There is nothing I don't love about painting. 

 

First, the Challenges: The challenge of expressing and conveying an emotion or a sense of place or time; the challenge of creating a pleasing composition with just the right colors and textures; the challenge of stopping time so that a single moment or feeling can be enjoyed and reflected upon over and over again; the challenge of "capturing" light or wind or other intangible physical and emotional realities that can't be held, but can only be experienced; and, most challenging of all, the challenge of applying the paint to the canvas or paper so that it matches what is in my head.

 

Second, the Opportunities:  the opportunity to make a social or political statement if I choose; the opportunity to affect and influence my physical or social environment or the environment of others; the opportunity for non-verbal expression when words will not suffice; and the opportunity to touch people whom I've never met and never will meet.

 

Third, the Physical Act itself: an activity that transports me to a "magical place," one that does not recognize, and is not bound by form or physical or emotional limitations, While there, I am blissfully unaware of time, space, physical pain, or little nuisances like hunger and tiredness.

 

Creating an image that speaks wordlessly but powerfully (whether seriously or humorously) to the emotions and intangible realities of the issues of the day is always a rewarding experience.

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