Flying Girl Finds the Key, or Plume, 9/27/08Golden Fluid Acrylics, Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils, Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens
Today's painting was a surprise. It wasn't where I had planned to go, at all.
It was supposed to be a landscape of ladders of different sizes, a familiar image in my paintings gone by, but after I painted the ground and sky and was supposed to start on the ladders... well... they wouldn't come. Instead, this little house appeared in my minds eye and wouldn't go away. And then there was Flying Girl, and in her hand was a feather.... how else to fly? And then the ladder, propped up against the side of the house. Is that how she got lift off? No windows on that little house, I bet it's dark and claustrophobic inside. But such a jaunty little roof. Same color as the feather, I notice. I wonder if the feather came from that house, if the very place that held her in is the place that provided her freedom.
I see a lot of meaning here. None of it would exist thought if I weren't open to surprise. If I were invested too deeply in my original plan, I would have stayed there, and perhaps not gotten this new entry in my personal lexicon... one that I feel will appear again. Surprise took this concept to a deeper level.
Here's my question to you? Are you open to surprise in your life? Are you willing to walk down that alley where you might find a great discarded, solid wood cabinet? (I did that today when I went to throw out the diapers! It's cool, my art supplies are going in there!) Are you willing to say yes when someone offers you an unforeseen opportunity? Are you willing to toss aside the plans and lists and outlines you have made, when inspiration takes off and opens new doors?
It's all well and good to make your plans and organize your future steps into easy bitesized pieces that you think will get you where you want to go, but when that future starts taking off into reality, are you able to let go of your control enough to jump on and go for a ride?
Practice keeping your eyes open. It's possible that the key you are searching for, the one you are sure is hard and metal and will unlock that door, is really one scarlet feather that teaches you to fly.
Flying Girl is the poster girl for chance taking.
ReplyDeleteI, too, wish to take the ride.
Once again my admiration for the unadorned truth of the way you describe your process.
I am open to surprise.
ReplyDeleteSome of the best times in my life have come from the element of no expectations and complete surprises.
This has got to be my fave flying girl painting! This series has been so inspiring!Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Rowena - ok I know I didn't stop in here by coincidence today, your post was just what I wanted/needed to hear today. And it;s so weird that you have a feather in your painting (love this series by the way!) and mentioned it as the one that teaches you to fly. I have been finding small white feathers in our apartment lately - understand that there are NO white birds around here, so needless to say it has caught my attention. I don't want to analyze it to death tho (lol) and so just trying to 'listen' :>
ReplyDeleteTo be open is one reason I'm taking acting classes. And surprise is something blogging has brought me. Good surprises like flying girl.
ReplyDeleteMay she surprise me by flying over my apartment!
i love the story behind the lovely painting :-)
ReplyDeleteyeah, sometimes it's good to embrace the unexpected. sometimes it takes you to places better than what you first imagined.
Love surprises and random is my middle name. I feel and have said many times, we have to embrace inspiration when it comes and pay attention to coincidence. I see Flying Girl has more red today! These are all very exciting and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteps. would love to be surprised with a fun cabinet for art supplies too! great find :)
Hello Rowena
ReplyDeleteAre you all set for the Big Draw? We start Wednesday.
I'm loving your flying girl series. I will come back later to read and see more:)