Go Back

Farmhouse sunset
stages 1 and 2
acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 inches
Barbara Muir 2010
(I started a painting of a winter
scene today that I've been wanting
to paint -- since the winter!
This is the underpainting. So far so good.)

The shocking truth about human beings is that
we're always changing. When a student opens
an explanation with, "that's just the way I am."
I sometimes answer, "How you are is always
changing." This is especially true of young
adults, but it's also true of artists. Biologically
we're renewing our cells at a rapid rate. And
psychologically and creatively the same push
forward into new time, new thinking, new
ideas is always at work.

Do you ever get advised to go back? Go back to
what you used to do? Misguided advice.
Under the message of affection for
what you used to do, is a veiled criticism of
what you're doing now. It's a bit like the
comment, " I liked your hair better longer,"
or shorter, or darker. Or I liked you better
fatter, or thinner, or whatever... My
therapist friends would tell you these
are change back messages. The good news?
They almost always mean you're on the right
track -- your own.

A kind response is, "Really. Thank you but I like
me now." We are all on a journey in this life, and
the direction is forward
not back. I know sometimes it feels like we're
going around in circles, but we're not, we're
always acquiring knowledge, learning, growing.
So hold your present work in your heart where
the fire is. You are on the right track, doing
the right thing.

Think about driving. A driver tries to cut you
off, but you maneuver swiftly away, and down the road.
In 20 minutes you're somewhere else physically, and
creatively you are somewhere else entirely.

Have a being-somewhere-else-entirely day.