Without art, the crudeness of reality
would make the world unbearable.
- George Bernard Shaw
This time of year is so fragile for so many.
When we hear about things like the massacre in Peshawar,
or the woman in Australia who killed her children,
it's hard not to lose faith in humanity.
And for anyone who is sensitive to the pain of others
(yes, I mean me)
it's that much more difficult not to curl up in a ball
and hide in a cave for eternity.
from the bad stuff happening all over the world
but it would also shelter us
from the good stuff.
And I don't know about you,
but I don't wanna miss
any of the good stuff out there,
nor the good people spreading love rather than hate.
I paint!
Sometimes the art makes no sense to me
(like the 2 watercolours above)
but for some reason,
after I've done them,
I feel better about everything.
I feel more grounded.
Like I've spilled something on paper
that was weighing down my heart.
It solves nothing except to comfort my own soul,
but sometimes,
maybe that's enough.
And then of course,
there's always the beauty of nature.
(acrylic on paper)
(before the snowfall you saw in the first photo!)
and books...
oh my, books!
and below, a list of some of my favorite books
and graphic novels,
in case you have time on your hands
during the holidays.
And a couple of great Christmas songs
to get you in the mood!
Merry Christmas everyone! xx
You write it down so perfectly : "spilling something on paper that was weighing down your heart".... That's exactly what art is, for me at least. And often I don't even know it until I see it expressed on the paper or canvas. Yes, the world is a bad place sometimes, and it's not always easy to keep seeing the good. Art helps me that way. I love your paintings, all three of them, but especially the last one. It is such a great expression of how this week felt. Hope your holidays will be warm and peaceful, and that the new year will be kind to you ♥
ReplyDeletethank you Denthe! Hoping your holidays were bright & merry too, and that you were able to find time for art. Wishing you a wonderful new year. Thank you for being here. xx
DeleteWonderful words of wisdom as always. There are times when i want to hibernate; just curl up and wait for the dark stuff to pass, but then, as you say, I'd miss the light.
ReplyDeleteHope you've had a good festive season, and wishing you a wonderful New Year.
Thank you Nigel! Wishing you a wonderful new year ahead, filled with everything that makes your heart happy. Here's to making & sharing more art in 2015! xx
DeletePauline, I know exactly how you are feeling. Sometimes I feel like curling up in a ball in a cave to protect me from the sadness I feel about my dad being so ill, but then I remember there are so many beautiful things to experience and feel, that I come out of my hibernation cave! January and February seem to be the hardest months for me, with all of the long dark hours and cold cloudy days. Thanks for sharing your inspirational thoughts and art with us! Best wishes to you in the new year! May we all have the courage to keep creating and trying new things! Renee
ReplyDeleteThank you Renée... yeah, i suspect Jan and Feb are difficult months for many. As you say, the long dark days & lack of sunlight certainly attribute to feeling a little cabin fever-ish. ;-) Looking forward to seeing more of your art in the new year! xx
DeleteThat's a lot of interesting looking books dude! Would love to know what you make of Journal of a Solitude - it's been on my list for ages. xx
ReplyDelete