Do you know the joke of the Dutch Painter that went abroad to get some plein air painting in for a new project?
Well, you probably weren’t to far off from the truth.
I went. Got sick with pneumonia. Couldn’t work on my project.
There I was, sitting, because laying down caused coughing and unbearable pain in my left lung. At first that stopped me in my tracks.
I had to stop. Didn’t want to. Had to.
Going out was a no go with my energy level and painting with oils to big of a risk for my health according to the doctor.
Did that stop me from painting? Yeah, sure, at first it did, because I just c.o.u.l.d.n.’t.
I was so bored. At one point I started to surrender to the situation and even started watching Netflix.
Couln’d focus, just couldn’t.
After a few days I started getting small windows of energy and I decided to create a very minimal paint set up on the dining table at the lovely house my friend offered me to stay in while they where on vacation. I pulled out my acrylic paints, a jar of fresh water, a pencil, and my brushes.
First couple of days I couldn’t find the energy to paint, but it did inspire me.
I signed up for an online challenge (which I normally don’t do) and had to paint on the first day.
Twenty minutes is all it took. It was the spark of something new. Of new possibilities. Of following urges.
I grabbed an apple and started painting. Small. Manageable steps. One step at a time.
Not gonna lie, I struggled. Couldn’t see well, lack of focus and as an oil painter I have very little experience using acrylics.
Decided to use a non-conventional limited color palette, to bring in extra challenge.
By day 4 I created a small still-life box, to make it easier to see my subjects’ lights and shadows, and I continued painting.
What I learned in this process is that nothing stops me from feeling my creative urges. That I have to choice to feed those however I want. In whatever medium I want. Giving my urges wings.
With a little over half a week left I am super grateful for the opportunity to paint abroad, for my friend’s continuous generosity in offering me time to grow and connect in her space. I am even grateful for being stopped in my tracks by getting sick, and the boredom that came with it. And especially for the gift still seeing the pearls in the mud, yes I am definitely grateful for that.
I will leave energized, inspired, and with a new found love for painting still life.
I leave you with the latest painting I did on day 5, named Eggshells, along with the invitation to follow me on instagram, and an impromptu song I recorded for said painting. Raw and pure.
Hope this message finds you well and inspires you to keep searching for the pearls.
With Love,
Bear
