- Published on
The Hope of Myself
"The Hope of Myself" - acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 20 x 16 x 1.5. Ready to hang (Sides are painted; no need to frame. Hanging wire is attached). Available here and at Artfinder.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
from "When I am Amongst the Trees" by Mary Oliver
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
from "When I am Amongst the Trees" by Mary Oliver
Oooooh there is nothing quite like a good romp up a mountain and over hill and dale to recharge the muse and fill the studio with bubbling good mojo again! I think the prescription here is: hike, paint, repeat. Again! Again!
The ability to "never hurry through the world" is elusive to me sometimes. It seems I am wired for productivity and movement. But moving through the trees for many hours takes that monkey mind and brings it to a quiet resting place. The need to hurry disappears.
Oliver's words resonate comfortingly during troubled times and excessive news consumption - let's be easy, be filled with light and shine.
The ability to "never hurry through the world" is elusive to me sometimes. It seems I am wired for productivity and movement. But moving through the trees for many hours takes that monkey mind and brings it to a quiet resting place. The need to hurry disappears.
Oliver's words resonate comfortingly during troubled times and excessive news consumption - let's be easy, be filled with light and shine.
About the art: this piece is painted over another portrait, and was a week-long wrestling match. At least a dozen times I had my hand on the gesso bucket, ready to erase her from the earth and start again. Once I got out of my head and let the paint have its way, this contemplative woman emerged and decided to stay. A lesson in letting go, embracing the flow and sometimes walking away for a day or two.
8 Comments
Jen, awesome juxtaposition of the following: enough precision of detail to make a statement; enough imprecision and hint to tease and capture. Love how the light flows through branches and strikes the cheek of this gal.
Dotty! Thank you so much for your observations, which inevitably make me feel rather like I knew what I was doing, even if I did not. :) I am working to balance the detail vs imprecision, and it isn't easy to walk away from the fine detail brush! xo
I love this painting, Jen. "The Hope of Myself." Such an inspiring title. There is a wistfulness to it, a melancholy, a deep longing for something, for something that sits on the edge of things, a calling from the deep woods. "Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, 'Stay Awhile.'" This is so beautiful. The painting pauses there in front of me, calls to me from the deep woods, reaches out and touches my heart, and says to me, "it is going to be all right." 🙏💓💞💙
David! Thank you, amazing writer, for the gift of your words and your response to this painting...which is insightful and spot-on. I was painting from a place of deep longing - "something that sits on the edge of things". Your gift for capturing even the elusive things with words is extraordinary. :)
This is so good! It's just what I need as an affirmation today. Now, I just have to find the woods! Your painting perfectly resonates with the words.
Carol!!!! Thank you so much! I am so deeply delighted that this bit fit in with what you needed today. Now I am wishing you a deep forest to go play in...xoxoxo
Our new reality has brought home the basics, has made us slow down, enjoy the moment. Looking towards a new beginning. Love the orange frame. Intensive eyes!
Carol! The basics, indeed! A little slowing down (or a lot!) is very good for me. And thank you so much! This isn't my usual color palette, but it called to me. xo
