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My favorite cat of all time. Simba, you were the absolute best cat, my best friend, and the kindest creature I have ever been privileged to care for and live with.
I miss you every day, buddy... but I feel your presence, and I send you my infinite love and warmth.
~ Ramon
The skies turned black. The rivers ran red. The sun betrayed us all to transparency. This was the world we truly lived in. It's just that, at times, we had to cover the mess with a smile. The wider the grin, the better the cover.
Don't give it away, now.
As I've been updating my artist blog and site, I've come back around to express what I'm going through in my mind and my heart, here in my Artist Journal. I like to write. I enjoy the relief of releasing backed-up emotions, thoughts, misunderstandings and revelations. It's like giving the soul a giant overhaul; an ethereal dump, if you will.
Whenever I read other people venting and sharing their rawest inner feelings, I would relate and feel a lot better about myself. I came to accept myself and my circumstances with openness, and eventually with a zero-thought mentality. Meaning, no more attention was paid to it. It just was, now.
I look back at what I've written and published publicly, and I have no regrets. Those words are what they were: a moment in time. I'm not a mechanical heap of a robot that does things without depth, meaning or reason. An artist's ability to feel immensely is a gift. Though it can be a curse at times to go through such intensity, if we learn to alchemize those feelings into what our soul needs, we may yet find salvation.
At times, I do wish I could stop feeling and thinking and just be nothing. Ya know? But I can't, for now. I can only navigate forward and focus on a peaceful stillness.
So, for those who feel shame, regret or unease for feeling so much and expressing it, I say two things. First, don't beat yourself up for being intelligent and able to discern. Second, maybe don't take things too far. A healthy balance is in order, for each of us in our own way.
There is always more to write about as life goes on, but for now, let's switch gears and have some fun. Bring on the AI Art Generations!
As I sit down to write this, I feel excitement mixed with nostalgia. It's been four long years since I last stepped foot in an art gallery or showcased my work to the world. The pandemic hit hard, and I chose to isolate myself from social paradigms that were rapidly rotting and degenerating. The political misguidance, and the way people weaponized one another, also played a part in my decision to step back from the limelight.
During my hiatus, I embarked on a spiritual journey, exploring the depths of my soul and the world around me. It was challenging and often daunting, but I persevered, and in doing so I unlocked a new level of creativity within myself.
I met key people and forces that revealed so much more about the world: the way people are, and the way the outer realms work in accordance with practical life on Earth. I realized my art should reflect not just my personal style, but also the beauty and the harshness of the world around me.
As I evolved, I combined all of my traditional art styles into one master style. It was a thrilling, transformative process. My art is now a fusion of techniques and styles, each one unique and essential to the whole piece. I no longer feel constrained by any single style, and I'm free to express myself in new and exciting ways.
The hiatus was not just a break from the gallery scene. It was a break from my old self, my old ways of thinking and my old artistic style. I came out of it with a renewed sense of purpose, a clearer vision of the world and a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of life.
My work has always been about pushing boundaries, breaking down barriers and challenging the status quo. With this new style, I feel ready to take things to a whole new level. The creativity that has been bubbling inside me these past four years is ready to burst forth. My time in isolation was not wasted; it was a time of growth, discovery and experimentation.
The pandemic may have forced me to take a break, but it also gave me the opportunity to evolve, grow and create something new. Life is a circle, and I'm ready to embrace the next phase of my journey with open arms. I can't wait to share it with all of you.
This is a special landscape painting I gifted to the lovely Nomad Cafe in Ridgewood! I go there almost daily for my favorite drink to start the morning: a large iced coffee with two extra espresso shots, oat milk and coffee ice cubes. Oh yeahhh, give me that caffeine, babay!
They have always been so kind to me, and to my mother when she visits, so I decided to give something back. I surprised them with one of my ol' landscapes, and they absolutely loved it! They told me how they head Upstate to get away from the city and enjoy nature's tranquil calm. This painting gives them a window to that whenever they feel gloomy. They mounted it on the cafe walls, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it up there. No matter how old I get or how skilled I become, nothing beats a good old-fashioned smile from someone whose heart you've just warmed.
Oh, and good grief, you must try their food and pastries! They are some of the best I've had anywhere in Ridgewood. I like the name “Nomad,” too. Kind of like me, a wanderer...
May you enjoy this for years and years to come, guys! Thank you.
~ Ramon
Somewhere between the fragments of memory and the rivers of reality lies Mister Rainbow. Mister Rainbow is the moniker of artist Ramon Trif, driven by his passion for colour, variety and the freedom that infinity gifts. We are always changing, yet always the same. In this, the spirit of Mister Rainbow lives in all of us.
We are all “Rainbow” in some fashion: an unstoppable phoenix burning the embers of eternity inside each of us. Every moment we die and rise again, to live. We are the immortal, singing the song of forgetfulness. Each in our own flavor. Our own colour. We fashion duality, as Light and Dark dance the Waltz of Possibility. Choice rises from the ashes of forgetting.
Mister Rainbow is the intertwined denomination of The All. You and I, he and she, they and we: All One. Mister Rainbow uses the powers of Dark and Light, Colour and Transparency to weave his masterful collections. There is a story in each of his works, if you look deeply enough. Within you. Within the mirror.
Am I Rainbow?
Yes, I Am.
Wrestling is one of my most enjoyed pastimes. Yes, I know it's rehearsed, staged, and not genuine in its emotion. It's an act. A superbly executed one. Wrestling fans roll their eyes when you point out the obvious, because it's no different from a scripted movie presented as real at the cinema. It's all fantasy, and everyone knows it. Suspension of disbelief comes with any well-told story, that's all.
What makes me realize the simplicity of many a mind is that far more important things happen in reality, presented as real, that are nothing more than deception. Politics is notorious for this. We all laugh and know better than “to trust a politician,” but wisdom be damned, we still feign interest like stringed puppets dancing to their tune. That's the punchline in all of this. We're duped on a daily basis, and we yell for honesty, demanding it at all costs. What a crock. We are a species of illusion and denial.
Art is no different. The artist merely smears paint upon thread so deceivingly well that it invokes a reaction out of you. It may bring you to tears or put a wide smile on your face. But in the end, it's nothing more than an acrylic concoction guided by my mind's hand. It's purposeful. It plays upon the initial trust that every human must give, in some form, in order to move forward.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon, Chairman and CEO of the once-WWF, now WWE, is the kingpin of wrestling, or “sports entertainment” as he coined it. Many fans scoff at that term, but that's exactly what it is: a show. Yes, supreme athleticism and real danger are involved, on the level of a stuntman, but it's still a produced and scripted show. I feel it's a far grander achievement to merge the physical capabilities of an athlete with the focused emotion of a storyline than to simply “shoot wrestle.” That gets kind of boring after a while if there's no drama.
At a deep level, isn't that how life itself becomes more entertaining? Don't you need a villain and a hero, a “good guy” and a “bad guy,” to enjoy the story? It's the same with WWE's “heels” and “babyfaces,” the roles wrestlers are given within the plot. What you're essentially watching is a mirror of life imitating itself. There are heels and babyfaces all over the world, and you're one of them!
To go even further, at times you swap roles. You go from heel to babyface and back again. Constantly. Some people flip to serve their needs. Others play their role for “deeper” reasons. Whatever the case, the fact remains that we're all acting on some level. So, what are you, really? That's for you, and only you, to figure out and remember. Until then, just enjoy the show!
Each row of this piece holds a different part of who I am.
1st Row. Friendship and relationships in general. The acrylic swirls are circular in stroke, because life is a circle. It comes back around each time, regardless of circumstance.
2nd Row. Dedicated to love and romance: the happiness and the regret one's heart feels along the way. The paint flows up and down, as we “fall” in love.
3rd Row. Reserved for the memories of losing someone precious. It honours death, its mirror of life, and the reasons we give it. The strokes run from left to right, mimicking the unfolding of a story.
4th and Final Row. What I personally cherish: fun pastimes, animals, nature and myself. If you don't love yourself, then you're a sucker for life's illusion. The energy of the colours bursts from the center, like a soul.
I'm elated to share the 2nd Edition of a prior commission named “Arrival,” which depicts the infamous fight between Raditz and Goku from the iconic series Dragon Ball Z.
This commissioned painting was requested by Kim Harrell, who first met me in 2019 while I was selling my artwork outside the MET (the Metropolitan Museum of Art). She had purchased one of my snowy landscapes back then, and one morning she messaged me on Facebook. (My old self hadn't checked messages in a while.) But lo and behold, a great reminder had arrived: people do remember me and my work.
It truly uplifted me. I'd been in a huge slump for the past year and a half with the global pandemic lockdown. It had shut me down as an artist, and I was gearing up to press the restart button. Her message and her request for new paintings were exactly the fuel I needed to get going again. Kimberly Harrell, a supreme thank you to you for revitalizing this old king off his dusty art throne!
I'm a diverse artist, so I paint many genres, from landscapes to pop art to portraits. Kim bought one of my surreal pieces alongside this DBZ request. Here's the process of how I painted it:
The inner child in me always smiles wide when I get a paid commission to create something from my nostalgic past, whether it's Dragonball, Pokemon, Super Mario, you name it!
I happen to have one particular client, Diego, who has been a happy patron these past few years. It started with Pokemon! Then, once he found out I can paint anything, he began asking for Dragonball-inspired pieces. How could I refuse? These were all so much fun to make, and knowing this is my profession makes it all the sweeter. It truly humbles me that people still love the simpler things in life, like the cartoons we grew up with.
Diego, and the rest of the world: please, by all means, keep the requests comin'! I'm more than happy to bring your custom dreams to life on canvas.
For the longest time growing up, I thought that in order to be “taken seriously” as an artist, painting cartoons wasn't the way. Boy, what a bald-headed lie! It's absolutely true, thankfully, that all that matters is that you love what you do. That love adds a certain magic to whatever you create. It gives you more inspiration to keep going, and it makes the next masterpiece even better now that it's fueled.
I suppose I still carry (or carried) the leftover “advice” from long ago that I should stick to one flavor of art. I never understood why, if you're good at all of it and can present yourself properly. When you deal with limited people, you get limited results. It's best not to listen to them, because they will hinder what you can in fact do!
In the story of Dragonball, whoever collects all seven Dragonballs scattered across the world is granted one wish by the Eternal Dragon, Shenron. I made my wish long ago, and it remains the same today: to be with my loved ones throughout all of Time and Existence. In some form or another, but always together. At the core, there is nothing more precious to me than the ones I love and who love me. They are my ultimate treasure.
What would you wish for?
In a way, this painting is another ounce of a dream come true, added to an ocean of fulfillment. Every drawing I ever drew, every painting I ever struggled with, every moment I ever looked forward to or doubted, has led me to the next level... and the next level... and the next, until one day I arrive at a certain level. I strongly feel that time approaching the more effort I put in. That excites me, but oddly scares me in some way. Maybe it's that I don't want to reach the end...?
First and foremost, I'm an artist. That doesn't mean I don't thoroughly enjoy other things in life, like one of my favorite pastimes: video games! One of my most cherished franchises is Pokemon. No introduction is needed, and for those who don't “get it,” go give it a shot yourself. Or don't, not my business. What I'm here for, out of my artist's duty, is to share what elates me each time I stumble upon it: finding art inside the world of Pokemon, or any video game for that matter. It's like an inception of sorts, art within a masterpiece. Gotta love it.
To me, Pokemon is another word for variety, choice of colour, the beauty of difference and of being unique, even when you feel like an outcast. You're not, and that's what Pokemon has taught me. There is a home for everyone, a place to belong and to feel welcome.
A vibrant town that has grown up around an ancient mural tucked away in the mountains.The town sign
That's what the sign reads as you enter. It gets you excited to explore, as art should!
What's intriguing about this in-game mural, aside from its beautiful charm and style, is the secret it holds. For those who have played the game (spoiler alert!), it serves as the gateway to the land's ancient defenders, Zacian and Zamazenta. They were two knights representing the sword and the shield, the tools used to defend their kingdom. Their names are also a play on the colours “cyan” and “magenta,” and sure enough, their colours match. Simply put, it's a breathtaking tale, and it inspired me enough to write a blog post about it.
“Devote yourself entirely, so even that which will fade and disappear is ingrained forever upon your heart and mind! That is the only fate for any human.”Siebold
Since the dawn of humanity, going back to the first cave paintings ever discovered, it's been clear that art needs a space to be exhibited. It goes hand in hand with logic: I have this object I need to show off, so I need somewhere to put it. Cavemen did this by painting directly onto stone walls. The Renaissance, home to history's greatest masters, used cathedrals, castles and museums to immortalize its masterpieces.
You would never think anything could cause the decline, or the outright elimination, of something so simple. How could displaying artwork on gallery walls ever be done for? I'll admit, not even in my darkest prophecies did I imagine something would come along and bring our reliance on galleries to a halt. Yet it arrived, in the form of a global health pandemic.
It's not my style to discuss heavy outside topics that may come off gloomy, but I'm making an exception here, because this one concerns preserving the future of art and how it's displayed. The pandemic hit us full force and sent us into a three-month lockdown back in March of 2020. Now it's July, and the world has permanently changed. By permanent, I mean forever. What we knew as standard is simply not returning. That's a reality I'm choosing to accept now rather than later.
I'm the type to adapt, not perish; to push forward and create a new solution if one isn't there. That's how one evolves. When great pressure challenges your way of life, you respond with fight or flight. Either you abandon your pursuits, or you forge yourself into a stronger version that can handle the new environment.
So, the million-dollar question: where do we go from here as artists? What now?
The old saying that pressure forms diamonds rings truer than you may believe. Not everyone is good under pressure, but those who persevere gain a great new strength. In my opinion, artists make fine pioneers when they're focused, because they excel at coming up with ideas and solutions. It has to do with the way our eyes and minds are trained. In a way, even our spirit is trained to see beyond what's in front of us, so that we can find resolution in chaos.
For an artist, losing their way of life, their livelihood, their very happiness, is something that will not be left undone. Art is one of the most stimulating and healing things we humans enjoy. It's one of the ultimate forms of self-expression, with the power to lift your being to a higher level of love and understanding. For that reason alone, I know in my heart we will reinvent art altogether if that's what it takes.
Time to put my Nostradamus hat on! In my personal prediction and professional observation, the “normality” of public events will not return. Even if full-capacity gatherings were legally allowed again, I don't see “full capacity” ever being what it used to be. I'd bet it will be reduced by at least 50% of the usual load, for the sake of health and safety. Whether the pandemic is 100% authentic or exaggerated in any way, it won't make a difference in stopping the change that's coming.
As a curator since 2011, I was personally in denial about everything taking place. But I've come to accept the inconvenience and to use it as a means to transform the gallery scene. What exactly do I have in store? I can't say just yet; I don't want to spoil the surprise. I believe it will give artists that same feeling of pride, joy and accomplishment once they take part. Stay connected with my blog and you'll see the announcements in due time!
Until then, fellow artists, hang in there! You can still paint and show it off online, on live streams, or by live painting at a park or outside your home. Meetups are still possible as long as you keep them intimate and take the proper precautions. It's all about adapting. I believe the art world will grow for the better once all is said and done. I have full faith in us.
“It's a gift
to not fully know yourself.
It's a reminder that you are forever.”Ramon Trif
I'd bet you a tube of fine, premium paint that all of us artists, professional or casual, have felt this dread before. I'm talking about the negative feeling that nearly overtakes us in the middle of planning or producing a work of art. That sudden sense of “I can't do this,” or “am I really in the mood for this?” We go from the confidence of a lion to the disbelief of a martyr! No wonder we're artists to begin with!
This phenomenon seems to occur universally, throughout the ages, and it isn't limited to art. This sense of dread is felt in all walks of life. It leads to immense procrastination and self-doubt. So, why does it happen in the first place?
Over the years, I felt this dread weighing on me and noticed it wasn't going away. Was it simply a habit I'd formed without realizing? I needed to figure out its cause, if there was one. In time, I stumbled across an answer from Dr. Jordan Peterson, a professor of psychology. In one of his lectures online he said something that resonated with me, and I never forgot it. He spoke of facing one's “inner shadow,” or “inner monster,” as he calls it.
That monster, that inner shadow, is the dread that can consume us. It's your inner self screaming at you to take care of your responsibilities. This may sound like a bunch of impractical malarkey, but if you understand the simplicity and the details of how life operates, you'll see it for the fundamental truth it is. The first step is recognizing that you have some inner work to do, and better understanding what makes you tick.
When you hear “inner shadow” or “monster,” you'd naturally think it's something to get rid of completely. No, quite the opposite. It's more of a taming process. It's your defense mechanism at its most primal, and you need it as protection. It's your animal instinct signaling that something's wrong and needs your attention. Almost like a sixth sense, it's similar to your nerves reacting when you touch a scorching hot radiator: your nervous system, through pain, warns you to back off and remedy the situation. You wouldn't want to be rid of a warning system like that. It's vital to your survival.
In feeling that inner dread, your spirit, heart and mind are reaching out to you to mature and become more responsible; to confront and clear whatever clogs are holding you back from your potential. It's called an inner monster because, just as a beast defends itself in the wild, so must you defend yourself from the chaos that tries to pull you off your path. In case you haven't nailed it yet, the real “monster” is the childish habit of apathy, or laziness. It caters to and fosters the worst in you.
Hearing the question, it's almost a no-brainer, right? If you're responsible, how could you not succeed? You'd be shocked if you really looked at all the reasons setbacks happen. They're usually the most basic issues, allowed to grow into a problem too big to overcome.
Here's an example Dr. Peterson often uses: making your bed. Yes, making your bed in the morning before you start your day is the first step in disciplining your mind on the importance of order. Order brings harmony and organization; things flow smoother and easier. Once your bed is tidy, you may notice your room needs cleaning too. You expand your focus and awareness, then complete the task at hand in increments. Now your mind is clear, and you can give quality attention to what matters (in this case, living a professional artist's career).
Apply that same discipline, with the understanding that the reward will come, because being responsible is guaranteed to bear the fruit of your labor. It works that way for anything in life. You want a cup of coffee? It's not going to serve itself!
Everyone has their own vision of success. For me, as an artist, it's becoming a professional who is consistent in his work and in how he carries himself, inwardly and outwardly, and knowing that I gave it my all. It's all about effort and how much you put in. Put the work in, and you'll reap the rewards with time, diligence and faith in yourself. Make sure you do and become what you genuinely believe, otherwise no one will believe in you in return.
This momentum builds little by little, and it adds up. You begin seeing results, and that excitement pushes you to do and achieve more! The more you confront your inner residue, the more relief you'll feel. No more dread creeping up. That's a sign of growing up and evolving toward your goals. Congratulations: you are now fully responsible for your happiness!