ArtRishi

"I recognize truth and beauty
by the subtle way my heart reacts.
There is a sweetness in seeing something real.
A recognition.
A love of transcendent beauty
is what inspires me to photograph...
Not merely to document,
but to dive into the subtle world of seeing."

Where do you turn for inspiration?
Other artists, especially non photographers, help cross-pollenate my thinking.

Nature, of course, is a wonderful inspiration.

What do you seek?
I seek freedom in life: true, deep honesty. It's harder than you think to be that honest.

What gets you really excited about life?
I love creativity. When I see people being creative, or when I see nature putting on a show, it inspires me to join in the fun. I am passionate about uncovering new layers of truth in my life. I appreciate anything that is authentic. I love photography, communicating, meditation and yoga and taking care of my health. I love learning new things.
When did you become an artist? Has art always been a big part of your life?
I was a math major in college and never thought I would be an artist. Looking back, I remember loving art lessons as a kid. When my mom gave me a camera I discovered a new way to interact with and appreciate flowers. It gave me a chance to slow down and really see the flower I had previously been walking by.
How do you keep your art fresh - the experience fresh?
My weekly newsletter keeps me on my toes. Every week I challenge myself to come up with new images and a story for my readers.

Does art easily come to you? Do you have to work at it?
Photography is a lucky art form in that there are no brush strokes to learn.

The essence of photography lies in composition and lighting and timing. This is where the fun is for me in art -- photography is all about the big picture.

I'd say that part is easy for me. I like trying different angles, and more often than not I can find a good one. But I'm always trying to learn more ways to take photos and improve my craft. When I'm taking photos, I more or less forget about techniques and just follow my bliss.

Do you ever feel blocked? If so, what do you do to release the block?
Yes, it happens when I get tired. If I push too hard and start cutting my sleep time, the creativity goes out the window. The same ideas I reveled in become boring to me. It takes discipline for me to resist the urge to work until I drop because I love what I do, balance is the key.

How do you tap into creativity?
Meditation is a key for me. I've been practicing Transcendental Meditation since I was 6 years old and I still love the blissful experience it gives me every day. With a clear, open mind can see the subtle beauty all around.

How do you create an artful life for yourself?
I have to wear a lot of hats running my own business, but I think all of it is fun because it's all creativity in different forms.

I love to travel and visit amazing places and people around the globe. I'd love to build my business so that I can spend more time photographing.

Where does appreciation fit in?
That is my job description through and through! My job is to appreciate. Show me a room full of junk -- my job is to find something interesting, beautiful, funny or inspiring there.

We have enjoyed Todd's art for many years, which is why he launches our Artful Living segment. His card sets, calendars & photographs are lovely. Todd is a true inspiration.

Check out his website to see his offerings.

Here are some of Todd's thoughts on living artfully: