediatrician or child psychologist. I’m just one of those whom your spoiled brats have driven crazy too many times. Yes, you, you and you… 😊
(Image from unknown author: «The essence of philosophy is that man should live in a way that his happiness does not depend highly on external things» Epictetus)
HAY QUE BUSCAR LA FILOSOFÍA DEL ARTE EN LA VIDA
Si vives simplemente porque respiras te estás perdiendo la mitad de la vida, y digo la mitad, pero puede ser mucho más. Ciertamente te perderás la mejor parte. Si eres artista, digamos pintor, escultor, poeta, bailarín, coreógrafo, músico, compositor, actor, escritor o practicas cualquier combinación de estas, las bellas artes, eres un ser espectacular. Diría yo, un autentico fenómeno porque haces lo que otros ni sueñan. Pero el artista sabe, instintivamente, que el arte no es solo para decorar o para recrear la vista. El artista reconoce que una obra de arte tiene que ir acompañada de una filosofía que le de valor, trascendencia y espíritu. Entonces podemos decir que el artista es una especie de filosofo que transmite sus ideas visualmente, como los compositores y los músicos lo hacen con la música que componen y que tocan. El artista entonces se nutre de lo que tiene dentro, lo que cultiva con pensamientos y aprendizajes y no en lo que le rodea, o sea lo externo. Epícteto tiene razón.
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ONE MUST HAVE A PHILOSOPHY OF ART IN LIFE
If you live simply because you are breathing, you are missing half of life. I say half, but it probably is much more and I guarantee you will miss the best parts. If you are an artist, let’s say a painter, sculptor, poet, dancer, choreographer, musician, composer, actor, or practice any combination of these, the fine arts, you are a spectacular being. I would say, a true phenomenon because you do what others don’t even dream of. But the artist knows, instinctively, that art is not just for decoration or to create a pretty picture to please the eye. The artist recognizes that a work of art has to be accompanied by a philosophy that gives it value, transcendence, and spirit. So we can say that the artist is a kind of philosopher who visually transmits his ideas, like composers and musicians do with the music they compose and play. The artist, in so doing, nourishes himself with what he has cultivated inside, what his thoughts and learning have provided. Not with what surrounds him, possessions and other things external. Epictetus is right one hundred percent.
