After attending the Verified – The Forbes Travel Guide event in Las Vegas in February, we received a letter from Eric, an artist who had been booked by another company to do a live painting at the show. He was experiencing our spa equipment for the first time.
That’s a real experience, none of our marketing staff had ever received this text. Many thanks to Eric. We really appreciate it! [/vc_column_text][us_separator size=”custom” height=”15px”][vc_column_text]”Being part of Verified, the Forbes Travel Guide Luxury Summit, was truly an honor. I was hired to represent Woobamboo, an eco-friendly oral care company. Our idea was to create a painted underwater scene of plastic trash that I would transform into a beautiful, pristine environment during the two-day summit.
Ideally, I would paint while guests walked around to experience the different brands recognized by Forbes, and everyone would be able to see the painting evolve. On the first day of the summit, I actually had to slow down my pace because guests were still arriving and interaction was limited.
I was afraid that I would finish the painting and no one would know what happened, so I just painted the plastic bag in the center into the sea turtle that would be the focal point of the overall design.
On the second day, the audience was much more numerous and I was happy to continue working; however, there was a break in the morning because of the symposium, which meant that all the guests were away for a presentation. At this point I still had a considerable amount of painting to do, but no audience.
I decided to check out the other FTG brand representatives in the room. I came across the Gharieni Group.
I enjoy massage therapy, so I was open to the experience and it seemed like a good way to relax and prepare for the afternoon.
My first experience was the quartz table. I’ve had many therapeutic massages, but never anything like this. I was literally wrapped in a big blanket and lying on a bed of heated quartz granules. It was almost as if I was wrapped up like a small child and the therapist was wrapping the warm granules around my body… it was a completely unique experience.
Once I was secured, a series of meditation bells were placed on my body to center my breathing and my mind.
Afterward, I was at complete peace and ready to tackle the rest of the day, but then I was invited to an experience that I now know is called the Welnamis system. I already felt completely refreshed and renewed, so why not experience yet another level of treatment?
The lounger itself is a contoured lounger with a layer of water cushions to relieve pressure and tension. I was then fitted with headphones that played gentle ocean sounds combined with fleeting melodies. At this point, my body was completely relaxed and my mind was blank (which in hindsight is surprising considering I was in the middle of a huge room of vendors). I allowed my mind to continue floating, not sleeping, but slipping away as I listened to the sounds of the ocean and began to remember where I was and what I was here to do. I started to visualize my underwater painting.
I thought of all the sea creatures I had to paint and actually felt like I was inside my painting. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m a visual artist and I imagine a lot of things in my head before it goes on the canvas.
I still had a lot of work ahead of me, but when I arrived at the Welnamis staring at the surrounding waves, I could clearly focus in my mind on each part of the painting and see it being completed. When I finished, I opened my eyes and said to Andreas (Blum) that I was ready to paint. He had no idea what I was talking about, so I invited him to look at the painting.
I am a professional and very good at what I do, but this wasn’t an art fair or trade show, it was the Forbes Verified Summit. I was under pressure to perform at my best and create a flawless painting that represents what we can do as a society when we choose sustainability and think about how we impact our environment. I don’t know if I could have done it as well as I did without the Gharieni experience.
Yours sincerely,
Eric Riemenschneider
Contact Eric:
A graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida, Eric Riemenschneider has worked professionally for the past 20 years. His work for businesses and individuals has ranged from logo and concept design to large-scale oil paintings and murals. Riemenschneider’s extensive knowledge of digital and traditional media allows him to effectively help his clients visualize their ideas from concept to completion. He is currently contracted to complete several large-scale murals in several prestigious resorts across the United States.
Web: www.ArtofEric.com
Instagram: @eriemen
