I depend upon grace, beauty, and inspired words to keep my emotional life, and therefore my physical and creative life, on an even keel.

I look for, and find reassurance from the world around me, reminding me that I am loved no matter what. Daily, I see hearts formed by tree roots, rocks, and leaves. Hearts peeking out to remind me that I’m mot alone in the massive world.

Still, I often forget — that’s why I need daily reminders!

I'm okay with that because I’ve learned to seek out reminders on my daily walk. In this way, I actively participate in my physical and emotional well-being.

I’m not looking for Big Leaps forward, although that might be a good idea. I look for little things, the things most people don’t notice, to guide my way. That’s where I find inspiration to begin again with each new day.

Yesterday I shipped four paintings off to my photographer/printer (he’s been on Maui during the pandemic). Wow! Four paintings all finished this past week.

Which means, it’s time to begin again, from scratch, on something new.

Tentitive titles: “Miles to Go” and “Exponential Potential” Do you have a preference?

Having more than one painting in progress at once, allows time for me to “get stuck” if I don’t know what to do next or my energy flags. It permits time for me to allow one painting to dry while I work on another. It eliminates delays if I don’t know what to paint, but I have the time, and want to paint!

No matter how many paintings I seem to have in progress at once, they often finish up at the same time — or near-enough the same time that they get shipped off together, leaving me with a blank sheet of paper.

Colors of Love

Then it’s time to look for fresh inspiration to paint my way forward once more.

Whenever we begin something new, there’s a learning curve. Sometimes it’s steep, sometimes it’s just a bump in the road.

Learning to paint is no different — except some of us have horror stories of harried teachers being brutal regarding our youthful creations.

So, we try harder. We focus, we clench.
We hold the brush as if our life depended on it.

Back when we were little, our parents encouraged us to color inside the lines.

It took time, but we successfully filled in lots of coloring books.

What if you’re taking a class, you’re learning to paint, and you have to draw the images to be painted?

YIKES!

It’s okay to be nervous. It’s okay to wish you could go back to coloring inside the lines.

Resist this urge! 

Beginning watercolor students often start by painting next to the outside lines of their shapes.

They paint the outside of things before filling the inside.

This gives them a sense of security that the painted shapes will be clear, crisp, & recognizable.

Their shapes will be “just right” (cue Goldilocks & the Three Bears).

Did you know that watercolor paint begins to be absorbed into the paper as soon as the brush makes contact?

It’s true.

While you’re busy painting the outside edges, the inside has begun to dry.

By the time you paint the inside, it doesn’t match the outside.

Instead, start to paint inside your shape.

When you begin to paint from inside the shape to the outside edges, the inside stays fluid and matches the outside.

By keeping your brush in contact with the paper for as long as possible, you achieve a smooth application of paint.

Smooth paint helps us feel the gentle, serene flow of the painting.

Sometimes, when you start to paint the inside and work your way to the outside, the edges get a little sloppy.

That’s okay.

The more often you paint from the inside out, the faster you’ll understand that the inside doesn’t need finessing.

Paint your inside with the confident speed of anticipation & joy.

By quickly painting the inside, you’ll have more time to give to the outside.

The outside edges respond well when we slow down to give them the attention they deserve.

We’re not so very different from our paintings.

When we care for our inside, our outside — the bits that interact with the world — can relax.

Our Inside provides a solid foundation for our outside.

Ever since painting “Hitch Up to Your Own Special Star” I’ve been collecting “tropes” about stars.

The painting feels like it belongs on the cover of a book of star stories.
Please let me know if you have one to share.

I’ve yet to write a successful star story — other than my own, and that one’s a work in progress. Still, I’m enjoying the collection process and am hopeful something fun will come of it.

Recently, I woke up with this in my head:
”Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky,
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.”

With that, I knew it was time to begin a new star painting.

I’ve long said I’m a “hearts and stars kind of gal,” meaning I like all things related to hearts and stars.

These iconic images are my personal symbols.

To begin, I sketched several stars on watercolor paper. Then I added texture and paint and let it dry.

Each painting is an experiment. I never, and I do mean NEVER know how it will turn out.

I have a keen awareness of color, which helps me keep them bright.

I learned how to design a page in my previous work life — another key component.

Color and Design are two essential elements I stress in ALL of the classes I teach.

This painting was created with the intention of turning it into a jigsaw puzzle.

That’s why I kept painting and painting and painting, finding more and more stars (and hearts) as I painted.

One of my very very good friends reminded me of a song this morning that illustrates why this kind of painting feels important to me.

On the surface, it’s a sweet little painting, a painting without much substance — different from some of my other paintings.

Please enjoy this version of “Accentuate the Positive,” music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer

Remember:
We’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
And don’t mess with Mr. In-between.

As adults, most of us are used to knowing what’s happening and what we can expect to happen next. Now we’re not so sure.

Now we’re not feeling so nimble and quick. Now we’re a bit more hesitant and if we’re honest, frightened.

“Journey” began with this image on a piece of paper left over from the under-painting of “Hitch Up to Your Own Special Star”

Now we’re in the “Uncomfort Zone” at a time when we expected to feel comfortable.

Maybe it’s time to “Get Curious!”

Stage one: paint is painted on 300# wet watercolor paper. Then we wait to see what happens.

Comfort and complacency shut curiosity down.

Curiosity offers new and different answers, complacency isn’t looking for new or different anything!

When we feel complacent, there’s no room for innovation, revolution, transition, or transformation.

When we’re complacent, we desire “same old/same old” to stay safe.

Now we’re finding out what happens when “same old/same old” isn’t “safe.”

The Journey begins with painting what “I know to paint.” I rely on the painting to show me.

Our cataclysmic shift began seemingly overnight. We’re still adjusting. Nothing has settled, and it could be some time before it does.

We’re being changed. We’re learning to adapt.

The degree of adaptation we’re enduring as adults is HUGE compared to the kinds of mini-adaptations we’ve been making throughout our lives.

The last time we had to adapt to anything remotely close to this level of change was when we were learning to walk, talk, or write.

Back then, we had help and the patience of elders guiding us along the way.

We have friends now and scary as it sounds, many of us are the elders.

I was expecting a volcano when suddenly a dragon appeared!

As elders, it’s time to tap into our inner wisdom so we can share it with those seeking comfort or wisdom.

We don’t have to be right all the time — or for everyone. What we think, say, and do does matter.

It’s time to open to the reality that although each of us is an individual, we share a common humanity, a common need for love and acceptance.

Everything that has happened to date, has done so one moment at a time.

We still take one breath at a time. We’re simply people doing the best that we can as we navigate this
strange new world.

Be kind. Be gentle, Be open, Be curious.
Be the love that you are, through and through.

We’re in a new phase of evolution right now. It’s time to trust our Inner Infinite Wise Selves. We all have one.

Journey: Looking Back, Moving Forward

Get in touch with your Inner Infinite Wise Self — and ask questions.