30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day Four

"Nanette Was a Narwhal" - mixed media on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

On day four, I am channeling my inner Dr. Seuss, who asked the question: "If you'd never been born, then what would you be?"  

I believe one of my sisters would be a Narwhal, and oh how this suits her!  The Narwhal (unicorn of the seas) calls you to inner awareness and deep imagination, helping to create a clear mind and uncover hidden truths.  The Narwhal represents freedom.  These unusual creatures don't survive in captivity (you won't see them in any aquarium) and remind us to chose the path which frees us to be our true selves.  My sister, elusive and introverted, embodies this spirit of freedom and self-actualization.  In human captivity (a corporate cubicle, for example) I believe she would wither quickly.  The best place for those with a Narwhal totem animal is outdoors, unrestricted, in pursuit of hidden secrets and intellectual challenges.

As I painted this whimsical creature, I asked myself the same question.  What would I be?  Filled with sudden anxiety and an unwillingness to choose just one creature (because I love them all, each one for its own strength and beauty), I decided not to decide.  To embrace the uncertainty.  To revel in the majesty of all wild creatures.  

Which requires I complete the question in Dr. Seuss fashion: "If I'd never been born, then what would I be?  Filled to the brim with uncertainty."

This piece is available, unframed.  Inquiries: imajenation@gmail.com

Follow the 30 in 30 challenge at http://30paintingsin30days.weebly.com/