- Published on
Dolores on Tuesday
"Dolores on Tuesday" - oil on cradled wood panel, 24 x 12 x 1.25. Ready to hang. (click on the image to purchase)
“I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.”― C.S. Lewis
Sometimes, when we peel back the onion of anger, we find deep sorrow, grief and mourning.
Anger feels purposeful, feisty, empowered, action-oriented and (often) satisfying. Grief, on the other hand, feels all of the opposite things - weak, low-energy, motionless, heavy. It is so much easier to be mad than to be sad.
And so I am learning to be with my grief. To let the feelings wash over and through me, buffeting me about a bit, seeping into all the nooks and crannies. I am learning to be uncomfortable without pushing it away. The more I practice this, the easier it gets. And somehow, it is expansive. I feel larger inside, instead of tense and tight and retracted.
Dolores relaxes into her grief and oddly manages to make it look cool. Who knew?
“I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.”― C.S. Lewis
Sometimes, when we peel back the onion of anger, we find deep sorrow, grief and mourning.
Anger feels purposeful, feisty, empowered, action-oriented and (often) satisfying. Grief, on the other hand, feels all of the opposite things - weak, low-energy, motionless, heavy. It is so much easier to be mad than to be sad.
And so I am learning to be with my grief. To let the feelings wash over and through me, buffeting me about a bit, seeping into all the nooks and crannies. I am learning to be uncomfortable without pushing it away. The more I practice this, the easier it gets. And somehow, it is expansive. I feel larger inside, instead of tense and tight and retracted.
Dolores relaxes into her grief and oddly manages to make it look cool. Who knew?
About the art: for this piece, I wanted to experiment with flat colors, line and contrast. A long, flat brush held at a distance. Hard edges. A paint-laden rubber wedge pulled across under layers. Unexpected color. Deep darks. Oh!
The JUNE READER GIVEAWAY is here!
This month I'm wondering - what YOU do to refill your inspiration tank?
Leave a comment below. One (or more) readers will win a piece of art - FREE!
This month I'm wondering - what YOU do to refill your inspiration tank?
Leave a comment below. One (or more) readers will win a piece of art - FREE!
6 Comments
Wow, your poignant observation about anger vs grief is deep and true. You always make my day deeper.
Thea!!!!! oh oh oh you made my day. Thank you for feeling these words and the connection between anger and grief. It just changes everything about how these feelings sit inside of us, yes? xoxoxo
Dolores has her eyes turned inward, seeing her depths, plumbing new ways of being, tapping stillness, becoming expansive, all without moving a muscle.
Dotty!!! oh goodness, you always "see" these characters - they trust you and they show you all of their insides. I love that. xoxoxo
I can actually FEEL her pain! My anger and grief kinda gets mixed up these days! I will have to find a way to separate them! My inspiration and strength come from my family! One day at a time!
Carol!!! Lovely lady, I cannot even IMAGINE the discomfort - the anger, the grief - of living where you are and being surrounded by war. You inspire me. I see you painting, creating, going forward even when the world appears to be moving the other direction. Sending much love and the biggest hugs ever. xo
