Today, after days of torrential rain, I decided I’d had enough of water, and rather than pulling out my watercolours I switched to oil paints. And with the tussle between oil and water resolved, the painting began.
I stopped painting in oils not long after my father died, telling myself it was too hard to paint at home with limited storage and the need for extended drying time. Fast forward a few years, and here I am with mountains of watercolour paper, pencils in abundance, and half done paintings lurking around every corner.
Grief has been hard for me. It is for everyone, of course. In my case it was art and writing that became my solace, but I still felt stuck – even after several years.
Despite working as a copywriter, my personal words would not flow. Then last year, I started to write poetry, and it was like I’d pulled the plug out of the bath; my emotions were sucked onto the page, much like the swirl of water escaping to the drain below.
I released a short collection of poetry without overthinking it; raw and honest, it was a little piece of me.
That was almost a year ago, and since that time I’ve stalled. I have poems aplenty, experimental art, and a website that needs some tlc.
And that brings me back to the oil vs water situation.
What started as a tentative attempt to adjust my long-neglected oil paintings, became an all in ‘smear it with my fingers’ session. Completely immersed, I felt like I was in my zone for the first time in years.
Landscape painting ideas came thick and fast, and the issue of solvents didn’t bother me because I was using my water-mixable oil paints.
Carving out time to paint
Here’s the thing.
Society tells us that we have to do things a certain way. Move on fast, put a smile on your face… but life isn’t like that.
We’re each different, with individual responsibilities, and unique relationships. Yes, there are bills to pay, and work to be done, but it shouldn’t determine the way we live and grieve.
On Sunday, I had an attack of the guilts because I hadn’t taken advantage of a break in the rain to sort the garage out a little.
How ridiculous!
Instead I had painted two watercolours and three oil paintings, and with oil paint covered hands I was in my element! I was happy,
Five hours of pure pleasure. No thoughts of work.
Mixing oils and watercolour: a guide to life
You’ll have heard the saying, ‘oil and water don’t mix’, but as you can tell, in my life they do.
And perhaps there are life lessons here:
- don’t believe everything you hear
- think about things from a new perspective
- follow your own path
I think this applies to the way we grieve, but it’s not bad advice from a whole life view, either.
Finding time for yourself is essential these days, and exploring the arts shouldn’t be a luxury. The benefits are huge, and it’s a welcome distraction as well as a way to channel emotions.
Personally, I juggle several clients and have a busy mind that likes to wake me in the early hours. For me, finding time to express myself feels like a necessity.
Last weekend was a reminder to:
- make time for myself
- do things I enjoy
- not be afraid to let go
But what about you? When was the last time you did something truly selfish?
If you can’t quite remember, join me as I pursue a little peace.
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