I always have a few test pieces of cold press or Yupo on my work desk.
I use them to test out my palette and see how textures and mediums will look before officially committing them to the painting. (Watercolor is not very forgiving.)
Every now and then, one of these colorful sheets really speaks to me. Forms and shapes whisper to me from the watermarks. I pick up a pen and their stories begin to unfold.
This particular sheet held a harrowing narrative. I won't divulge the entire tale, but this piece certainly sings of the trappings of society, risk, and compassion.
September is upon us and another challenge has been posed. However, this month is pretty busy for me. I have a few prior commitments, so I don't think I can realistically crank out 30 paintings and get anything else done. (One painting usually takes me 2-7 non-consecutive days to complete.)
I've been a bit anxious lately with all I have to get done. Most of those things are self-imposed, but sometimes that's even more pressure. I'm resolving to at least try to post weekly (and daily if I'm lucky) the smaller paintings I do finish, here on my blog. Yesterday was a somewhat stressful, worrisome, and overall blah day. I took a walk to clear my mind and look to nature for some respite. I set the intention to see something that would bring me clarity and peace.
As soon as I rounded the corner, I saw an unbelievable sight. Several dozen sparrows were flying around a churchyard field. They were diving, soaring, and circling at a frenetic pace. In awe, I stopped to watch them for a bit. By the time I realized I really needed to take a photo of the birds, they were flying away. This painting is inspired by that brief and beautiful encounter. It had an unexpectedly profound effect on me. Sparrows are a symbol for many things, among them freedom, creativity, and Love. It was just the lift I needed.
Birds of the Aircheered me. Marvin Gaye cheers me, too. I'll leave you with this Marvin version of a sparrow themed song. An oldie, but a goodie. Fly high, my friends. ~D. Renée
