My friend told me, “Your art is very calming.”

I paint with all my heart, usually start a painting and finish it in a day.

I’m frantic in my process; yet, oblivious,  content.

I paint as I write. Honest, brave and from my heart.

Otherwise, it’s contrived and it’s letters, words and colors.

Not art.

Not soul.

I sold a painting today. It’s one that I loved.

I have only recently been brave enough to share my art, my soul. 

A moonlit pine from Peacock Hill…the country place of my childhood.

My children’s childhoods.   I can see it, feel it. A crisp winter night, full moon quiet solitude and a dark sky.  Bright moonlight landing on a tall pine.

My friend Ray bought the simple painting.

He felt its emotion.

He said,  “It spoke to me as soon as I saw it.”

I thought and told him,  he made my day.

Because he saw what I painted. He saw the soul of my art.

I thought of Van Gogh, surprised by this quote on love.

I had assumed a crazed, erratic, maybe even misunderstood artist.  His paintings, frenzied and layered, I had always envisioned an artist who was unstable, his creativity an outlet for insanity.

And then, I stumbled upon this quote and saw his soul.

This weekend, I’ll paint.

The house will be mine. I’ll have hours to myself.

I’ll layer colors and texture.

I’ll pause to think…maybe some music, only to realize an hour later I’m painting in silence and it will be good, more than good.

A quiet, solitary day.

Art and I.

This morning I journaled a prayer…I hadn’t written since Monday.

The “31 day” challenge…not so much a failure as an acknowledgement of no sense in stressing. Writing is joy, not stress.  But, painting…I wanted to paint, had no time, no real inspiration because of work/life brain overload.

I was heading down the pity path, not enough time or talent…oh, well.

In my words, in my art.  I longed to paint more, signing my name and marking each painting with words “quiet confidence” in large, hand written letters, Isaiah 30:15 as sub text.

My prayer, my honest place this morning …

Lord, help me to rest.  Help me to know that in your time,

the right time , you will bless me in ways that reveal

my  heart and your love.

Art and Soul

Soul and Art.