Life is like a waterfall - “Just let go – and fall like a little waterfall.”

                                                Life is like a waterfall  

“Just let go – and fall like a little waterfall.” — Bob Ross

Dr Abe V Rotor

1. Life is a Waterfall

The Waterfall - A Story of Life in acrylic (24" x 33.5"), AV Rotor 2025

tell me not in mournful numbers that life is but a dream

In my golden years, I look back to the east.

Lo! the trees and grass are verdant green,

cumulus clouds rise, twin waterfalls hiss,

meet a stream. it's a most beautiful scene!

                                 2. Waterfall in the Sky

Waterfall in the Sky in acrylic AVRotor 2025

Hydrologic cycle, but what is it

in simple words, in drawing or painting?

"Please show us," chorused the children -

indeed it's a great challenge in teaching. 

From below, and up into the blue sky,

water rises into cloud, cloud into rain,

into waterfall, falling down to earth,

onto fields and rivers like living train.

Indeed imagery is more powerful 

than vocabulary, or the eye could see;

deep in the heart and mind of the young,

a waterfall lives before reaching the sea. ~

3. Waterfalls of my Childhood 

Waterfalls, painted from childhood memory 

(Napo, Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur) AVR

Roar in monsoon, whisper in summer,

catch the rain upstream,

   leap over the ledge, glow and shimmer, 

  die as you lose your steam,

yet you live in sweet memory forever.

"Where there's a waterfall, there's a way to adventure!" Journey Era

4. Confluence of Nature in Mural

Confluence of Nature mural in acrylic on canvas, 9ft x 8 ft

Confluence of nature, unity in diversity,

where sky meets land, river flows to sea,

where time and space, matter and energy

are in union and joyful harmony,

omnipotence of no other but Thee.

5. Waterfall of our Dreams

A make-believe re-enactment of sweet memories by a waterfall 

at author's residence, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. 

That was many, many years ago by a waterfall,

hundreds and hundreds of miles away from home,

when time was patient, adventure waiting beyond,

deafening roar settling down in cloud and foam. 

Quiet and calm the fall but it was just beginning

her trek down the river onto the wide, wide sea;

how we followed her in dreams and lofty thoughts,

taking us far and wide that no eye could see.

Career and family, travel and company we sought,

like the waterfall roaring in search for the sea,

dying all along her way on fields and meadows,

giving life to every nook and the community. 

    

That was many years ago by this fall of our dream,

away from the maddening crowd and Midas' lure;

homing takes us back to where it was once before,

her replica on a wall gleaming full and pure. ~

6. Old Waterfall

Dry Waterfall in acrylic by the author (c.1986)

Drip, drip, drip, like tears,

too far out to meet the sea,

in dirge of a dying waterfall

once proud and full and free.

Drip, drip, drip, like rain,

too little to quench the land,

to make the fields green and alive,

and dewdrops to greet the sun.

Drip, drip, drip, the pipes run dry,

no longer music in the park;

behind white walls and rooftops,

and some forgotten arch. ~

  “I can see my rainbow calling me through the misty  breeze of my waterfall." - Unknown

7. I am a waterfall - a drawing exercise

                                               Waterfall mural, AVR 2009

How do you see yourself as a waterfall?

This exercise leads us to differentiate reality from imagination. Second, how can we combine reality and idealism to express ourselves?

Here is a drawing exercise suitable to both young and old, class or workshop.

As a participant draw a waterfall from your own experience and imagination. You have ten minutes to finish it on a one-fourth bond paper using pencil or pen.

A background music is provided while you work. Nature’s sound: water cascading or flowing accompanied by songs of birds and other creatures, and occasional breeze. The theme of a song is Somewhere Over a Rainbow. Other appropriate pieces are The Blue Danube and Flow Gently Sweet Afton.

If you are ready to start the exercise, at this juncture, please pause.

You will come to know the basis of judging your work after you are through. It takes some twenty minutes to finish.

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NOTE: Do not read these criteria until you have completed your drawing.

Exchange your paper with your seatmate's. The instructor will now guide you in checking the papers with the criteria below. Use a scale of 1 to 10, starting with 1=Very Poor to 5=Average, and to 10=Outstanding. It's now your discretion to grade the paper given you.

1. Height of the waterfall
2. Fullness of its water
3. Lushness of its watershed
4. Abundance of its source, river or lake
5. Force and power of the fall
6. Strength and firmness of the rock face
7. Downstream flow and direction
8. Creatures in their natural habitat
9. No wasteland, no space left out
10. Naturalness and artistic presentation

Add the points obtained from each of the 10 factors. The perfect score is 100. Return paper to the owner.

The second part of the exercise is sharing. What is the significance of this exercise? How does it relate to life?

Relate each criterion with your personal life, your dealings with people, Nature, and the Creator. This takes about half an hour or so.

This exercise leads you to know yourself better - your strength and weakness - and most important - your potentials. ~