30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day Twenty-Eight

"Butterfly Princess" - mixed media on aquabord, 6" x 6"

Today's muse is my cousin's little girl, Ada.  She is the perfect example of non-stop imagination and creativity without limitations or that pesky inner critic.  I want to be her when I grow up!  There isn't anything she can't turn into an over-the-top adventure which would make anyone smile.  Recently, she asked my cousin to make her an outfit...it may have been a unicorn princess fish cowgirl astronaut candy cane with a tiara.  Or something like that.  And guess what?  My cousin whipped up the outfit in no time.  This got me to wondering.  What could we accomplish as grown-ups if we let our imaginations be unfettered and then tried to create whatever it was we imagined? I am guessing a lot of things would be invented that other grown-ups said could not.

Part of this 30-day challenge requires the artist to come up with creative ideas every single day.  I can tell you what happens first is panic (how can I think of 30 different things that quickly???) and then fear (what if I can't think of 30 things???) and then the inner critic (you might think of 30 things but they will all be dumb ideas anyway!)  But throughout the month, once you get in the groove, something miraculous happens.  Your inner child pushes her way to the forefront and gives the others a one-two punch.  You become wonderfully present.  No more fear, panic or negative self-talk.  Just endless ideas and energy to pursue them.  And it happens without you really knowing it, until you ponder it thanks to a little girl who lives it every day.

So today's piece is my own butterfly princess, who can be a princess and have butterfly wings and not have to have waist-length golden tresses and a tiny, pert nose.  She can be anything she wants to be, because she doesn't know that she can't.  And for this day, I dare you to imagine, if just for a moment, that you are limitless and filled with wild, creative ideas that are AWESOME.  And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

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


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