Last week in a quiet studio moment I pulled out a few older works. One struck me in particular. “That doesn’t feel like me anymore” I thought and I put it up on the easel. Over the week I added paint and marks to it. At one point I marvelled that I hadn’t ruined it yet, which is always a possibility. It requires a bit of bravery as ruin is always close by and a real possibility.
It rested on the easel and received more paint, some green here, some black to balance, a bit of pink and turquoise to integrate it into the original colours. And finally the painting and I looked back at each other and said “complete”. I took it into the living room for a longer view than I have in my small home studio these days. I’d glance at it as I passed by. I’d stare at it for a bit from the couch. Yes indeed it was done. And it felt more like the me I am today than when I’d found it.
The painting had successfully reinvented itself. And that got me thinking. Us humans, no matter where we are in life are like that painting. We can always reinvent ourselves. Possibility is always present. We carry with us our own inner paintbrush. We can become kinder, bolder, more tender, more appreciative. Who do we want to be? We don’t think about that a lot.
And I’m not talking about criticism and judgement, as in I don’t like myself, I need to change. I’m thinking more about observation, the same way I put the painting up on the easel and looked at it. I didn’t say, ‘oh I hate you, you are so ugly and green and your marks are so chaotic.” I said I see potential in you to be more beautiful than you are right now. I know more than I did when I first painted you. My eye has become sharper. My hand more skilled. We are like that too in ways we don’t even notice.
This is just a small invitation to consider how you are like my painting, full of possibility and potential. Possibility and potential to become more like who you really are which is infinite and amazing and more than this modern world would have you believe.You can add a small stroke of fun, a dash of cheekiness, a random act of kindness. My old Zen teacher used to remind us “we have more options than we think.” This time of somewhat limited options might just be the perfect time to become that new painting of yourself.
Having had 7 months to settle into my new home, I find myself working away with great zest in the studio. Lots of work in progress. If you follow me on instagram you will see that. If you’re not already on my mailing list join it below for bits of wisdom, special offers and first looks at new work. In the meantime I am including this photo of the pond in my backyard that inspired the reinvented painting.
