Category: Rafi’s Ramblings

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The Power of Life’s Moments – My Rambles

People often ask me, “What inspires you and your art?” It’s a question that requires a deeper understanding of the creative process. While renowned artists like Picasso, Warhol, or Dali may appear to be obvious sources of inspiration, the truth is that their art, in itself, doesn’t inspire me. Rather, it is life and the experiences it offers that fuel my creativity. On this dreary day, I want to share some rambles on inspiration and how the stuff of life shapes our artistic endeavors.

Creative Inspiration Is An Interesting Beast

When we create, it comes from within us, where we observe, absorb, and reflect on our emotions and reactions to the world around us. It’s the essence of life itself. While I may draw inspiration from various sources, the tapestry of existence truly moves me. Allow me to elaborate.

Last year, I embarked on a road trip to attend my daughter’s wedding in Illinois. Due to the pandemic, it had been years since we had seen our family, making this journey even more special. As we traveled, those moments in the car allowed me to decompress and fully embrace the anticipation of reconnecting with loved ones. It was a mix of excitement, mental preparation, and the knowledge that we would experience something truly significant.

Connected To The Universe By Rafi Perez

Arriving at our destination, we were greeted with conversations, smiles, and all the interactions that make up our lives. These moments, whether joyful, heated, or melancholic, are the stuff of life. They inspire us, shape us, and teach us valuable lessons about ourselves and what we aspire to become. The art we create becomes an expression of our unique perspectives on the world and the things we often take for granted.

In a fast-paced, busy world, it’s easy to let life pass us by. We become focused on destinations and overlook the beauty of the journey itself. However, it is precisely in those small moments, the instances of triumph and joy, and even the heartaches, that we find inspiration. These experiences enable us to overcome obstacles and grow as individuals. Feeling our way through the world is the key to unlocking innovation and creativity.

I’m Born With It By Artist Rafi Perez

The Power of Authenticity & Perspective

In a society that often encourages us to suppress or hide our feelings, we must realize that our emotions are a powerful expression of our authentic selves. By embracing our feelings, we allow ourselves to be fully present and in tune with the world. It’s essential to understand that hiding our emotions equates to hiding who we are and how we perceive the world.

Perspective shapes our experiences and influences how we perceive the world. I refuse to let external conditions dictate my ideas of what it means to be successful. Instead, I immerse myself in the process of creation, cherishing the moments spent creating. It’s a reminder that our focus should be on the things that bring us happiness and fulfillment, rather than dwelling on what we lack or wishing for something better.

Becoming Tree Of Life Necklace Ocean Jasper 14k Gold Filled Klee Angelie Jewelry

From Struggle to Empowerment

In my own journey, there was a time when I wished for a better life, feeling trapped by circumstances that seemed less than ideal. But at some point, I realized that if I wanted change, I needed to take control and create the life I desired. Through risk-taking and embracing vulnerability, I started to build something amazing. And the message I want to share is that if I can do it, anyone can. We can all live a creative life, find happiness, and continue moving forward, even in the face of challenges. In your vulnerability, you will find authenticity.

Living authentically means embracing who we are and being present in every moment. It means recognizing that our thoughts, ideas, and emotions matter. When we express ourselves genuinely, whether through art, music, or other creative outlets, we invite others to connect with our unique perspective. It’s a powerful way to inspire and resonate with those who encounter our work.

Aquamarine Drop Necklace Sterling Fine Silver 18k Gold by Klee Angelie Jewelry

In a world that often pushes us to be constantly striving for more and overlooking the “now”, it’s crucial to remember that inspiration lies in the moments we experience and the emotions we feel. Life itself is the greatest source of inspiration for artists. By embracing the journey, feeling our way through the world, and living authentically, we unlock our creative potential and find fulfillment in the beauty that surrounds us.

So, the next time you find yourself caught up in the busyness of life, take a moment to pause, look around, and appreciate the simple joys. Embrace the moments, both big and small, and let them fuel your creative spirit. Remember, you have the power to shape your own perspective and create a life filled with beauty, purpose, and inspiration.

Metamorphosis By Artist Rafi Perez
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Sometimes People Are Just Jerks

I received an email recently from someone who listened to one of our podcasts about facing criticism, and I wanted to share the experience with you. As an artist, we lay everything out there in the arena and experience a vulnerability that not too many people encounter.

The email went like this:

Hi Rafi and Klee!
I just had to drop you a line and let you know how much I appreciate you both and the stuff you are putting out into the universe. (Long time lurker over here! I’ve been watching your videos for a very long time now.) I like to listen to your podcast while I’m in the studio – it’s like having creative friends over. Also, please forgive this super long email.

In today’s podcast, Rafi mentioned that someone left a negative review on one of his books, and how ultimately he didn’t care, even though it dragged down his star rating. You have no idea how helpful it was for me to hear this! I have had books of mine on Amazon, and I eventually took them all down because I just couldn’t take the reviews. (They were just coloring books, but entirely filled with my hand-drawn original art.) In my second to most recent book, I was so proud of it. I worked really hard on it, and it was absolutely the best work I could do at the time. And guess what? The first review was a one-star review, absolutely eviscerating it. They even took photos of the pages they thought were particularly awful, some of which were actually best-selling prints for me. I was devastated, and I took the book down shortly after. I felt like I had produced a faulty “product”, not a heartfelt work of creativity, and it was my responsibility to get it away from the public. (I would later go on to give digital copies of this book away during the pandemic, and lots of people loved it and sent me the nice kind of photos, so maybe it wasn’t total trash?)
Your comment today struck my heart in a good way. I’m starting to see that the opinion of one random person ultimately doesn’t matter, and it shouldn’t keep me from putting my work out there. It sounds really obvious when I type it out, but it’s a real breakthrough for me!

That book is still off Amazon… but I just released a new one. Here’s hoping I don’t totally chicken out on marketing it! (To be clear – I never stopped putting my paintings out there… but I’ve been doing so in the quietest, most risk adverse way possible. For years!)

Thank you both so much for providing so much encouragement and wisdom! You are really making a difference in people’s lives for the better. Keep on being awesome!

Claire Chambers ~ Chickenpants Studio
Someone criticized this work and I sold it a day later.

As a creative person, putting your work out into the world can be a vulnerable experience. When you put your heart and soul into something, you want it to be well-received. Unfortunately, negative feedback can hit hard and be discouraging. This has happened to me countless times.

Sometimes a review can feel like a reflection of your abilities and that maybe you have failed. It’s easy to be devastated and be tempted to retreat from the world. However, you shouldn’t let one person’s opinion affect you.

Some people out there will be uplifting and encouraging. Some, not so much. Negative feedback is just part of the creative process and you shouldn’t let it bring you down. People are weird fickle creatures whose motivation is usually prompted by their own emotional state. The person who left the negative review was probably having a bad day and decided to take it out on the book. However, you show courage by releasing a new book and sharing it anyway.

Someone said something hateful about this, five minutes later this awesome person purchased it.

Experiences like this have taught me that putting yourself out there is scary but worth it. It’s okay to receive negative feedback, but it’s important to keep creating and sharing your work regardless. One person’s opinion doesn’t define your worth as a creative person.

Personally, if I listened to hateful reviews, I would not share art, podcasts, or videos. If you’re a creative person struggling with negative feedback, know you’re not alone. Keep pushing through and keep creating – the world needs your unique perspective and creativity.

People may use your art to blow off steam by attacking it, but your job is not to retreat. Your job is to keep pushing forward, persist and show how meaningless being hateful is. Only a handful of hateful people out there get a lot of attention because they can get under your skin. Ignore them. Don’t give them your power by buying into what they are saying. Just keep being your awesome self.

That’s why it’s also important to surround yourself with genuine creatives who will be honest and support you, because there is a BIG difference between constructive criticism and someone going out of their way to totally destroy someone’s creation. So, to the one-star reviewer who spent time taking pictures and feeling all high and mighty leaving a hateful review, “you can eat a bag.”

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Resilience: Weathering the Storms of Life

It’s been a whirlwind since we moved to our new town. Between running our art business, volunteering, and making repairs, Klee and I haven’t had a chance to catch our breath. We were in desperate need of a reset. Luckily, with winter, we have had some much-needed downtime. We needed to get organized.

Despite feeling a bit out of place since our move, we’ve tried to stay involved in art-centric events and help out wherever we can. But there is only so far one can push themselves. Recently, we’ve faced a new challenge, which caused me to reflect a little. In facing challenges, we have been called resilient over the last couple of years, and I wanted to dig a little deeper.

Klee At Black And White Ball -Posing With Wings I Built.

Resilience is the ability to recover from difficult situations, adapt, and bounce back when life throws curveballs our way. It is a critical trait to possess when unexpected events happen at any time. Resilience can mean the difference between giving up or pushing through the suck.

So, the question is, have Klee and I always been resilient? The answer is no. We may have survived many situations in the past, but we were not always resilient. To be honest, I think we can thank “being artists” for our resilience. So how did we develop resilience? Why is it that we persist instead of giving up?

One way to develop resilience is by being organized. Having a flexible system and being proactive about managing our lives has helped us handle difficult situations better.

When we are organized, we can more easily identify what is essential and what is not. By putting our priorities in order, we can ensure that we spend our time and energy on the things that matter most. Being organized can also help us to be more efficient, allowing us to accomplish more with less stress.

Most Recent Challenge

That was a big problem for us before, during, and after the move. Changing our lives so drastically threw a wrench into the systems we had in place. With every new obstacle, things seemed to become more and more overwhelming. That is why it is important to take as much time as you need to put things where they belong. Being out of whack is no fun, trust me.

Another way to develop resilience is by working smarter. This comes with getting organized. We can all benefit from taking a step back and reassessing our actions. Sometimes, we get caught up in the routine and don’t realize that we are making things more complicated than they need to be. By examining our processes and identifying areas where we can improve, we can streamline things and make them more manageable. This can reduce stress and make it easier to bounce back from setbacks. Cutting the fluff makes a difference in how you approach your days.

Rafi and Klee Studios

All that being said, even when we are organized and working smart, life can still throw us curveballs.

Unexpected events like storms, repairs, financial problems, or accidents can disrupt our plans and overwhelm us. In those moments, it’s important to remember that resilience is not about being invincible. It’s about being able to weather the storm and bounce back afterward. As artists, our entire career is built on resilience.

Here are some tips on how we stay resilient in the face of adversity:

Take care of yourself: When we are under stress, it’s easy to neglect our physical and emotional needs. But taking care of ourselves is crucial for building resilience. Eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, and make time for exercise and relaxation.

Rafi and Klee Relaxing.

Lean on your support system: Don’t try to go it alone. Reach out to family and friends for support, or seek out a support group. Talking to others who have been through similar experiences can be comforting and help us to see that we are not alone.

Focus on what you can control: In difficult situations, it’s easy to feel helpless. But focusing on what we can control can help us to feel more empowered. Identify the things that are within your control, and focus on those. This allows you not to waste time thinking about things you can’t control that make you feel overwhelmed.

Practice gratitude: It sounds cheesy, but this step is essential. Getting caught up in what’s going wrong is easy, but focusing on what’s going right can help us develop a more positive outlook. Your brain chemistry changes when you do this, allowing you to think more clearly.

Learn from setbacks: This is life. We are going to experience roadblocks and setbacks. It can be frustrating and discouraging, but it can also be an opportunity for growth. Take time to reflect on what you can learn from the experience and how you can use that knowledge to improve in the future.

What a mess …lol.

Listen, resilience is essential in a world of inevitable change and uncertainty. By being organized, working smarter, and caring for ourselves, we can develop the resilience we need to weather the storms of life. Remember to lean on your support system, focus on what you can control, practice gratitude, and learn from setbacks. With this, we can bounce back from just about anything.

It’s been a rollercoaster since we moved to this new town, but I’m excited to see where it takes us. Persistence spawns resilience, and resilience gives birth to focusing on what is going right in life. I’m excited to see what new adventures we’ll have and what new people we’ll meet. But most of all, I am excited to be alive on this adventure called life.

Watch our newest adventure, where we face our most recent challenge below.

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The New You, And Hope

The Holiday season has come and gone. As Klee and I prepared for our long winter nap and reflection, I was struck by an important question. Who are you today? I mean, I know who I am, right? Surprisingly, the answer is no. The fact is that we change and evolve with every experience we have.

Listening to the gusts of wind and snow pummel my house, I was taken back to my childhood and some experiences and people that helped make me who I am today. These moments, conversations, struggles, and highlights taught me valuable lessons. However, if I am candid with myself, it is just a narrative I have repeated so much that it has become a reality. Everything I remember from my past is a construct of my design. I watched much TV as a kid and absorbed characters like Mr. Rogers and Bob Ross. They impacted me by introducing me to something I wasn’t surrounded by. Hope. But was it real?

Maybe it was the holidays or that Klee and I decided to take some time off from all the craziness and reset, but I can’t help wondering why I do what I do.

Anyone following our journey knows the last few years have been full of adventurous tales.

Rafi and Klee are waiting for a call from realtor

Some of you know that we moved last year, and to say it has been a crazy rollercoaster ride is an understatement. Let’s be honest, the last few years have been a bit of an insane ride, and I finally feel like we are getting to some semblance of normal. Well, normal for us. As I reflect, I think about how our lives changed dramatically and the toll it took on us.

The true craziness started in 2020 when the world shut down, and everyone fought amidst a pandemic. Klee and I spent a lot of time navigating the changes that would have to come with our art business. No longer able to do local shows for income, we needed to adapt and change our strategy. As we watched our bank account dwindle, we struggled to find footing. The truth is, spending a lot of time indoors and away from others wasn’t bothering us at all. Klee and I are artists. That’s normal for us. We spend a lot of time in our studio. We also really like each other, so nothing much had changed. It felt like the world around us was changing, or maybe we were paying closer attention since we weren’t distracted by markets and shows. Things sometimes felt a bit dark, but we kept our spirits up.

Because we needed to take a new direction, we focused a little more on connecting with artists online. We started a community of Rogue artists from all over the world. We wanted to create a safe place for creatives to interact and share ideas. We began to invest more time in our online efforts. We built a community, started a podcast, and uploaded more videos. We also supported the artists in our local area whenever we could. Then hurricane Sally hit our area, and everything shut down twice over. To say that 2020 was challenging doesn’t quite sum up the year. Let’s say the term dumpster fire is a better description.

Rafi And Klee Zoom Meetings During 2020

Enter 2021, and things are slowly coming out of the worst of the pandemic, but there are still a lot of heightened emotions and arguments in the world. As much as people wanted to talk and argue politics, I wanted nothing to do with that conversation. At this point, we had our eyes set on moving, but we were still trying to navigate the financial effects of 2020. I was writing my second and third books, organizing the art for a large exhibition, planning an adventure to the north, and figuring out how to afford to purchase a new home.

We had wanted to move from the apartment we had been living in for a while. The truth is we had outgrown it years earlier, and other factors involved made it a somewhat challenging environment for what we do. With every year that passed, the challenges became more prominent. Every year, however, we would put it off until the following year. This was most likely due to fear. As much as we wanted to move, we knew how to navigate our environment, which was comfortable (as in our comfort zone, which has nothing to do with real comfort). We finally reached a point where we had no other option but to move on and leave the apartment behind. Things had gotten beyond challenging, and we were determined to escape the situation we had put ourselves in by living in the apartment. We decided that even if we had to live in our car, get rid of everything, and start over again, we were willing to do that. It was time for a change.

Of course, the odds were stacked against us. Self-employed artists are at the lowest rung of banking loan opportunities, but we didn’t care this time. We were going to make it happen. Towards the end of the year, we gathered what we had saved from successful art shows and proceeded to travel the country and look for a new home. We eventually landed in Oil City, which had an artist’s relocation program to revitalize this once-boom town. The city is beautiful, and we found a house that we immediately fell in love with. It was our dream home. Our offer was accepted, and it was time to return, pick up our belongings, and start our new life.

Upon arriving at the apartment, we found that a leak from an air-conditioner had devastated Klee’s jewelry bench and tools. The water had also gotten underneath the protective tarp surrounding the studio. This meant that we would have to tear things down at a hurried pace. Exhausted from our travels, we jumped into taking the studio apart, buying a house long distance, organizing another art show, collecting art from around town, and getting ready to move our lives across the country.

Klee trying to recover her damaged jewelry bench and tools

The studio was shut down during all this, and we could not take any orders. This meant we were not making any money.

It was a month of constant exhaustion and heavy lifting that ended with us throwing everything into a 26-foot U-Haul before our landlords showed up with their own Uhaul (who needed us to move ours out of the way, but that’s a whole other story). We put our jeep on the tow dolly and navigated our way to our new town, stopping to nap at a Truckstop and racing against time to make it to our new home for the closing.

Once we were at the house, the challenges continued. We knew that buying an older home would require updates and repairs. However, we did not expect no-shows, delays, and a lack of good contractors. The house needed new electrical, plumbing, and other repairs before we could open our studio. At this point, the studio had been shut down for months.

Finally, eight months into 2021, we opened the art studio and jumped right into taking commissions and opening up our online store. We were in our dream home, and life was good. However, it was nonstop, and my body couldn’t take it anymore. The move and pushing my body too far caused debilitating pain. I pushed on anyhow.

We organized a two-month gallery show, released two books, music, volunteered, and worked on commissions all while we did repairs for our new home and built our lives back up. All the while feeling like we would never catch up and get back on track. We pushed through the holiday orders and finally got to a place where we could catch our breath.

Honestly, all of this would have been fine, it is just the luck of being busy as an artist who just moved to a new town. However, on the back end, everything we had in place to run our art business was old and outdated. Systems needed an overhaul, and everything was more complicated than it needed to be.

Enter the break.

Towards the end of 2022, we decided to take a few months off to get ourselves organized and restructured. During that time, we released the last audiobook, built a Rogue Artist Community site, created systems for our business (giving us more time for creativity), finished building our art studio, and updated our website and webstore.

Another artist I know said, “I’m jealous. I wish we could take a few months off and relax.”

Relaxing is next on our list lol.

My reflection on these last few years has taught me that no matter what is thrown at you, nothing can stand in your way as long as you are determined to keep going. However, making time for self-care and relaxation is paramount. We may be able to climb mountains, but you have to stop and rest along the way.

I can sit here and bitch about all the struggles we have had, but honestly, that’s just life. How we handle them and reflect is really what matters. We may still be recovering physically and financially, but what drives me forward is the same thing I was introduced to as a child. Hope. The difference is I surround myself with it now.

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Time To Open The Art Studio! Sunday!

It’s that crazy time of year again where everywhere you go you are inundated with joyful music and surrounded by ugly sweater colors. If there is anything we all want to do a little less of is deal with holiday shopping. I don’t know about you, but I have never been a big fan of Black Friday. I’m not knocking it, I know some people who look forward to it as if it were some kind of treasured holiday. However, I don’t like traffic, crowds, lines, and fighting over parking spots. I prefer to be in the warmth and calm of my own home and enjoying a little spiked eggnog and relaxation.

To be honest with you, this whole year has been crazy. We moved a year ago and we are just now starting to catch up and get the art studio fully open and organized. We’ve had our ups and downs this year, and we have had some rough patches. We have also had amazing wins and new adventures. What we have accomplished blows my mind, but I am looking forward to hibernating a bit during the winter months.

After our move (which was nightmarish since the moment of the leak that ruined the old studio) we did not slow down. We moved an entire art studio and our few personal belongings, made repairs and dealt with a large plumbing issue, released new music for distribution, fixed the electrical in the house, built our media studio, furnished the house, hung a track system for art throughout the house, released new books, setup the art studio, set up the writing room, and held a two month long exhibition at graffiti gallery. Needless to say, we are REALLY looking forward to some relaxing (and spiked eggnog).

However. We want to do something special and share our home with you. We wanted to open the studio up to you guys again. Last year on December 11th, we had our first and only virtual open studio from the sunflower house. I remember announcing so many awesome creative plans for 2022. Instead of everything taking place in one catch-all room, we actually expanded our creative spaces. The art studio itself was not up and running yet when we went live so there was no tour. This year we want to show you where we are. There still a lot to do, but we want to share it with our online Rogue family!

So, this Sun December 11th 2022 at 5 PM EST we are inviting you to tune in to our second LIVE STUDIO EVENT in our new home. This is a casual affair where we will show some art and jewelry, tell some stories, give a tour, answer some questions, and play some music. We are also giving away $200 worth of prizes and also some ridiculous discounts as a big “thank you” for being there and supporting us through this craziness. Click on this banner to go to the page and enter the giveaway, we’ll announce winners during the stream.

This is going to be so much fun! I hope you can make it!

WHAT: Rafi & Klee Virtual Open Studio
WHEN: December 11th at 5 PM EST- 7ish
WHERE: ONLINE HERE- https://rafiandklee.com/live/ And chat with us on YouTube.
WHY: Because we are going to have a blast!

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How To Be A Badass Artist

Many people will ask me about my art and popularity and assume that I have always had some secret answer to both. The truth is much more exciting. Contrary to popular belief, I wasn’t born with it. In fact, I spent most of my life having abysmal social skills.

Any sentence containing the word “Rafi” would not be followed by a phrase containing the words popular, cool, or badass. It was quite the opposite. I was painfully shy and assumed that I would never amount to anything. Of course, back then, I didn’t push my own boundaries.

Just look at how cool I was.

In my shy brilliance, I understood I was introverted and scared to get in the limelight. Anything requiring me to face rejection or put myself out there would bring paralyzing fear.

So what changed?

I did. At some point in my life, I decided that life was too short to be invisible. I knew somewhere deep inside that I was stronger than I had believed. I also understood that the best way to conquer fear was to face it head-on. Hence, my art career. Sure, I wanted to share my art with the world, but honestly, this whole ride has been a self-conducted social experiment. I wanted to see if I could turn someone who felt broken and small into someone who would have a powerful creative voice in the world. To this day, this is what motivates me to create and put myself out there.

Here are seven things that I have learned along the way.

Worrying About What People Think Of You Is Useless.

This is one of the most powerful lessons I have learned. I had a hard time wrapping my head around it, but it was life-changing once I did. People will always have opinions, no matter what you do or say. Not doing a thing or holding yourself back and not living the life you want due to other people is a waste of precious time. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what they think. They have their lives. You have yours. As long as you are not hurting anyone in doing your thing, they can go fly a kite.

Invest In Yourself And Your Badassery.

Back in the day, everything I did could be traced to trying to get validation or some kind of reputation. I spent most of my time trying to prove that I deserved good things. I didn’t self-indulge in art materials because I thought it was not responsible in other people’s eyes. “Why do you need so many sketchbooks?” Because I’m a damn artist, that’s why. Invest in yourself, and don’t allow yourself to feel guilty about it.

If I was dating this would be my profile picture because I’m so cool. Thank the lord I am married.

Choose Carefully Who Influences You.

There are a lot of naysayers in the world. This is because most of them have given up on their dreams for some reason or another. These people usually have great arguments on why something isn’t possible. I guarantee you that they have spent their lives justifying their decision to quit and thus have a convincing argument. However, they are full of shit. Everyone I know actively pursuing their dream would never crush someone else’s dream. People that give up are so jaded that their only way of making themselves feel better is to convince someone else that their way of thinking is the correct way to see the world. You don’t need those people to influence how you will live your life.

Just Go For It, Especially If You Are Afraid.

The fear never goes away on its own. If you avoid it, it doesn’t get better. In fact, the act of avoidance just makes it worse. The only way to honestly face a fear is to do what you are afraid to do. At the beginning of my art career, EVERYTHING I did to put myself out there was terrifying. However, my life was exciting. When you push boundaries, fear is always involved as you have new experiences. Embrace the fear and have the adventure. The alternative is to just go back to how things have always been. For example, I am terrified to play music on stage and this weekend I will be performing music at our art exhibition. As scary as that is, the adventure of facing the fear is absolutely worth it.

I’m so cool that the autofocus can’t keep up with me.

Argue With The Stickman.

Every morning I calm my mind and breathe. Some call this meditation. I call it arguing with my stickman. The stick man is that inner voice like a drunk asshole that just blurts out the most damaging things about you. Most of us either take what they say as truth or try to bury the feeling inside us. Suppose you’ve heard yourself saying, “I’m so stupid!” or avoiding an unsettling feeling. That is the stickman. The stickman has a kegger in your mind, totally disregarding your furniture. Even if you hear yourself getting mad and throwing daggers because someone is trying to empower you, this can mean that the stick man is in control. Argue with that voice and remind yourself that you are capable. Just because it’s in your head doesn’t mean it’s true or even a belief that truly belongs to you.

Let Go Of The Past

The truth is that we all have epic stories of tragedy in our lives. I am talking about some horrible shit. Every one of us. We’ve all had painful experiences. It’s just part of being a human being. However, I’ve seen people stuck there and unable to move on from the pain because they carry resentment. I spent most of my life with the weight of resentment on my shoulders. It was limiting me from moving on with my life and approaching it as an empowered badass. Once I slowly let go of something, I could move on and reidentify with my badassery. I realized that by holding on, I was allowing someone who had wronged me to have control over my life and emotions. Fuck that.

This is my cool looking at my phone face.

Do It, Not Say It, And Spray It.

Back in the day, I constantly talked about things I would do but never took action. I think I was looking for validation for my ideas. It’s almost like looking for permission. As I started to change my way of thinking, I realized it was better to just do the thing and prove to MYSELF that I could do it. That’s where your power is. It is in what you believe about yourself. Everyone else can keep their opinions to themselves.

At the end of the day, this is an ongoing journey. We never get it done. I will be learning from my experiences and pushing more and more boundaries as I ride my life to the end. It’s not about fame or being famous. It’s about being yourself and unapologetically sharing your voice with the world. When you are genuine and don’t carry a chip on your shoulder, you will bring authenticity and love to the world through your art and everything you put out there. So I urge you to go for it because the world needs more artists sharing their creative badassery with the planet.

I’m such a cool magnet that I attracted this coolness… She’s SO cool.

You can take my word for it… cause, you know… I’m like, cool. The kids are still saying that right?

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Human Connection Is Everything

Last week was something of a blur. With everything going on lately, I frequently walk into rooms and forget where I am. I’m also guessing at what day of the week it is because I honestly don’t know. Our exhibition has been extended. We are working on commissions, trying to remodel the third floor (our bedroom), hosting guests, recording an audiobook, practicing for a concert, and figuring out how to create clones of ourselves. 

Have you ever had one of those days that felt like you were moving at the speed of light? This week (or month, I have no sense of time) has felt like that. 

However, some moments stand out—moments of connection where time slows down. As two “Artroverts,” Klee and I spend a lot of time hidden away in our studio, where we express ourselves through our creations. These creations will connect us with humans when we put them out there. Some may glance, listen, or read it and scoff. Some may ignore it, but some will connect. Some will even feel inspired to reach out to us; thus, the connection comes full circle.  

Robin came all the way from Kansas and hung out with us at the gallery. This was our first time meeting him in person. He is an amazing human and we were so happy for this opportunity!

Because we are very public on the internet, we get to connect with people from all over the world. This is something that still surprises me. I tend to forget that Klee and I are public personalities. This is because the reality is that we are total nerds. We are both socially awkward and weird. Yet, people from around the world have connected with who we are even though we may have never met in person. I think this is a beautiful thing.

Putting yourself out there and making human connections will always require being brave and taking chances. Engaging in conversation with someone new can be intimidating. Many creative folks are shy and would tweeze their nose hair out rather than start a conversation with a stranger. However, if you put yourself out there, you will have to step out of your comfort zone despite the nerves.

Something magical happens when you connect with someone in a conversation many miss because they are too scared to go for it. 

Darren drove in from Ohio and spent some time with us at the gallery and we had some really awesome conversation.

Listen, Klee, and I know what it feels like to be so painfully shy. Every time we put ourselves out there, we are pushing through a comfort zone. It’s gotten a little easier over the years, but the fear never really goes away. That being said, we keep certain things in mind when choosing to go public with our awkwardness.

Choose the things you like. It is easier to engage in a conversation when surrounded by people with similar interests. If you love reading, join a book club. If you create art, volunteer to teach an art class. Put yourself in an environment where YOU are comfortable. Talk about what you enjoy. Don’t jump on subjects because they are common or popular unless you are genuinely interested in them.

Embrace rejection for what it is. Everyone is not for everyone. You may click with some and not so much with others. Introverts tend to feel like they are on trial. You are not. You don’t need to gather friends, just people you connect with. If a conversation doesn’t jive, don’t blame yourself. It just means there was no connection. If someone rejects you, then it means they have no business being in your life anyhow.

Heather and Steve visited Oil City During their cross country trip and we spent a great time together. This was our first time meeting in person and it was awesome!

Be yourself. It is exhausting to try and be anything other than yourself. You don’t have to be anyone else to make a connection. Just be yourself and connect with your people. 

Have fun. I think we can quickly turn meeting people into a serious act for many of us. The truth is, if you make it no fun and are not having fun, then why do it? 

Be vulnerable. Don’t put up an act. Allow yourself to be more vulnerable. Don’t drop filters or boundaries, but don’t curate a version of yourself that is not you.

The Kirkman’s came in from Cayman Islands and spend a few days with us. This was our first time meeting and it was like hanging out with old friends.

These moments are magical. These moments only happen if you allow yourself to be who YOU are. Last week, we connected with some unique humans. Some traveled quite a distance to meet us. This is bravery, and we are so happy to have had the opportunity to share that time with them. This is what it is all about. This is the stuff of life.

Over the years, we have extended our Rogue family of creative humans across the globe only because we treasure our connection to them. In a world where everyone is chasing fame, likes, an algorithm, or money, I think it is important to remember that we are all human. We are all connected. We all cry, laugh, get stressed, jump for joy, and do our best in life. Our humanness and humanity are what can bring us together. It is also what has the most value.

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HI! We’re STILL Here! You Can’t Get Rid Of Us!

Klee and I are still at it! We have taken over Graffiti Gallery and we are not ready to let it go! That’s right! We are extending our show through September in Oil City at 210 Seneca St, Oil City, PA 16301.

Rafi and Klee are both extending their shenanigans at Graffiti Gallery in Oil City PA. They are showcasing all the art they love to create. This includes paintings, jewelry, sculptures, books, music, and more. They also want to invite creatives and forward thinkers to come out the first weekend in September and discuss where we are all heading in this amazing town and ways to get there. Come and find a retrospective of Rafi Perez’s paintings, sculptures, and Klee Angelie’s jewelry and creations. Come hang out and talk about life, listen to music, look at some art, and have a blast. The show runs through the month of September on Fridays from 4-7 and Saturdays from 11am-2pm. The gallery will also be open for private appointments, contact Rafi and Klee to schedule your private tour.

The show will run through September and each day will feature art creations and fun. The show is meant to inspire and delight and we plan to have a lot of fun while we are there. We look forward to meeting the amazing people of this community!

Sept 2nd (4pm-7pm) and 3rd (11am-2pm) – The Rogue Artist Book Readings And Discussions About Revitalization.

Come and meet Rafi and Klee at their first two month long art exhibition in their new town. Enjoy art, jewelry, music, and more at the exhibition’s extended run. Drinks and a fun atmosphere will be provided. Come ready to have a good time and talk about being a rogue! Rafi will read his favorite passages from his books throughout the day, he will also talk about their efforts in the revitalization and plans for their beloved town of Oil City and the region. If you are a rogue and are excited about this area please be there. The biggest enemy of innovation and progress is apathy, but there is a way to combat it and move forward despite the challenges. They will also hold a question and answer and brainstorm session throughout the talk. He will also sign books if asked throughout the day.

FACEBOOK EVENT – https://fb.me/e/3BxjPi2hk

Sept 9th (4pm-7pm) and 10th (11am-2pm) – Live Paintings And Creations Throughout The Day.

Come out and spend some time with Rafi and Klee and experience art experimentations and creations. Including but not limited to live painting, jewelry, and music writing. Enjoy conversations about their travels, art, and why they moved to this amazing area and their plans moving forward. Also, Rafi will be demonstrating painting on his spinning easel throughout the days and creating something special for his new home town that will be given away to a lucky winner at the end of the exhibition run. Come in and get a free raffle ticket.

FACEBOOK EVENT – https://fb.me/e/4BZjM1CSH

Sept 16th (4pm-7pm) and 17th (11am-2pm) – Music Concert – RAFI’S REDEMPTION TOUR!

Our Band Is Called Better On The Drums

Enjoy some art and some great conversation and some music practice during the day. Rafi experienced his first live performance and botched it the whole way through (well, that’s how he feels) and is hoping to make a strong comeback and blow the minds of anyone there brave enough to listen. The concert will start on Friday at 5pm and Saturday at 12pm. This laid back concert will be like hanging out with two friends while they sing and play guitar. 

This will be the second time ever that we perform as “Better On The Drums” our new band. Witness Rafi be nervous again on stage… or will he be?

FACEBOOK EVENT – https://fb.me/e/24wcIoMrY

Sept 23rd (3pm-8pm) and 24th (11am-2pm) – Let’s Get Uncorked! And Finally Say Goodbye.

Enjoy some art and great conversation during the day and come downtown for the wine walk. They say people love buying art when they enjoy wine so we are hoping to capitalize on the phenomenon. Well maybe. However, you know what else works with wine? Great conversation! This will also be the final weekend of the show (we promise) and we’ll be saying goodbye.

FACEBOOK EVENT – https://fb.me/e/2AqXKuGFP

Download And Print Out Show ScheduleDownload
Download And Print Out Of Black And White Show PosterDownload

More About Oil City Uncorked

Oil City Uncorked Happens on Friday, September 22, 4:30 – 8:30 pm in downtown Oil City (north side business district). Sample from 10 regional wineries (plus a sprinkle of spirits & brews) located at various host businesses within walking distance! Participating vendors: Allegheny Cellars Winery, Black Dog Wine Company, Cart/Horse Distilling, Country Hammer Moonshine, Deer Creek Winery, Emlenton Brew Haus, Fat Chad’s Brewing, Fractured Grape/Novosell LLC, Groundhog Winery, Happy Hour Winery, Starr Hill Vineyard & Winery, Twisted Vine, Two Birch Winery, Webb Winery, and The Winery at Wilcox. 

Light refreshments will be available at host businesses, plus downtown restaurants will be open for regular dining. Souvenir tasting glass included with ticket. Oil City Uncorked is for ages 21 & over, valid ID required on event day. Tickets are available online through this link (processing fees apply), at the Oil City Library, 2 Central Avenue, and at Core Goods (starting 8/31/22), 219 Seneca Street. Proceeds benefit the downtown revitalization efforts of the Oil City Main Street Program.

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Audiobooks, Book Fairs, And Deadlines… Oh My!

I am currently recording audiobooks and wanted to reflect on something I think is important for the creative mind. I also want to update everyone that has supported my books and is waiting on the two audiobooks I’m working on. So if your jam is a dose of inspiration and an update, then read on!

It’s been quite the adventure to become a published author. Over the last few years, I have released three books, a workbook, and an audiobook. All this while juggling this crazy journey called life. Since September 26th, 2020 when I announced that I would be releasing my second book, you have been on a whirlwind adventure with me.

  • Since that time, we have experienced:
  • The emotional aspects of writing a marketing book during a pandemic.
  • Navigated supply shortages.
  • A hurricane.
  • Power outages for weeks.
  • A fungus gnat invasion.
  • A thumb drive and several hard drives crashing with essential notes.
  • Loss of internet for weeks.
  • Holiday art commission overwhelm.
  • The stress of several large solo art exhibitions.
  • Dealing with a leak that destroyed our studio.
  • An epic journey to find a house, and we did!
  • Moving across the country in a terrifying Uhaul.
  • Art studio shutdowns.
  • Losing money to a conman.
  • Plumbing issues.
  • Spending more money than we are comfortable with on repairs.
  • Getting used to cold winters and shoveling snow again.
  • More plumbing issues.
  • Lack of sleep.
  • Fatigue from moving, repairs, and stress, while trying to juggle everything.
  • Burnout.
  • Scrapping 6 hours of audiobook recordings because I sound like a robot.
  • And acclimating to our new life.

I know most of this sounds like a terrible time, but honestly, I’m just listing the things that happen in life. In between and even during a lot of this craziness, there was a lot more good. A lot of laughter, overcoming, and persistence to remember that life doesn’t have to be all sunshine and roses to be remarkable. It is what you make it. The truth is, everyone is on their own odyssey and confronting the things that challenge them. However, not everyone gets to share it with fabulous people. And for that, I want to thank you. Thank you for sticking with me on this journey of ups and downs.

I think the most important thing to remember when having our ups and downs is that it is easy to remember things as the cause of unhappiness. This makes the less than great event stand out as an example of what your life is like. In reality, every moment is an opportunity to show yourself what you are capable of. You can either face a challenge with joy and determination, or let it eat you alive. Once you experience that, you show yourself that you are unstoppable. So, you continue moving forward on your journey instead of letting it come to a halt. We will be on the journey for the rest of our lives, so we might as well be the champions that we are.

I now ask that you continue the journey with me a little longer. Unfortunately, I will not be able to release the audiobooks for the marketing book or money book by September 5th as I hoped. As much as I wanted to meet that deadline, it will not work for me. To not experience burnout again (as I promised myself and many of you), I have decided to extend the deadline to the beginning of November 2022. I may get it done earlier, and if that happens, I will make an exciting announcement. However, I am taking my time with this project because I want it to sound conversational like my last audiobook and not like someone trying to rush through a book. Thank you for your continued patience.

This weekend, I will be doing my first book fair, and I am both nervous (silly brain jar) and excited. We also have an extensive art exhibition running right now that has been extended through September. If you happen to be in Oil City, the fair is called: The Annual Oil Region Festival of the Book and will be on Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 10am-2pm. The Festival will be held in the Central Avenue Plaza in Oil City, PA (right outside the Oil City Library!).

We will then be at Graffiti Gallery from 2pm – 6pm, showing our art and doing a giveaway of sorts.

Thank you all so much for your love and support. You have been so supportive. I have received so many comments from you about the books and how much they mean to you. Thank you. In those times when it feels like the shit is hitting the fan, it is inspiring to know that what I share has a place in your heart and mind.

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I Can’t Seem To Find Time For Art

Artists will contact us every once in a while telling us they have no time to create art. Between house chores, work, and taking care of someone else’s needs, they find themselves at odds with what they want. They explain how they feel guilty even thinking about taking creative time. That guilt is compounded when the people around them think that creating art doesn’t matter. This guilt and perception can add a lot of undue stress which will lead to less creating.

It’s funny to me that the perception exists in the world that says that artists don’t do anything important. Some people believe that our lives are stuffed with unicorn farts and rainbow ice cream. It’s been an insane couple of years for us. We’ve had a few large art exhibitions, commissions, power outages, bad weather, art studio closures, moving across the country, and don’t even get me started on water leaks or plumbing. We’ve also dealt with butt hurt friends, rejection, financial struggles, and all other manner of emotionally draining events. Things always felt worse when I didn’t give myself the space to create. 

I’ll be honest, as much as I hate to admit it, some of it has been stressful. Not because things go wrong. That’s just life. We all know that the shit will hit the fan at some point just to keep us on our toes. 

No, it’s not the events or circumstances that happen in life that bring me stress. In actuality, it is the crap that goes on in my brain that stresses me out. It’s the excuses I use to not create or do what I want. Klee and I do a lot of stuff that we consider fun. We make art, jewelry, film videos, play music, design t-shirts, manage an online community of awesome rogue artists, write books, and record podcasts. We do whatever we think will be fun. We also do all the things that people consider not as much fun. Things like managing our business, yard work, house repairs, and other domestic arts (as one of the Rogues called it). Add to that all the different components that come with life, relationship, home, and work, and it can all feel overwhelming. 

However, it’s just life. It’s every moment. And moments are precious. But, art is what allows me to process it all.

One thing I like to remind myself of is that overwhelm is not what is going on around you, but what you think your role is in what is happening. Honestly, it is reminding yourself that you can just walk away or say no. It’s easy to feel like things would fall apart without you, but trust me, things probably feel like they’re falling apart anyhow. 

On the flipside, it is also ok to say yes. It’s also ok to say you don’t want to do something any more… I mean, it’s your life, you get to choose how you want to live it. 

Now, if you do happen to do a million things, and can’t find time for what you want, here are some best practices for you that I have learned the hard way.

STAY POSITIVE AND CREATE

Don’t get wrapped up in the humble brag that you are the busiest person in the world. It is easy to exclaim to the world that you are the busiest human on the planet. I’m not saying you are not, but constantly repeating that mantra for yourself can have some bad results. Tell yourself that you have a choice on how you decide to spend your time. You may make a lot of excuses on why you can’t find time to create when you are wrapped up in your drama, but there is always time if you decide there is. Even 30 minutes of creating is better than no minutes.

HAVE SOME KIND OF PLAN

I hate planning things. I hate schedules. I hate when a past version of me writes something down telling me I need to do something. Why didn’t he do it? That being said, when you are juggling a lot, it is important to make a plan and space it out. Honestly, each day should have no more than four large tasks. If you have more than that, you will run yourself into the ground. However, plan the things you want to do and make it sacred. That means that NO ONE has the right to guilt you out of your plans. It is not selfish for you to want to create, it is selfish of others to monopolize your time and keep you from doing what you want in life.

DON’T JUST SAY YES

It’s ok to say no. You gotta take care of yourself. Also, if you can’t finish something in time, just get it done when you can. Don’t kill yourself to finish it. People might expect things and it might be time to introduce them to a word that they may have not heard from you yet. 

THE DISHES CAN WAIT

Honestly, when it comes to doing dishes or creating art, art will win every time. Also, if there are more than one of you in your household, it might be time for other people to pitch in and ease up time for you. 

COMPLETE AT LEAST 1 THING A DAY

You can be busy all day, from phone calls to finalizing a large project. However, forming the habit of working on art every day is important. Try to complete something, It doesn’t matter what it is, it can be a quick sketch, just give yourself a sense of completion. 

FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME

People out there love to say that they are great at multitasking. They are full of it. The brain isn’t designed for that. You can jump between projects when you are at a standstill, but even then, shift your thinking and focus on what is in front of you. This is why meditation is important, because it helps you build that focusing muscle. Also, have a space that will not be interrupted with other things. 

MAKE IT ALL FUN

Bring your creativity back. At the end of the day, It should all be fun. Why not? Sometimes, you won’t be able to work on art, and that is ok if you are used to giving yourself that creative time. This weekend we have a lot on our plate. I will be doing my first book fair at the Oil City Library from 10-2PM, then heading to Graffiti Gallery and sitting our show from 2-6PM. This is followed by a friend’s birthday party. Meanwhile, we have a million things that we are juggling at home. It is easy to forget that it is all delicious if you feel like a martyr. When you take control and give yourself time for what you want, you remember that you have a choice. It’s easy to use excuses for why you “HAVE” to do something, but at the end of the day, it is our choice. You will feel better making time for other people and stuff if you make time for yourself when you want it.

TELL SOME PEOPLE TO BACK OFF

People can get really used to you being the one who takes care of everything. Humans are habitual creatures and whenever something happens often, it is easy for it to become the norm. I’ve even experienced people feeling entitled and getting mad at me because I didn’t want to hang out due to my art. Either put people like that in their place or get rid of them.

I’m going to say something very grim sounding but it was important for me to hear when I was killing myself with overwhelm.

“The world will keep going if YOU are not around cleaning up messes and juggling a million things. The people who rely on you would figure it out one way or another.”

If you are stretching yourself too thin, it might be time to reevaluate. This might require you to tell someone you are no longer going to do something for them. It’s hard, but you have to take care of you before you take care of someone else’s needs, or else you are useless to them and yourself. 

So, take care of yourself.