Beginner's Mind

I don't have to recreate beginner's mind as I return to painting after a significant-enough pause of most of many recent months. 

I am living beginner's mind. 

I am a beginner. 

What happens if I do this? 

And that?

doing this, doing that

On My Nightstand, on My Easel (14)

On my nightstand

When I was first learning to meditate,
[the] idea of beginning again
was revelatory.
It still is.

So liberating,
this idea that we can start over
at any time.

We feel our way through darkness,
pause,
consider,
breathe in,
breathe out,
begin again.

And again,
and again.

Dani Shapiro, Still Writing


On my easel

detail, beginning again!
work in progress, 33 days in, 5/21/20
24 x 48" canvas

detail, beginning again
work in progress, 33 days in, 5/21/20
24 x 48" canvas

Off to the Races

Oh my gosh, did I ever have fun stepping out of my same-old-same-old over the weekend. No solitude in this studio! No indecision or precious grasping here!

While in Virginia, 8-year-old granddaughter Emmy asked, Gma, do you want to paint?

Next thing I knew she had a plastic cloth spread over the kitchen table; canvases set up for herself, me, and Caroline; paints and brushes out; three palettes in place; and a cup of water at hand for rinsing brushes.

Then we were off and galloping, no one holding any reins that I could see.

You want paint? Squeeze a whole bunch out of a tube.

You want a different color? Mix wildly.

Brush not doing what you want? Use your fingers.

Blueberry Trees
by Emmy
12x16"; acrylic on canvas board
abstract
2018

None of Your Beeswax
by Caroline
8x10"; acrylic on canvas
abstract
2018

work in progress
by Gma
12x12"; acrylic on canvas
abstract
2018