I'M HERE TO EMPOWER YOU!

I’m an artist . . . but that’s not saying much, because I believe, and it is something that I have devoted my time heavily to convey, that art expression is an inherent property of human nature. The media may vary, but not the innate disposition.

Those that know me have heard my “talent-as-myth” diatribe all too often, and if you end up tuning in to my posts, you will encounter it soon enough. It is my goal to change the notion, which a great number of people resign to, that one needs to have “talent” to pursue the art they feel or want and am doing this on a daily basis through my program in the G+ Mentorship Program for Photographers.

With that as preface, I will probably devote a portion of my posts to inspiring artists, but I also plan to impart other conceptions that I have about life in general, with the goal of elevating, encouraging, enlivening or energizing those who read them.

Let me begin with this:

I wish for you the ability to create for yourself all that your heart desires.

Start!


➡️ fill out this form, if you’re interested in the new home for “G+ Mentorship Program for Photographers”

➡️ fill out this form, if you’re interested in keeping in touch or getting mentored by Robin


You can begin by watching "The Myth of Talent" here:


"The Myth of Talent" by Robin Griggs Wood

Robin Griggs Wood •artist•(@robingriggswood)'s Instagram

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RECENT POSTS

Happy Halloween!!


Happy Halloween!!
I hope you've got a great mask picked out already! ... ;o7
#Googleween13 #CreateInAction

#halloween #halloween2016
#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #digitalart #fantasyart #surrealart #creative #hqspart

Fly By


Fly By
... just let it whiz past you on your browser page ... ;o)
On the news front, #SeagullButtSaturday seems to be gaining traction over the non-theme #VicarsInKnickers. So, that's something, I guess ... ;o))


#SeagullInAPelicanCostume #SeagullButtsInDisguise
––––
If you've made it this far, please know that there is NO such photography theme as #SeagullButtSaturday. The following people, sometimes posting to the #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus, are actually the #FunniestNonCuratorsOnGplus.

Robin Griggs Wood Ursula Klepper Christin McLeod Sassi Sassmannshausen Lauri Novak Richard Ball Craig Szymanski Melissa Beagle Ellie Kennard Cora Triton Steve Savoie Pam Wolfe +Joy Mum Jon Cassill Tom McGowan Annie Irving Diana Boyd Debby Moran Alex Lapidus Lou McCorkle +Rob Lopes Kimmetal Smith Bette Kauffman Liz C Jacqueline Hodsdon Darion Jackman Steven Kennard Sharon Stone Dawn Siadatan Sumit Sen Jasbir S. Randhawa Gazzaroonii T. John Wade Dave Bell Swee Oh Leo Deegan Nancy Battis Vita Patrick Kelly Marilyn Benham Mari Luukkonen Lora Lee Chapman Giselle Savoie Carin Bruce David Q. Cohen Gernot Glaeser Maureen Roberson Brian Grzelewski cobalt please Darcee McCutcheon Annelies Jansen Rachel Ferris Margaret Tompkins Jan Vermeulen Christi Nielsen Jaana Nyström



Must-have hashtags (for hackling the hashtag-haters … ;o))
#SeagullButtSaturday (duh!)
#SeagullButtShots
#SeagullButts
#notatheme
#SeagullButtsInDisguise (for other birds; a fine way to use up all those bird shots you took that are "not quite what you were shooting for" and currently languishing on your hard drive.)
#Gulluminati (what the group of non-curators have come to be known as)
#FunniestNonthemeOnGplus (because, isn't it?! … ;oD)
#Splatterday (Jasbir's invention, applicable for, ahem, some conditional shots … ;o7)

#rgwoodpost #Gulluminati #Gullarazzi #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus
#googleplusphotos #hqspbirds #btpbirdpro BTP Bird Pro  #birdsgallery #hqsplandscape
My G+ albums: https://sites.google.com/site/rgwphotoalbums/

"Luck Meets a Lady"


"Luck Meets a Lady"
#Googleween13 #CreateInAction


#TBT Back in the first year of Google+ (2011), we had great fun with "Selfie Sunday". This was my Hallowe'en entry. G+ was in prime form back then and offered creatives a superb venue for connection, engagement and play.



#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #digitalart #fantasyart #surrealart #creative #hqspart #ThrowbackThursday

Muffled Invective


Muffled Invective

It's a darn good thing I couldn't quite understand what she squawked at me when I snapped this. I'm sure it wasn't printable for a family audience. I wanted to reply with something snappy like, "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?! but I really have no idea if #SeagullButtsInDisguise  kiss their mother's ... ;o7

––––
If you've made it this far, please know that there is NO such photography theme as #SeagullButtSaturday. The following people, sometimes posting to the #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus, are actually the #FunniestNonCuratorsOnGplus.

Robin Griggs Wood Ursula Klepper Christin McLeod Sassi Sassmannshausen Lauri Novak Richard Ball Craig Szymanski Melissa Beagle Ellie Kennard Cora Triton Steve Savoie Pam Wolfe +Joy Mum Jon Cassill Tom McGowan Annie Irving Diana Boyd Debby Moran Alex Lapidus Lou McCorkle * Kimmetal Smith Bette Kauffman Liz C Jacqueline Hodsdon Darion Jackman Steven Kennard Sharon Stone Dawn Siadatan Sumit Sen Jasbir S. Randhawa Gazzaroonii T. John Wade Dave Bell Swee Oh Leo Deegan Nancy Battis Vita Patrick Kelly Marilyn Benham Mari Luukkonen Lora Lee Chapman Giselle Savoie Carin Bruce David Q. Cohen Gernot Glaeser Maureen Roberson Brian Grzelewski cobalt please Darcee McCutcheon Annelies Jansen Rachel Ferris Margaret Tompkins Jan Vermeulen Christi Nielsen Jaana Nyström

Real themes:
#birds4all curated by Walter Soestbergen Ricky L Jones & Birds4All
#birdloversandwildlife curated by Robert SKREINER  BIRD Lovers & WILDLIFE
#birdsgallery with thanks to Heinrich Wagner


Must-have hashtags (for hackling the hashtag-haters … ;o))
#SeagullButtSaturday (duh!)
#SeagullButtShots
#SeagullButts
#notatheme
#SeagullButtsInDisguise (for other birds; a fine way to use up all those bird shots you took that are "not quite what you were shooting for" and currently languishing on your hard drive.)
#Gulluminati (what the group of non-curators have come to be known as)
#FunniestNonthemeOnGplus (because, isn't it?! … ;oD)
#Splatterday (Jasbir's invention, applicable for, ahem, some conditional shots … ;o7)

#rgwoodpost #Gulluminati #Gullarazzi #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus
#googleplusphotos #hqspbirds #btpbirdpro BTP Bird Pro #birdsgallery #hqsplandscape
My G+ albums: https://sites.google.com/site/rgwphotoalbums/

Are you going to do something epic with your week?


Are you going to do something epic with your week?
If not, why the heck not?!!!
#mightbetimeforachangeofplans ... ;o7

#MountainMonday Mountain Monday with thanks to Michael Russell

#LandscapePhotography with thanks to Margaret Tompkins Eric Drumm Chandler L. Walker Krzysztof Felczak AJ Lim and Landscape Photography

#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #hqsplandscape #BTPLandscapePro BTP Landscape Pro #California #Travel #TravelPhotography #Sky #mountain

I hope you're looking forward to a wonderful weekend ahead!


I hope you're looking forward to a wonderful weekend ahead!

#FridaysAreBokehlicious  :o) … ˚ºoOoº˚
With a nod and grin to those sundry #bokehlicious #bokeholics (that may rival the non-curator list of a certain non-theme! … ;o7)
Leo Deegan Art through the Aperture Photography Nicole H Sean McLean Shelly Corbett Betty Habesch Kal Pant Elizabeth Hahn Michael B. Stuart Paul Moody Toshinori ABE Winnie Young Graham Knights Keith Elliott Jacek N. Kozioł Jasbir S. Randhawa ***** Darion Jackman John Balboni April L Hill Shannon Adelson Dylan Johnson Shelly Gunderson Robin Griggs Wood Kathleen Kent Angie Smith John Getchel Uwe Duwe Magdalena MadZ Wesly Smith Wendy Baker Dawn Siadatan wolly wolly Berit Schurse Tom Tran Eve Aebi Isabelle Fortin Liz C Cooksterz Littlefield

#LandscapePhotography with thanks to Margaret Tompkins Eric Drumm Chandler L. Walker Krzysztof Felczak AJ Lim and Landscape Photography

#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #Friday #TGIF #naturephotography #hqsplandscape #BTPLandscapePro BTP Landscape Pro

Let's Play


Let's Play
For this #Bokehlicious Friday the theme is Toys ... because we are all basically children at heart ... :o)). I couldn't find my toys, but I was able to find a REAL fairy out in my garden who loves to play, so that counts, right? ... ;o))

#FridaysAreBokehlicious  :o) … ˚ºoOoº˚
With a nod and grin to those sundry #bokehlicious #bokeholics (that may rival the non-curator list of a certain non-theme! … ;o7)
Leo Deegan Art through the Aperture Photography Nicole H Sean McLean Shelly Corbett Betty Habesch Kal Pant Elizabeth Hahn Michael B. Stuart Paul Moody Toshinori ABE Winnie Young Graham Knights Keith Elliott Jacek N. Kozioł Jasbir S. Randhawa ***** Darion Jackman John Balboni April L Hill Shannon Adelson Dylan Johnson Shelly Gunderson Robin Griggs Wood Kathleen Kent Angie Smith John Getchel Uwe Duwe Magdalena MadZ Wesly Smith Wendy Baker Dawn Siadatan wolly wolly Berit Schurse Tom Tran Eve Aebi Isabelle Fortin Liz C Cooksterz Littlefield

#MacroAddict MacroAddict with thanks to Sandrine Berjonneau

#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #Friday #TGIF #naturephotography #hqspmacro #btpmacropro  BTP Macro Pro  #Macro4All #MacroManiacs #macrophotography

The Breathing in Beauty, Creativity, & Gratitude mentorship is readyfor sign-ups!


The Breathing in Beauty, Creativity, & Gratitude mentorship is ready for sign-ups!

This program offered through the G+ Mentorship Program for Photographers  is about giving yourself permission to create space in your life for YOU. It is about practicing habits that may help you move through life a bit more smoothly - a bit more joyfully - and certainly with an emphasis on seeing more of the beauty in the world! I will be taking on a LIMITED number of people for a six week on-line mentorship program which will include lessons, stories, assignments, and sharing. Participants will have the opportunity to practice new habits & talk about their experiences in a private G+ community which I intend to nurture as a positive, supportive, encouraging, & FUN environment!

In my life I have often found myself in the role of teacher &/or student, mentor &/or mentee. I firmly believe that teachers are students and students are teachers - and that when we are open to learning from one another, everyone's experience is richer. As a teacher, there is nothing better than when someone you're working with lights up with excitement when they do something they never thought they could have done before - and as a student, there is nothing better than that moment when, because of a teacher's inspiration & belief, you do something you never thought you could have done!

My background is in education, and I taught French & Spanish for over 16 years in large public high schools. I have led numerous community education classes, book studies, & women's groups, and since moving out of depression in 2009, I have attended and led several personal development classes and have been trained as a holistic body/breath work practitioner. My belief in the power of mentorships is deepened by the fact that I have had the opportunity to work with a local art mentor for the past six years & have worked with several mentors within the Arcanum & the broader photography community for over two years. I am currently a Master in the Arcanum, I do freelance photography projects, & offer one on one mentoring as well as sessions on contemplative photography. I would never have arrived to where I am today without the guidance, teachings, & wisdom of the mentors & teachers who have inspired ME along the way! Now it's my turn to attempt to pay it forward!

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a mentorship specifically about photography where you will learn about composition, post-processing or anything else remotely technical. Repeat, this is NOT a technical mentorship. Instead, photography will be used as a companion of sorts as you practice habits in the realms of gratitude, finding beauty, seeking space, becoming aware of your breath, taking "good" risks, & using visualization. This mentorship will not focus on the "how" of photography but will emphasize the "why" - that is, the discussion will be a journey of self-discovery centered around the meaning you may uncover during the process of practicing the habits & the process of taking pictures. Your camera (and ANY camera will do!) will simply be a tool that you use to express yourself, and your images will be a narration of the habits you will be asked to practice each week.

Sign ups begin October 5th, and selections will end October 11th for the mentorship beginning October 16th & ending November 26th.

These are the selection criteria I will be considering:

*You must be taking and posting your own photographs regularly here on G+ or other social media –– ideally with an absolute minimum of three days between public posts; more increases your chances of being selected. (The class itself will be private to the group selected except for the option of a public display album of your best work at the end.)
*You must be willing to commit to being interactive here at G+, as you will be expected to participate in this program by engaging in conversation & supporting your fellow participants.
*You have the time available to participate in this workshop - which will also include components that, for best results, are expected to be practiced on a daily basis (for a minimum of five minutes each day).
*You must be willing to "take yourself on," be willing to try new things, and share something about your experiences with others.

To be considered for selection, please comment to the ORIGINAL post only on my profile page: https://plus.google.com/109026969283554432972/posts/RP8q7bF52Ly by answering the following questions in your comment below. (PLEASE NOTE: if you apply on any reshares, your application will NOT be seen!)

1) Journaling: Do you have a current practice of journaling? If so, how often do you do it? If not, what is your initial response to the thought of doing five minutes of writing a day?

2) Meditation: Do you have a current daily practice of meditation? If so, for how long have you been practicing? If not, have you ever tried meditation? If so, what was your response to it? If not, what is your initial response to the thought of trying meditation?

3) Would you identify yourself as an artist? Why or why not?

4) What is your response to the idea of taking/making time for yourself?

5) What is a risk that you took in your life that you're really glad you took?

6) What will be your role in making sure you get the most from this mentorship?

7) What amount of time do you have available for participation?

EXAMPLE ANSWERS
1) I used to journal daily, then I did it off and on for years, but recently I have begun doing it as a daily practice again.
2) I have done daily meditation in the past but have gotten away from the regular practice. I still do it at least once a week.
3) Now I would. In the past, no. I really used to struggle with saying, "I'm an artist."
4) After burning out physically & emotionally at a past job, I try to make a greater effort to make time for myself. Sometimes I do a better job of it than others.
5) I'm glad I finally resigned from a job that, though it was stable & decent money, was making me mentally, emotionally, and physically sick.
6) I know that I will get out of this mentorship what I put into it, so I will do what I can to be engaged in the community.
7) I can definitely find fifteen minutes each day to devote to this - some days more

I look forward to working with many of you on this adventure!!

(Robin Griggs Wood , Alex Lapidus , Ron Clifford )