In the little garden
Branches reaching high
Against a small shed
Bright, alive the kumquat tree grew
Leaves turning and twisting like a dance
Branches veering left and right
Unsure of anything but up
Up and into the light
"Kumquat Tree", Oil Painting on Canvas, 14 x 18 inches
https://www.melissawillett.com/shop/kumquat-tree
Remember, you must die
So do not forget to live
What moments will you need to atone for not savoring?
Will your wrinkles tell the story of a life well-lived?
Lines telling of laughter and bubbly joy
But also of the natural worries that come from a caring life
I hope to see your face complete and worn with a bounty of memories
Inhale and feel the bright air
Exhale a sigh from deep within
Hold your loved ones tight and do not neglect to say I love you
I love you
What a beautiful, terrible, wonderful world
I am thankful to share it with you
I love you
"Bird Skull - Memento Mori", Oil Painting on Canvas, 8 x 10 inches
https://www.melissawillett.com/shop/bird-skull-memento-mori
We wait inside
Isolated
While a few are out caring for the world
We are caring for ourselves
Some a whirlwind of hobbies and work and activities with loved ones
Some slow and steady
Sipping on hot tea, with a book, and homemade bread
And yes, some are giggling at memes
Just our ancestors passed on silly nursery songs about the plague
We all handle this in our own way
But together, we turn towards the sun
Ready, in wait, for brighter days
"Sunflowers", Acrylic Painting on Canvas, 8 x 10 inches (Varnished)
https://www.melissawillett.com/shop/sunflowers
If you turned around
It would all be dark
Deep umber branches
Leaves so dark it is hard to tell that they are even green
But stay this way
See the glow at the edge of the forest
See the colors that the light reveals
Feel the light
It is cool in the forest but warmth and sun are steps away
Let yourself feel that bit of romance that is inside us all if we are only mindful enough to notice
Feel yourself stepping out of the woods
Arrive in the sunlight
Arrive in the glow
Feel the warmth
"Glowing Forest", Oil Painting on Canvas, 4 x 4 inches
https://www.melissawillett.com/shop/glowing-forest
The other flowers have blossomed
When will I?
Will my turn even come?
Or will I just fade, never more than a simple bud
They are bright and luscious with their arms outstretched joyously
And I wait
I wait and hope that when it is my turn
If I get a turn
As a late lily
That someone will smile
Because of the one last blossom
When the rest have long faded
"Lily Blossoming", Oil Painting on Canvas, 8 x 10 inches
https://www.melissawillett.com/lily-blossoming
We all go through deserts
Times where the vastness of emptiness in front of us seems insurmountable
Impossible
You will not make it
The wound has spread and it is deep and infected
Just sit with the pain
Do not notice it growing into suffering
You will not make it past this
The voice is sweet and sad
It lies
For a time it felt like the only voice you could hear was that poisonous, wretched voice
Not any more
You will make it through
You can cross the vastness and come out the other side
You will experience joy again
And all the other emotions that you hid inside for fear that it would expose the wound
It will come in like a flood to the desert
You cannot believe it is there
How can a flood and a desert be in the same place?
The floods recede
And just like that the moment is gone and you are left standing there
Alone
But changed
All you have to do is run, run out of the desert because it does have an end
Take your pain and care for it so that the suffering will fade away under your tender care
It will end
You will heal
You can heal
You cannot believe it now, but it is true
I am healing
The desert has an end
Work in Progress, Oil Painting, Negev Desert
Sweet and bright
Hand picked perfection
A child grabs a handful with no delicacy
Ripe and unripe
They do not know the potential in the little white green berry
They must be taught
Take a moment
Explain as sweetly as the deep, rich berries
Take these easy moments
Take them and use them
Do not take them for granted
Work in Progress, Strawberries, Oil Painting
Returning from Israel
How will I describe this experience?
How do you sum up thousands of beautiful moments?
How do you make peace with the ugliness too?
Moments where you heard stories of the most vile acts from women who should not have to be so strong
There were lovely moments: gardens, chefs, ruins, musicians, a sense of home and hospitality half a world away
I saw rivers of water flooding through a dessert so deep that you had to firmly remind yourself that it is not usually there - that you who have never traveled get to see a rare and magnificent moment that locals flock to with wide eyes
Tomorrow, it will all be gone
I saw smiles, laughs, tears and the fears that grip us all on the faces of friends and strangers alike
How will I return from Israel?
Different
My first start to a painting in my Israel series is a kumquat tree in the garden of musician George Saman.
“Inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just show up and get to work.”- Chuck Close
I was recently reading an interview with Chuck Close in the book Inside the Painter’s Studio by Joe Fig. Close mentioned a belief that I focus on: that you do not need any inspiration to be an artist. Really, you don’t. Many artists do lean on inspiration and have wonderful ideas that result in beautiful artwork. When I have an exciting idea, I still follow that instinct and paint away. However, I don't only paint when I am inspired. While the romantic artist ideal is lovely- (in a studio, painting with a fury of passion a unique and brilliant idea that must be created immediately!) -it is not realistic on a regular basis. All you need to be an artist is to show up and create. Put a figure, a face, a landscape, a still life, or just a color palette in front of you and get to work.
When you don't lean on inspiration, creative block is rare. When I am unsure what to paint, I think about it logically. What is around me that I can paint? Do I have pictures from a recent trip? Do I need to get out in nature? Have I painted a portrait recently? Is there an element of art that I have been ignoring (bold values, rich textures, a unique color palette, etc.). I also keep a bullet journal and have a page for painting ideas. If I think of multiple ideas in one day I write them down and know where to look if I'm feeling unsure what to create. If I only created art when I thought I had a unique, inspiring creative idea - I would not be a prolific painter.
Another way I decide what to paint is by having a series. It makes painting feel like more of a journey. Looking at where you have been can let you know where to go next. I can look at my impressionist series as a whole and ask myself questions such as: Does this series convey a message or narrative? Where are the holes? My series also has themes to provide guidance such as life and death in contrast. This can guide my subject matter choices such as budding flowers, abundant landscapes, and joyful people to depict life and in contrast skulls, weary expressions, and wilting flowers to represent death. The impressionist style influence of the series can also provide guidance on what to paint. Looking at what the masters of impressionism created provides a wealth of ideas.
So remember next time you aren't feeling inspired to create - it doesn't make you any less of an artist. What makes you an artist is the act of creating art. So pick up a paintbrush, a pencil, or a block of clay and get to work!
It's something artists tackle every day - how can we be fearless when creating art? How do we create art with reckless abandon without overstepping and creating pieces that won't generate any interest? The opposite is also possible, making art that seems average without any risk. These pieces will not stand out from the crowd. Where is the balance?
I saw a Monet exhibition at the de Young museum lately. I was astounded by his balance of skilled art techniques and fearless choices. Peaceful, beautifully painted works would have areas with startling risks. A tree with hints of unexpected colors. A smooth painting punctuated with moments of extreme texture. Carefully mixed colors were next to paint straight from the tube. I don't have all the answers, but I know I want my risks to resemble his.
Think about the art you are making in your studio right now, do you have a challenge you are working on? What are your safest and riskiest pieces? Do you properly balance risk in your artwork? I mentioned in a previous blog that I try to start a piece that is more challenging at the beginning of each month. This gives me an official opportunity each month to consider what I need to keep slowly pushing my art to the next level. I had a hard time building a series for a long time. Now that I have a solid series going the next step is making sure it does not hit a rut. If I could only paint flowers every day, it would be far too tempting for me! Reminding myself of the need for challenge and risk to grow as an artist has to be consistent.
A great action step for growth is to reflect monthly on your current artwork and ask yourself where you need to grow. Then start a piece designed to work on those skills. If you need to improve on your values, start a monochromatic painting where you can focus on intense values. If you need to focus on painting what you see, set up a still life and practice being as accurate as possible. Reflect on your art and challenge yourself - be fearless.