The gift of wonder

 

December evening still life (work in progress)

Black marker on watercolour paper

10 x 6

Barbara Muir © 2013

I'm posting a drawing tonight that I did in preparation

for a watercolour tomorrow maybe.  I'd put the dog
(new hyper dog Sally) to bed, and the cats.  I sat
down to do the drawing and could hear my Siamese
cat complaining.  I am not supposed to work after
everyone's in bed.

Making this simple line drawing I was thinking that
I've painted this same cut glass bowl so many times.
It confounds me and delights me every time I look at it.
And although it's perfectly beautiful, part of what gets
me every time is that it's not a completely perfect
structure. It's not 100% symmetrical And I'm
filled with wonder every time I paint or draw it
because it shows me new facets and shapes every time.

Isn't that the best gift of all of being an artist -- the gift of
wonder? Walking home from a friend's place the other
night, saying goodbye to people on the street who were
with us, I looked up and saw huge flakes of snow lit
by the street lamp as they fell, like sparkling stars. Someone
during the evening asked me if I hated the word "awesome,"
and I said no.  I'm an artist.  The world is.

Have an enjoying one-of-the-best-gifts-of-all day.