Beth, I love the bright colors of your floral oil painting. What a release, to write on the back of a leaf and send it off into nature to take it into the unknown. Trusting that you are the artist. And metrics don’t matter, enjoyment matters, most of all, in the short time we have on this beautiful but insane planet.
Thank you so much; like you, I so enjoy color! The leaf ritual was such a great feeling; it was an assertion and acceptance of who I am.
You are right: enjoyment matters. That's the key -- to love what we do, not to be in love with metrics. And in this world, which has run amok, and this country, which is as stable as a runaway train, art centers us, my friend. ❤
Beth, this is beautiful. I agree about metrics. I've been on Substack for a little over 3 years, and I don't like the whole numbers game. It's a big reason why I hid the number of subscribers on my profile.
I love Stephanie Raffelock, too!
And what a powerful gesture to write your word on the leaf and watch it be swept away by the wind.
I just want to say what a privilege it is to witness the ways you are becoming, Beth.
Thank you so much, Jeannie, for your supportive, wonderful comment. I'm going to try to hide my profile's number of subscribers, too. The numbers game is distracting from our real passion -- writing.
Yes, writing "artist" on the leaf was empowering, and watching it blow away in the breeze was kind of magical.
I really appreciate your comment, and I appreciate you!
Beth, you are a pro! I'm so moved by this powerful article here, along with your genuine assertion, I'm an artist! On a personal note, we've been such great colleagues and dear friends, working alongside each other for decades. We remember all too well what was at risk every time we had to halt writing a poem or finishing a painting in order to teach, to lecture, to grade, to drive to different campuses at all hours or to show up for committee work. Since then I've seen you grow and evolve into the passionate, productive artist that you are today. Your beautifully written essay here captures the strength and intensity of your insistence on showing up to the world with your tools and talent intact. I'm so completely proud of you Beth! Thank you for sharing your artistry with the world.
I am so, so grateful that we became colleagues and friends. Yes, during our employment at the university, holding onto our creativity was a huge challenge. It was so difficult to be an active artist or writer when we kept getting interrupted to do soul-weary tasks, such as the abundance of committees and meetings.
You and I loved teaching; the classroom was what excited us. We gave 110 percent of ourselves to our students and to other employees of the university -- and yet we were never encouraged to be true to ourselves and give the gift of creativity to ourselves.
I am so glad that you and I are now focused on our soul-work. We need to be creating our art and not allow anything to stop us. We can now set the boundaries we couldn't set as college professors!
Oh Beth thank you for this beautiful reply--it is indeed SOULWORK that we're focused on now, and both of us giving that 110 percent of ourselves to it.
I'm so fortunate to have met you Beth and to have shared all these years with you. We truly helped each other make sense of it all. I can't imagine it any other way!
We are so fortunate to have each other. I think we "carried" each other through a very challenging, soul-less time of our lives. We gave everything we had to others in the institution, but gave very little to ourselves.
The classroom and students were energizing in most cases. I loved most of the students.
You are a huge part of what made coming to work so worthwhile. I also can't imagine it any other way. ❤
Thank you so much for the shout out. I'm honored that you felt inspired by my Substack Rebel piece. I love this line: "Metrics are not art." I might have to write that on a post-it note and put it next to my computer as a reminder whenever I feel myself falling into that rabbit hole of comparison.
I'm so glad art is your salvation. We all benefit! I wonder if every artist feels this way. I feel like writing in many ways is mine. Maybe art is salvation. Period. And yes, the ritual that is involved in anyone's creative process is where the magic begins. When it finally reaches the reader or observer that is when the real magic happens - connection. That brings much needed joy into the world.
Your floral oil is lovely. I like that touch of yellow on the leaf, too.
Thank you for another amazing essay and for sharing your wonderful art. I look forward to your piece landing in my inbox every week! Oh, and thank you for the reminder about the leaf ritual from Deborah and Stephanie. I want to do that soon, too. I love how the breeze unexpectedly took your leaf where it was supposed to go. I wonder where it ended up.
I loved your Substack Rebel piece and was happy to mention it.
Ah, yes, the "rabbit hole of comparison." I've compared myself to other artists in the past, and it's never done me any good. Every visual artist and writer adds their own uniqueness to the world, and this is a good thing.
I happen to love your writing.
I'm so glad you like my "Metrics are not art" mantra. Sometimes we get so obsessed with the metrics part of the Substack equation, that we lose sight about the content of what we are contributing. It's definitely happened to me.
You mentioned that you wonder if artists feel that art is their salvation. I think many artists do, but unfortunately, I've known artists who wanted to be famous for their art. To me, this is a sad state of affairs. If someone happens to get famous, that's fine, but for that to be an end goal? It seems so backward.
I appreciate your liking my floral. And, dear friend, I also look forward to reading your essays! You are awesome! ❤
Beth, I loved reading about your flow, the colors and that you finished your flowers! It makes me laugh because I am trying to work on a painting for my son’s 50th birthday. It’s from a photo of the red 1968 Corvair that I gave him a few years ago.
Hi Dawn, I'm glad you enjoyed my latest essay. What a wonderful idea for your son's birthday! I'm sure the subject matter -- the Corvair -- will be so meaningful to him. Enjoy the process!
The joy i get from writing—like yours from the process of painting—fulfills me. I have been a slave to metrics, but no more. I've already been given what I sought, whether others enjoy it or not. Healing, peace, redemption and reconciliation with my soul.
And I keep writing down my stories whenever the mood hits me. I have something to say. A point to make. At my age, there are lots of stories to tell. And my grandson loves to read them! xoxo
I love the powerful way you write. Here's an example just from your comment: that writing gives you "Healing, peace, redemption and reconciliation with my soul."
I am so very glad that writing does this for you. And your voice is so needed in the universe. The way I see it, you put your writing into the universe, and the universe conspires to embrace your artistry. I absolutely love that your grandson enjoys reading your work! Wonderful! ❤
Yes! Especially right now, I think art can save us from the dung pit of politics. I love how you describe your flow, the colors, the brush moving in a meditative way. Maybe it’s like yoga with paint, lol. Adding the yellow just makes it pop and gives happy energy to the piece.
And your Artist leaf is wonderful way to send even more energy out into the world where right now it is desperately needed.
I love your language: "the dung pit of politics" and "yoga with paint." Both statements are so true. Being an artist yourself, I'm sure you can relate.
Thank you for your compliment on the yellow. I wasn't thinking when I put the yellow stroke down, but it turns out that I like it. Too often I put in a paint stroke and realize it was a mistake.
Yes, the artist leaf sent good vibes into the universe. The world is hurting badly, and I agree this type of ritual is so necessary.
All I did was find a leaf on the ground in front of my house (it can be any type of leaf), write your chosen vocation, and release it into nature. There's really no set rule; you can adapt whatever ritual you are comfortable with.
In this time of a national and cultural loneliness, marked by chaotic distraction, a fidelity to one's art is a blessing. A blessing of focus and attending to creating; an expression of one's soul; a revealing of what is in one's heart.
The leaf picked up by the winds carry your art to full and fruitful places that then return to you. The little leaf that I floated on the water inscribed with the word "poet" returns to me daily with gratitude for the process of the written word.
A beautiful and touching piece dear Beth. And I love that the flowers on your canvas are blooming! May we all know such blooming. Forever your friend and fan. You are in my heart.
I never thought of art as a blessing before, but your perspective has changed my perspective. Yes, staying faithful to art -- despite the madness and cruelty of the world -- is a blessing. It is so important to devote ourselves to our art, whichever art we employ, in spite of -- even in defiance of -- all the negativity in the United States and abroad.
I love that you floated your beautiful "poet"-inscribed leaf in water. I recall that water often symbolizes life, as it is truly a life force. So your "poet" leaf showed -- through your ritualistic action -- that poetry and being a poet are important life forces.
Yes, devoting oneself to the practice of poetry, visual art, as well as other arts is truly a blessing. And knowing you is a blessing, as well.
The way I think you once worded it was "Art is my salvation." And therein lies the blessing that it brings to us. May your weekend be filled with imagination and creativity my friend. May all the colors whisper to you as they unfold upon your canvas. Big hugs from your friend and fan.
Such an open and honest essay Beth! Thank you first of all for sharing Nancy’s post and your own thoughts on Substack metrics. I’m with both of you on this – the connection with kindred spirits is far more important to me than how many subscribers or likes I have.
I love how art and creativity have been your way of self-care throughout your life…an ‘emotional anchor’ is a great way of describing it as is the ‘pilgrimage’ to your art table. It’s certainly been a healing companion as you’ve negotiated the challenges you’ve faced...I’ve felt that growing strength and belief in yourself when I read your essays…all thanks to art and the connection we’ve found here! And your painting - for me those gorgeous colours are filled with energy which in a way carries that creative flow forward! Wonderful!
Thank you so much, Lin, for your insightful comment. I think we are all on the same page: as you say, "the connection with kindred spirits is far more important to me than how many subscribers or likes I have." Exactly.
It is the connection between like-minded spirits that is so very crucial. That, and artistic rituals.
Thanks for your generous words about my painting. I so appreciate you and am grateful that our paths crossed here on Substack! ❤
"Getting lost in artwork through the phenomenon known as flow is intoxicating. Creating art of all kinds is a welcome process that shuts out external noise."
I never knew what that was called. I just knew I felt differently while painting or sketching and it was a good calming feeling. Thanks for sharing.
I so appreciate your comment. Yes, the feeling while creating art is a wonderful one, for sure. We are lucky to experience it while indulging in our craft. By the way, there is an excellent, insightful book on the phenomenon of Flow. The link is below. I can never pronounce the author's name (he's well-known in this field), but I absolutely loved this book!
Beautiful example of why we create, Beth. I love your ritual--art table, canvas, brushstrokes. There is a rhythm to it! Your ARTIST leaf getting picked up and carried away by the breeze, a bonus.
Congrats on finishing the flowers. Those colors, the brushwork--JOY.
Thank you so much, Robin! I never used to think of art as a ritual, but now I see that it is. This Substack community is so awesome, as it is filled with so many creators. There is something about the creation process that causes joy.
I love the floral painting and the combining of the two colors together. It is wonderful you have your art to calm you and that you can turn to it whenever you feel a need to do so. Art is something you can get lost in. Either creating art or just admiring it. While my husband and I were in Stratford, Ontario, Canada last week for the Shakespeare Festival, and before we headed farther into Canada for our week-long houseboat adventure, we stopped into an art gallery and we both fell in love with two rather large paintings. We had to have them. We had to do some rearranging and gymnastics to get them into my SUV to take back home, but we did it. We can't wait to get home to hang them.
Wow, Nancy! I think it's wonderful that you and your husband bought some awesome art! It is such an exhilerating feeling to obtain and install new artworks. I've bought a couple of paintings from a gallery years ago, and I was ecstatic.
And thank you for such nice words about my floral painting. Yes, art certainly calms me and makes life so much more enjoyable. I love looking at other artists' creations, too.
Congrats to both of you on your new art purchases!
Oh Beth, this is so moving ... much like your leaf! For I love how you’ve turned art into a sanctuary, a sacred ritual, a way of getting back to yourself. And that leaf moment felt like pure magick, a little gust of grace carrying your intention exactly where it needed to go.
And your painting, wow! Those vibrant yellows and oranges feel like emergence ... like something in you is rising back toward the light again. Maybe it's because of my last poem, but Persephone (yellow) and Demeter (orange) came straight to mind.
It reminded me of something from years ago: when my eldest daughter (let’s call her Persephone!) wanted a yellow and orange bedroom. So I obliged. New curtains, new accessories, the whole thing glowing like sunrise. It looked amazing … until she couldn’t sleep because, as she put it, "the colours keep shouting at me!" We couldn’t repaint for months, and it happened to be the year she took her mock GCSEs ... which she aced. Apparently yellow and orange are perfect for focus and clarity.
And I know I've gone completely around the houses but here's why ... your untitled painting has that same energy, bright, alive, full of quiet determination. A kind of inner light gathering itself!
Hi Deborah, thank you for such an amazing, supportive comment! Yes, art has become ritual for me, and I wasn't really aware of this until recently. In this chaotic, disturbing world we find ourselves in, art has, indeed, become my sanctuary. Yes, my leaf found its way, a definitely magical trip to wherever nature would take it. I so appreciate your introducing that ritual to your readers.
Wow, orange and yellow in your daughter's room! It sounds so pretty, even though it negatively affected her sleep. Maybe these colors brought her luck on her mock GCSEs.
I so appreciate you. Thank you for your kind words about my painting and for your astute interpretation. ❤
Beth, I love the bright colors of your floral oil painting. What a release, to write on the back of a leaf and send it off into nature to take it into the unknown. Trusting that you are the artist. And metrics don’t matter, enjoyment matters, most of all, in the short time we have on this beautiful but insane planet.
Hi Alene,
Thank you so much; like you, I so enjoy color! The leaf ritual was such a great feeling; it was an assertion and acceptance of who I am.
You are right: enjoyment matters. That's the key -- to love what we do, not to be in love with metrics. And in this world, which has run amok, and this country, which is as stable as a runaway train, art centers us, my friend. ❤
Beth, this is beautiful. I agree about metrics. I've been on Substack for a little over 3 years, and I don't like the whole numbers game. It's a big reason why I hid the number of subscribers on my profile.
I love Stephanie Raffelock, too!
And what a powerful gesture to write your word on the leaf and watch it be swept away by the wind.
I just want to say what a privilege it is to witness the ways you are becoming, Beth.
Thank you so much, Jeannie, for your supportive, wonderful comment. I'm going to try to hide my profile's number of subscribers, too. The numbers game is distracting from our real passion -- writing.
Yes, writing "artist" on the leaf was empowering, and watching it blow away in the breeze was kind of magical.
I really appreciate your comment, and I appreciate you!
Beth, you are a pro! I'm so moved by this powerful article here, along with your genuine assertion, I'm an artist! On a personal note, we've been such great colleagues and dear friends, working alongside each other for decades. We remember all too well what was at risk every time we had to halt writing a poem or finishing a painting in order to teach, to lecture, to grade, to drive to different campuses at all hours or to show up for committee work. Since then I've seen you grow and evolve into the passionate, productive artist that you are today. Your beautifully written essay here captures the strength and intensity of your insistence on showing up to the world with your tools and talent intact. I'm so completely proud of you Beth! Thank you for sharing your artistry with the world.
Hi Gerry,
I am so, so grateful that we became colleagues and friends. Yes, during our employment at the university, holding onto our creativity was a huge challenge. It was so difficult to be an active artist or writer when we kept getting interrupted to do soul-weary tasks, such as the abundance of committees and meetings.
You and I loved teaching; the classroom was what excited us. We gave 110 percent of ourselves to our students and to other employees of the university -- and yet we were never encouraged to be true to ourselves and give the gift of creativity to ourselves.
I am so glad that you and I are now focused on our soul-work. We need to be creating our art and not allow anything to stop us. We can now set the boundaries we couldn't set as college professors!
Oh Beth thank you for this beautiful reply--it is indeed SOULWORK that we're focused on now, and both of us giving that 110 percent of ourselves to it.
I'm so fortunate to have met you Beth and to have shared all these years with you. We truly helped each other make sense of it all. I can't imagine it any other way!
Gerry,
We are so fortunate to have each other. I think we "carried" each other through a very challenging, soul-less time of our lives. We gave everything we had to others in the institution, but gave very little to ourselves.
The classroom and students were energizing in most cases. I loved most of the students.
You are a huge part of what made coming to work so worthwhile. I also can't imagine it any other way. ❤
Hi Beth,
Thank you so much for the shout out. I'm honored that you felt inspired by my Substack Rebel piece. I love this line: "Metrics are not art." I might have to write that on a post-it note and put it next to my computer as a reminder whenever I feel myself falling into that rabbit hole of comparison.
I'm so glad art is your salvation. We all benefit! I wonder if every artist feels this way. I feel like writing in many ways is mine. Maybe art is salvation. Period. And yes, the ritual that is involved in anyone's creative process is where the magic begins. When it finally reaches the reader or observer that is when the real magic happens - connection. That brings much needed joy into the world.
Your floral oil is lovely. I like that touch of yellow on the leaf, too.
Thank you for another amazing essay and for sharing your wonderful art. I look forward to your piece landing in my inbox every week! Oh, and thank you for the reminder about the leaf ritual from Deborah and Stephanie. I want to do that soon, too. I love how the breeze unexpectedly took your leaf where it was supposed to go. I wonder where it ended up.
Thank you again for the mention, my friend.
Hi Nancy,
I loved your Substack Rebel piece and was happy to mention it.
Ah, yes, the "rabbit hole of comparison." I've compared myself to other artists in the past, and it's never done me any good. Every visual artist and writer adds their own uniqueness to the world, and this is a good thing.
I happen to love your writing.
I'm so glad you like my "Metrics are not art" mantra. Sometimes we get so obsessed with the metrics part of the Substack equation, that we lose sight about the content of what we are contributing. It's definitely happened to me.
You mentioned that you wonder if artists feel that art is their salvation. I think many artists do, but unfortunately, I've known artists who wanted to be famous for their art. To me, this is a sad state of affairs. If someone happens to get famous, that's fine, but for that to be an end goal? It seems so backward.
I appreciate your liking my floral. And, dear friend, I also look forward to reading your essays! You are awesome! ❤
Beth, I loved reading about your flow, the colors and that you finished your flowers! It makes me laugh because I am trying to work on a painting for my son’s 50th birthday. It’s from a photo of the red 1968 Corvair that I gave him a few years ago.
Hi Dawn, I'm glad you enjoyed my latest essay. What a wonderful idea for your son's birthday! I'm sure the subject matter -- the Corvair -- will be so meaningful to him. Enjoy the process!
You’ve given me the incentive to start it!
Yay! Have fun with it and enjoy!
I finished the drawing yesterday!!
Thank you so much, Dawn.
Yep… I accidentally hit post before I finished my comment. Gotta love being tired after writing all morning. ☺️
Hey no problem. I've done that before. No problem at all. I'm impressed by your writing prowess. Good for you!
The joy i get from writing—like yours from the process of painting—fulfills me. I have been a slave to metrics, but no more. I've already been given what I sought, whether others enjoy it or not. Healing, peace, redemption and reconciliation with my soul.
And I keep writing down my stories whenever the mood hits me. I have something to say. A point to make. At my age, there are lots of stories to tell. And my grandson loves to read them! xoxo
Hi Marilea,
I love the powerful way you write. Here's an example just from your comment: that writing gives you "Healing, peace, redemption and reconciliation with my soul."
I am so very glad that writing does this for you. And your voice is so needed in the universe. The way I see it, you put your writing into the universe, and the universe conspires to embrace your artistry. I absolutely love that your grandson enjoys reading your work! Wonderful! ❤
Yes! Especially right now, I think art can save us from the dung pit of politics. I love how you describe your flow, the colors, the brush moving in a meditative way. Maybe it’s like yoga with paint, lol. Adding the yellow just makes it pop and gives happy energy to the piece.
And your Artist leaf is wonderful way to send even more energy out into the world where right now it is desperately needed.
Hi Susan,
I love your language: "the dung pit of politics" and "yoga with paint." Both statements are so true. Being an artist yourself, I'm sure you can relate.
Thank you for your compliment on the yellow. I wasn't thinking when I put the yellow stroke down, but it turns out that I like it. Too often I put in a paint stroke and realize it was a mistake.
Yes, the artist leaf sent good vibes into the universe. The world is hurting badly, and I agree this type of ritual is so necessary.
I’d love to do a leaf too, but not sure where it started and what to do?
Thanks, Beth. This is something I really want to do. I’ll take pics when I do.
Wonderful! It's a nice ritual.
All I did was find a leaf on the ground in front of my house (it can be any type of leaf), write your chosen vocation, and release it into nature. There's really no set rule; you can adapt whatever ritual you are comfortable with.
In this time of a national and cultural loneliness, marked by chaotic distraction, a fidelity to one's art is a blessing. A blessing of focus and attending to creating; an expression of one's soul; a revealing of what is in one's heart.
The leaf picked up by the winds carry your art to full and fruitful places that then return to you. The little leaf that I floated on the water inscribed with the word "poet" returns to me daily with gratitude for the process of the written word.
A beautiful and touching piece dear Beth. And I love that the flowers on your canvas are blooming! May we all know such blooming. Forever your friend and fan. You are in my heart.
Hi Stephanie,
I never thought of art as a blessing before, but your perspective has changed my perspective. Yes, staying faithful to art -- despite the madness and cruelty of the world -- is a blessing. It is so important to devote ourselves to our art, whichever art we employ, in spite of -- even in defiance of -- all the negativity in the United States and abroad.
I love that you floated your beautiful "poet"-inscribed leaf in water. I recall that water often symbolizes life, as it is truly a life force. So your "poet" leaf showed -- through your ritualistic action -- that poetry and being a poet are important life forces.
Yes, devoting oneself to the practice of poetry, visual art, as well as other arts is truly a blessing. And knowing you is a blessing, as well.
The way I think you once worded it was "Art is my salvation." And therein lies the blessing that it brings to us. May your weekend be filled with imagination and creativity my friend. May all the colors whisper to you as they unfold upon your canvas. Big hugs from your friend and fan.
Such an open and honest essay Beth! Thank you first of all for sharing Nancy’s post and your own thoughts on Substack metrics. I’m with both of you on this – the connection with kindred spirits is far more important to me than how many subscribers or likes I have.
I love how art and creativity have been your way of self-care throughout your life…an ‘emotional anchor’ is a great way of describing it as is the ‘pilgrimage’ to your art table. It’s certainly been a healing companion as you’ve negotiated the challenges you’ve faced...I’ve felt that growing strength and belief in yourself when I read your essays…all thanks to art and the connection we’ve found here! And your painting - for me those gorgeous colours are filled with energy which in a way carries that creative flow forward! Wonderful!
Thank you so much, Lin, for your insightful comment. I think we are all on the same page: as you say, "the connection with kindred spirits is far more important to me than how many subscribers or likes I have." Exactly.
It is the connection between like-minded spirits that is so very crucial. That, and artistic rituals.
Thanks for your generous words about my painting. I so appreciate you and am grateful that our paths crossed here on Substack! ❤
Well said Beth.
"Getting lost in artwork through the phenomenon known as flow is intoxicating. Creating art of all kinds is a welcome process that shuts out external noise."
I never knew what that was called. I just knew I felt differently while painting or sketching and it was a good calming feeling. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Dee,
I so appreciate your comment. Yes, the feeling while creating art is a wonderful one, for sure. We are lucky to experience it while indulging in our craft. By the way, there is an excellent, insightful book on the phenomenon of Flow. The link is below. I can never pronounce the author's name (he's well-known in this field), but I absolutely loved this book!
https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Mihaly-Csikszentmihalyi/dp/0060162538/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3ED2J06Q25CAM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8LgxVQKVvjSH9WH6HdepR7xz8GM3_uwojUSjzlFP46I0amPhHJXACBOzHWNE6NsdN_FoLSTK9GEcdxdG3aJ_Y5NG-rFn5jj2OdU8RVLPNYuf23tVwypzIiXRSy7aB14HZCb2YD1DVwlWh5V59VH_Hd8YyK24FdbQqkDkmMwAJ5Vjs-RktW2VPXiaLwvyAqPRJ6hmfi9S6_3TH9Lah6j8BHPk67pB2KM6yn6uVT3UJuk.GHF0m2apSh4ic5om42asL0B2t16pkTTe2NhhwwLvTtk&dib_tag=se&keywords=flow+book+Optimal+Experience&qid=1780076381&s=audible&sprefix=flow+book+optimal+experience%2Caudible%2C118&sr=1-2-catcorr
Thanks. I look for that book.
Beautiful example of why we create, Beth. I love your ritual--art table, canvas, brushstrokes. There is a rhythm to it! Your ARTIST leaf getting picked up and carried away by the breeze, a bonus.
Congrats on finishing the flowers. Those colors, the brushwork--JOY.
Thank you so much, Robin! I never used to think of art as a ritual, but now I see that it is. This Substack community is so awesome, as it is filled with so many creators. There is something about the creation process that causes joy.
I love the floral painting and the combining of the two colors together. It is wonderful you have your art to calm you and that you can turn to it whenever you feel a need to do so. Art is something you can get lost in. Either creating art or just admiring it. While my husband and I were in Stratford, Ontario, Canada last week for the Shakespeare Festival, and before we headed farther into Canada for our week-long houseboat adventure, we stopped into an art gallery and we both fell in love with two rather large paintings. We had to have them. We had to do some rearranging and gymnastics to get them into my SUV to take back home, but we did it. We can't wait to get home to hang them.
Wow, Nancy! I think it's wonderful that you and your husband bought some awesome art! It is such an exhilerating feeling to obtain and install new artworks. I've bought a couple of paintings from a gallery years ago, and I was ecstatic.
And thank you for such nice words about my floral painting. Yes, art certainly calms me and makes life so much more enjoyable. I love looking at other artists' creations, too.
Congrats to both of you on your new art purchases!
Oh Beth, this is so moving ... much like your leaf! For I love how you’ve turned art into a sanctuary, a sacred ritual, a way of getting back to yourself. And that leaf moment felt like pure magick, a little gust of grace carrying your intention exactly where it needed to go.
And your painting, wow! Those vibrant yellows and oranges feel like emergence ... like something in you is rising back toward the light again. Maybe it's because of my last poem, but Persephone (yellow) and Demeter (orange) came straight to mind.
It reminded me of something from years ago: when my eldest daughter (let’s call her Persephone!) wanted a yellow and orange bedroom. So I obliged. New curtains, new accessories, the whole thing glowing like sunrise. It looked amazing … until she couldn’t sleep because, as she put it, "the colours keep shouting at me!" We couldn’t repaint for months, and it happened to be the year she took her mock GCSEs ... which she aced. Apparently yellow and orange are perfect for focus and clarity.
And I know I've gone completely around the houses but here's why ... your untitled painting has that same energy, bright, alive, full of quiet determination. A kind of inner light gathering itself!
Thanks so much for the nod! 💛💚🧡
Hi Deborah, thank you for such an amazing, supportive comment! Yes, art has become ritual for me, and I wasn't really aware of this until recently. In this chaotic, disturbing world we find ourselves in, art has, indeed, become my sanctuary. Yes, my leaf found its way, a definitely magical trip to wherever nature would take it. I so appreciate your introducing that ritual to your readers.
Wow, orange and yellow in your daughter's room! It sounds so pretty, even though it negatively affected her sleep. Maybe these colors brought her luck on her mock GCSEs.
I so appreciate you. Thank you for your kind words about my painting and for your astute interpretation. ❤