Goosebumps rise on my cold arms, though I’m covered with a cozy green flannel shirt, a sweater, and a blanket draped over my shoulders. The sky is dingy gray, one giant cloud with a slight hint of blue popping out in the distance, providing hope that maybe spring is making its way to us. Sleet drizzles from the sky, building up icy patches on the dry brown winter grass that crunch under my feet as I make my way out to my studio across the yard. Upon arrival my hot cup of coffee is barely warm, but the cranked-up heat inside is welcoming.

Sadly, there are people in this world who are not having a cozy morning. This week I communicated with Vera Kavera, who is a pastel artist living in Ukraine. I had reached out to see if she was OK, and though she was, she was clearly frightened. She told me the first morning she awoke to the sounds of bombs.

No human, no child, none of us should ever have to experience that kind of fright.

As you know, I avoid political topics because everyone has an opinion. But today, I can’t write this little note without acknowledging what is on all of our minds.

Also this past week, I reached out to my dear friend artist Nicholai Dubovik, simply saying that I know there is a possibility our two countries could be in conflict, and if communication is cut off, I wanted them to know they are loved. He replied that he too loved us.

War is always awful, even though it may be justified by some, but it takes on a new face when you have friends whose lives are being impacted. I know a few other artists in Ukraine, and my heart breaks for them.

The feeling of helplessness overcomes me. I asked Vera how I could help, because I was lost, and she simply asked that we keep her in our prayers. One of my employees suggested that maybe we should suggest people buy her video, because she will be needing more money. But I felt that would appear opportunistic. But if that works for you, I’m sure she would love your support.

Throughout history, small voices, individual voices, have had a big impact, either because they are the relentless squeaky wheel, or because they organize and gather others for protests or to contact their representatives. I can’t tell you what to do. You have to follow your heart.

When I learned about prayer, I was told to use names, and to be specific about the outcome you are asking for. I try not to look at God as Santa Claus or a “genie in a bottle” for my own gain.

But I do call on God when I have needs for others, or for myself.

Years ago, my accountant called me and said, “Eric, we cannot meet payroll next week. I’ve called everyone who owes us money, and no one is sending anything this week.” So I asked the exact amount, and I got on my knees in my office and I asked God to provide that exact amount. The following day Marty called from one of the big networks and asked if he could prepay next year’s advertising so he could get it on the books for the current year. I told him yes, and when the check arrived, it was the EXACT amount, to the penny. That convinced me of the power of prayer and being specific.

I’m praying for my friends over there, and I’m praying for a swift end to this insanity. You may not believe what I believe, so I don’t want to try to force that on you. But if you would, consider closing your eyes and asking your God to intercede and end this.

Eric Rhoads

Bam, Slam, Crash!

Startled out of a cozy dream, I jump out of bed and quickly look out the window to see a plastic patio chair flying across the backyard like a reckless pilot in an air show, banging into the gnarly twisted oaks, bouncing off the rocks, and bumping across the weeds until it gets stuck at the back fence.

The old screen door is slamming repeatedly as the wind moves it. The trees are rattling and swaying fiercely. You can hear the wind howl like a coyote. Perhaps spring really does roar in like a lion.

The Four Seasons

There is something profound about the seasons and their relationship to life. Spring is new beginnings and birth, summer is life, fall is old age, and winter is the freeze, the end. As I think about spring, I cannot stop thinking about new beginnings, about the excitement of seeing what blooms in life and in business. The seeds get planted at the start of the year, when we set goals and resolutions and the flowers will pop up soon.

I love everything about new beginnings. I love change, even though it’s our nature to resist it. I love to break what’s not broken, to disrupt what needs disrupting.

Making Change

My wife, Laurie, loves to move furniture around, change out rugs, and disrupt our house. I’m always resistant at first, because I’m comfortable, settled, cozy. Yet, the change is always better; it makes me appreciate our home in fresh ways. It’s healthy to have our lives disrupted, even when it’s unpleasant at first.

But it’s hard to be disruptive, because, as my friend Roy Williams says, “It’s hard to read the label when you’re inside the bottle.” Some of us would rather just stay cozy.

Think about disruptions that have occurred in your life that you resisted or did not embrace, but that ended up making your life better. Disruptions are like spring flowers.

“If you had told me I’d…”

Fill in the blank. I hear it all the time.

We eventually embrace what we initially resist. We adapt. And usually, we see improvement in our lives.

But disruption in life, and businesses, rarely comes from ourselves. Our friend Dawn walked into our house last Sunday after church and pointed out a decorating idea we had not thought of. And it was better. But we could not see it because we look at the house every day.

Too Close to See It

Kodak held the patents on the digital camera. They invented it, but the executives of the company resisted it because it was not about film, which was the business they thought they were in.

A friend who was head of digital for the Washington Post claims he told executives that their Internet content would become more popular than their printed newspaper, but they did not believe him. So he was instructed not to publish stories on the Internet until the paper had been out for 24 hours.

Break It

The way to disrupt is to look at the way things are done, find what you hate about it, figure out how to break it, and figure out what would make it better. People on the inside can rarely see what they should be doing, how they should be changing. Instead, people from the outside can disrupt because they see what can be better. Elon Musk, a co-founder of Paypal, looked at rockets and made them better, looked at cars and made them better. Jeff Bezos looked at books, and distribution, and made all of our lives better.

Why does this matter?

Disruption makes things and people better.

My grandfather had a business selling meat slicers, scales, and meat cases. Supermarkets disrupted him, put packaged meat out, and his business died. He could not see it because he was on the inside.

My goal, as a business owner, is to try to break it at every possible opportunity. It’s not easy, because I cannot see what I need. That’s also true in life. I need others to help me see how my life could be better. We all do.

By making a point to seek feedback, even things we don’t want to hear, we get better. We grow. We change, and we make ourselves or our businesses better. And we need to continually do this to ourselves even though we resist.

Are you set in your ways?
Do you need to be disrupted?

Are you stuck and don’t know it?

Do you have someone who can help you disrupt?

If you want to get disrupted, listen to your kids. They are willing to point out how we need to change, and I’ve found that they are right more often than not.

We’ve all had terrible things happen to us, disasters, deaths, and other unpleasant things, and we come out on the other side different in some ways. I did not like when my dad died, but I grew up in new ways because of it (which he had told me happened to him when my grandfather died).

Embrace disruption. Embrace change. Seek others who can help you disrupt. Life will be more interesting and invigorating.

After all, comfort is nice, but being stuck isn’t.

Eric Rhoads

PS: If you hang with me this year, you’ll see some very interesting disruptions. I can’t tell you more.

One disruption we were forced into because of COVID was launching virtual conferences to replace our in-person events that were canceled. We learned that thousands of people who could not attend in person love the three-day conferences online. And we are continuing them beyond quarantines because people are getting value. Our next one is PleinAir Live, which is March 9-12. Join us by visiting pleinairlive.com. Disrupt yourself by learning to paint.

Here are some things going on at my company, Streamline Publishing, Inc.

—–

PleinAir Salon Entry Deadline

$30,000 Art Competition/Deadline: February 28, 2022

Enter this monthly online competition to win cash prizes and recognition. Monthly category winners will be entered into the annual competition, where the Grand Prize is $15,000 cash and the cover of PleinAir Magazine.

Enter one of our 18 categories in plein air and studio painting.

Learn more. 

3rd Annual PleinAir Live Virtual Conference

Virtual Event: March 9-12, 2022

Beginner’s Day: March 9

March 6 is the last day to save up to $300 on a ticket.

Replays available if you can’t make the date.

PleinAir Magazine presents PleinAir Live, a 4-day online training event featuring 30 of the world’s top landscape and plein air artists doing demonstrations and presentations. Join thousands of artists from around the world to take your work to the next level and learn about the plein air lifestyle and how to become a part of it.

Learn more. 

9th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo

In-Person Event: May 16-20

Location: Santa Fe, NM

Basics Course: May 16

Kevin Macpherson Pre-Convention Workshop: May 16-17

Main Event: 17-20

March 17 is the last day to save $400 on a ticket. 

Plein Air Magazine presents the 9th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo, a gathering of plein air artists and over 60 top instructors teaching on multiple stages in multiple mediums. Daily painting at a group in iconic locations. Giant Expo Hall of plein air-specific art materials. Art Marketing Boot Camp. Attendance limited.

Learn more. 

11th Annual Publisher’s Invitational Paint Out in the Adirondacks

Artist Retreat: June 11-18, 2022

Location: Paul Smith’s College Near Saranac Lake, NY

Join Eric Rhoads, publisher of Inside Art, PleinAir, and more, for a one-week artist retreat, painting in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. Paint with the group or alone, all meals and lodging provided. Meet new friends, paint multiple pieces daily. All meals together, plus group events, cocktail parties, singing and music, portrait painting, and more. A great way to get better fast or to learn the ropes of plein air painting. This is not a workshop or training event.

Learn more.

7th Annual Fall Color Week

Artist Retreat: October 6-13, 2022

Location: Acadia National Park, Maine

Join Eric Rhoads, publisher of Inside Art, PleinAir, and more, for a one-week artist retreat, painting in the beautiful fall color during peak color week at Acadia National Park in Maine. Paint with the group or alone, all meals and lodging provided. Meet new friends, paint multiple pieces daily. All meals together, plus group events, cocktail parties, lobster dinner, singing and music, portrait painting, and more. A great way to get better fast or to learn the ropes of plein air painting. This is not a workshop or training event.

Learn More.

Paint Russia

Painting Trip and Tour: September 15-29, 2022

Location: Russia

A rare opportunity to paint in the cities and countryside of Russia, along with sightseeing, museum visits (including a private entry into the Hermitage Museum), art studio visits, visits to the two great art academies, and painting with Russian masters. The trip starts in St. Petersburg, then to the small villages inland, then to Moscow, and ends with the village and exact paint spots painted by the great Russian masters like Repin, Serov, Levitan, and others. Hosted by Eric Rhoads. Limited to 50 people. Join the waiting list. This is a one-time trip; it will not be repeated.

Learn More.

The Time Is Now for Legacy

Warmth is the first thing I feel as I step out to the long covered back deck of this Texas ranch house. Sun is blasting my eyes, throwing hot orange against the tree trunks, and the tall blades of grass are casting long shadows. But it won’t last long and will be gone before I finish.

It’s been a while since I’ve come to you with something fresh and new. Thanks to my team for setting up the repeats to fill in during a brief illness. Happily, I’m 150% back, filled with energy, and my brain is on fire with all the things I want to do in ’22.

Two Weeks Straight

I often suggest two-week vacations to my team members. Some like to do that, others like to take a week at a time. In my own case, it takes me a week to relax, and then that second week is to play while relaxed. The same thing happens if you’re stuck in bed. You lose the stress and see your mind open up.

Ali, my very overqualified assistant, will tell you the conversation after every time I take some time off.

“I’m going to make some changes. I need more time to think, more time to work on ideas, and less time ‘doing things.’”

She agrees, and then two weeks later, I’m back in my 150mph routine and nothing has changed.

But this time will be different, I tell myself. This time I’m going to make changes.

But will I?

There is nothing like a relaxed brain, the removal of stress, along with a prepared mind. I know what I need to change, but will I? A betting bookie would lay odds that I continue to repeat my normal behavior and change does not occur. And then, the next vacation or break, I’ll say the same things, have good intentions, but then go back to the grindstone.

What about you?

When you get the cobwebs out, where do you want to be, and what are you going to do about it?

In my case there is usually a bag of good excuses to help me rationalize my addiction to work. Things like, “I know I need some help, but can I really afford it?” Or, “I don’t have time to train someone to take up some of my responsibilities.”  Or, “No one can do it like I can.”

Of course, the contents of that bag are complete BS.

If you or I want to make change, only you or I can do it. We cannot rely on outside sources, we cannot rely on circumstances, and we have to stop making excuses.

Making a New Plan

Knowing this, I made a plan while I was resting. In fact, with ample time to think, I went into detail, including a plan to not allow myself to fall back into the same old habits. And one day of my illness, I got out of bed, went to the couch, and, with scratchy throat, made a phone call to explore bringing someone on board to take over some of the things I want to remove from my massive list of responsibilities. This fall, I also was able to hire someone else to do the same for different responsibilities, and it’s made a huge difference. And I’ve discovered that not only am I not needed, others can do it better.

Taking a Risk

Now I have to admit, there were decades when I could not afford to hire anyone to help me. But my discovery is that if I don’t take some risk and get some help, it stunts my growth, slows my success, and exacerbates my problems. As a result, I’ll not have to wear my cape with the red “S” anymore. After decades of being Superman, it’s time for others to fight my battles.

So what will I do with all this extra time? After all, I’m not interested in or ready for retirement and boredom.

Legacy Projects

A friend who did this, a very famous and important artist, said, “I’m going to spend the next couple of decades on legacy projects.” He used that opportunity to write books that needed to be written, take care of projects that would make things easier for his family once he was gone, and do things that make even more of a difference.

What’s Next

I’m not going anywhere. I intend to keep doing my daily livestreams and my podcasts, hosting my virtual conferences like next month’s PleinAir Live, teaching marketing on stage at the Plein Air Convention, and hosting painting events like Fall Color Week and the Publisher’s Invitational in the Adirondacks. But it’s time to work on the legacy projects … the books I need to write, the exhibitions I need to mount, the courses I need to record, the museums I want to create, and a few dozen other very worthy projects. But I’m hopeful I can step off the high-speed merry-go-round of minutiae and focus on what also needs to be done.

It’s not about my legacy. It’s about the legacy of making the world a much better place, making the art world better.

Our Last Breath

The reality is that you and I never stop till our lungs exhale their final breath. Our brains work, our bodies work, and we still have interests and important things that need to be done. Some tell themselves they are out of time or energy, while others allow the passion for their projects to drive them to completion.

Which are you?

Andrew Carnegie said he spent the first half of his life amassing wealth and planned to use the second half to give it away. It’s my hope that my second act will be about giving back. Making sure that projects the world needs to be done, get done.What about you?

Most of us have lost some important people in our lives in the past couple of years. Some related to the pandemic, others not. Just this week I lost a 45-year-old second cousin who has spent his life building his career to provide for his family. But what about the legacy projects?

Count on Nothing

Recently I told my lawyer that I wanted to get my planning done now, not wait for another 30 years like others I know who feel fairly secure that they’ll be around. But we can’t count on anything, which is why we all should consider building legacy into our daily lives, not waiting till we’re gray. Happily I’ve done a fair amount, but looking back, I could have done more. It did not all have to be about career-building.

Find the time. Identify your special gifts, and seek ways to leave something special behind, the legacy or gift you can leave the world. Do not delay. Find a way, find the time. You’ll never regret it.

Eric Rhoads

PS: A year or two ago I set a goal to teach a million people to paint. I’m guessing I’m not there yet, but I do know we’ve been exposed to hundreds of thousands who are learning because of the efforts we’ve taken. That makes me happy. That’s legacy work, because it changes lives and breathes confidence into people who never before could paint. But I need to reach more people, train more people, and open their eyes to what they don’t believe is possible. You can help by spreading the word.

For the last two years I had to cancel the Plein Air Convention, which prompted us to invent PleinAir Live, an online training conference that takes place over 4 days. We’ve run it twice, and have reached thousands. It’s coming up again in March and has proven to be the answer for hundreds and hundreds who cannot escape to attend our live events. We’ve had people in 50+ countries attend these events. We’ve taught thousands to paint. And we have the world’s finest as our instructors. If you’re tired of golf, or looking for something fun and different in your life, take a risk (it’s 100% money back guaranteed). You’ll never regret it.

Oh, and by the way, the Plein Air Convention & Expo will take place in Santa Fe this May. So you can come and learn in person, though attendance will be limited.

When I started our art instruction video business, Streamline Art Video, a decade ago or more, we did things differently and used Hollywood-level production to give a better experience. When the pioneer in that business died, we were asked to carry on the Johnnie Liliedahl legacy. Then, when the founder of Creative Catalyst passed, we were asked to carry that legacy on as well. We’ve kept all three brands around for years, but we discovered it was getting confusing, so right before Christmas, everything became one brand… PaintTube.TV, which has hundreds of art instruction videos in one place. And will soon be on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon, and others. Oh, and by the way, at the convention in May, we’re presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to co-founder Ralph Liliedahl. It will be a proud moment.

There is always a lot going on … so I thought I would post a calendar of all the things in the plan (so far) for the year.Important Dates

Plein Air Salon Entry Deadline

$30,000 Art Competition/Deadline: March 31, 2022

Annual Winners Will Be Announced Live at PACE on May 17 in Santa Fe, NM.

Enter this monthly online competition to win cash prizes and recognition. Monthly category winners will be entered into the Annual Competition where the Grand Prize is $15,000 cash and the cover of PleinAir Magazine. Enter one of our 18 categories in plein air and in studio painting.

Learn more. Share

3rd Annual Plein Air Live Virtual Conference

Virtual Event: March 9-12, 2022

Beginners Day: March 9

March 6 is the last day to save up to $300 on a ticket

Replays available if you can’t make the date.

PleinAir magazine presents Plein Air Live, a 4-day online training event featuring 30 of the world’s top landscape and plein air artists doing demonstrations and presentations. Join thousands of artists from around the world to take your work to the next level and learn about the plein air lifestyle and how to become a part of it.

Learn more. Share

9th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo

In-Person Event: May 16-20

Location: Santa Fe, NM

Basic Course: May 16

Kevin McPherson Pre-Convention Workshop: May 16-17

Main Event: 17-20

Last Day to save $500 is February 14th

Plein Air Magazine presents the 9th Annual Plein Air Convention, a gathering of plein air artists, over 60 top instructors teaching on multiple stages in multiple mediums. Daily painting at a group in iconic locations. Giant expo hall of plein air specific art materials. Art marketing Boot Camp. Attendance limited.

Learn More.    Share

11th Annual Publisher’s Invitational Paint Out in the Adirondacks

Artist Retreat: June 11-18, 2022

Location: Paul Smith’s College Near Saranac Lake, NY

Join Eric Rhoads, Publisher of Inside Art, PleinAir, and others, for a one week artist retreat, painting in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of Upstate, NY. Paint with the group or alone, all meals and lodging provided. Meet new friends, paint multiple pieces daily. All meals together, plus group events, cocktail parties, singing and music, portrait painting and more. A great way to get better fast or to learn the ropes of plein air painting. This is not a workshop or training event.

Learn More.

7th Annual Fall Color Week

Artist Retreat: October 6-13, 2022

Location: Acadia National Park, Maine

Join Eric Rhoads, Publisher of Inside Art, PleinAir, and others, for a one week artist retreat, painting in the beautiful fall color during peak color week at Acadia National Park in Maine. Paint with the group or alone, all meals and lodging provided. Meet new friends, paint multiple pieces daily. All meals together, plus group events, cocktail parties, lobster dinner, singing and music, portrait painting and more. A great way to get better fast or to learn the ropes of plein air painting. This is not a workshop or training event.

Learn More.

Paint Russia

Painting Trip and Tour: September 15-29, 2022

Location: Russia

A rare opportunity to paint in the cities and countryside of Russia, along with sightseeing, museum visits (including a private entry into the Hermitage Museum), art studio visits, visits to the two great art academies, and painting with Russian Masters. The trip starts in St. Petersburg, then to the small villages inland, then to Moscow, and ending with the village and exact paint spots painted by the great Russian masters like Repin, Serov, Levitan and others. Hosted by Eric Rhoads. Limited to 50 people. Join the waiting list. This is a one time trip, which will not be repeated.

Learn More.

My feet are crunching across the floor, covered with crinkled wrapping paper and bows. Pine needles not only scent the air, but the now-dry tree is shedding them where I step, en route to the smell of a fresh pot of coffee.

Yesterday, I barely left my spot on the modern blue couch in our living room. I pick that spot because I can see everyone as they open their gifts and can get a good angle for photographs. I always take more pictures than I need, because I love remembering Christmases past, and this too will become a memory.

Christmas Eve

As a child, visiting my grandparents for Christmas Eve, I’d stand on the stairs in the small living room and read the story of Christmas from the Bible. We carry that tradition forward, always remembering the reason we’re here before we terrorize the gifts under the tree. And to make it last, we open one at a time, taking turns so we can all pay attention to the person opening. Then we all hang out together all day, eating cookies and snacks, playing with our new gifts, and just enjoying yet another wonderful Christmas.

A Sweet Farewell

Tears welled up in my eyes yesterday, and again today as I remember that this is the first Christmas without my dad, who left us in March. I’m also melancholy about the loss of an aunt, uncle, and cousin this year, plus a few friends. My dad loved Christmas so much that he was the first to get his tree up and would not take it down till February. When the pandemic hit, he decided to leave it up year round since there would be no guests to wonder why it was there. Of course it turned out to be the last year of his life, so he had Christmas all year, which made him happy.

Being Present in the Moment

If there is an upside to these losses, it’s that I’m paying closer attention to those I love, trying not to pretend they will always be here and instead being present, knowing they are a true gift in my life, and knowing at such times that it could be our final Christmas together. I pray not.

Perhaps the loss of loved ones, or the prospect of more losses from the pandemic, is making me softer, more responsive, and more tuned in to connect with the people I love and admire.

This past week, when things were a little slower, I made a point to pick up the phone and chat with people I’ve missed talking to, because I cherish them and don’t want to look back in regret that I did not take the opportunity.

Going Deeper

I’ve asked myself, What would I say if I knew this was the last time I’d speak with them? The result has been some conversations with a deeper connection, more careful listening. Instead of dominating the conversation or trying to make it all about getting in the things that I want to say, I’m simply absorbing, listening to their voice, to their personality, and admiring them for who they are.

Why haven’t I done this all along?

Life is so busy that we tell ourselves we will get around to connecting with people. When they are gone, we regret not doing it.

I’ve noticed that when I’m intentional about absorbing the love of others, I’m more patient, more interested, and just simply basking in the moment, quirks and all.

Though Christmas has now officially passed, the absorption continues. And, hopefully, it will continue forever. If anything good has come out of the past two years, it’s the appreciation of seeing people we could not see, talking with people we cannot visit, and being more deliberate listeners and absorbers.

What if we lived every day with an absorber mentality?

What if we lived as though today was our last?

What if we treated every conversation and encounter as if it was the last time we would see our friends and loved ones?

I tend to be busy and wanting to get on with things, always checking my phone, always wanting to be busy or productive. But deliberate absorption of others is a gift. It’s changing who I am and how I behave.

What about you?Who do you need to absorb?

Eric Rhoads

PS: If I had a magic carpet or a reindeer-driven sleigh, I’d visit you personally today, just to learn more about you, absorb who you are, and to personally thank you for the time and attention you’ve given me. You have given me a gift, knowing that I can reach out most Sunday mornings, share my thoughts, and know that some mornings you’re paying attention, or even sharing them with others. For that, I thank you. Since I don’t have any magical transportation, please know I’m thinking about you today, and I’m grateful.

From time to time I mention my faith or quote a Bible reference. For some that is politically incorrect or offensive, which has resulted in a couple of people refusing to read any more Sunday Coffee. Please know I never want to offend anyone, but It’s just part of who I am. From time to time I’ll even share something I heard at my church that moved me, like this sermon.

Years ago I asked a mentor of mine if business ever gets easier, knowing he had been in business for 60 years. He said it never gets easier, but it always changes. The past two years have been the most challenging and difficult in my career, though there have been many difficult years. But I’m thankful we got through it, though it was not easy because we’re still surviving without in-person events, which is where we make our money. Our virtual events have helped us survive, and I want to thank you for attending. Hopefully they have been good for you too. Our next one, Watercolor Live, is in January, and it would make a great after-the-holidays treat.

Here are some other things going on in the business…

• Last week we released our Kevin Macpherson Magic Grid Landscapes video, which is beyond amazing and has become the biggest seller for 2021. Another top seller is our new Camille Przewodek video on color.
• Last week I mentioned that it’s a good idea to get signed up for the coming Plein Air Convention & Expo, which is planned for May in Santa Fe. We think it will sell out early because we’re all ready for a family reunion. This past week we sold a huge number of seats, and the hotel is telling us we might have to limit the number who can come. If we have to take 200-400 fewer people, you’ll want to register now to make sure you’re able to go. And, to make you more secure, there is a 100% refund in the event we have to cancel or you don’t feel safe. Also, we have a pre-convention workshop with Kevin Macpherson that will sell out even faster.
• My Russia painting and museum trip will happen next September. We just changed the dates slightly; the new dates are now posted on the website. We were sold out and will be again soon.
• Last week I wrote about a man who became an amazing painter just from watching the videos we produced. I met with him this week (he was visiting Austin) and was blown away to hear his story. Zero in-person art instruction other than in childhood. Yet today he is producing incredible artworks (he showed me many). He is living proof that you can learn to paint well from video training. If you want to see our library of artworks, you can see them at PaintTube.TV.
• This week I sent out a note to all of our friends about a big change. Years ago we started Streamline Art Video, and later acquired Liliedahl and Creative Catalyst. This week we announced all three brands will become PaintTube.

How to Control Your Brain to Get What You Want in Life

Ahhhh, it’s beginning to look a lot like … Hawaii. The morning air is warm and humid, and the only things missing are the ocean, surfers, palm trees, and grass skirts. I’m happy to be in Texas, where life is about as normal as it can be and freedom is a priority. And with weather like this, I don’t need to escape to stay warm. Let’s hope it lasts.

Guns and Horses

I’m not much of a TV guy, but my wife and I started binge-watching Yellowstone, and I think I’ve had this lifetime childhood fantasy about being a cowboy. I love the rough and tough life, wearing a six-shooter on my hip, spending my days on a horse under my big broad cowboy hat. We love the scenes with horses and cattle stampedes.

People think those of us in Texas live that life. Well, some do. We don’t, and though it sounds romantic, I’m guessing my back would be pretty cranky after days on a horse. I used to get sore when riding as a kid.

My Bad Day on a Horse

Years ago someone had the bright idea that my brother and I should take English riding lessons. We went to an indoor arena at the outskirts of our hometown and learned to ride English, which seemed a lot harder than a Western saddle. We would go for lessons weekly, and honestly, I did not like it very much. It all ended one day when my brother and I were in a competition and the horse decided to buck me into the side of a wall. I guess he showed me who was boss. I lived, even got a ribbon, but I allowed that one minor incident to dissuade me from riding anymore. Remembering this makes my cowboy fantasy less attractive.

I was probably about 8 or 9 at the time, and I had not yet figured out the importance of having control of my mind. If I had, perhaps I’d be the boss today instead of the horse and I’d be riding a ranch.

Controlling My Mind

Even though I tend to master what I set out to learn, I still have shortcomings. Just this past week, I decided to take a course on controlling my subconscious mind. It was right up my alley because I talk a lot about manifesting things. But this course made me realize that I was missing some critical elements.

I’ve always been a bit of a self-talk, “power of positive thinking” kind of guy — managing what I say to myself and telling myself who I am and what I want, putting things in the present tense, such as “I am a success” instead of “I’m gonna be a success.” We’re told to see ourselves in that place.

Though this course taught that principle, they took it to a new level I had not previously understood.

What happens when you say to yourself, “I am a success,” but your subconscious mind does not believe it?

Some would say repetition will overcome the problem, but this course said that’s just lying to yourself.

Your Subconscious Is Calling the Shots

It turns out that 80 percent of what you believe takes place in your subconscious mind. No matter how much you tell yourself something consciously, your subconscious is there to protect you and as a result of that, it can sabotage success. I can tell myself I’m thin forever, but if my subconscious mind is saying, “I am fat,” then change is unlikely to occur without some clever manipulation of the subconscious.

When you hear the words “I am,” it’s usually tied to a limiting belief. Our identity is made up of “I am” statements.

For instance, “I am a smoker,” is an identity statement. Yet smoking is not an identity, it’s a behavior. We’ve confused who we are with something we do.

If you change how you talk about your identity statements, you can change the outcome.

Instead of your brain saying, “I am lazy,” you can reframe it as, “Sometimes I do lazy things,” which changes your perspective.

Getting this?

If you stop connecting “I am” statements and swap them for “I have” statements, things begin to change, because “I have” statements are more believable.

Lots of us get hung up on childhood moments of trauma. And we lock these memories in our heads and they become our roadblocks.

But you are NOT a memory. An emotion or memory is something you DO.

Instead of “I am emotional,” change it to, “I have emotions,” or, “I do emotions”

I Feel It in My Bones

When I tell myself something affirmative, if I pay close attention to my body, my body will react to anything my subconscious does not believe. This is where you find the clues about the subconscious roadblocks. Solve the roadblocks and you can do almost anything.

What Is Believable

I tested this as I took the course. I said, “I am successful,” and I immediately noticed an ache in my neck. There is an entire process about how to overcome these clues, which I’ll cover some other time.

Meanwhile, simply by reframing things, we’ll find our subconscious mind does not block us as much. For instance, “I do things that lead to success. I embody actions that make success possible” — this is believable.

Can You FEEL It?

The course said that everything we do as humans is a response to a feeling … a feeling we want more of, or less of.  Every feeling has a body location and will speak up when you tell yourself something your subconscious does not believe.

When you reframe, such as my success statement, there must be action tied to it immediately. In this case, what are the things that lead to success, and what actions am I taking?

Your Homework

If you really want to have an interesting Christmas break, sit down quietly and start thinking about the stories you tell yourself. What are your “I am” statements? What is your self-talk? When you think of doing something amazing, what is your mind telling you about it? Once you do that, start asking yourself, “Where do I feel it?” If you feel it, that means your subconscious is holding you back in that area.

Now reframe everything from “I am” to actions. It instantly makes you feel better and makes things feel more possible.

I don’t pretend to understand even a fraction of the science behind this, and I’ve signed up for a longer course so I can improve myself. I don’t ever want to stop improving, and I’m curious how far I can go, what I can accomplish.

Unrealized Dreams

The reason I did this course is that I realized there are several big dreams that are not happening, and realized that I’m telling myself things. For instance, I tell myself, “I am not good at raising money. I am not good at asking others for money,” and that has roadblocked me on a project. Unless I can reprogram my beliefs, that project will go unfinished. What about you?What are the big dreams never accomplished?

What are the “I am” stories you’re hearing yourself say?

We can overcome them, but first we have to overcome the roadblocks in our subconscious mind.

Eric Rhoads

PS: Next time we talk, it will be after Christmas. I want to thank you for being here to read my thoughts each Sunday, and thank you for sharing them and helping this letter spread worldwide. As I examine myself, you get to come along for the ride, and maybe pick up an idea or two for yourself.

King Soloman was the richest and wisest man in the world. As I read about him, the one thing he did better than anyone on earth at the time was that he was in a constant state of self-improvement till the day he died. He changed the world. He accomplished amazing things. And it was all tied to being curious, seeking growth.

Whether you’re young or old, it’s never too early or too late. There are no limits to what you can still do. (Listen to what your brain just told you when I said that. Chances are it said, “Yeah, there are. I’m too old, or have physical ailments, or I’m not experienced enough,” etc.) Listen for your “I am” statements.

Have a wonderful Christmas. Absorb it.

Here’s what’s going on this week…

• It makes me feel awesome every time a top artist signs with our company to produce their videos. We have most of the top artists in the world with us. It feels great that they notice the difference in our productions and presentations. I’m honored to announce that we just officially launched the new Kevin Macpherson Magic Grid Landscapes video, which is beyond amazing. And you can watch today if you order the digital version. The same is true for our recent Camille Przewodek video on color. She is an amazing colorist, and her teaching is legendary. It will teach you to see color differently. I drove an hour to her class every Monday for two years. She is life-changing. I love all of our artists and want to wish them a Merry Christmas.
• Still need a gift in time for Christmas? Give a digital art instruction video — you can do it last-minute and not have to wait for shipping. We have hundreds of them. Check out our digital video library at PaintTube.TV and gift an artist today!
• When I was a kid my grandmother bought me a subscription to Boys’ Life. Every time it came, I thought of my grandmother. For the art lovers in your life, PleinAir Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur are each about $40 a year. It’s a gift that reminds people of you every time it arrives. You can order the subscription now and give a card that it’s on the way to them.
• Our online conference Watercolor Live is on fire. I’m blown away by the huge number of people already signed up. It’s a great way to learn watercolor from the top people in the world (and we have a Beginner’s Day). It’s going to make a great Christmas gift for the budding artist in your life. And you can buy it up to the last minute.
• One of the reasons my company launched virtual online conferences is because we were not able to hold our in-person events like the Plein Air Convention. We’ve been in survival mode ever since. Well, hopefully that will change. The Plein Air Convention is planned for May, is already 50% sold out, and after the first notice about it went out, we sold a lot more seats than we anticipated. People are ready for the plein air family to gather again, and lots more people are joining the family and want to go. My guess is that it will be a giant sellout fast. (Being in Santa Fe does not hurt.) And keep in mind, we were almost sold out each of the two times we had to cancel. We talked to the hotel this week and they said we may have to social-distance, which might mean we have to limit the number who can come. If we have to take 200-400 fewer people, you’ll want to register now to make sure you’re able to go. And, to make you more secure, there is a 100% refund in the event we have to cancel or you don’t feel safe. Also, we have a pre-convention workshop with Kevin Macpherson that will sell out even faster.
• I’m taking a Christmas break from my daily Art School Live show this week, but replays will occur.
• My Russia painting and museum trip will happen next September. We just changed the dates slightly; the new dates are now posted on the website. We were sold out and will be again. Another great gift.

Groggy and walking out of my dark bedroom, I’m wondering if I awoke in the middle of the night. A glance at my watch tells me it’s morning, but the sky is dim and dark, as if the light is hiding out under a curtain of dark clouds, waiting to go onstage. The air is thick and muggy, like a wet rag ready to be wrung out. The good news is the cloud cover is providing a deafening silence, as though my ears are stuffed with cotton.

Though I love the spirit of heavenly sunshine, days like this slow me down, make me want to curl up on the couch with a book or a sketch pad and take some much-deserved time for myself. If we don’t build rest into our lives, nature will build it for us. Today is a great example.

Powerful Words

This morning I read a line in the Bible that I had never heard: “though he died, he still speaks.” (Hebrews 11).

Here I am reading a story about something a man did 2,500 years ago, and that man is still speaking. It got me thinking.

Who is speaking in my life, though she or he is long gone?

The other day I was coaching my son in the kitchen, drawing out a little chart to show him how to get ahead in life. I flashed back to the moment in the kitchen when my dad drew out the same chart for me as a teenager. When I was telling my son, it was really my dad speaking, though he passed away back in April. And chances are he was repeating something that someone else had said to him years before.

I’m Hearing Voices

When painting, I can hear the exact voice and words of my now-deceased mentor Jack Jackson. “I don’t want to see a single brushstroke,” he would say. His words echo in my mind though he has been gone for over two decades.

My grandmothers were always telling me things, and those things still come up in my mind. I’m guessing they were passed down through dozens, possibly hundreds, of generations. Morning devotionals and lots of exposure to biblical thinking, passed on for numerous generations

What about you?

Who from the past is still speaking?

Something about that line from the Bible was hitting me in the face with a two-by-four. SMACK!

It made me realize the importance of guarding our words and actions, because they will live on beyond us.

Bad Habits Carried into the Future

They say that verbal or physical abuse lives on through generations. Will those times when I got super angry and said something to my kids scar them for life? Worse, will it scar their kids, their grandkids, and a hundred generations beyond? I admire people who are strong enough to not repeat the behavior of generations before them.

Cranky or Kind?

My great-grandfather William Berry was, I’m told by my dad, the kindest person he had ever known. His wife, my great-grandmother, was, I’m told, the meanest. My great-grandfather’s approach, his example, his words lived on through my dad, and hopefully through me. In that case either the kind grandpa’s or the mean grandma’s example could have lived on. Kindness won. And though I barely knew my great-grandmother, her mean spirit came from somewhere … probably her parents.

How will your words and example live on for generations?

Sometimes we forget that the formative years before age 5 typically set the tone for a life, and how the little parental training we have tends to come from the example of our parents. I think this is the magic of a two-parent system, when that is possible, and the magic of the influence of grandparents. Children raised by two parents get a second chance, and possibly a balanced approach. Grandparents provide even more options for balance.

Being Deliberate

When I read these words in the Bible (“though he died, he still speaks”), it reminded me of the importance of being deliberate about what messages we want to have sink in, and hopefully pass on for generations.

Repeat After Me

When I teach marketing to artists, I talk about the importance of repetition. I noticed that when something was really important to my mom or dad, or one of my business or art mentors, they made sure to repeat those things time and time again.

Most of us, myself included, are probably not organized enough to be deliberate and write down a lesson plan for those we want to teach. But what if we did?

What would be the three or five messages that are so important that you would want them to live on for generations?

Like it or not, some of your words and actions are still speaking and will speak for generations.

This is a great reminder that you have a choice in determining what lives on.

Perhaps there are family traditions that need to be broken so they are not passed on. Perhaps there are replacements for those traditions that do need to live on.

Will the good words, the good deeds — or the bad ones — live on?

Will you impart lessons that will be passed on for generations?

You get to decide.

Eric Rhoads

PS: This week I received a note from a woman who lives alone and said that she had just come out of the lockdown she’s been in since March of 2020. She has been stuck in her small one-window apartment for almost two years, having left just one time. It made me very sad. This has been such a trying time for so many.

The silver lining in this is that she shared that she would have had a much harder time if it had not been for the daily Art School Live broadcasts we’ve been doing at noon on Facebook since the pandemic began. She said they helped her to feel connected in the chat with others, and gave her something to look forward to each day to help her survive. She also mentioned that she had never done any art, but we taught her how, and she was able to order supplies, paint along, and also study some of the training videos we’ve created.

Her note reinforced the importance of each of us stepping up to help others in our own way. When I launched the daily show, which was intended for the two weeks they initially told us we would be locked down, I never anticipated how much work it would be for me and others. Yet the rewards have been high, and I’d not change a thing. We each have gifts, and now more than ever, we need to share those gifts to help others.

I’ve decided to bake cookies and distribute them to a few neighbors we have not met, just to let them know there is a neighbor who is thinking about them. Though it’s more common during the holidays, it’s a reminder to me that we never know who needs us, who will be encouraged by a small, simple gesture.

Shopping…

Like all years, I’ve told myself my goal is to NOT set foot in a shopping mall, which is my least favorite place to be. I’m behind on my shopping, but I’m determined to get it all done this week and not be out on Christmas Eve desperately searching for something at the last minute. We’ve put together a page of art-related gifts here.

The Season

Many of us will face a season alone because of quarantines or because family still can’t get together. Please know we’re thinking of you. And if you’re lucky enough to have the family together this year, put your phones down and absorb the beauty of family.

Streamline

Years ago I named my company Streamline because I was a big rail fan and loved Streamline trains and streamlined design. It was also a metaphor for being more efficient, which has been my goal. I’m always asking, “How can I accomplish big things that for others require hundreds of people with a small, efficient, and effective team?” We do it every week, and I want to acknowledge the entire Streamline team (which is growing!). By the way, we have some openings for art editors (part or full time), and we’re looking for someone to lead and work with artists and customers for our art instruction business. We also need some more digital layout people and some social media specialists and producers. Reach out if you know anyone.

Speaking of Streamline, here’s what’s going on this week…

• For the art lovers in your life, PleinAir Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur are each about $40 a year. It’s a gift that reminds people of you every time it arrives.
• Last week we released a pretty impressive video course from the great Kevin Macpherson. It’s about his Magic Grid system, which he developed because of vision problems, and it has reinvented how people paint. Check it out.
• Camille Przewodek’s new colorist course is breaking records in sales for the year. It’s a hot seller and one everyone wants to see.
• Months ago I started hearing a lot of buzz about an artist everyone loved. As I started digging into his work, it was easy to understand why. People started asking me to shoot a video, which is a major commitment financially, but we took a chance, and we’re glad we did. Kyle Buckland has his own unique approach, and just one of the tips in his video completely changed something I do now in all of my paintings, and that resulted in a big improvement in how they look. You might find his new video helpful.
• One of the reasons my company launched virtual online conferences is because we were not able to hold our in-person events like the Plein Air Convention. We’ve been in survival mode ever since. Well, hopefully that will change. The Plein Air Convention is planned for May, is already 50% sold out, and after the first notice about it went out this week, we sold a lot more seats than we anticipated. People are ready for the plein air family to gather again, and lots more people are joining the family and want to go. My guess is that it will be a giant sellout fast. (Being in Santa Fe does not hurt.) And keep in mind, we were almost sold out each of the two times we had to cancel.The reason to book now is that you want to be sure you can get in. If you wait, you might not be able to. And, to make you more secure, there is a 100% refund in the event we have to cancel or you don’t feel safe. Also, we have a pre-convention workshop with Kevin Macpherson that will sell out even faster.
• Be sure to watch my Art School Live show this week at noon Eastern by following Eric Rhoads, Publisher, on Facebook. And please follow me @ericrhoads on Instagram. I’ll be on several days next week, but then I may take a break for the holidays.
• Our online conference Watercolor Live is on fire. I’m blown away by the huge number of people already signed up. It’s a great way to learn watercolor from the top people in the world (and we have a Beginner’s Day). It’s going to make a great Christmas gift for the budding artist in your life.
• We are anticipating that my Russia painting and museum trip will happen next September. We’re making some changes and new dates soon, but go to the website and sign up to be notified. We were sold out and will be again, but we’re trying to find a way to take a few more people, so get on that waiting list. Another great gift.

It’s the perfect day. Not hot, not cool. A slight breeze, just enough to make the leaves sway. Fall color of deep burnt orange, with some slight green and red edges, has filled the big tree across the road. It’s something I paint annually. I’m hopeful I’ll get around to it before the leaves carpet the ground below.

I can remember one late fall, right about this time, my dad brought us the greatest Christmas gift of all … a baby mountain lion. This occasion marked a change in my father’s life, after hunting every fall or winter.

Boom

He had been in Cody, Wyoming, where he shot a mountain lion up in a tree. Instead of celebrating, as hunters often do, tears welled up in his eyes as he discovered he had killed the mother of a cub. He could not leave the cub there to die, so he brought it home and we raised it in our garage. That was the moment he swore off hunting for good.

Zookeeper

Our lion had two names. We started with Lionel, like the trains, but later we named him Blinkie. He had the most beautiful eyes and long lashes. He became our family pet. We would play with him, like you would any pet. But he kept getting bigger and bigger, and finally, we had to give him up to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. We would visit him at the zoo almost weekly for a while, and he recognized us, though we could no longer go in the cage with him because he had grown so large.

The Giant Among Us

Within a year or two he grew even larger, too large for a children’s zoo, where they want “teen” animals. So Blinkie was transferred to the small zoo in Bluffton, Indiana. The first thing I did when I got my driver’s licence was drive to the zoo to see him. The last time I saw him he was probably 12 feet long, head to tail. He was massive, and, sadly, he would pace back and forth inside his cage. When I visited, even as a teen he had not seen for a few years, I felt as though he recognized me. I thought he should be released back to the wild, but was told he would not survive because he had been domesticated.

I’m told mountain lions live about 21 years in captivity, but sadly, I don’t know the rest of the story and have been unable to learn anything about what happened to Blinkie.

Lessons Learned

What I did learn is that there are certain moments in our lives that have such profound impact on us that we often make radical change overnight. For my dad, it was the end of his hunting.

As I filter through my lifetime of memories, there are moments of instant change based on my own stupid decisions. I got fired once for putting my fist through a wall at the radio station because I had been drinking and was out of control. I had to make instant change. And I’ve lost friendships and relationships because I did not think before speaking or I lost my temper. In fact, as a child I had a horrible temper, which I cured when I destroyed a favorite toy in anger, and my parents refused to replace it.

What about you?Are there moments you regret that changed you instantly?

A Mark of Maturity

I think one of the differences between immature and mature people is the ability for self-correction. If I had retained all the bad habits from my earlier years, I’m not sure I would have survived. Sadly, many do not, or their lives continually repeat mistakes where lessons were not learned.

Be Still

Still, I have to stop myself, immerse myself in silence, and ask myself what lessons I still need to learn, and in what ways I can improve by changing my behavior. Yes, I still make stupid, impulsive mistakes that damage relationships or my own circumstances.

As we enter the season of giving, give yourself the gift of quiet time to evaluate how it’s going, what needs to change or improve.

Where are you still causing harm to yourself or others?

What are others telling you that you’re not hearing?

What would happen if you gave up certain behaviors?

Then ask yourself why you haven’t changed.
Maybe the pain isn’t painful enough. Maybe your pride is in the way.

I may get more wisdom with time, but I still cling to too many bad habits, still can improve the way I interact with my family and others, and still can fine-tune my machine.

Where do you need to fine-tune?

The highway of life is better when you’re cruising at 75 mph with all cylinders in perfect harmony. If you’re not, change the plugs and blow the carbon out of your life. You’ll never regret it.

Eric Rhoads

Back in the fall I held a goal-setting meeting with my team, where we planned our 2022 for the business based on my personal goals. It’s never too late to consider your 2022 plans too, and if you can also get to it before the start of the year, you’ll make your year better by getting started earlier. More on that another time.

Speaking of my team, we always seem to go a million miles per hour, flirting with new ideas and new projects to make life better for our friends and customers. Here are a few things going on this week.

• The December PleinAir Salon $33,000 Art Competition is underway. Tuesday is the last day to enter for the Early Bird discount of 25% off your entry. This is a great way to allow yourself to enter even more paintings. The annual Grand Prize winner can win $15,000 cash and the cover of PleinAir Magazine. Check out the details here.
• We are releasing a new video from the amazing master artist Kevin Macpherson this week, so keep an eye on your e-mail for that announcement. This is monumental!! If you want a sneak peek, go here.
• Oh, and we just released a killer new video from Kyle Buckland, on Courageous Color, which you can find here.
• For the art lovers in your life, PleinAir Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur are each about $40 a year, and a gift that reminds people of you every time it arrives.
• We just released our Wishbook of hundreds of art instruction videos for all levels of artists. You can get it here free or visit our store at www.streamlineartvideo.com.
• And Camille Prezwodek, the colorist and my teacher, is rapidly becoming one of the biggest video sellers of the year. Check it out here.
• I should mention that the Plein Air Convention will sell out fast (it’s already 50% sold) for next May in Santa Fe. We are expecting more new people than ever, including lots attending the Basics Course. But we have to limit attendance, so I recommend not waiting. You can cancel any time without penalty. I know I’d love it as a gift. You can learn more here.
• Be sure to watch my Art School Live show this week at noon Eastern by following Eric Rhoads, Publisher, on Facebook. And please follow me @ericrhoads on Instagram. I’ll be on several days next week, but then may take a break for the holidays.
• Our online conference Watercolor Live is on fire. I’m blown away by the huge number of people already signed up. It’s a great way to learn watercolor from the top people in the world (and we have a Beginner’s Day). It’s going to make a great Christmas gift for the budding artist in your life.
• We are anticipating that my Russia painting and museum trip will happen next September. We’re making some changes and new dates soon, but go to the website and sign up to be notified. We were sold out and will be again, but we’re trying to find a way to take a few more people, so get on that waiting list. Another great gift.

Awakening on a holiday is a special feeling, with the anticipation of seeing family and friends. The smell of baked goods is in the air from last night, and soon the smell of turkey, gravy, and all of our favorite dishes will permeate the air.

What permeates the air matters. What is in the air at your Thanksgiving gathering? Will it be harmony or strife? Joy or anger?

During the Civil War, families were divided by their beliefs in what was or was not right. Brothers fought brothers. Some families lost all of their sons to the war.

Tough Holidays

Though I have fond memories, Thanksgiving in our house was occasionally unpleasant. Someone would speak up and criticize the ideals of others, and the joy-filled gathering we’d all looked forward to would be turned into a day we could not wait to be over.

Because we were together, sometimes after not seeing one another for months, it became the time for people to express their passionate ideals and to be critical of others with whom they disagreed. Rarely did it end well. Someone would throw a fit, walk out early, or act out in anger.

Blowing My Cool

How did that affect me? I became one who avoids conflict. When I hear anyone yelling for any reason, I can feel my blood pressure rising. I either have to escape the room or ask everyone to stop before it pulls me in and I blow my top, screaming out, “Please stop yelling!”

If you think about the purpose of Thanksgiving today, it is to gather your loved ones, to spend time together and be grateful for one another. Especially since many of us have been unable to see family in person for so long. If everyone comes in with being grateful for one another in mind, it can help. Arguing is unlikely to change anyone’s mind anyway.

Why ruin Thanksgiving?

No Drama

When I hold my in-person or virtual events, I lay out the rules in advance. Why? Because I hate drama. My rule is simply “no drama,” and I’m very clear that if drama occurs, I’ll ask you to leave. It’s only happened one time in 11 years, when a guest was obsessively negative with everyone, complaining about everything unreasonably. So I took this guest aside and asked her to leave, offering a full refund. It got her attention, and she behaved the rest of the time.

You’re Wrong!

We live in a polarized world. We’re going to disagree. Sadly, we’ve all become so convinced that we’re right that we’re unable to carry on civilized conversations and listen to others’ perspectives. We used to be able to disagree and remain friends, but these days, that is often not the case.

I hereby declare this NO DRAMA THANKSGIVING. Simple rules: No drama. No politics. No vaccination debates. And nothing that’s going to destroy the purpose of being together.

If you have to post the rules on the door, so be it.

Of course, do what you wish. But think about this.

What if this is the last time you see your family? Do you want to spend it arguing?

Turn the Other Cheek

There are times when I feel like going to battle, but I bite my tongue. Quite simply, I don’t need to win and I’m unwilling to rock friendships because we are not in sync in some areas. Instead, I seek to find common ground we both love.

Life is too short (proven recently for far too many).

Embrace your differences. Heal your wounds.

Forgive others.

Have a loving and peaceful Thanksgiving.

Eric Rhoads

PS: In case this newsletter is reaching you for the first time, I write a weekly message on Sunday mornings (and sometimes on holidays). You can subscribe here for free. For those who read regularly, thank you. I truly am grateful. There is nothing as satisfying as meeting you and hearing that you read Sunday Coffee every week. 🙂

In the Rhoads family, we’re keeping it small this year. Just my wife and the kids. We’ve missed them since they’ve been away at college, so this is an important time to just enjoy their presence. But there will be a big sign over the table saying, “Save the drama for the theater.”

Here is what’s going on at Streamline this week.

• We are going to have some awesome Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals, so be sure to check out Streamline.Art over the next few days.
• Don’t forget that the deadline to enter your art into the PleinAir Salon for a chance at $15,000 and the cover of PleinAir Magazine is coming up on the 30th.
• We’ll be releasing a new video from Kevin Macpherson soon, so keep an eye on your e-mail for that announcement. This is monumental!! You can find it here. We offered it at Realism Live last week, and lots of people were thrilled to get it.
• Oh, and we just released a killer new video from Kyle Buckland, which you can find here.
• And Camille Prezwodek, the colorist and my teacher, is rapidly becoming one of the biggest video  sellers of the year.
• I should mention that the Plein Air Convention will sell out fast (it’s already 50% sold) for next May in Santa Fe. And because of my daily broadcast, we will see more new people than ever, including lots attending the Basics Course. But we have to limit attendance, so I recommend not waiting. You can cancel any time without penalty. I know I’d love it as a Christmas or Hanukkah gift.
• Be sure to watch my Art School Live show this week at noon Eastern by following Eric Rhoads, Publisher on Facebook.  And please follow me @ericrhoads on Instagram.

I feel so blessed to stare out my window this morning and see the brilliance of color splashed on the trees in the back of the property, the distant gray-blue hills, and the twinkle of light kissing the slightly moving leaves. Sleepily I shuffle across the porch, hot coffee in hand, shoeless, and my ears are treated to the sounds of Sunday morning as I open the door. A distant lawnmower from a neighbor, the faraway harmony of a train horn, and the sounds of notes coming from tiny beaks.

But how do tiny beaks become big birds? How do we as mere mortals become mega-mortals, or giants? How does one become the top in one’s field? How do people become wealthy or highly accomplished?

There is no easy answer, but I can share some clues.

1. It starts with work ethic. No one I’ve ever met that at the top had it easy. Outworking everyone else is the starting point. You have to be willing to do everything, and work harder than anyone you know, and have the ability to sustain a high level of work for decades, even after your success begins.
2. Next on the list is passion, desire, and commitment. I never have believed that money is a driver for most people. Money is a byproduct. But if you are passionate and committed to something, you’ll work to make it happen and won’t get discouraged when things get difficult.
3. The biggest challenge in success is mindset. Your mindset controls everything — which can be positive or negative. Most of us have deep limitations in our beliefs about our ability or ideas. A good rule of thumb … if the idea seems impossible and scares you, that’s the idea you should pursue. If it does not seem impossible, it’s not big enough.
4. Next, embrace and overcome your fear, giving yourself the courage to go forward. You need to adopt the attitude that you’re going forward no matter how difficult.
5. Of course with work ethic, passion, commitment, mindset, and overcoming fear, you still have the problem of not knowing HOW to do it. You cannot succeed without capability. But where do you get it? I believe when the other things are aligned, you will do what it takes to learn what you need. We tend to rise to the occasion each time we need more capability.
6. The final step is confidence, which comes with the accomplishments you make. Confidence drives you to embrace fear, and keep stepping out to get beyond the next limitation.

I might go so far as to say that sometimes a little luck or a little timing comes into play, but most people make their luck and are ready to jump on opportunity because of their mindset, their willingness to overcome fear, and their courage.

The other thing is that, though it’s lonely at the top (true), we all need other people to help us succeed. It’s important to pick people who believe in your passion, people you can trust. And be sure to share your goals with others (though they may not dream as big as you).

Limitations do exist, but fewer than we think. And if you have courage, you look at roadblocks and ask yourself how to get over, under, or around them. Most limitations are fear-driven and self-imposed. Overcoming these kinds of limitations is the best predictor of success. In reality, in most cases you’re not too young, too old, too underprivileged, too sick, too poor. Motivation comes from desire to solve a problem like poverty or bad circumstances.

And if you think being privileged offers an advantage, it sometimes does, and sometimes does not. I know wealthy people who gave their kids opportunity, but the kids did nothing with it. Wealth isn’t a predictor. Passion is.

If you allow yourself to have big dreams, you can make them happen. I deeply believe this. My belief isn’t based on theory but from seeing it in action. You truly can dream the impossible dream.

Eric Rhoads

PS: Necessity is the mother of invention. Sometimes our plans don’t work out. When COVID hit, it slammed my business and we were on the edge of not surviving. But we had to face it head on, and do it fast, and that meant facing fear head on. It also meant reinvention. The good news is that so far, by doing online events, we’ve been able to get through it. Just this past week, ending last night, we wrapped up our four-day Realism Live event. Our next one, in January, will be Watercolor Live.

I’d like to thank the hundreds of people worldwide who joined us to learn, grow, and be part of the community of artists. I’m honored by your presence.

PPS: If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram  (please do) stay tuned for a new art challenge in honor of Thanksgiving. I’ll be announcing it soon!

Here is what’s going on at Streamline this week.

• The deadline to sign up for our next virtual online conference, Watercolor Live, and save up to $600 off your ticket is TOMORROW, November 15.
• Tuesday, November 16 is your last chance to get the new Kyle Buckland video, Courageous Color, at a pre-release discount! Don’t miss out before the price goes up.
• I’m always signing artists who are hot. In fact, we don’t sign anyone unless they are the best of the best, or if they are a hot up-and-comer. We’ll be releasing a new video from Kevin Macpherson soon, so keep an eye on your e-mail for that announcement.
• We’re all ready to be out and about freely, with our family of artists. If that’s you, I should mention that the Plein Air Convention will sell out fast (it’s already 50% sold) for next May in Santa Fe. And because of my daily broadcast, we will see more new people. But we have to limit it to 1,200 people, so I recommend not waiting. You can cancel any time without penalty.
• Be sure to watch my Art School Live show this week at noon Eastern by following Eric Rhoads, Publisher on Facebook