Day 5. Still New Here
“Still New Here”, 8×8 oil on canvas, framed
I recently did a small experiment. I went for a walk in my neighborhood—the same walk I’ve been taking for almost five years now. Only this time, I pretended I was new here. Not just new to this particular piece of earth I call home, but new to here altogether, as though I had never even seen a tree before. I did this because I wanted to truly see what I usually take for granted.
Along the way, I also imagined being the size of the cricket I passed on the street. All of a sudden, the ditch—brimming with weeds and overgrown grass—became the most lush scenery I’d ever seen. I’ve painted at countless, very expensive weddings whose gorgeous and elaborate floral designs would be a joke compared to this particular jungle.
Today’s painting was created from a reference photo I took a while back of a lot near my house that, at first glance, isn’t particularly noteworthy. But if you try to “unsee” it, that’s where the magic happens.
This way of looking—of slowing down and choosing to notice—has quietly become part of my daily practice during this 31 in 31.
I tend to think landscape paintings need to depict some stunning scene. I still think I’m right—only now I’m realizing that the stunning is often already here, ever-present, all around us, waiting to be seen. But forgive me. I’m still learning. I’m still new here.
Denise Hopkins
January 5, 2026
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2 Responses
Love day 5 and the message as well
Thanks so much, William!