MercyMe with Robbi Firestone

Hey everyone! Thanks for visiting...as I work through my new website creation, plus the launch of my upcoming product line, please forgive me for not being 'on top' of my blog... I have a new commitment to communicating more. Having just recieved this video from photographer Erin Lund, I'd love for you to take a peek! Its fun!!!! I so loved presenting my portrait to Bart Millard of MERCYME backstage the Tacoma dome. More good things to come! Love you! MercyMe with Robbi Firestone

Genius in Challenge

I believe in Beautiful Minds; that Genius is born from Challenge, that our daily new world exponentially benefits from our embrace of differences, individual skill and development of one's own, internal bliss. Stephen Wiltshire may be one of the most magnificent Beings alive today. Watch this video, be amazed, and honor his genius as your own unfolds! What a profoundly gifted artist! Blessings, and love, Robbi Firestone www.RobbiFirestone.com http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=0k4lsi1dql

Robbi Firestone, Oil Portraits: Genius in Challenge

I believe in Beautiful Minds; that Genius is born from Challenge, that our daily new world exponentially benefits from our embrace of differences, individual skill and development of one's own, internal bliss. Stephen Wiltshire may be one of the most magnificent Beings alive today. Watch this video, be amazed, and honor his genius as your own unfolds! What a profoundly gifted artist! Blessings, and love, Robbi Firestone www.RobbiFirestone.com http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=0k4lsi1dql

Genius in Challenge

There is truly Genius in Challenge. please watch the Brilliance born from Challenge in this video. Our daily new world can be brilliantly enriched by those with Autism. I believe in Beautiful Minds: Stephen Wiltshire may be one of the most exquisite artists alive. Blessings, Robbi

www.boomboomcards.com

Last week, a homeless gentleman I met recently walked along the city store fronts, pulling cigarettes and trash from planters and tossing them into the road for the eventual street sweeper. I felt overwhelming love, respect, and gratitude for this man's commitment to beautifying this place. Yesterday I looked out my window and saw a grassy hill covered by a broken trash bag, thrown from a car window, most likely. "I'll pick that up later," I thought. Immediately the Boom Boom thought hit. A Revolution means Now. Not later. Not waiting for another to do it. It's MY RESPONSIBILITY. NOW. Accomplishing my Boom Boom card was embarrassingly motivating. So I tossed on some uggs and a raincoat, some latex gloves (being a painter, I've got 'em around), and I cleaned up the hillside. Drivers by were confused, but grateful. People smiled their gratitude. What I thought would be an embarrassing moment became beautiful. My neighborhood is more beautiful because of me. I'm grateful a homeless man became such an elegant teacher. and that Boom Boom gave me a nice BoomKick in the pants. Much gratitude. Love, www.RobbiFirestone.com

Inspired Elegance

Hi Everyone! This past week I had the pleasure of emcee-ing a Runway Show benefiting Tacoma Art Place: a cooperative art space with supplies which anyone can use for 48$ a year! A huge fan of the founder, Linda Danforth, I was thrilled to be asked to MC to this event. Each participant became fashion designer for a day, creating her own gown assisted by a team of 6 fashion professionals. With a 24 hour time line, this was a race to the finish and as the designer/models walked the runway, many dreams came to fruition. This is art at its finest...Read this fantastic article by Ron Swarner of The Volcano...and support Tacoma Art Place! July 28, 2009 A night of elegance RON SWARNER: TACOMA ART PLACE BENEFIT WAS INSPIRING >>> Inspired-room The red carpet was rolled out for the "Inspired Elegance" Fashion Show Saturday night at the Hotel Murano in downtown Tacoma. The event — produced by Linda Danforth, Desiree Flerchinger and Angela Jossy — was a fundraiser for Tacoma Art Place, the non-profit Hilltop community-based art center that offers workspace, classes and low-cost equipment to artists and the general public. Inspired-Dez After a stroll through the silent auction and dessert table, patrons watched aspiring fashion designers from Goodwill's Work-force model their own creations — with the help from professional designers — made from fabric and recycled items from Goodwill. The kicker? The designs were created in a 24-hour period. The models/designers — Blanca Lopez, Jeanne Courtney, Patricia Driscoll, Carnella Rashiyd, Chris Genereux and Denise Armstrong — also received a style makeover from Embellish Multi-space Salon. Inspired-model-1 Inspired-models A video captured the pride, and nervousness, of each designer before they walked the runway. All six stories were inspiring. Artist Robbi Firestone kept the crowd lively as emcee. Tacoma Art Place's mission is to provide access to equipment and training that will allow more people to affordably explore their creativity and artistic ability. To contribute to its mission, visit its Web site. Inspired-designers-2 Inspired-designers TAP is open 1-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday at 1116 S. 11th St., in the Hilltop Tacoma neighborhood. Special thanks to Steve Naccarato of Steve Naccarato Photography for snapping shots of the event, including the shots on this post. Another special thanks must be extended to one of the professional designers' table of friends for the added entertainment. Your attitude, fashion, dark shades and turban (head injury?) were a hoot. Posted on July 28, 2009 at 07:15 AM in Benefits, Fashion, Photo Hot Spot, Tacoma | Permalink ShareThis TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c3af953ef011572411af2970b

Remember Me

My father is a "Lifer" Marine. Vietnam 2 tours, Korea 1, front lines. 28 years in the service. Although I am opposed to war, I believe in the Freedom we share as Americans. The reason I have luxury to say, "I am opposed to war," is because men and women like my father commit their lives to keeping me protected. "Thank You Soldier." I say this to each person I see in uniform...in an airport, a mall, a restaurant. I invite you to go out of your comfort zone and say those words. You will be greeted with a deep gratitude-honor these men and women. My dad left the Marines, the first real family he ever knew, to take care of me when I was 4. My mom died and he sacrificed his career, his 30 year retirement, his true love of the Marines to care for my sister and I in the best way he could-by releasing the Corps. This is a real man, my Dad. I am so proud to be his daughter. Fortunately I had the opportunity to take my Dad to the Marine Corps Museum outside of Quantico VA where he was the Operations Chief of the base. It was one of the highlights of my life, watching him introduce me to his world; a world of sandbags, tanks, guns, and Honor, Integrity and Love. It was a day I will never, ever forget. Please watch this video made by a 15 year old Lizzie Palmer. It means something to each of us who enjoy living a free life in America; free to choose...pretty much everything. Blessings, Robbi

Surprises Never Cease

Will surprises never cease? Barbara Taylor, author of the incredible book Income Without a Job wrote about my Vision Journaling workshop she attended! This teaches me that when I follow my bliss, people step even more fully into following theirs, and I get lucky enough to be put in an article about her book! Fun! Thank you Barbara Taylor! I love you for this! Blessings, Robbi

Soulebrate

This beautiful woman, Tara-jenelle Walsh, is the creator of a movement of love and connection called 'Soulcialize'. An expert 'connector', she insists on living a life filled with authenticity, excellence and beauty. I feel honored to have been featured on her site www.soulebrate.com as someone who inspires her, as she has inspired me from the moment we met years ago. This woman is up to very, very big things, committed to leaving this world in better shape than she found it. Go find her...Blessings, Robbi

Rubber Duckies and the Great Mystery

Currently I feel like one of those rubber duckies spilled from a freight liner...originally headed to California. May end up in Greenland, for all I know. Good thing is, I ALWAYS FLOAT and believe the currents will land me in the right spot. The world is a wild place...and I love the great mystery of it. One 'current' mystery is the absolute, immediate positive response to my new Vision Journaling workshops. Each person who attends is asked, "is there anything you learned or revealed to/about yourself through this process..." and the answers are profound. From deciding to finish college after a 20 year hiatus, to coming out of the closet, folks are allowing their conscious mind to be informed by their subconscious, through art! I am truly loving this new venture/adventure of supporting others to create more enriched lives through creativity. I've found a big part of my 'niche' in the world. And I'm excited. So I look at all these gorgeous, hot weather images in my own vision journal and wonder if the manifestation of my southern home will be now, or later. Only time will tell. Yesterday I mentioned to a friends that right now my life feels like riding in a gorgeous Pors-che (2 syllables, I've been informed many a time!). I'm in the passengers seat saying to God, "How about that exit?" the car blazes on. "Or that one?" passes it. "That one?" I'm just sitting back, doing due diligence and creating my art. Enjoying the velocity and the lumbar support, letting the wind whip my hair and now, I'm closing my eyes to enjoy the ride. I say to life, "BRING IT!!!!" GGGGGRRRRRRrrrrrrr

Google Alert - Robbi Firestone

Hey folks! Straight from the Mercy Me Blog Geniuses...check out the tour via their musings below! Blessings, Robbi

Robbi Firestone | The Rock and Worship Roadshow Blog Mar 23, 2009 ... We had an artist by the name of Robbi Firestone painting a portrait today. Brody and I had the opportunity to talk to her about art and Blog ...

Vision Journaling

Vision Journaling: a day of play exploring your dreams and expressing your inner artist Creating your own Vision Journal is the process of combining the Life Visioning Process with Art Journaling. A joyful method of creating 'future memories', Dr. Michael Beckwith's Visioning Process calls to mind what we must release, embrace and be grateful for in order to atttain our desired life. My art journaling process honors this, while using ones individual creative authenticity to tangibly undestand and manifest your hearts desires. Fee: $50.00 Scheduled Workshop dates: April 26, 2009 at Dragonfly on Pacific Avenue, Tacoma WA. May 2, 2009 at Feralwood Retreat Center, Olympia WA. June Date in Los Angeles to be announced. Learn a new way to fully express your authentic, beautiful self. A time of creativity and connection, this ‘play-shop’ brings fresh understanding of yourself through art, and perhaps a revelation about your own spirit of joy. Best of all, you take the journal home and keep it going. Discover deep joys, dreams, desires and passions with personal art journaling- no templates, rules, or anything predictable. Feel free to bring your own special, unlined book (an artists sketch book is my favorite: choose a journal that feels luscious) or unique items you would like to personalize your journal. I’ll provide all you need....books, glue, sparkles, ribbons and magazines for pictures, markers, pens and pencils. No experience preferred! Let’s create a Vision Journal day at your home!

Paint a Rock Star Backstage? Why Not?!!!

This Sunday I was profoundly blessed to hang backstage with the INCREDIBLE band Mercy Me, and paint an oil portrait for the lead singer, Bart Millard. Well, begin one anyway. He'll receive it in about 120 days. A profoundly gracious, kind and talented man, I feel blessed to get to know him a bit as he fluidly moved from setup, to sitting with me, performance, shower, then back to my chair for a bit more time to paint. Surrounded by loving friends and family, we were visited by luminary writer Karen Kingsbury who has sold over 15 million inspirational books! I'll toss up some photos in a bit...right now i'm just exhausted and headed to early bed. Wish me luck on Bart's portrait. He is a king, and deserves only the best. I wept with gratitude during the concert. Listen to the Mercy Me song, Imagine. its still my favorite after all these years. Blessings and love, Robbi

Passions & Possibilities Radio Show with Sue Oliver

Just did a radio show with the amazing Sue Oliver. great interviewer. I had a blast....read below! Sue Oliver, creator of the Passions & Possibilities radio show and founder of Life Sparks Coaching, brings over 15 years' experience leading individuals and groups into greatness, within corporate America, small businesses, and non-profits. I feel honored to be chosen as a guest on her show. Sue is passionate and absolutely committed to supporting clients in realizing their passions and possibilities. Specialty areas include entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, product/service development, prosperity/finances, career management, leadership, team-building, and balance/wellbeing. An engaging, energetic, and inspiring speaker, Sue is available for a variety of presentations, particularly keynotes. She is affiliated with Accomplishment Coaching, a leading national coaching firm, International Coach Federation (ICF), and the International Association of Coaching (IAC).

Portraits Capture the Spirit Within

PHOTO BY JAMIE CHASE FIRESTONE Robbi Firestone’s portraits capture the spirit within By Victoria Becker For Tacoma Weekly Published on: October 16, 2008 Two things are true about Robbi Firestone. One is that most people who meet her for the first time do not forget her. The second is that her portraits have the same effect, making her one of our best known and most sought after artists in Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest today. When Firestone sits across from you she takes you in with large green eyes as if preparing to paint a portrait of this moment. However, it is Firestone who commands attention whether she is in a “wife-beater” T-shirt, pinning her hair up, or in formal attire playing celebrity at the esteemed Poncho Gala, auctioning a portrait as the featured artist in Seattle. Several years ago she was living in Los Angeles, managing an entertainment company and starring in commercials. At that time she had an offer she couldn’t refuse to come to the Pacific Northwest. Knowing only one person here she fearlessly left her home and started brand new digs in Tacoma. It’s not the first time Firestone did what most would call a scary proposition. When she was afraid of the water she decided to take diving lessons in shark-infested waters in Turks and Caicos. When a pickpocket stole her friend’s wallet, she chased him down New York City streets, threw him against a wall and impersonated a cop until the real ones got there. She skydives, adventure travels and takes big life leaps when fear rears its ugly head. Firestone is also a businesswoman to be reckoned with. “Most artists hang out only with other artists,” she explains. “I hang out with artists and successful business people to learn from them. I know my art viscerally.” Her business plan includes tithing 5 percent to a charity of her client’s choice and 5 percent to one of her choice. When asked why she charges so much, she didn’t bat an eye. “I love that question. Today I charge $10,000 per person in a portrait. It is inexpensive considering my friend in Geneva just paid $2,000,000 to have his wife’s portrait done by Julian Schnabel. “My portraits include a Spirit Capture – a synopsis of how my client contributes to the world. It is a calligraphic stream of consciousness, scripted into the composition.” Each portrait is designed for the client’s home down to the beautiful paper backing. The painting is wrapped and presented like a gift. In order to prepare for the client sitting, Firestone spends time meditating the day before. Sometimes she goes to a spa, does yoga or visits a sacred place. The whole time painting is spent chatting with her subject. “During our time my client feels fully accepted, honored and cherished.” Firestone was educated at New York’s prestigious Parson’s School of Design and Fashion Institute of Technology. She paints Fortune 500 CEOs, politicians and celebrities. She remembers being a teenager in a small, roach-ridden apartment in New York City, flirting with poverty, vowing never to return to such conditions. Playing the celebrity at the Poncho Gala in Seattle this summer and matched with Dale Chihuly, it doesn’t look like Firestone will be revisiting those days any time soon. Her work will appear at the esteemed Agape International Galleries in Los Angeles Nov. 8-Jan. 26, 2009. Check her out at www.RobbiFirestone.com.

Conscious Beauty

One thing I know for sure is that a clan of stellar women are required for my good living. I simply cannot stay sane without a group of intelligent, conscious, loving, honest, authentic and direct women in my life. Are you spending enough time with your women? They support us in ways man simply cannot, as magnificent as Man is.... Here is a collective of the most beautiful women in the Emerald City, celebrating the Queen of Beautiful women, Sharon Ballentine. She flew to LA for my art opening last week, so I popped up to Seattle for her birthday. Imagine these gorgeous girls with bottomless champagne and the Presidential Suite...luckily, you get the early view of our crazy night! Wish Sharon Birthday Blessings in your heart...she is a gift to the planet, and most certainly to my life. This is for you, Ladies.

What fear stops you?

I fell off my bicycle when I was eleven. With mirror glass driven into my bone, qaurtz stone jagged, piercing, imbedded into flesh, The slightest breeze screamed through my skin. I dug shards of stone and glass out of my layers of my body with a steak knife heated on the stove. Epidermus, ligament, cartilidge, bone. It took an hour. Much pain. Scars stay all along my body. Remember that feeling? To fall very Hard and skin your knee… badly, like when you’re a kid. Everything Is Raw. I felt my body Fully, completely alive, present and physical… All of its Beingness. It was a profound accident, and taught me about my body and mind in many ways. My torn knee with raked skin brought all attention to the stinging wound. Then came the fears and lack of conciousness: the ‘I don’t want to ride my bike again’ Left me with a scar difficult to release--physically, and emotionally. Do I want to ever ride my bike again? The stakes became high. It was a very hard fall. I ride bikes, motorcycles, I jump from planes, swim with sharks and dive into Consciousness intensives to prevent succombing to my fears. That is why I adventure, since you asked. What are you afraid of?

Holiday Love Letters

One very cold Missouri Christmas, my parents had little money for presents. My beloved step mother spent Christmas eve distraught. When I went to bed she was crying; she felt she couldn't 'give us enough'. Christmas morning I awoke, trying to soften the disappointment I knew would come. I understood this was out of my parents control. When I finally creeped into the living room, I found a simple white envelop hanging like an ornament on the fractured, artificial tree. My mom had written each of us a letter. It told the many ways my she loved us individually. Mine described my compassion, creativity, empathy and intelligence. She loved that I cry for the little unicorn and Bambi, that I bring flowers to the neighbors, and adopt every stray dog in sight. She told me all the reasons why she was proud that when I was 6 years old, she chose me as her daughter and married my awesome dad. Thirty years ago, the Spirit Capture letter was born. My mom inspired so much of who I am now. I now follow her lead and write a letter to my client. I write of the many ways I most love and respect them, and how they are gifts to the planet. If times feel constricted now with the economic challenges we face, consider your own Spirit Capture writing to each of your family members. Today that letter is one of the best gifts I've ever recieved. And writing them is my very favorite gift to give. Savor the holidays as they approach. I've made a renewed commitment to honor my family, inspired by my dear friend Ramin whose family is the single most important facet of his life. I follow his lead...I support you in returning to the true meaning of the holidays...whatever that means to you. Love & Namaste... (the Divine in me beholds the Divine in you). Robbi

VOTE! here's how...

Election 2008 Voting Information Today, November 4th, is Election Day! Remember to vote—not just for Barack Obama, but for Congressional, state, and local candidates as well. Where and when do I vote? Find your polling place, voting times, and other important information by checking out these sites and the hotline below. These resources are good, but not perfect. To be doubly sure, you can also contact your local elections office. Obama's VoteForChange site: voteforchange.com League of Women Voters' site: vote411.org/pollfinder.php Obama's voter hotline: 877-US4-OBAMA (877-874-6226) What should I do before I go? After you've entered your address on either Vote For Change or Vote411, read the voting instructions and special rules for your state. Voting ID laws vary from state to state, but if you have ID, bring it. Check out all the voting myths and misinformation to look out for: http://truth.voteforchange.com/ What if something goes wrong? Not on the voter list? Make sure you're at the right polling place, then demand a provisional ballot. If you're voting on an electronic machine with a paper record, verify that the record is accurate. Need legal help? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE. If you encounter a problem, try to videotape the situation and submit it to VideoTheVote.org Want to do more? Text all of your friends: "Vote Obama today! Pass it on!" Volunteer at your local Obama office. Find an office here or here. Now, everybody go vote!!!

Agape Show comes together...in my living room!!!!

HI Everyone! what a great day! My living room is filled with all my pieces prepping for the Agape show! Also, a letter came today from Morgan James Publishing telling me they have accepted my proposal! AND I got a call from Hollywood...MORE DEtails to come (when I know what I can say because I signed a non-disclosure agreement with the production company!!!!) in this video you get to meet my project manager, Lauren. She's amazing. I met her becuase I wanted to paint her...shes a gorgeous person,,, an artist and business woman like me! I am fortunate to have her supporting my biz.... See you soon (at Agape, Nov. 8, 6-9....)