“Clearly, all fear has an element of resistance and a leaning away from the moment. Its dynamic is not unlike that of strong desire except that fear leans backward into the last safe moment while desire leans forward toward the next possibility of satisfaction. Each lacks presence.” Stephen Levine
I haven’t been painting. Forever. In fact I’d wondered if I’d forgotten how or if I’d somehow just stopped being a painter. When I did last paint, I fell back on a formula that had worked for me before and, while I do like those paintings, they were “safe.”
But in the midst of all this clearing I’ve been doing (see previous post Clearing As a Creative Act) I began to feel paintings inside me. So I began. I went into the new studio space I’d cleared…
…. and started mixing paint…
… my materials and I became one…
… I approached the canvas with absolutely no preconceived idea of what I would do. And it was magical. No safe formulas here. The canvas and I, the brushes, Spirit, we messed around. We PLAYED…
… and over the course of a few days, this new work was born… I call it Ravens and Magpies.
And I am no longer afraid. I am a painter and I will paint. Period.
Here it is already hanging in Hand Artes Gallery…
And, oh yeah, my sweet, dear Skye rose above HER fear and came in (see previous post Clearing As a Creative Act: What We Don’t Control). I don’t think that was an accident. Do you?
Love to you all,
Jeane
Energies in synchronicity 🙂
Yes, absolutely.
One of my personal mantras since my twenties…”if you love someone, set them free”. Her coming “in” was her choice this time! Bravo for all involved!
Her coming in was almost a miracle I feared would never happen. She’s done it twice now and tomorrow will be her next opportunity. It’s still a challenge every time but I hope that each time will be easier.
Two wonderful happenings! Skye came in and you are painting again. I’m smiling from ear to ear! Your painting has a feeling of lightness …. a giddy joyfulness about it.
So happy to see you painting and that Skye came in! xoxo
LOVE this light, playful work. Really feels joyful, Jeane. Bravo!
Connected BIG time with this post. I stopped doing guitar seriously for about 15 years and when I came back to it and started lessons again, I realized my skills had really atrophied. But I am a better player and composer now than I was many years ago.
Also, your story on Be More with Less resonated with my wife and I ,Jeane. In fact it made me think of the opening lines from a chapter on WORK in our first book:
Life is not for enjoyment and fun. Every adult knows this, and we seem
to be doing a swell job teaching it to our youth. And none too soon, the little laggards.
Tammy, my sweet, cannot spend too much time lazing around, recumbent on our
couch, Levaquin poisoning or not. Work will no doubt set her free. Busyness
will take her poor little mind off all this illness and discomfort. CJ too.
Get to work, music man!
So great to connect with you. Thank you so much for your very kind words.
Please tell me about your books? Titles?