Blue lily in the rain

I haven’t been painting or posting much lately, because, well, life has been hard. Lots of upheaval. Not much emotional space or energy left for art biz marketing or Instagram. I have been journaling/writing a lot more, reflecting, reading, sketching for fun. I’m learning that our creativity has a lot to do with our spirituality. Really, our creative nature is our spirit.

Perhaps I’ll share more later. For now, here is a sketch of a blue lily that I’ve been observing for a couple years - it’s part of the landscaping of a nearby building. I love watching it in its different stages - its youthful budding, its glorious prime, and the eventual, natural wrinkling and death of the flower. It is so beautiful in all its life stages. As are we.

As I was painting this flower, it started raining. Was heaven crying or was it me? It was as if the skies were crying with me, for me. But you know what, the raindrops hit the wet paint and created a beautiful effect on the paper. The painting was more beautiful because of the rain. I think of that and it comforts me.

My art - painting and writing - is so very closely tied to my soul. I suppose I want to share this bit of vulnerability because I want you to know who I am. And to know that I too grieve, just as you do. That we are not alone in our grief and our joy. This is what makes painful times more bearable, and joyful times truly blissful, meaningful. Thank you for reading and allowing me to share a bit of my soul with you.