“Devotion” 5×5, oil on canvas
A few days ago, I was on an early morning run down a usual route, and about a mile or two in I saw emerge from the large ditch that lines the train track, a Great Blue Heron. The great part is already in the name so let me make sure I’m clear: I saw a majestic Great Blue Heron rise from the depths beside me and take off in glorious flight before me.
I had been worrying about this upcoming 31. Every single year I want to have it more planned. I think there should be a theme. I want to be organized. And every single year I’m not ready, not organized, there’s no theme, and it works out anyway. But I never learn the lesson. Which I think is something like this: the themes emerge from doing the work. Nothing has to be planned except devotion to a process. That’s actually it, the whole thing.
So my day 1 painting honors that heron who I think will emerge again and again, maybe not from the ditch along the train tracks but from the trainwreck of my studio which I promised myself I’d clear before day 1 and most certainly did not.
My plan this month is simple. I’m going to pay attention. And if all I’ll I ever get from it is a memory of that one Great, Great Blue Heron rising, I am certain it will be enough.
All my paintings from the month will be available February 3 at the gallery and online
February 6.
2 Comments
2 Comments
Leave a Reply
Written by Denise Hopkins
More From The Blog
Day 31. Blessing for the Seeker
"Seeking, Striving, in it with all my Heart" 48x48in oil on canvas “I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.” -Vincent Van Gogh This is the part where I stare at the blinking cursor on my screen. Because there’s a jumble of thoughts, of what I could...
Day 29. Probably had been for quite some time.
"Expanded Horizons" 10x10 oil on canvas This bird has been my mind all month, but I’ve resisted the urge to do 31 paintings of her. I’ve seen several since the start of the month: on a drive where she flew over me for at least a mile and I had to force myself to focus...
Day 28. For A New Beginning
"Courage Kindled" 6x6 oil on canvas Today’s painting did not come swiftly or easily. I scratched off more of it than I added. But, in the end, I really think this is the painting that wanted to be brought to the surface. This is the one that took all that scraping off...
Love it, Denise! Great start.
I just don’t have it in me to do the 31 in 31. And I’ve quit all social media as of this AM.
Here’s my first share of 2023: https://gregmolchanphotoblog.wordpress.com/2023/01/01/01-january-2023-the-path-ahead/
Happy New Year!
Trying this again, as my first attempt to leave a comment didn’t work.
Happy New Year, and great start!
I don’t have it in me to do 31 in 31. And I’ve quit all social media as of this morning. I’m still making compositions though of course. here’s a link to my first of 2023: https://gregmolchanphotoblog.wordpress.com/2023/01/01/01-january-2023-the-path-ahead/.