The Art of Empathy

You need to know pain in order to be there for someone else.
Pema Chodron

We drove to Lake Tahoe to spend the last day of the old year
and the first day of the new year in the snow with our dog, Luna. Road trips serve as an airing out for us and scenes, like this sunrise from the road, never cease to delight.

Oh no are we going to talk about pain?!

No.

Not really.

Only in terms of art.

We learn to express ourselves in many ways and art is one of them. Through many emotions we create… and pain just happens to be one of those.

This is why I feel that art is so important for children… it can be a refuge, a safe place to express their feelings…as it was mine at a very young age.

My main objective in this second interview with Sarah Braunstein was not only to make people laugh with Sarah’s hardcore Long Island accent, but also to convey that the creation of art, in any form, can be a safe container to express frustration, loneliness, anger and yes, pain.

Home, sick on this winter day, I decided to interview myself. If you look closely
towards the bottom of the image you will notice that “Sarah,” while looking professional
on top, is wearing pajamas on the bottom.

I’m still learning from the experiences I talk about in this interview.

Full disclosure I felt sorry for myself for a very long time, about being a social outcast in college. It took many years to realize that this experience was an opportunity to open up my heart, to myself, and others. I realize now, that it gave me an introduction to empathy and the ability to be ‘there’ for others, when they’re in pain.

I talk about this in my interview with Sarah.
Click HERE to watch this 8 minute interview on Youtube.

I view this new year, this new decade, as an opportunity to see through the eyes of compassion more, with less resentment and much less baggage from the past. Being 60, whatever time I have left here on earth, I want to spend it in joy, wonder, equanimity and be closer to being able to, as Pema Chodron says, ‘being the sky, while everything else is just weather.’

In the coming weeks I will continue preparing for the Palm Springs Art Fair which takes place February 13th – 17th. I am grateful to have my work represented there by the Brittany Davis Gallery. If you attend please stop by our booth and say hello!

Rocky Mountain High, 24 x 36, Resin painting

Thank you to all the new collectors of my work, it makes me so happy to be part of your lives and surroundings.

For now, I hope your new year is off to a calm and easy start, bringing you good health and love…in addition to your creative journey.

Love and Light,

Robbie

PS: My next interview will be posted on the first Monday in February, which is the 3rd! I just might have a guest interviewer…. See it on YouTube, FB or Instagram or on my website.

If you’d like to get notifications for upcoming videos follow me on YouTube HERE.