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!!!