Gifts

I am of the mind that if anyone looks at a beautiful scene and thinks quietly to themselves that they would like to paint the wonder before them, they should act on their thoughts. Creating art is good for the brain, it is like learning a new language. It grows the brain.  But even more important than growing the brain, “creating art”  is an expression of the soul. It puts you  in touch with the “inner you”, the part of you that is hidden from your public persona.

Creating  your own painting grows your brain, no matter how old you are.( Now those of you who are potters, sculptors, poets, gardeners, builders or what ever media, all of that I am saying, goes for you too.) I am using painting as the poster child for creating art, but it is just about any activity that comes from your mind, heart & soul that provides the same growth. The act of creating and sharing your work with others has shown to increase the number of brain cells that you have and the pathways between the left and right side of your brain. The whole process makes your brain more flexible. This is supported by the ground breaking research of Gene Cohen MD and his colleagues.

When I say that your art comes from your soul, I am not being flip or sacrilegious. I really believe that we come into this world with gifts. Some of them we develop and others are left fallow. The thing about developing your creative gift is that it not only provides others with joy but it gives you spiritual enrichment.

Recently I was approached by a friend, he wanted me to do a special painting for his sister’s birthday. She had told him of a cardinal that visited her yard.  She believed it was a message from their mother.  Every time that she sees the cardinal it  brings her great joy. My friend wanted to know if I still had the painting that I did last year of the of a cardinal in the winter woods. Although that painting is in a private collection, I was inspired by the spirituality of the cardinal as a messenger.

During the entire time of painting the Cardinal in the Winter Woods: A Special Visitor, I thought about my friend’s sister and what the painting would mean to her. After finishing the painting, I realized that I found the entire experience  bigger than I could describe in words.  I felt very close to my friend and his family.

I have related this story to you because it illustrates what I am saying about the gifts that we have been given. It is a fairly common experience for me when I paint a commissioned work, to be thinking about the reason for the painting, the giver and the recipient.  It is sheer joy  for me to create a work of art for someone with my gift.