Day 21. Do over.

“A Holiness that Exists inside Everything” 8×8, oil on canvas

Today’s painting started many days ago. I was trying to explore the poem by Mark Nepo that I shared on Day 14– This line in particular:

 

In the very center, under

it all, what we have that no one can take

away and all that we’ve lost face each other.

 

And I was trying to do that with these two herons– one dark and one light who were facing each other and around them was a floral border made of both full bloom flowers and wilting ones.

And…

It wasn’t great. The composition led your eye more to the spaces between the birds than on them. The poem goes on to end with my favorite part:

 

It is there that I’m adrift, feeling punctured

by a holiness that exists inside everything.

I am so sad and everything is beautiful.

 

And isn’t it interesting that this new version which keeps some of the old, erases some of it, and also adds to it, is perhaps still working toward that idea of all that we have that no one can take away coming face to face with all we’ve lost? 

My hummingbird today represents the holiness that exists inside everything. That little flutter of spirit, present in the blooms that burst and those that wilt. In the sadness and in the beauty. 

Please note: All 31 paintings will be on display at our gallery celebration February 24th from 5-8pm. The show will also feature other artists who have been part of a 31 in 31 community.

 

Picture of Denise Hopkins

Denise Hopkins

January 21, 2024

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