The Courage You Go Digging For

"The Courage You Go Digging For" - acrylic on repurposed plywood.  NFS.

The greatest magic you have is the
courage you go digging for,
when your world falls apart,
the light you still hold,
when everything has grown dark

from Wild Embers by Nikita Gill

This year, nearly done, holds for all of us, I think, the "greatest magic" in the courage we've excavated and found in response to all the things the world threw at us for twelve long months.  The "light we still hold" at the end of this - these tender and exquisite connections of courage and resilience - that light shines brightly.

The Courage You Go Digging For (NFS)

As I ponder my own tumultuous year, I find myself stronger, more courageous, more open and also more prone to tears, softer and quieter - I catch my breath at the breadth and depth of this year's journey.  We are still. here, - you and I, dear reader.   Still wild, still wonder-filled, still digging for courage.  

As a holiday gift to her fans and followers, Irish  artist Pauline Agnew gave a free online class last weekend.  It brought together painters from around the world, playing in the paint​ and learning new techniques, posting our masterpieces and sharing words of encouragement.

And so I'll pay it forward - a little video of the painting in this post, created during the class with Pauline.   Two new techniques/tools to add to your repertoire (thanks, Pauline!):  dragging deli paper (or, in my case, a Tyvec envelope) through wet paint, and painting with the side of your hand - oh oh oh, that's BIG fun!

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And here's a little taste of what's been percolating in the studio in preparation for the first auction of 2021 at Artistic Souls Gallery!    Click on the link to head over to their Facebook page and join in the fun!